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I have a heap of MDF/HDF garbage sitting around still and I am wondering a few things about assembling it.

What am I meant to be using to cut the tabs through on the MAS holo ads? MY finnest blades are just butchering the edges. Stuff is breaking left and right cos I cant cut it out properly as it isnt even cut through on the tabless spots.
Sanding is further destroying edges and parts still dont fit in the slots after that. I had to mallet a Terrakami train to get a part in the last 5mm as it was not coming back out for me even after ruining it with sandpaper. The mallet worked but it further cracked other parts.

What glues are recommended and how to use them when the tolerances between most parts are so ridiculously tight that even after sanding the parts to death they still wont fit? I dont want glue marks being squeeezed out everywhere.

Im seriously reaching a point where I might as well just make a fire and chuck the lot in it. The market is flooded with MDF/HDF stuff and theres little to no info available on working with it. Just the odd person peddling the junk saying theyll upload tutorials Soon™.

So does anyone have info or links to any tutorials that could help with anything MDF/HDF related to assembly? Cheers.

For tools, I used a fine toothed razor saw and my x-acto #1 handle #11 blades (standard pencil handle and pointy blade)

I used pva to assemble my HDF stuff.
Slightly damp cloth cleaned up the squeezed out glue before it set. This is basic carpentry cleanup (learned in woodwork at school).

When it comes to MAS HDF stuff, I'll never touch it again.
Their hardfoam stuff I have no issues with - but their wood stuff can go die in a fire.
The original holo ad set HDF framing sets were tossed and I fabricated new supports and framing out of plasticard rod and tube and model kit bits (and mdf terrain base bits from miniaturescenery for the bases).

I had to cut each piece free from the other side (the laser hadn't cut any pieces through to the back).
I had to resize EVERY tab and slot to get pieces to fit.
The second holo ad set (walkway set) are a snug fit with their framing pieces but otherwise didn't give me many issues.

You aren't the only one who had these issues with the MAS stuff (it's common amongst the local players up here). I have no terakami terrain so can't speak of it.

The warsenal stuff I have is miles ahead of MAS.
The warmill stuff I have is miles ahead of MAS.
The miniaturescenery CNC routed stuff was easier to deal with than MAS.

I've got some Sharkmounted laser stuff coming and I'll know more about it soon.

Yeah, These are the free standing holoads Im struggling with atm. Can just barely see the faintest mark on the rear side of where to cut. Shocking how undercut it is. Got some parts recovering with PVA right now that broke after not cutting out enough with blade.
Another thing do you remember if the acrylic was meant to be covered with a protective sheet? Mine dont seem to have any or its stuck to the acrylic. Got some scratches I was hoping would peel off on the square one.

The Terrakami trains I have the 2 mk2 train packs from when the Aus dollar was good the other year so 4 each of the engines, passenger and flatbeds. They untabbed fairly easily and were cut through well that many parts were loosefitted into the sheet. Got them all in their own ziplock sandwich bags so I dont mix up parts for the various carriages.
The only problem with Terrakami I have is how tight most fits are. The spot I had to mallet was where 2 panels side by side slid up underneath into the front of the engine. I had sanded the channels heavily and it still jammed. The cracks are underneath from the mallet so not the end of the world but still annoying it came to that. Have 4 flatbeds and the 1 engine assembled but need to reinforce around 20 damaged or cracked spots with glue. The next 3 engines will be easier as I'll be sanding the worst offending spots alot more.

I have some CNC stuff around somewhere Im not opening til I finish this lot. Think I have a large forklift, mini forklifts and truck from them.

Just trying to finish up some terrain projects and with the price I paid for lasercut scenery it made sense to bring it back to the front of my queue.

Oh yeah, there was a protective film on the front of the acrylic pieces that should peel off (it's common to most acrylic sheeting, there to protect against scratches in transit).

They look slightly satin-y on the clear panels (compared to the shiny of the film not there. I usually use the point of the knife blade to CAREFULLY lift a corner then peel slowly to get it off). You'll know it when you see it.

The walkway ads have a similar film on the front of the panels (but they ALSO have a backing that is part of the ads and translucent).

I didn't bother getting the terrakami train as I'm (slowly) building my own out of 3mm foamed pvc sheet, plasticard rod and sheet - one based on the train in "Ghosts of Mars" to the same dimensions of the "proper one" - so it's 4" wide, and each section is 12" long. I'm waiting for some parts to do the interiors of the front and end cars to come in.