Review of Basilica di S. Ambrogio Milano Italia. designed by Jesus Moctezuma for DomusKit
The DomusKits attarction are many, but the one that is the most visual when you look at the sheets is that all the parts are pre-punched for you. This lends itself to a speedy construction schedule for the model. One thing that I do is to take a pair of clippers and cut the fuzzy nub that remains from the pre punching process. Let me explain, the individual piece is pre-punched, but sill in the sheet of paper held there by small tabs of un cut paper, similiar to perferations. This small tap is what I trim down on the individual pieces before gluing them together. The one draw back is that sometime the alignment of the pucnh is just slightly off from the printed piece, though this has nevered made a model look bad. The instructions are in four different lahguages, Italian English, German, and French, There are 10 pages in the instruction manual, th ifrst two pages gives a history of the building itself. The following eight pages has the construction diagrams that show each pices and it relationship with the piece that it needs to be glued to. The individual pieces are numberted and are put together in the oreder they are numbered, with the exception of piece 24 and 25 whicht are glued to parts 57 and 64 respectively.
Construction:
The above photo is of Part A which consist of pieces 1-19,
construction time on this portion was about 2 hours, providing an
evenings worht of work and something to show for it. There is one
thing that I came across with putting this part together, piece 1 and
2 had to be trimmed at the top. these form the sides of piece seven,
without trimming they would have stuck above the roof edge that is
to overhang this wall.
Piece 58 was the most difficult piece to go together as it
required to folded and glued to itself for form double sided and
double thickness portions. Then added that there are several small
pieces that had to be folded and glued inside this piece. Diagram 27
in the instructions show this clearly but without the order of
insertation for easiest construction, though after I got it finished,
I realised it was easier than it firsted looked.
Piece 58 anfter being foled glued and the individual pieces
attached to it. This piece in now ready to glued to the side of the
main nave of the churche which is Part E
More walls, windows and down pipes for a touch of variety. At
this point the walls have not been glued to the base or to each
other.
This is a series of chapels that are assemblied individual and
attached to the side of Part F. The one thing that I would have liked
to see with the attachment of these to Part F is guide lines on Part
F. I didn't get them lined up perfectly which caused a minor gap
between some of them. On the other hand these were originally
construction over time in the original building and it might be that
they are perfectly aligned with one another. Looking at the
completed model, the irregulatity can only be seen on close
inspection and then only if you know what your looking
for.
Photo of the main part of the basilica looking down., before
the chapels were glued in place
Some notes of individual piecs:
Piece 27 is shown in the diagram as being glued to piece 28 with tabs and slots, while this technique may aid in the orientation of the pieces together, I feel that is lends itself to a clunky connection wherer if not doen perfect leaves gaps. Where as if there were foled under and glue was applied to the tab, as well as a small amount along the lenght of the connection, the pieces look better.
Note in diagram B one piece in mis-named, this shouldn't cause any problesm, sepecially if you just look at the shapes of the pieces that are going toghether. Any way the diagrams also shows the next step and calles out the same piece wi the correct number.
The part that furstraed me is the length of pieces 35A, 38, 39, and 35B. When put side by side they are longer than the wall that they go against. This caused about and 1/8" (3mm) overhang. It in no way distracts from the look af the finished model.
There are several roof pieces in a cone shap where the seam jus
| Model: | Basilica di S. Ambrogio |
| Publisher: | Domus Kit |
| Designer: | Jesus Moctezuma |
| Scale: | 1:300 |
| Difficulty: | Mild |
| Number of Parts: | 8 Sheets, 93 Pieces |
| Instructions: | English, Italian, French, and German |
| Diagrams: | Excellent |
| Coloring and Artwork: | Excellent, glossy. |
| Availability: | Domus |
