I recently bought this kit and wondered if anyone has built 1 yet. If so have you run into any issues I need to be aware of? This is a bucket list kit, I really want to do a good job. Also I saw at 1 time on Ebay a photo etched detail set for this kit. Does anyone know where to get 1 or if it is worth spending the money for? Any info will be greatly appreciated.
If it’s the kit I think it is I built it several years ago. As I recall it was easy to build in the sense that everything fit and there were no real problems. It came with some PE but not a great deal. If you have room to display it buy it.
i have that kit and doubt photoetch would be worth the time and money. laying your own track would be a challenge. i have laid 1/72 track and it’s faster than trying to make the plastic track look good. the only issue is getting the second rail EXACT. ifor DORA you have to do it twice AND THEN have those to parallel.
i was thinking of doing this for JIBBER and my 2015 RAILROADish GB but decided on 1/35 K-5 RR gun and maybe a gondola and diesel locomotive. DUKE MADDOG built one and had it at nationals in omaha.
As Wayne said, I built the 1/72 scale Hobby Boss Dora rail gun, completing it last year.It was a bucket list kit for me as well. You don’t need any additional photo-etch detail sets for this model; Hobby Boss includes all the photo-etch you’ll need so save your money. I built my Dora completely out of the box; no additional aftermarket accessories were needed. Most of the issues you have to watch out for are seams. There are a ton of seams, some in difficult places to fill and sand, but they all need to be filled and cleaned up. Add the outer and upper railings last; make it the last step after you glue all the sub-assemblies together. I kept my Dora in at least 18 sub-assemblies and several loose parts; even through the painting stage before I assembled everything together. One more thing: The pegs below the main chassis carriages (the ones with the photo-etch sheets on top) need to be reinforced or your Dora won’t sit on the tracks correctly.
It took me a little under one year and six months to complete Dora so expect to take a considerable amount of time to build her. Take your time and read the instruction booklet throughly. I also went through and made notes to myself in the booklet to remind myself to paint something first, or leave a part or three off until later so they wouldn’t be broken off during assembly etc.
Here are some pictures of my Dora after she was completed:
I look forward to seeing your progress as you build this thing so please be sure to post pics and do a build log as you go along. Most of all, have fun with your Dora and good luck.