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The First Cut Checklist
A one-page, print-friendly checklist that walks your entire first build — from opening the box to the final panel line — in the order that avoids every classic first-timer mistake.
It is the sheet we wish had been in the box: the $60 shopping list, the two-snip cutting ritual, the sanding ladder, and the twenty-minute finishing pass that makes a first kit look like a third kit.
The First Cut Checklist
Before the box: the bench
- Clear a flat surface at least 60 × 45 cm — a kitchen table is perfect
- Lay down a self-healing cutting mat (A4 or larger)
- Light from over your shoulder — a daylight lamp beats every ceiling light
- Shallow tray or box lid for cut parts (the carpet monster is real)
- Tools staged: nipper, hobby knife, sanding sticks (400/600/800)
Reading the kit
- Unbag all runners; stand them upright in the box lid, letter tabs showing
- Skim the manual once, front to back, before cutting anything
- Find the letter tab on each runner — instructions call parts as letter + number
- Check the color guide page: on a first build you are skipping it. That is correct.
The cut (repeat ~300 times)
- Locate the part; confirm its number against the manual drawing
- FIRST SNIP: cut the gate 2–3 mm away from the part — proud, not tight
- SECOND SNIP: lay the nipper flat against the part, flush-cut the stub
- If a white stress mark appears, note it for the sanding pass — do not pick at it
- Sand the nub site: 400 to erase → 600 to smooth → 800 to blend
Assembly rhythm
- Build one full limb or section per sitting — the manual is already sequenced
- Press parts until they seat with a click; never force a misaligned peg
- Save stickers/decals until the section is done, then place with tweezers
- Pose test each joint gently as you go — easier to fix now than later
The finishing pass (the 20 minutes that matter)
- Panel line: touch accent color or marker into each groove, wipe the overrun
- Decals: gloss the area first if using waterslides; setter under, softener over
- Final wipe-down with a microfiber cloth for dust and fingerprints
- Optional: one light matte coat outdoors on a dry day to seal and unify
- Photograph it. Shelf it. Start planning kit two — that is how it works.