1:24 SCALE WATCH TOWER
Manufacturer: ARISTO-CRAFT TRAINS, 346 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304. Price: ART-7109 plastic Watch Tower kit with smoke unit $69.95 suggested list.
IN MY CALLOW youth (and all youths are, by definition, callow), an HO scale Revell elevated watchman's tower attracted my attention and, for years, I thought it was a "really neat" model. Now, old and grizzled, I behold ARISTO-CRAFT's 1:24 scale version of a similar prototype and I still think it is a "really neat" model. Its prototypical trapdoor through the floor instead of a traditional doorway makes it potentially usable for scales ranging from 1:29 to 1:20.3 since door height is the most critical dimension in assessing a structure's scale.
I assembled my sample in 2 1/2 hours with the help of a hobby knife, a screwdriver, and a bottle of liquid styrene cement. Where other plastic structure kits require glue to join the major subassemblies, ARISTO-CRAFT's design uses small screws. That may be a superior choice for models residing outdoors because most glues tend to weaken after prolonged exposure to heat, cold, moisture, and ultraviolet rays.
ARISTO-CRAFT packages the subassemblies in plastic bags. Fortunately, construction is straightforward because the instruction sheet is confusing and its illustrations less than adequate. The most boring and time consuming phase of construction involves trimming and assembling the windows. The most frustrating part involves wiring the smoke unit. The instructions were of minimal assistance and the wires were too large in diameter to fit into grooves along one of the vertical supports and through a hole in the model's plastic base. The wires are fragile, too. One snapped in two as I tried to thread it through the hole. I had similar problems trying to thread the wires to the structure's interior. I finally gave up in frustration. Who needs a functioning smokejack, anyway?
ARISTO-CRAFT is now aware of the wire problem and future models will have wire of smaller diameter. Hobbyists who already have purchased current versions of the watch tower may request ARISTO-CRAFT send replacement wire when it is available.
The only other annoyance I encountered was the necessity of wrestling the stairs and ladders into position. They are rugged, though, and eventually I blundered my way to completion.
If you omit the wiring, you probably could build the structure in about ninety minutes. When you finish, you may be as pleased with the model as I. It is good looking and credible. Its L-shaped base measures 7 1/2 by 7 inches and the tower stands about 15 1/2 inches tall at the top of the smokejack. The house itself measures 4 by 4 3/4 inches. The weatherproof ABS plastic parts are very durable and have very good, crisp detail. All the plastic parts fit together properly and even a rank beginner should be capable of producing a very neat model.
The model comes prepainted. Our sample had yellow walls, brown trim, and white window frames. ARISTO-CRAFT plans to offer different paint schemes in future production runs. The model features sliding windows and a stove and bench for the interior. It been off the market for nearly five years and the new version comes in ARISTO-CRAFT's new black and gold packaging.
I like ARISTO-CRAFT's watch tower. I find smoke units in structures and locomotives completely unnecessary so my inability to install them was really of no consequence. As a result, I would rate the kit very good. What is more, the model's appearance exudes much of the charisma I felt from that HO scale Revell kit. And that makes me feel good.-RR
