Another double-month in British Railway Modelling, and a pair of projects in 00 scale. First-up, a laser-cut signal box kit. This was actually one of the first batch of kits I did for BRM, and I was on a bit of a mission to do projects that stood out; something a bit unusual. I don't know if the Editor expected what I went with, a signal box repurposed as a birdwatching hide.
Wait, what? That sounds a bit unusual Ben, surely you've not seen a real place that you used as inspiration for such a thing have you?
Why yes I have, rambling monologue, here in Penmaenpool, near Barmouth, West Wales, where the old Cambrian Railways/GWR route to Barmouth along the Afon Mawddach, closed in the 60's, has a repurposed 'box doing duty for the bird watchers.
Or at least, it did, though vexxingly it was closed for refurbishment when we visited last year.
Still, I was able to potter around and get some shots around the site for inspiration.
...such as this highly inspiring loo block.
The toll bridge was rather more interesting. A bit long to incorporate into the model mindyou.
So, here's the kit. A rather nice laser-cut affair, with with some very detailed windows. The real 'box this is based on is now holiday accommodation up in Scotch-Land, but I'd just come off the back of doing a summer/beach themed project and was a bit sick of holiday stuff, and decided to go down the Wildlife Preserve route instead.
Test-fitting the components. It had some spare sections, which was good as it provided fodder for modifying and scratch building. But at the same time, that roof was a little disappointing, and would need some modifications.
The roof panels were re-clad in some embossed plasticard; also not the spare parts used to make a locking-room (converted into another bird hide) on the end.
A bit of an experiment; using plasticard channel to make a large, picture window. I thought it would allow me to slide-in the glazing after painting, and it would let me show off the interior a bit.
Primed, needing some fettling and filling.
The glazing was the most involved bit; the kit design provides for various fidelity options, from no glass to pretty much flush-glazed. I used packing materials cut down for the glass in the windows.
In goes the picture window. The paint was dry brushed Citadel acrylics, with some washes afterwards to pick out the plank lines.
A suitably animal-themed name for the crossing.
Also, some custom-made signaege.
For the scenic diorama, it was time, again, to raid the scrap box for something a bit like Penmaenpool. Here, the signal box would (as with the real location) sit adjacent to an abandoned level crossing, and a toll bridge.
For the toll bridge itself, I turned to the venerable Airfix Pontoon Bridge kit, picked up spares/repairs off eBay.
A bit of extra plasticard, and the supports from a Hornby Elevated Track set, did the job.
The rest of the scenics involved some static grass and grass sheets, and lots, and lots, of bits of odd greenery and bushes.
And there's the set; about 30cm by 45cm, a bit bigger than I'd planned but it came out looking ok in the end.
My favourite view, from the viewpoint of someone getting their feet wet, admittedly.
The overgrown level crossing, and toll hut (the old Permanent Way shed).
View off the bridge; note the platform of the old station behind.
Trackbed converted into a footpath, with cafe and loo block in a portacabin.
I absolutely loved how this one turned out; something a bit different. I have a thing for derelict and repurposed railways (which are far more common in the UK than active railway lines and infrastructure in most of the places I've lived), and this allowed me to channel some of that enthusiasm into a project. I could have just done a straightforward build, and to be honest, probably should have, but this one really got my imagination going.
And here it is in the mag; the wet-feet view headlining the piece.
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