The kit consists of well-detailed and textured plaster wall castings that had little flash, no air bubbles, and were perfectly flat. They fit together well with a minimum of sanding and filling. The assembled building’s footprint measures a scale 32 x 36 feet and the walls are 36 feet high.
Even though my kit was carefully packed in a sturdy corrugated box, I found the fragile front wall had broken into several pieces. The damage took only a few minutes to repair with white glue, which I chose to use rather than the recommended epoxy and cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesives.
The balance of the kit includes construction paper for window shades and roofing material, Grandt Line styrene windows and doors, several sheets and strips of styrene, wire, and a unique sign stencil.
The instructions are a bit sketchy, but the details are clearly explained and there wasn’t much to figure out with only four walls and a roof. I added ¼”-square wood bracing for additional reinforcement in the corners. A pair of color photos are included on the box and several drawings are provided in the instructions. Building and painting the kit took about ten hours.
The unusual finishing techniques suggested by Downtown Deco resulted in an extremely realistic simulation of brick, which I plan to use again. The sign stencil was easy to apply and it provided a realistic painted-on sign. Several smaller paper signs are included, but the large expanses of plain walls just cry out for additional signage. I plan to add an outside kitchen and stairwell in the future.
Depending upon how it’s weathered, the completed Atlantic Hotel is an attractive city structure that will fit right into a wide range of eras.
Price: $79.95
Manufacturer:
Downtown Deco
4319 Rainbow Drive
Missoula, MT 59083
www.downtowndeco.com
Description:
Cast plaster, styrene, and paper craftsman kit
