GC Laser Models

I just acquired 4 GC Laser kits to assemble during my recovery and after closely examining all 4 kits, I have to say that I have never been so confused or disgusted with assembly instructions as I am with these. Besides the language being so bad and mixed up, you need a UN interpreter to figure out what is being said, the numbering of parts and cross referencing them to the bill of materials is extremely poor and leaves too much guesswork and ultimate confusion as to what they are and where they go. I have also found that the diaghrams shown on the instructions are far too small to give enough detail of assembly and there is no colour picture to show the completed assembly from all 4 sides so that there is a reference to go by. The one picture on the package is dreadfully insufficient. I also found that some of the small parts on the sprues are so close together that it is impossible to separate them from either the sprues or each other without breaking them into bits even when using the sharpest hobby knife in existance. There just is not enough detail to show beyond a doubt that part A does in fact fit to part G in this manner and so on. Sub assemblies are also not clearly indicated.
The language of the instructions is my biggest hang up. Some things are repeated twice, parts of lines are combined into other lines so that what is said makes absolutely no sense. Terms are used that are totally unfamiliar to anyone who has built any kind of model or kit.
In my 60 years, I have build many a model kit ranging from cars and trucks, to airplanes and ships as well as a few buildings and I have to say with all qualification, GC Laser's assembly instructions are pathetic.
In my opinion, they need to get a serious grip on whoever writes these things. Absolute clarity MUST take precedence over room on the paper or the size of the package. There must be no room for doubt or confusion.
That's how I see it anyway.

 

I think, the most appropriate to contact directly GC Laser. I'm sure they will appreciate your suggestions about improving their products. On this forum we don't make small manufacturers' life harder via negative adverising. Trust me, they already have a lot more "fun" than they deserve, just to stay in business.

 

I find kit instructions for most kits from most mfgs to leave a lot to be desired. Have to be patient and read and re-read the instructions. Usually things start to make sense. Writing instructions and making drawings of the parts doesn't seem to be the strong suit of most who make laser kits. Looks to me like GC Laser makes some nice kits but I haven't personally built one. I bet a lot of people have and have differning opinions.

Take a chill pill and try and look everything over again. It'll work out fine!

 

I must agree with you on that point of read and re-read the instructions. I've built one of the GLC kits and several others for that matter and I've always had to read the instructions through first and then re-read each step prior to assembly.
There are so many steps to the m,any details they are attempting to help you build into each kit that it's not the easiest thing to do. SO Trainkid has a point to Read Build a little and chill for a bit before going back to it.

Good luck and have fun.
And your doing a laser kit in Z scale; your one brave being:tb-smile:

 

As a designer and manufacturer of Z scale laser cut kits I must tell you that writing instructions as well as illustrating them is by far the most difficult part in the process of going from an idea to getting the kit into your hands. If I never had to write them (or get help from others to write them) I would be putting out probably 3 times as many kits and be a whole lot happier. We manufacturers, especially us smaller ones (thank you Lajos) have it tough enough to provide modelers with quality kits, trying to break even doing it, and feel encouraged enough to keep going at it. When we are harshly criticized for doing something the everyday modeler cannot do it makes us pause to think whether it is worth it all. I would love to give you a shot at watching the many difficult steps we go through and the many many hours it takes before we staple the finished kit together. We are not perfect, we are just plain ordinary people like you. I agree with Lajos that you should have taken this to GCLaser before airing your complaint in front of us all. I really take this kind of thing personally and am hoping that GCLaser will not take it too hard. They would listen to you had you approached them privately.

 

God Bless Ya for speaking the truth! These fancy lasers can slice a hair into 59 slivers, but my rusty xacto cannot cut the feedlot fences from the wood splinter without many unwanted cuts making even smaller pieces. So I have to buy 3 or 4 kits and hope I get enough good parts for one model. Not objectionable when the kits are under $10, but kinda pricey when the model kits start hitting $30 and above.

Since the model shops fancy laser is cutting wood anyway, why not cut the all pieces off the sprue, and the model shop draw an exact size of each piece template on the instruction so the builder can lay the loose pieces on the instruction for identification, and then have an exploded drawing showing all pieces collapsing into place view?

Language is always going to be a barrier, but good pictures and plenty of them speak 1000's of words most clearly.

 

Sumgai,
I can appreciate your desire for easing the build process, so have you considered using a magnifier to help see better? I won't start building a kit without mine nearby.
As for having all pieces loose, I've only had a few hours using a laser cutter ( so I'm so not an expert), but what you're asking for is maybe very impractical from a production standpoint. All those little doors and windows and other bits would fall through the platform in the laser cutter (think honeycomb) and mix with the other kits pieces. A nightmare for the kit manufacturer to sort and make sure you got all your pieces.
I also have done enough tech drawings to appreciate the time involved in making an exploded diagram. Hard to justify for the quantity of kits built, I suspect.

Karin,
I got my Schoolhouse kits in the mail yesterday and I love the work you've done. Several different thickness parts in an inexpensive kit is amazing. And the roof came out great- one of the best I've seen. Hats off to you and Loren.:thumbs_up: It's weird, but I am finding the lack of directions free-ing to personalize my models. But the kit does contain full sized drawings of all the pieces of the kit.
James

 

Right on Sumgai!

I have come across several kits from several manufactures that are either not cut entirely through, or they cut parts that are too thin. I understand that there needs to be one or two connections to the part tree, but when I need to trace the entire part with an xacto knife just to free it, it can become frustrating. Its also highly likely that I will ruin any fine detail parts. Ive come across two kits where some of the detail parts were cut so thin, that the part in between was all burnt wood, and crumbled the moment I touched it. None of the above problems would keep me from buying any of the kits again. Its just stuff I would prefer not to have to deal with.

The last kit I built, I didn't even use the instructions. It had 4 walls and a roof. Kind of hard to mess up. My lumber mill kit was much more complicated and I absolutely needed the instructions, but they were pretty good.

I really wish more manufacturers would provide their kits with floors. It really helps keep everything square during construction, and helps keep the walls from bowing. You just have to remember to put all the window glass in before you put on the roof.

-Curn

 

I quite agree with this idea. That would make the whole process infinitely easier.

 

I use a maganifier with a light in it. I admit it does help but not enough.

 

No insult was intended Karen. Just expressing my dismay at something that doesn't need to be this way.

 

As it turns out, I just fired off an email to GC Laser outlining my findings and I have made some suggestions. Whether or not it does any good remains to be seen. But I'm just one voice. So what!

 

I Hate Poor Instructions Too!!!

I hate poor instructions so much I refuse to subject anyone to the same hassels that they create. For this reason I am prone to build one of my items, photograph the heck out of the build, then modify each photo with arrows and diagrams and such, then post them here in TB along with lengthy descriptions of what is taking place. Last one was the build for the SD70ACe. I think it had close to 120 photos, but can't be for sure. I think I used 90+ of them to illustrate the build. I did leave some things out which have been reveilled since then like the close tollerance drilling out the head lights in the cab. Very sensitive area, easily break thru the roof. I am not perfect, but I believe in delivering detailed instructions. Makes life so much easier!!!

Hobo Tim

 

I would rather have a great kit with no instructions than a crappy kit with good instructions.

You can tell the way Robert's kits fit together that he has built and revised them. Some just re-size a HO or N scale drawing to N or Z and cut. You can show me where the parts go all day, but if they don't fit there who cares!

 

Laser kits are something that you get better with the more you do. I have to say the first couple that I did, well they weren't fun. What I really thought was neat was how MT came out with the kits in the order that they did. meaning they had a ramp, (easy), tool shed, cattle pin, all before the station. Basically it helped tune up the skills.

I love laser kits. You need plenty of blades, and the ability to not goop up the glue. after a while you find your groove.

I like kits that have peel and stick window trim and roofing.

 

I agree with Karin and Rob we all try to do the best on directions but can't please everyone. Each of my kits gets a few test builds before I start cutting. As for cutting the parts all out that would be a nightmare for everyone involved. Most of us have a setting for cutting each material size that should work on that thickness materials, but at times you get a hard area in the wood that just does not cut through. We all try to weed these out but can't get them all. IF you have one that you can't cut out drop the manufacturer a note and bet you get a new one back by return mail I now I do. We all like feed back good and bad or how do we improve our product.
rich
RSLaserKits Contact Us For High Quality Laser Cut Kits For Model Railroaders

 

I understand what everyone here is trying to say. I have undertaken to build a two car garage from GC Laser and as someone who has built many, many models of different materials and sizes over the years, I know what to do in as far as familiarizing myself with the parts, test fitting, pre-assembly painting and on and on and on. I'm not a novice by any stretch of the immagination. The whole point of my rant is the instructions and the wording of such. Every model I have ever built since I was 8, has always had explicit instructions as to what the part was, where it fit, how it fit, and so on. Even in some cases, what colour to paint it. There was never any doubt as to what part fit where and every part that was contained in the kit was indicated by number on the sprue and cross referenced on the bill of materials and on the actual assembly drawing itself. Absolutely no guess work. Sub assemblies were detailed again with the parts being clearly indicated and all parts were identifiable, even optional parts for customizing or making variations of certain models. But these instructions from GC are so poorly worded and badly indicated, no matter how many times I read and re-read, and re-re-read them, they make no sense at all. I've never run across anything like this in my entire life. It's like they were written by my 4 year old grandson. If GC would make their instructions clearer and more precise, there would be no room for doubt or confusion, and it would sure go a long way to making assembly of their kits a lot more enjoyable and far less stressful. All it would take is bigger paper, and someone with a strong command of the English language. It can't get any simpilar then that.

 

Bob Mitchell has done quite a number of reviews of laser cut structures in Ztrack Magazine. Bob is honest on the quality of the kits, and more importantly, the instructions. If you are planning on building a laser cut kit from any of the companies, take a look at the back issues of Ztrack to see if Bob has done a review. These article may give you some very valuable insight as you move forward.

Bob is reviewing Animek's 'Billy's House' in the upcoming January/February issue of Ztrack.

Rob