au-2309 Completed Signal Box sitting on its sub-baseboard that will be secured by a small nut and bolt.
Model railroad kit bashing is taking a standard building kit, like the Ratio Signal Box Kit 503 here, and improving it by custom modification. I use this kit bashing technique In addition to scratch building to provide buildings for my layouts, including Hintock. I improved the Ratio Signal Box by the addition of a characteristic lobby. Out of the box it is fair enough, but much enhanced by this use of the imagination and ingenuity. The following images illustrate what I did, those familiar with the kit will readily observe what alterations and additions were done, so commentary appears unnecessary. For others they will act as a guide. It is worth doing. The result is a good kit becomes more individual and more railway like. This I built on a sub-base, I find this convenient as it oftentimes eases installation and re-positioning. The ‘Hintock Signal Box’ name plate is not yet installed.
au-2305 LH detail showing the added lobby.
I did not detail the interior except for a suggestion of the shelf behind the front windows for the block instruments. You can if you wish but I do not spend time on things that cannot be readily seen. And positioned where the Box was in the first instance it was at a distance. Now in its new one the interior cannot be seen at all.
au-2301 RH end. The nameboard is yet to be added, when installed it will read “Hintock Signal Box”
It was for that same reason I did not bother about the rear wall but, of course, when I turned the Box around it needed doing and that proved to be a tricky task. On all my buildings I put the date made or altered and that can be seen here. This forms a history and are interesting to look back on when changes are made. This was built originally in 8/2010.
au-2306 Box and sub baseboard seen from the rear. Note the card back wall (this was not normally seen) and the re-positioned and altered chimney.
[…] the scene just as they do in the Western Vale of Dorset. It is also partly his masterly creation of miniature buildings, which he gives starring roles at the line side and credits on the station plan. It is also […]