I finally got around to assembling the rural platform and extension set this week-end. I originally thought that I would have to use adhesive, but it turns out that all the pieces are assembled together with screws. There's a lot of small peripheral pieces like lamps, station intercoms, electrical telephone poles, fences, signals, etc. I elected to work on the platform for now. That's the primary reason why I bought this structure. There are plastic lamp poles, but I did not put them on the platform. I'm considering using lighted platform lamps later on. I like the Brawa #4643. I think they would match the platform very well.
I started with the roof sections. They were fairly easy to assemble as there were only four pieces per roof section. The length of each section is 124mm. Two came with the rural platform and two with the extension set. I really liked how they designed the pieces to fit together, but I'm not entirely keen on the plastic Kato uses. The plastic seems fairly brittle so I'll have to be extra careful. I've already broke a piece off one of my catenaries.
The platforms took a bit more effort to assemble. The platforms with the roof sections needed more attention. I had to drill holes in the platform to attach the roof sections. I used the needle off my compass to penetrate through the surface of the platform. I used my small cylindrical file to enlarge the holes until the posts fit.
To get to the other platform, passengers have to cross the tracks. There are ramps at the ends of the platforms. Kato also provide a set of stairs that allow passengers to get down from the platform to track level. These can be placed in the middle of the platform, but I had to cut out a section of the platform to accommodate the steps. I didn't do a very clean cut, but it works well enough for me. Besides, the roof section will partially obscure the view of the steps should anyone want to have a closer look.
The rural platform is 1" wide which is narrower than the suburban platforms as the pedestrian traffic is less congested. The original plan was to have only a pastoral setting for ICEs to speed through, but with this new layout design I can add an additional table up against the rural platform. I'm trying to figure if I can include a cathedral. I've got my eye on the Kibri Romanesque cathedral (#7025), but it may be too big.
Each platform is 744mm in length not including the ramps. I was thinking of getting another extension set, but it appears that won't be necessary. My platform is long enough to accommodate my DB Regio or the LINTs that I have on order. Hopefully my concrete piers and 348mm 30deg viaducts come in soon.
I started with the roof sections. They were fairly easy to assemble as there were only four pieces per roof section. The length of each section is 124mm. Two came with the rural platform and two with the extension set. I really liked how they designed the pieces to fit together, but I'm not entirely keen on the plastic Kato uses. The plastic seems fairly brittle so I'll have to be extra careful. I've already broke a piece off one of my catenaries.
The platforms took a bit more effort to assemble. The platforms with the roof sections needed more attention. I had to drill holes in the platform to attach the roof sections. I used the needle off my compass to penetrate through the surface of the platform. I used my small cylindrical file to enlarge the holes until the posts fit.
To get to the other platform, passengers have to cross the tracks. There are ramps at the ends of the platforms. Kato also provide a set of stairs that allow passengers to get down from the platform to track level. These can be placed in the middle of the platform, but I had to cut out a section of the platform to accommodate the steps. I didn't do a very clean cut, but it works well enough for me. Besides, the roof section will partially obscure the view of the steps should anyone want to have a closer look.
The rural platform is 1" wide which is narrower than the suburban platforms as the pedestrian traffic is less congested. The original plan was to have only a pastoral setting for ICEs to speed through, but with this new layout design I can add an additional table up against the rural platform. I'm trying to figure if I can include a cathedral. I've got my eye on the Kibri Romanesque cathedral (#7025), but it may be too big.
Each platform is 744mm in length not including the ramps. I was thinking of getting another extension set, but it appears that won't be necessary. My platform is long enough to accommodate my DB Regio or the LINTs that I have on order. Hopefully my concrete piers and 348mm 30deg viaducts come in soon.
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