4mm Cardboard Die-cut Kit Signal Box

[CME & Bottlewasher]

Hi all,

Just a little side project, for a friend's little boy.

Back in the day, when I modelled 4mm/1ft, I used to detail and kit bash card building kits, especially the roofs, which, as most layouts back in the day, were at a lower height tended to be very noticable..

Here are some warts and all, close up photos, of the completed Signal Box, which highlights some of the short falls of die-cut cardboard kits, yet when fettled and viewed - with the good old MK1 eyeball- looks quite good and makes up into a nice little kit (albeit an amalgam of various regions/freelance etc) - I doubt if I shall be asked to join the Pendon team with work such as this, yet on the whole it was an enjoyable project.

We have been experimenting with card/embossed card over exterior foamcore board for buildings on Down Ampney (inc some Scalescenes products). I am a fan of Ken Payne's work with card sheet and wood and his buildings on his 'last great project' - superb!

View attachment 9199

 

[Rob Pulham]

Hi Martin,
Nicely done, having some 3d effect to the roof slates makes all the difference to the card kit in my eyes.

 

[CME & Bottlewasher]

Hi Martin,
Nicely done, having some 3d effect to the roof slates makes all the difference to the card kit in my eyes.

Hi Rob,

Thanks.

Yes some attention to the roof, with some, relief type detail added seems to help a lot, I think it also tricks the eye/brain into thinking that there is more there, than there actually is. In the cruel close ups of my photos, one can almost see the colour dots that the brick work is made up from, yet with the MK1 eyeball one seems to just accept the brickwork and get drawn to the other details (which would be even better in a layout setting I would hope).

What some modellers do with the scalescenes type papers and kits is truely amazing - I cant even hang wallpaper!

Atvb

CME

 

[AdamF]

Superb - the finish (corners etc) are extremely sharp

How are the windows done?

 

[CME & Bottlewasher]

Superb - the finish (corners etc) are extremely sharp

How are the windows done?

Hi AdamF,

Thanks for the kind words

The windows, are just the standard kit versions carefully glued into place with Alphagraphix 'phatic' type glue, the 'details' were glued on with UHU (solvent free as it doesnt 'string') and the remainder was resin based cyano and the roof was bonded on the ridge section (and ridge tiles affixed) with Plastic Magic solvent....

The lead flashing is just tin foil which is malleable just like real lead and then over painted with Games Workshop 'Bolt Gun Metal'.

The corners were masked /weathered with water colour pencils of the appropriate shade/colour..

The lever-frame/levers are the fine teeth from a cheap plastic comb painted accordingly

I hope that helps

ATVB

CME

 

[AdamF]

Fantastic - thanks! If I get to structure modelling my efforts will be this clean!

The lever-frame/levers are the fine teeth from a cheap plastic comb painted accordingly

Genius

 

[CME & Bottlewasher]

Fantastic - thanks! If I get to structure modelling my efforts will be this clean!



Genius

Hi Adam,

Thanks again.

Looking forward to seeing your work too .

Back in the day, model buildings were my passion, yet I havnt completed any 'structures' for many, many years ( I used to work for/with the 'structures department' - on the commercial side - in BR/RT days - and I brought this signal box in on time and on budget! ) and have spent most of my model-making time getting to grips with 7mm rolling stock .

When I was younger and parts were either not available/hard to come by/costly, I learnt to improvise, I cant say that the comb idea is unique or my even my own, just a cost effective here and now solution. I could have added a full interior, yet felt that my - limited time - would be better spent on the outside of the model. Thereby I used some 'stagecraft' to hide some of the interior (blacking it out) whilst highlight only the lever frame (on time and on budget)...

ATVB

CME

 

[CME & Bottlewasher]

Pleased to say that the Signal Box is delivered and the young fellow, his Dad (and the family) are delighted with it - not sure how long before it will require a SMC (structures maintenance contract) yet I am sure he will enjoy it