Miller Engineering immediately followed up their exciting new line of Z scale buildings with this unique diner! Etched in stainless steel, it represent the nostalgic period of cheap, but good food in the days of the dinners.
As with other Micro-Structure kits, the detailing is phenomenal. Intricate etched lines cover the sides of the structure. Clapboard siding covers the back wall. A detailed sign graces the roof, plus another sign is ready to top a sign post! Two fine staircases are included. Finally, outside details such as a telephone booth and bench round out the accessories The instructions are lengthy but thorough including both a visual diagram as well as written instructions. Painting and detailing tips are also in the instructions.
If you have built other Micro-Structures kits, then many facets of this piece will be very familiar to you. If not, I would recommend building another kit before attempting to build this item. The kit contains many small intricate parts as well as curves that can be tricky to the beginner and experienced modeler alike.
I recommend beginning by painting the entire structure first. Since there are so many large windows, (glazing included), paint the interior Floquil grimy black. To obtain the nice TgreenU patina look of the dinners, I used a Testors gloss green paint marker. Cover the sides with the marker, then use paint thinner or acetone with Q-tips to remove the paint to the desired look. Note, you will go though quite a few Q-tips! I also suggest testing a small area first to get a feel of the process.
I found everything went together very well. I did have a little trouble on the back staircase. The railings did not want to hold correctly. Build the front staircase first as it is an easier build before attempting the back staircase.
You will want to make sure your folds are tight since filling gaps is not an option with the stainless steel. This is very critical around the roof and the very narrow folds required with the sides of the flat roof.
The curved side walls can be intimidating, but they are not that difficult. Take your time and gently work the curve. I used a paint brush handle to help me form the curve. Also use the interior wall curved brace as a guide to form the curve.
The window in the curved section can be difficult. Follow the instructions carefully to get the desired affect.
Probably the trickiest piece to this whole kit is the telephone booth. Due to the intricacies involved, warpage can occur very easily. It was recommended to me to TfileU into the etch lines. This created even less resistance when you attempt to fold the pieces. This worked very well, but I should have filed a bit more as I still experienced some warpage.
Overall, this is a very fun and interesting kit to build. Time and patience is important as with other Micro-Structures kits, but I doubt if you will be disappointed in the results.
The Z scale Parkway Diner retails for $29.95 each. Check with your local dealer for availability. If your dealer does not carry Micro-Structures, this item can be ordered direct at the address listed at the beginning of the article. Please include $4.00 for shipping and handling.
-Rob Kluz, Ztrack