This 12th scale mandolin kit comes in 3 sections; the back, front and string cover. it is very easy to assemble but if you wish to 'string' the mandolin it is relatively easy.
I do not have instructions for the 'stringing' but here is how I did it:
- Cut 8 lengths of fine thread (brown or black).
- Glue one end to the rear of the mandolin front and then carefully bring the threads to the front, spreading them evenly as possible, over the bridge.
- Thread the 8 threads through the last but one top hole at the top of the mandolin keys and out through the back. Glue them down and cut off excess. If you wish you could glue each thread to each key! To thread them through the hole at the top I used a thread threader but a fine piece of wire folded and pushed from the back to the front of the hole would work - you then thread the thread through the metal loop and then drawer back the metal loop through the hole taking the cotton thread with it.
NOTES
As with all my metal designs the pieces will require a little cleaning using a file and/or sandpaper. The metal is very soft so this is a simple and satifying part of the build process.
I tend to use superglue (Hafixx being my favoured choice) with a super glue activator to speed things up.
To paint the item I strongly recommend a metal primer. Spray primers are the easiest and just a light coat with give the paint something to 'key' with......then the choice is yours. I use all types of paints from acrylics to cellulose spray paints. All have their own merits and so I choose according to the finish I wish to create.
After applying my coats of paint I will always add an aging layer of raw umber acrylic (water it down and then paint and wipe off to leave the dark paint in the recesses). Aging can be very rewarding and there are many options for this. One little recommendation is to use rotten stone/pumice stone powder to add what I like to describe as "dust" to the piece. It is a powder and will always be a powder unless mixed with a binder such as glue. The powder is a soft grey and if it is brished on then off it will leave a slight dusting in the recesses of the design.
A final flourish of splatter (very subtle brown/grey applied with by splattering the paint from a bristled brush such as a toothbrush) adds a little more interest.
