Trust me on this, hydrocal kits do not bite. : )

by **downtowndeco** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 5:07 pm

Following Candy's fine thread I see something that I often do when reading builds about plaster kits. People are afraid of them. : ) Don't be. Let me tell you why.

If you're building one of my kits don't be afraid of getting a broken piece, our policy is we'll replace any broken part at no charge no matter what the reason. You bought it at a hobby shop & it came broken? We'll replace the parts. You bought it at a swap meet? Same thing. It wasn't broken but you dropped it while building it? Give me a call & I'll send the parts (nc). Five years after you built it your grandson knocks it off the layout? Again, I'll send you the parts for free.

Afraid you might muck up the painting? Have at it & if you don't like the way it came out I'll send you another set of castings at no charge to try again. Of course, if you follow my tutorial it should come up pretty good but if you mess it up just let me know & I'll get you taken care of.

Warped part? That happens sometimes. I produce literally thousands of castings each year & sometimes one slips by me.Usually a few swipes with a sanding block will sort it out but if not, let me know & I'll be glad to send you a replacement part.

They're really not that scary, especially once you get the first one under your belt. Worst comes to worst you can just epoxy it together & spray it primer red. It'll look like a plastic kit (w/cool detail). The charm of the things though, is to bring all that detail out. Again, if you follow my tutorial you should have pretty good results.

I was happy to see George include hydrocal castings in his latest kit, the more, the merrier. I wish more manufactures would do plaster kits. The more that are out there the less fear there would be of them. Try one of my kits, and whether it comes out good, or bad or whatever at least you'll be past your fear. : ) Trust me on this, it's not that big of a deal.

Hey, while I have your ear, how about joining us on Facebook? I update almost daily including diorama photos, building tips & news from the shop.

Cheers!

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco

by **NEMMRRC** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 5:29 pm

downtowndeco wrote:...
Hey, while I have your ear, how about joining us on Facebook? I update almost daily including diorama photos, building tips & news from the shop.

Cheers!

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco

And sometimes Randy also alerts followers of some good deals on Downtown Deco kits from his Facebook page. And, the pictures are great.

Jaime

by **bparrish** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:12 pm

Randy

Thanx for the moral support and fine service as a company. I have found plaster castings to be a really fun medium.

Thanx
Bob

by **Janbouli** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:20 pm

Thanks Randy, currently building RSLasers Plantation store ( another nice kit Rich ) and then I'll go for one of yours, I have Pattersons Hardware and Blair Avenue part II, wich should I start with?

Janbouli

by **jerrman** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:19 pm

Randy, for those of us not on Facebook (because frankly, I have more than enough "friends" :lol:

) do you put those updates and diorama pictures on your website as well? Last time I looked at it, the last update was 4/11. Thanks.

Jerrman

by **MRDawg** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:06 pm

Randy,
Thank you for posting this. I am one of those who have been afraid of building your kits. I've looked at them over and over and just never felt comfortable to order one. I was recently at an estate sale of a Reverend who had passed. Apparently he lived alone and was working on a huge model railroad. I happened to find 4 of your kits. 3 of them were still sealed. The 4th was opened but the tape around the plastic hadn't been cut. I added these kits to my pile. Once I got home I opened them all up and they were all intact. Everything was there and not a single casting was broken.
I want to build one so bad, but I'm still scared. I did finally go out and buy epoxy tho, so I'm one step closer.

I think one of my biggest fears is painting it. With wood kits I feel I have more control as it seems I am painting individual pieces that arn't connected to each other. You would think it wouldn't bother me as I used to paint miniature for wargames. The hands were a bit steadier then tho.
Anyways, I'm going to watch Candy's post, and then maybe break down and do it. I'll never know until I try. I have already bookmarked your tutorial. The only question I have is which would be the easier kit for a beginner? I have Adams Ave parts 1, 3, and 4 and the first Skid Row kit. Perhaps not one is easier than the other, but I figure if anyone would know it would be you.
Again, thank you for this post, the turtorial, and for being one of the GREAT manufactuers who genuinely cares about his customers.

by **gnatshop** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:16 pm

in my opinion, Randy is on of those 'Good Guy' manufacturers! :-bd

I've got several of his kits sitting on my shelves, just haven't built one yet.
Not out of fear - with his instructions and tutorial, they look pretty straight-forward and
relatively easy.
I just have a case of Jaime disease - hit a slump combined with being a lazy-a**! =))

by **rslaserkits** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:57 am

Janbouli wrote:Thanks Randy, currently building RSLasers Plantation store ( another nice kit Rich ) and then I'll go for one of yours, I have Pattersons Hardware and Blair Avenue part II, wich should I start with?

Janbouli

Thanks Jan, the plantation store is a fun kit in my mind. As for Randy's kits just follow his painting directions and they will turn out great. And post photos

rich

by **IowaFarmBoy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:41 am

If anything bad ever happens to it we'll replace the casting(s) is a pretty fantastic guarantee. Wow! :-bd

by **jlgrove** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:22 am

IowaFarmBoy wrote -
If anything bad ever happens to it we'll replace the casting(s) is a pretty fantastic guarantee. Wow!

...and trust me, Randy means it...and he's great to talk to.... $\m/$ $\m/$

Jeff

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