I have been building some kits. I am not the most experienced railway modeller in the world but I have built hundreds (literally: I was a wargamer as a lad) of plastic vehicle kits in my time.
The Coopercraft AEC Monarch kit is a disappointment. Masses of flash, average detailing, lack of lugs to aid assembly, runners in the recesses for the front axle necessitating careful surgery, crap transparency moulding, no tread on the tyres, the list is endless. Is this representative of Coopercraft?
On the other hand, a Parkside van kit was an absolute joy to build and runs like a dream even over fiddly points. At a fiver a throw I will definitely buy more of these! When building these kits, do people usually assemble the superstructure, spray it, then add the solebars? I only ask because pieces atttached after painting tend to be less strong unless you remove every last vestige of paint from the attachment points. I suppose I could tape mask where the solebars glue on. Guy