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8th January 2025.

A talk by Jakub Stachula, from LCUT Creative.

Our January meeting was a presentation by Jakub about the kits they design and produce at LCUT, with information on how a kit is developed, leading onto some assembly and painting techniques.

LCUT Creative started in 2013 and has a growing range of model railway kits, now including a variety of buildings including stations, signal boxes, engine sheds, as well as modular building parts and detailing. They work in several scales with kits suitable for N, TT(1:120), OO and O gauge layouts.

To make components like walls of buildings they use laser cutting parts from ply/MDF/card materials, where the speed and power of the laser can be varied from a fine surface detail line, through to a more powerful pass to cut right through the material. Other detail parts in some kits are now 3D printed stereolithography, using a photosensitive resin which is cured layer by layer to make fine components.

New kit ideas come from customer suggestions, gaps in the market, planned range expansion (e.g. other scales), or sometimes just because they feel like doing a certain model! Ideas are reviewed to consider how it might be made, technical challenges, and its commercial viability. Once it proceeds into development, information is gathered from books, plans and pictures. Often sizes of buildings can be estimated by experience, or perhaps even by counting bricks in a photograph. The object is then broken down into 2D and 3D pieces for either laser cutting or 3D printing, drawn up on CAD, then the parts are subject to test builds to make sure the pieces fit together correctly. Changes might be considered for simpler or better construction, or to optimise use of materials for production.
Once the parts are finished then follows the instructions documentation and packaging.

For assembly of the kits they suggest PVA for thicker materials, Deluxe Materials Laser Kit Glue for thinner materials, then CA (superglue) or contact adhesive for 3D printed parts. Tools required are simply a ruler, a craft knife, and some patience!

 

Painting begins with a primer such as from Halfords, then further painting can be with acrylics or enamels. Jakub showed some videos of assembly and painting methods - the link to their Youtube channel is below.

I am sure the members enjoyed Jakub’s presentation, it was most informative and showed the careful thought that goes into each kit. His tips and techniques will also surely come in useful in our own modelling.

Website :  https://www.lcut.co.uk/
Youtube Channel :  https://www.youtube.com/@LCUTcreative