To be fair to Wills, it does say in their catalogue on page 50 "Constructing a Craftsman model is certainly not as easy as putting a Wills Scenic Series kit together for you need the ability to cut cleanly 1.5mm plastic sheet". They also say "The use of sheet materials rather than moulded parts allows you the opportunity to easily modify the design to suit your needs.."

I started off the Wills craftsman kits with the goods shed. In all fairness, I expected it to be a simple kit and finding out that you had to scratch-build it scared me at first. My first attempt was a little rough on the edges to say the least, but with the right measurements, tools and patience, they're pretty good! I now use these kits on a regular basis and it's even got me into the scratch-building craze on my model railway. I regularly show my projects on my Facebook page.

I love these kits but to be fair, I knew what the craftsman series kits entailed and they do make up superb buildings with a little practice and the correct tools.

I must admit Jenny i was dissopointed with the first wills kit i bought , i thought it was a mistake and they forgot to drill out the windows etc, now i always use wills kits to scratchbuild my models, its VERY time consuming but the results are worth it, i once used 4 engine shed kits to build a large engine shed, i made the walls thicker and used parts from the viaduct kit, to represent stone lintels , it took ages to build but i am most pleased with the results, after a couple of years i now LOVE the wills materials and i have built many unique buildings , so don't give up on the wills kits just yet, by the way nice layout .

I love these kits. I have scratch built a signal box that is based on the one that was at East Leake station on the GCR. I posted some photos of it on one of the Facebook groups. All I had was photos of it to go by, but in the end it is very passable. You did a great job of it. I plan on expanding the shed and make it a 6 road one to house up to 18 locomotives.

Anything with Craftsman on it is like this. I remember seeing it maybe in a magazine so that is how I found out what they were. If I am correct they are not templates but just drawings with the measurements of the pieces needed to be cut so you just take the measurements and mark them on the plasticard. I do agree though a little more thought in the wording and packaging wouldn't go miss. You've a made a nice job of it !!

Thanks for the warning Jenny, I will stick to Metcalfe. You made a good job of in the end.

Thanks for the save there, Jennifer! Definitely not a scratch builder myself.

Just a point to add Jennifer. Look at the Ratio kits and I think they will be what you are expecting. I have just finished my Wills Goods shed, and I am now on to my Ratio timber/coal merchant shed. All parts are ready cut...just paint and assemble, or assemble and paint...some thought needed here, but I think these kits will be for you and many others.

Many years ago I bought four of these kits to make into one huge shed. It was a daunting task but the end result was superb and well worth the time and effort, but I get where you are coming from regarding the description.

I bought one second hand from the Bluebell last year and while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting I knew that this particular brand tends to be more advanced. When I opened it up my curiosity was sufficiently piqued that I gave it a go. Still not finished. I'm not the most confident modeller so I really am taking my time with this one (4 months so far!) but since it was second hand if I do mess it up then I will only really have lost the time I invested in it. Yours looks pretty good though. It certainly doesn't look like you hated every second haha

The Wills Craftsman Series is for those modellers who wish to dip their toes into the water of scratch building. It provides provides cutting templates, comprehensive instructions, and sheet material and mouldings. It isn't a traditional construction kit. I notice that the packaging on your example differs from the packaging on the kits I have. On mine, included is a description of the model and the following advice: "In addition to the usual assembly steps, completion of this kit will also require the use of hand tools necessary to cut, drill and finish plastic sheet materials around 1.5mm (0.060") thick. Scenic materials, paint and adhesives not included" This advice is displayed prominently on the finished example photo on the box front. Finally I would urge anyone contemplating scratch building to consider one of these kits they are excellent as a stepping stone into the world of scratch building.

Great review Jenny. Thank You

hi jen. as a model maker for over fifty years for me building this kit is not too much of a problem. however for someone who is not i can see the point you are making. far better i think is the metcalf kit for the less experienced modeler. and yes the picture may be a little misleading .but you made a decent model out of it.cheers tom.

That good to know I was going to get one of them kits thanks Jenny for the heads up

Very helpful, thank you. A pleasant surprise that your story didn't end where you said that the kit should go in the bin. I didn't notice you say that you'd made a formal complaint (to whoever you bought it from) which might be best done before the possibility that the manufacturer sees this video, and also might bring about improved labelling in future.

cutting mat, Stanley knife, straight edge, clamps, set square, files craft knives, wet and dry, couple of evenings, few swear words, nice glass of whiskey, possibly the odd band-aid and / or trip to casualty, job done, practice and experience, turned out well after all, probably great for kit-bashing several into a larger shed, p.s. have a go at U.S. Pikestuff buildings, they have cut-outs on the back for easy re-sizing of parts, and usually lots of spare bits, and walthers coerrnerstone stuff too, and watch out for Gaugemaster, a lot of nice kits branded as 'OO' but are re-boxed HO European, still useful though. building site one especially

Thanks for Sharing Jenny! Was about to purchase this one. I don’t get how they can claim it’s a kit because really as you’ve said it’s a scratch build. I think I’ll just scratch build my own one! Thanks and grateful to see unbiased reviews... thanks Jenny!

It's no secret that they are more involved than most plastic kits.

Like you I purchased a similar 'kit' of another building. I was greatly disappointed to the extent that I've finished with Wills kits now. There are other kit producers that I've found reliable. If the box had been clearer as to what was inside I wouldn't have purchase it. I agree with everything you say.

Some time ago I bought a 'craftsman' Wills kit and it was not what I expected. I could not finish the kit and have never purchased any Wills product since. I agree with you - a total waste of money.

I think the title on the box "Crafts Man Kit" explains that you don't just take the box and shake it and hey presto you have a compleated model. When you see some other kits you get of american buildings you get a kit where some effort to build it. Have you ever built an Ian Kirk LNER coach Kit?

Hope you are feeling better!

I built one of these nearly 40 years ago and it was even worse you had to cut out the windows as well. I managed to finish it after about 2 months but I never liked it and had great pleasure breaking it apart to build coal bunkers. It was a rip off then you could buy the window frames and the sheets for less than the price of the kit basically all you were getting for your extra was the instructions.

Boy Jenny I'm glad you put this video out. I actually had this in my wishlist, not any more. LOL. If looked at the other comments and I'll remember about craftsman kits. Besides that you produced a nice job. I was actually surprised that you built it anyway for what you said in the beginning of the video.

You’ve actually done quite an admirable job Jenny, looks pretty good to me😀👍🏻

I think that the word 'craftsman' gives a clue, and a look at youtube under wills craftsman kits would have saved you some disapointment. I have built the station kit and it is really great, it was my first attempt at scratch building and was an interesting exercise. I am very pleased with the result and i even went so far as to light the rooms with LED's and decorate them. As you say scratch building is not for everyone, and although I am very limited in my interest in model railways, but I do find the wills kits good value and the components of good quality.

Thank you for the video. Sometimes unfavourable videos can be very useful. Must admit that if I was after an engine shed I would look to see what Metcalfe offers. If I wanted to scratch build I would still do it in cardboard/brick papers etc.

The craftsman series are all the same, should do you your research before you buy. The embossed plastikard is far superior to the card kits the raised brickwork is better than flat cardboard, all kits have positive and negatives and this is just the same. Think your score of 2 out of ten is a bit harsh. Andy

Wills are not the only manufacturer who are using shiny pictures of fully built and highly detailed painted buildings to sell products. You see an amazing looking building in the picture but that isnt what you get in the package. Good job on giving people an idea of what they are buying into. You made a decent job of it Jenny. Will look lovely once you have given it some painting and weathering. Caveat emptor. These kinds of kits are not beginner level and it is not the cheapest way to build. I myself love scratch building and avoid buying the kits but I do sometimes use the pictures as a guide to create something similar for a fraction of the cost.

Hi Jennifer, Having read some of the comments that this has produced more agree with you than disagree and I am with you 100% it may well say craftsman kit on the box but are they implying that you do not need skills to build proper "kits" I think you do and to expect you to do this amount of work it should be made clear in large letters on the box but you made a super job of it but it must have taken ages to do and unlike me you and lots of other modelers are busy people with other thing that need your time a "proper kit" would have taken a lot less time to build and would not put off people with out your skills. Cheers Robert.

I agree absolutely with you! I had bought this years ago and now realise why I never built it. I am now attempting to do so and I am absolutely mystified as to why they moulded it the way they did.

I have had a few Wills kits and they are more like a semi scratch build. I have always had good results with them and can paint them as required. I am getting this shed for Xmas and also the stone country station. I have just completed the Goods Shed. I love them but you have to be aware that an amount of skill and know how is reqired to build them. If you do this they are much more realistic than many. I think the problem here is that this was not what you was expecting. Also what is supplied are drawings not Templates. For me I am a retired Aircraft fitter so I have no problems with any of it. If you are a Solicitor , Maths Teacher , Brain Surgeon or many other skills that are not ivolved with drawings and basic marking out and cutting you may struggle, unless you have taken or are prepared to take the time to learn these skills. Why not buy the sheets etc. instead? Well its all here for you in one kit without the running around and list making and the illustration on the box shows what can be acheived. Its a great video though and does highlight what is required for other folks this may not be suitable for, and basically that is all it comes down to, the kit is NOT poor in any respect.

I’m glad I found this review, as I was just about to order their Watermill Kit for my new layout and when I double checked it is indeed a “Craftsman” kit. No way I’d be skilled enough to complete it. I’ll struggle with regular kits tbh 😂😂

Yep! Just like Craftsman style kits worldwide! I have several I bought many years ago, probably will never build them. They have sheets of balsa or basswood, strips of wood, some have small blocks of wood, and just pictures and some measurements for you to work from. Stripwood for framing and reeinforcement, and not much extra-plan carefully. Avoid any kit marked "Craftsman Style"or series'

Hi Jenny, same experience for me. Bought this some years ago expecting a standard kit, wasted my money too as I'm a novice kit builder. Learned afterwards that the 'Craftsman Series' are much more involved and require cutting parts out yourself! It's not very clear, maybe Peco should put a clearer description on the box? Great video, thumbs up!

I built the station building a couple of years ago it made a lovely station but what a nightmare to cut out all the windows never again ! Also the plastic is more prone to cracking than you would expect !

I was also completely shattered when I opened the kit. I concur with your assessment. I put mine away. Being in my 80th year it wasn't for me however as we went into another lockdown I decided to give it a go. I was building a small country station CK-17 for a OO9 layout. I found the building too large and had to make my own modification to make it look something like the size of my other PECO kit LK-13 which didn't require any cutting. I have now finished my modifies station and have so many sheets and bits and pieces left over that I am now looking at what else I can design and build for the layout. I guess that is the Scottish blood coming out in me.

All the 'craftsman' kits are the same. Standard sheet materials with sheets of full size plans that show you where to cut. These are not 'airfix' type glue part 1 to part 2 kits. They are in effect one small step back from scratch building. I have built a few of these kits and I might be in a minority but I enjoyed building them.

Great work.

Good review Jenny !And well done for the end result . This is very good for your modeling skills but understand that someone with no knowledge would really struggle.

Nice honest review Jenny. I am a Metcalfe fan I must say.

I know how you feel about the kit. I once purchased an Aeronaut wooden boat kit that looked good on the box and they said it was suitable for a beginner. Even though the parts were laser printed they needed a lot of work to cut them out and fit them together.. Basically I paid a lot of money for just a box of wood. However the kit is coming on just fine although a little slowly and I have learned a lot on the way. Do not be too disheartened because your finished building looks fine to me and I am sure you will be pleased with yourself when you display it on the layout.

I have to say given your (completely legitimate) comments on the nature of this “kit” you’ve come out with something pretty good at the end of the day. Well done!

On the plus side the contents are far cheaper than buying separately. I've bought two for a four road shed. I agree the templates are out (so are the angles btw) however I've gone my own way.

All the Wills Craftsman kits are the same. I bought there pair of cottages many years ago, still not made it yet, better if they were pre cut. They involve at lot of work and patience.

Still a good job! Looks the part now its done.

Interesting. Thanks Jenny , wouldn’t have known that.

I have made lots of wills kits up they make very nice models yes you do have to have a lot of patients with them they are a good start and can be adapted to your requirements card kits are ok but lack details I have sold a lot of the ones I made

Wills have obviously not done their homework or research. The roof on this shed is a north light truss roof. It should have windows on the shorter slope and as the name implies this side should be facing north. Or as near as. It's amazing how many layouts I've seen with north light roof structures facing differing directions on the same layout. With all that being said, I can see what Wills are trying to do with this Craftsman series. In that it's an aid or means of developing your skills into scratch builder, if that's what you want. But the packaging should be clearly marked explaining this.

Well, Jenny, congratulations! For an Unscratchbuilder who stated the bits would go straight in the scrapbox, you seem to have done well... and from 1/10 you now gave it 2/10. It now looks not half bad. Well done!

These kits are a real challenge to build and the earlier versions had plastic sheets which were hard to cut, however the plastic is a bit softer now. I agree with you, the drawings could have been to scale and the instructions could have been clearer. These kits are getting a bit long in the tooth now and the prices compare unfavorably to laser cut kits. I have successfully made a few kits in this series but, my goodness, it was a struggle in the beginning. Your's came out very well, congratulations for your persistence.

I'm slowly plugging away at a Craftsman goods shed. I thought I'd have a bash at it but I also felt mislead as to what was in the box.

Thanks Jenny - forewarned is forearmed - will save my money and stick with regular kits and Metcalfe.

I am with you on this.

I am sitting here managed quarantine in Perth Western Australia trying to make a Wills industrial unit. What a mess! Cutting out windows from plastic in a straight line is impossible. Give me Metcalfe any day!

Craftsman Kits are like this Jenny, one has to semi-scratchbuild them...

I think it's great and the finished result was well worth it. The word "craftsman" is a bit of a giveaway as to what type of kit it is and what assembling it will involve.

It turned out OK in the end although obviously only after a lot of work. I have a Wills signal box kit to build but it's listed as being in the "scenic" series rather than "craftsman" so I hope it's a simpler prospect.

There's not really any excuse for this in the age of cheap laser cutters. It would have taken well under an hour to draw the whole thing up in CAD, then just taken probably no more than a couple of minutes per kit to whack out all the pieces. The final thing looks great, but that's testament to your modelling skills rather than the kit quality.

Hi Jenny, I would be disappointed with this kit, if I wanted to scratch build I would buy the materials myself. Cheers John.

Considering what it was, and your misgivings, it turned out remarkably well. "Craftsman" kits are that murky middle ground between scratch- and kit-built. On my O scale narrow guage layout, the engine shed is scratch built. But for my OO guage interest, I'd probably just buy Scale Scene or similar, with Metcalf as the upper end of my aspirations.

I’ve tried wills kits before, and their spare material sheets, all are murder to cut as the material is so thick.

Well, Jenny, I will give you 10 out of 10 for even attempting to make it. I think in the end you did make a reasonable model of it. But, .it will be Metcalfe for me If I cannot afford it then it will be Wordsworths. I am enjoying your build. Martin (Thailand)

The slightest possibility of a warning is that it says "craftsman kit" under the scale in the top left corner. The old wooden freight car kits said "craftsman kit" and you had a lot of cutting to do yourself. Probably fooled and going to fool a lot of people. The end product you have turned out looks nice from the shots you showed. I think you did a great job. Don't doubt yourself so much. I think you have more skills than you let yourself think you do. They made it hard but you did great. I give you a 10 of 10 for your outcome! 👍

This is very substandard. You seem to have made a good job of it in the circumstances. The roof would look good with moss.

Totally agree with you on this. If I paid for a kit I'd only be expecting to clean off any flash and paint and glue it together. It does mention on the Peco website that it uses sheet plastic but if I'd bought it from my local supplier unknowingly I'd be taking it back. Good on you for sharing your disappointment and saving others from the same fate.

I do scratch-build and you're right. I wouldn't go for this either. Why would I? I would get the bits like the window frames possibly, and use other materials for the rest.

craftsman kit. basic parts are supplied, you do the rest. craftsman in plastic (e.g pikestuff), those old silverstreak wagon kits. feel sorry that your expectations were different, sometimes you really have to have an idea beforehand what you're getting. just recently built up a laser cut building and there were absolutely no instructions whatsoever, but you just look at it and think that goes there, this goes here. I hate scratchbuilding cos I'm lazy. Good effort J.K but really think before you go out shopping have an idea what you're looking at before hand. You do good reviews on stuff for others, was there none on wills craftsman for you? :) keep at it, you did good

I was looking at these kits at the weekend after deciding to get into the hobby. I've been scale modelling for years so if I had to I could build up the kit from what is provided, but like you I expected this to be a kit, not sheets with templates. The price on these for what they are is ridiculous. I could pick up a very good and highly detailed kit of say an aircraft, tank erg for that kind of money. I've got a few Plastic Ratio kits and they are what they say, 'kits'! I'll just pick up the plastic sheets and plasti card and scratch my own buildings for a fraction of the cost of a Wills Kit.

Very generous on 2/10. Finish looks good. Very informative

Nice to see you back after your little problem. Honestly, about Peco and Peco brands plastic kits, I have the impression that they are selling outdated designs, with poor conception. I've bough a Peco NB6 goods shed (I'm an N-scaler) and I have found the instruction sheet poorly drawn and confusing, the overall design sloppy and akward to assemble and, last nail in the coffin, the packaging so poor that some plastic elements were warped on arrival, preventing me, for instance, to complete the roof without a significant gap at the top. On the other hand, like some said before, Metcalfe cardboard kits are a great pleasure to build, and you've got a very decent work for a correct price. I'm sticking with them. For the buildings I need not in their range, well, I will try scratchbuilding from 1mm carboard. One of my test based on a goods shed built from a carboard box of pasta was good enough to give me ideas for more builds. And thanks for your videos, they are always interesting, whatever you do in modelling.

Oh my life, never seen anything quite so vague. Can’t see how that is described as a ‘kit’. I am personally into scratch building as I often cannot buy exactly what I want, yet fully understand those who are not and when you buy a kit the build should be simple and clear. Imagine a similar thing with an Airfix aeroplane or ship. Cut out parts the following parts using the given template. Now hold over a hot flame the make the curve of the body side. As Peco have recently taken over those other brands like wills and ratio, let’s hope they go through each kit adapt and improve them. At the end of the day you have done a great job, especially now it’s weathered too, well done!

For me the kit looks quite good though it's not what we used to call "just shake the box" I must be in the minority as I would relish building it!

Fair review, I personally enjoy scratch building but that is not a "kit" in my view and would put people off the hobby in a big way. Well done by the way for sticking to the task.

Thank you warning

Looks nice in the end but wow they need to give more information on the front of the box. Basically it's just copy paste on the plastic. Would there be that many downpipes and gutters.

Could you take or send the 'kit' back to the supplier if it's not what it suggests it is on the packaging?

I would stick with Metcalfe, you know what you get with them.. Quality

I like them.

I'm very new to modelling, and a Wills Craftsman kit (the watermill) was my second kit. While I was surprised to find I had cut all parts myself, which was interesting. It wasn't hard once I realised the plans were not to scale, and so I had to measure. I did have to measure twice or thrice. The kit was a little fiddly, but have since made worse. Its a shame you didn't like it, the information is on the Peco website. peco-uk.com/products/two-road-engine-shed?variant=7435647877154

Your end result looks good but I wouldn't buy one. The Dapol kits are good but also frustrating. I prefer to buy the precast and painted models from Hornby and Bachmann where I can and where the cost isn't prohibitive. A lot more people are coming to the market now so we are gradually having more choice.

I agree with your points Jenny. If it a kit for the masses of hobbyists it is sadly lacking and comes up short. The fault is not with he kit I feel, but the marketing and packaging thereof. If it is aimed at the semi skilled scratch build or kit bashing market it should clearly state that somewhere. As it is not then I wonder how many unsuspecting buyers have been caught in the Wills marketing strategies net, I can't think that they are unaware. I might be wrong, but it begs the question. At least if this product is sold through prime outlets, online or otherwise, they surely have a duty of care to their clients to add a small warning regarding what these kits expect from the buyer in terms of building... Or am I wrong?

I Totally agree with you. No were does it say you have to cut anything to shape. Trades Discription Act.

I never buy any plastic kits, they don't look as good as card kits, such as Metcalfe and Superquick. The only advantage is that they are textured, where as card is just printed. Another thing, plastic kits usually cost more than card kits. As my layout incorporates a tramway as well as a railway, I will need quite a lot of buildings, which will be made from card kits, such as Metcalfe & Superquick, to create variety.( I am useless at scratch building). Kingsway Models do a great range of card kits, mostly in the form of street buildings rather than railway structures, because they were designed by the builder for his own model tram layout. He now prints them and sells them for other modelers to build. They include a very good range of shops, department stores, housing, pubs, cinemas, churches, bus garages, and even London Tube Station entrances as well. They come in a range of different eras, in both full and low relief and are very well detailed and easy to put together, some being more difficult than others. They are not pre-cut like Metcalfe kits, but each part needs to be cut out per the lines printed on the card. The quality is just as good as the Metcalfe or Superquick kits and come with all instructions and glazing needed with several choices of shop names/window displays or various names and signage for pub buildings. Prices are very reasonable and includes postage as well. Geoff

Sometimes it can be easier to scratchbuild than to try to build a kit like this!

I bought the country station kit about 15 years ago thinking it was a kit that you just glued together, I made a start on it but soon gave up. I think, with the skills I have learnt since then, I could probably build it now, but I think they still need to be a bit more clear. You did a good job of it though.

Try their country station jen its a hair puller.deliver 5 sheets of melamine to the customer and tell the joiner to make a fitted bedroom.I fount the pain in the arse bit was making the roof extracters they are a nitemare .

Thanks for the warning. That kit is junk! I would return it if possible.

It's not me then! Some four years or more ago, I bought this kit to build when I had some spare time and entice me back into model railways after a gap of some 25 years. Well earlier this year I unpacked it and started to study the instructions and get into my mind what went where and what I would have to do to make it look like it did on the box. I didn't rush things and took my time to understand the construction process but it proved to be very frustrating as like you I found the templates were not the sizes I expected them to be. i.e. they didn't match up with the dimensions shown. More thought needed! I decided in the end that the 'templates' were more akin to technical drawings and I would need to accurately measure and cut the pieces from scratch. So, here is this 70 year old man with limited strength and mobility trying to cut a hefty piece of plastic into the shape it should be according to the drawings. Well to be honest my efforts we not the huge success I had hoped they would be and I seriously started to doubt my ability not only to understand the drawing, the very poor and limited instruction and the construction process that I had used during my engineering career for many years. The 'kit' is now back in it's box as I know it would not have turned out very well and a finger or two may well have become a casualty of the knife had I persisted. My thoughts were that I should have perhaps, got back into the hobby with a simpler kit but as you yourself say, there was nothing on the box to suggest that it needed an up to date and experienced modellers attention. I'm glad (in a sad way!) that so many other people have found the same problems as I seriously started to believe my capabilities were declining faster than I thought. Your finished model does look good and I would be happy with that finish but as you also say the process the needs to be enjoyable.

I have just purchased the country station ck16 comes In bits just like the engine shed. I've put it away and will probably will never start it

If my memory is correct. Your kit was wills expert kit a kit requiring more than glue and paint. Now peco owns wills kits looks like peco have made changes. But I could be wrong.

Good review. I bought one of these some time ago, opened the box, closed it and put it away, rubbish!

Choo Choo Eddie , Thanks for the information. I think that knowing this I would not buy this kit.

that is all you git with card kits as well the instructions or in the box I think you are bing hard on the wills kits

Great review."Thumbs up for you" .Hope you like mine diesel dave's

Very dubious packaging. Thanks for the heads up.

That‘s indeed very disappointing and not what most of us are expecting. I have built a retaing wall two weeks ago from the same Wills sheets and it was really hard to cut straight using a steel ruler and a scalpel. If you look on the windows in the kit they are not moulded clearly. I have seen this many times on Ratio/Wills kits before. The quality is really not the best for this price. Many of the kits are 40-50 years old. In the 1960s or 70s modellers were probably happy to have such a cut. But in my eyes Peco should upgrade the range to a modern standard. Cheers Guido

The problem is the craftsman series is a DIY kit, but I found d out by the same mistake. I have the kit waiting for me to attempt. I do agree it is bad packaging and very lacking in instructions.

Good to know, you'd think they would have it on the box..."a scratch build kit."