The Little World

We often encounter notes on short-run kit instructions that tell us to scratch-build some part.

It may be a strut or part of an interior. Perhaps a flap or plate or even part of the undercarriage. Indeed there can be kits where the parts are provided but are of such poor quality that you are desperate for something better.

Of course with the fully-stocked aftermarket shop and the little packets of resin or brass parts you never need worry. However, if you model at the end of the world and there is no aftermarket anything, worrying is recommended. Worry leads to determination and invention.

Scratch-building is facilitated by the K&S brass and aluminium rack as well as the Plastruct and Evergreen display stands. You can get more things in more shapes than you ever thought of. The trouble is you may need to buy far more than you will ever use. Lengths of things and packets of sheet material. The price starts to climb and rarely dives.

Here is where a secondary seller could do well. Make up a small mixed packet of half-length strip, L, box, and rod styrene or of smooth and corrugated sheet, together with a few sticks of balsa or lime wood and sell it as a scratch-building kit. Charge double for the material supplied in small packets and it would still be a better buy for the final purchaser.