I Recently pulled the trigger and made my frist purchase from Gamecraft Miniatures. See link below for retail site.
http://gcmini.mybigcommerce.com/
GAMECRAFT provides a large selection of miniature buildings for 3mm up to 28mm. Their product lines are made from Acrylic, Resin or Matboard (MPF).
My order consisted of three buildings, 1 Resin Middle Eastern shop and 2 MPF motor pool buildings. This weekend, I received my order. I have inlcuded the link to Gamecraft miniatures motor pool building for their online store.
http://gcmini.mybigcommerce.com/motorpool-building-matboard-285css025/
I've been interested in the motor pool buildings for some time. A while back, had contacted the owner and asked if he would consider making something. My reasons were two fold. I wanted something I could use in a game and to also use when displaying my pieces when not in use. To my surprise, he not only considered my request but decided to make a kit for his growing inventory of 6mm buildings. It took me a while before I got around to purchasing one and for that I felt bad about. Though I know Gamecraft did not make this piece solely because of my request, I am happy he did.
The Motor Pool kit comes with three sheets of cut matt board. 4 side pieces, 2 front, 1 roof and 8 garage doors.
http://gcmini.mybigcommerce.com/
GAMECRAFT provides a large selection of miniature buildings for 3mm up to 28mm. Their product lines are made from Acrylic, Resin or Matboard (MPF).
My order consisted of three buildings, 1 Resin Middle Eastern shop and 2 MPF motor pool buildings. This weekend, I received my order. I have inlcuded the link to Gamecraft miniatures motor pool building for their online store.
http://gcmini.mybigcommerce.com/motorpool-building-matboard-285css025/
I've been interested in the motor pool buildings for some time. A while back, had contacted the owner and asked if he would consider making something. My reasons were two fold. I wanted something I could use in a game and to also use when displaying my pieces when not in use. To my surprise, he not only considered my request but decided to make a kit for his growing inventory of 6mm buildings. It took me a while before I got around to purchasing one and for that I felt bad about. Though I know Gamecraft did not make this piece solely because of my request, I am happy he did.
The Motor Pool kit comes with three sheets of cut matt board. 4 side pieces, 2 front, 1 roof and 8 garage doors.
The pieces can be assembled using wood glue with good results. It’s important to note that there are no directions for assembly. However, because of the low number of pieces and simplicity of the building, they are not really necessary. I chose to start with the two interior walls. I placed the white non-textured sides facing toward the middle of the building. There is no good reason for this approach, but that's what I went with. Per picture on the website, I faced all the white side of the the exterior walls outward and the textured grey side inward. Not sure that makes a difference, but I assumed that it would look nicer and more realistic when painted. The grey textured side does not really look like a typical building facade covering.
I glued the two interior walls to front and back exterior walls. Then assembled the left and right exterior walls last. These were than taped in place for about 30 minutes till the glue dried enough to ensure they stayed tacked.
I glued the two interior walls to front and back exterior walls. Then assembled the left and right exterior walls last. These were than taped in place for about 30 minutes till the glue dried enough to ensure they stayed tacked.
The only issue with this came from how square the building was after completion. There are some Youtube videos that talk about using something know to have a good square shape to set at least two walls. I think the example was a calibration block from Harbor Freight. I did not follow this and in the end, they were only slightly off square. Some neat features of this kit, are the interior wall windows and doors. There are no doors or window covering provided in this kit. However, I have seen similar MPF kits use thin clear blue film to cover the windows. I will probably do the same. One neat feature is the inclusion of garage doors, as stated above, that can be glued in place. See picture below.
Word of caution, because the garage doors have details laser cut into the surface, the edges of the top layer of MPF can peel up. I was able to carefully glue them back down but its precision maneuver and the material is fragile.
The roof just needed to be folded along the center line that is laser etched into the grey side. I assume bending it down from this side would be easier and less likely to break the two sides in half. I gently bent the side to an angle that matched the contour of the side walls.
The roof just needed to be folded along the center line that is laser etched into the grey side. I assume bending it down from this side would be easier and less likely to break the two sides in half. I gently bent the side to an angle that matched the contour of the side walls.
Taking this approach, enables me to have the option to remove the roof as one peace. This gives you easy access the inside when and if needed.
In the end, I bought two and completed them in very little time. They both look really good with vehicles parked beside them.
In the end, I bought two and completed them in very little time. They both look really good with vehicles parked beside them.
There are a few more steps needed before they are complete. These steps consist of sealing and painting. Youtube has a video which gives tips on how to build and finish similar building made from MPF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXxP6LkeEW8&t=159s
I will try and do a follow on post with the finished kit and a list of the products I ended up using.
When complete, they measure about 6.8” x 4.25” x 1.7”. They sell for $12.25, which I think is a good price for what you get. I am very happy with the results so far and cannot wait to finish them off. I will definitely order some more MPF buildings, from Gamecraft, in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXxP6LkeEW8&t=159s
I will try and do a follow on post with the finished kit and a list of the products I ended up using.
When complete, they measure about 6.8” x 4.25” x 1.7”. They sell for $12.25, which I think is a good price for what you get. I am very happy with the results so far and cannot wait to finish them off. I will definitely order some more MPF buildings, from Gamecraft, in the future.