Semi-scale BR: signalbox

A place for discussing garden railway scenery, such as buildings, trees, etc....
Post Reply
User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:08 pm

My first go at doing a building and I took the easy route, as it’s from a Jackson’s Miniatures kit. It’s foamboard, helped along with textured styrene sheets (also from them), a few other embellishments and rather expensive (compared with Wilko) Southern Region colours from Phoenix paints. I’ve made every imaginable mistake with this (some of which I haven’t been able to disguise) including starting to build it inside out and glueing the roof to my trousers (when all else fails, detailed instructions are included).

However. This signal box has changeable name boards, so it can pretend to be somewhere different each time it’s moved around the shrubbery for, say, the camera (or just for being silly).

Next: uhhh... Surbiton Station!


Ought to be a few more steps in that staircase I would think
Ought to be a few more steps in that staircase I would think
1_2367.JPG (172.45 KiB) Viewed 9258 times
Vibrant ridge tiles!
Vibrant ridge tiles!
2_2372.JPG (165.26 KiB) Viewed 9258 times
It’s true. These places really exist (but sadly not on the railway)
It’s true. These places really exist (but sadly not on the railway)
3_2366.JPG (187.34 KiB) Viewed 9258 times

User avatar
BorisSpencer
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 251
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 2:36 pm
Location: East Northants

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BorisSpencer » Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:12 pm

Very nice.
I especially like the guttering and downpipes, have you scratch-built those?

User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:27 pm

BorisSpencer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:12 pm "...guttering and downpipes, have you scratch-built those?"
Cheers. Tube and half-round strip found among the piles of offcuts at the bottom of the plasticard box. I had bought some especially but I got my sums wrong and it looked way too big…

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by Peter Butler » Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:17 pm

Despite the construction difficulties I think you have made a superb job there. The name changes are good too, I know there is an exhibition layout called 'Scratchy Bottom' but it never occurred to me it really existed.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

User avatar
LNR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1533
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:26 am
Location: Australia

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by LNR » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:01 pm

Nice job, I like the fire buckets hanging on the front.
Grant.

User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:13 pm

Grant - Thank you. Fire buckets (and lots of other useful stuff) are from GRSUK.com, though I recognise that might not be especially convenient for you in Oz.

User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Sat Mar 21, 2020 8:20 pm

After a week or two trying to figure out exactly what it was that was making me unhappy with it, I decided it was the windows...

Jackson’s Miniatures answered my enquiry regarding the purchase of alternative, six-pane, window mouldings by sending me some free! Much better, I reckon.

5_2407_A.jpg
5_2407_A.jpg (105.75 KiB) Viewed 9069 times

User avatar
Andrew
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3247
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:33 pm
Location: Bristol, UK
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by Andrew » Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:53 am

That's looking fantastic, nice one! Good call re the windows too.

I'm looking forward to painting mine over the coming weeks.

Cheers,

Andrew

User avatar
philipy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5031
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: South Northants

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by philipy » Sun Mar 22, 2020 12:47 pm

That is a lovely build, and the new windows certainly add some extra charcter.

Hope you don't mind me saying, but to my eye what would elevate it from an excellent model to a superb one, would be to either pick out the stones in various shades, and/or add a mortar colour.
Philip

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by ge_rik » Sun Mar 22, 2020 12:57 pm

That looks brilliant! Lovely bit of modelling.

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:52 pm

philipy wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 12:47 pm "...pick out the stones in various shades, and/or add a mortar colour"
That’s a good idea. Unfortunately the styrene ‘stone’ sheet I’ve used doesn’t have quite the same sort of regular pattern as the ‘rough finish’ (don’t know the correct term, image below) Purbeck stone buildings I was attempting to suggest. It’s more higgeldy piggeldy and I didn’t want to draw attention to it.

There doesn’t seem to be much discernible variation in the colour of the stone or from the mortar, on the originals either. It’s shadow that gives the texture and shape definition, it seems to me.

But I’ll have a go at your suggested techniques on some spare bits and see if I can improve things. Cheers.

Dorset signal box detail. All much the same colour
Dorset signal box detail. All much the same colour
purbeck_stone_1A.jpg (98.67 KiB) Viewed 8945 times
Harsh shadow emphasises texture on the model, too (it's a bit over the top)
Harsh shadow emphasises texture on the model, too (it's a bit over the top)
6_2416A.jpg (110.91 KiB) Viewed 8945 times

User avatar
philipy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5031
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: South Northants

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by philipy » Tue Mar 24, 2020 6:08 am

I see wht you mean about the evenness of the colour on the real stone, so perhaps I was wrong with my suggestion. You've certainly done a really good job of matching the original stone colour, thats something I always struggle with myself.
Philip

User avatar
Soar Valley Light
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1451
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 5:18 pm
Location: North West Leicestershire

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by Soar Valley Light » Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:58 pm

It really is a superb build.

I've always thought that signalbox windows play a huge part in the overall character of the structure. Some of the double glazing that NR have inflicted upon some structures is truly character changing (particularly on the most characteristic of windows like, for example, a Midland box). If I'm honest I like both versions of your box, each has a character of it's own. It helps that I've always been a sucker for SR green and cram buildings too!

Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

User avatar
BertieB
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:13 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Semi-scale BR: signalbox

Post by BertieB » Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:50 pm

Soar Valley Light wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:58 pm "...I've always been a sucker for SR green and cream buildings"
Thanks. Yeah, me too.

Bright and sunny today, so I'm obliged to make a start on tidying up the garden...

Forgot the buckets. Haven't really 'integrated the railway into the landscape', which makes it a bit awkward
Forgot the buckets. Haven't really 'integrated the railway into the landscape', which makes it a bit awkward
6_2432A.jpg (303.11 KiB) Viewed 8875 times

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests