STAGECOACH - 1848

This is a model of an Artesania Latina kit of an 1848 Stage coach. Although an excellent kit, it has many construction faults. The backrest is 10mm too long and the stanchions for the roof rack are incorrect. They have only 1 railing hole instead of 2, therefore you need to be very good at soldering in order to fit the bottom rails.

Also, a lot of the wood measurements in the instructions are incorrect and you have to measure on the model to ensure correct sizes. The instructions appear to relate to an earlier version of the kit. For example, the foam inserts for the cushions are supplied twice as thick as stated in the instructions and you only use 1 layer instead of 2. Sometimes, after fitting parts according to the photos, you find later that they are in the way of future parts and modifications are needed.

the wheel hubs are not drilled perfectly centre so need to be filled in with dowel and re-drilled using  a home made alignment jig. You also need to make a jig for assembling the wheel rim segments in order to get them perfectly round, and then getting the spokes perfectly symmetrical.

Although the kit is rated for 14 years old and upwards, this is definitely not a beginners kit. The minimum tools required are a Dremel tool or similar, a wood steamer, various sizes of clamps, a selection of different adhesives and you need to be very proficient in soldering in order to make the railings for the roof rack.

Another thing is that you need to purchase separately, packs of 1.5mm and 2mm brass rod. The brass "rod" supplied is in coiled wire form and the 1.5 and 2mm thick wire is impossible to get sufficiently straight enough for railings for the roof rack.

It also helps to make a "dummy" roof template in order to assemble the railings.

Draw the roof outline on paper and then cut it to size. Decide where the stanchion holes will be in conjunction with the roof planking and mark on the paper template. Transfer this template outline onto the "dummy" roof template made from scrap wood (I used an old plywood fret that was just the right size) and drill the stanchion holes. This template is then cut to size and used to transfer the stanchion holes to the real roof. The railings are now built on the wooden template, soldered together and brush painted or sprayed. When dry and cured, they can be removed and glued to the roof.