Anyone experienced the ABM Railcraft range of card models?

[westcountryman]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone on this forum has any experience of building the ABM Railcraft range of card model buildings?

I model the SR/WR Withered Arm, & having viewed the range online, they seem to supply everything I'd ever need building wise.

Are they as simple as the Metcalfe range of card models, or are they a different type of entity?

 

Do ABM supply detailed instructions for construction, or are they more suited to the more experienced card modeller?

Sorry for so many questions, but if they are suited to a mediocre modeller with only limited card building experience, then I am very likely to place a significant order for their products, intended for use on my North Devon/Cornwall layout 'Tresoddit'.

 

The buildings look great, with an exceptional level of detail, very accurate liveries, & easily recognised designs, so congratulations to ABM for putting these dedicated products on the market ( no connection etc. just a nosey internet viewer!).

 

I face the dilemma of every modeller wanting to achieve accuracy, but staying within my experience capabilities, & I also don't want to invest a considerable amount of modelling funds into something I may stand a good chance of b*ggering up!

 

I'm sorry for so many questions in a single post, but I really need to hear the experiences of fellow modellers on these products.

I've tried searching the internet, waded through forums on RMWeb & asked fellow modellers  at my modelling club (Barnstaple MRC) but I can't find any mention of these buildings.

 

Thanks in advance for any help or advice recieved.

Cheers

Rob

[Ramblin Rich]

Hi, I've been considering buying their LSWR signal box, so I'd appreciate some feedback too!

Gary "Matloughe" started the LBSCR signal box on his 7'x1' summer project thread which you've also posted on -seems you know each other so you could ask direct (and then let us know - please!)

[Rowsley17D]

I have not used any of their kits but the home page does say,

 

to suit the beginner and intermediate railway modeller.

 

Looking at the website they appear to be similar to Metcalfe with exposed card edges at the corners, but the LBSC station master's house doesn't appear to have exposed edges or was the builder just more careful? I suggest buying one building and see how you get on, but my guess is that they will suite you to a tee.

 

Don't forget to post some pics of the build on here!

Edited September 8, 2014 by Rowsley17D

[Oldddudders]

Post #87 of this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/28665-end-of-the-line-padstow/page-4 gives a thumbs up to ABM. Not least their willingness to reverse print one of their standard products - albeit with the printed instructions also reversed! And note the OP in this thread lives in California.

[Chubber]

Currently on a £10/min camp site wifi, I have done a signalbox from ABM, excellent graphics, but much thinner card/paper. Think it got reviewed in Model Rail and here....?

 

Clever design, slightly challenging, but made up into a nice model.

 

I posted it here on a 'show us yer signal boxes' type thread about 12 mnth ago...

 

I 'd happily build another if someone wanted me to.

 

Doug

[westcountryman]

Hi,

Thanks guys,

I've decided to 'bite the bullet' & place my first order with ABM.

Although I'll limit myself to a few basic small structures at first, just to put a toe in the water.

I'm drawn to the signal boxes, as they seem to represent just what I'm after, but the Nth Cornwall station building also looks lovely.

I'll report back, & hopefully catalogue how the builds go.

Thanks for all of the assistance, once again, RMWeb proves it's worth.

Cheers

Rob

[Chubber]

Just an update, there will be a build review of the Isfield box [Lavender Line] by myself in the December Railway Modeller, according to the Ed., Steve Flint.

 

 

 

abmrailcraft.com

 

 

 

Doug

 

 

 

 

[Richard Lee]

I would be very interested to hear how you get on.  I am considering some of their LBSC stuff in 4mm, for a fictitious branch line terminus.

[kandc_au]

Currently on a £10/min camp site wifi,

 

Doug,

Did you tell them you only wanted to rent their WiFi and NOT buy it, or the campsite for that matter?

 

Khris

[Spannerman]

Looks a great model, I've bought one of the lbsc barrel roof canopies but as with so many things have yet to make a start on it.

 

Would be great to see a few finished kits pictures posted here.

 

Nik

[Chubber]

'Bumping' this to see if anybody has indeed completed more ABM models........

 

 

Doug

[KeithHC]

Slowly building Grange Road Box and plan to do several others as well. No problems so far. I also make photo copys of both the instructions and the card sheet for reference. I also need a second GR Box to be used as a basis for Rowfant. Its the same design just sunk into the ground and the stairs turned 90 degrees. 

[Bluebell Model Railway]

Built a couple... cards a bit thin for the models really, but they are ok, Used some of the Kingscote canopy kits to improve areas of my own canopy,

[JimF51]

I started the SER station a few months ago, got stumped by the roof not fitting correctly, so put it aside to work on some US structures and a 3DK kit, for a bit. Plan to get it on the wb again very soon, and have another go at it.

 

Jim F

[Chubber]

Thank you gentlemen for your replies, apologies for tardiness. PLease be sure to upload some piccies when complete! Re roof fitting, I cut off the tabs that stick up in the 'rafter' parts and stuck it on with S'glue...

 

Doug

[JimF51]

My SER station kit is still on hold, mainly due to other projects, but I'm considering buying the large LBSC station kit. Haven't found any other kit that looks like a LBSC station, and I do like the look of ABM's

 

Jim F

Edited March 19, 2015 by JimF51

[Richard Lee]

On their website it says that delivery can take a little while.  My order seemed reasonably quick.  It came (to rural Bulgaria) today.

 

Edit: I ordered it on April 21st.

Edited May 4, 2015 by Richard Lee

[JimF51]

My kit arrived pretty quick, as well, when I ordered last year. If I recall correctly, just over a week, to here in the US.

 

My kit has been shelved, as I have finalized on working in O. I may try using it as a template for my O scratchbuild, however.

 

Jim F

[JimF51]

Bumping this again, to see if anyone has done any more with ABM kits, especially the newer LBSC station kit.

 

Jim F

[Richard Lee]

The 4mm kits I got were P2101P - Saxby and Farmer Signal Cabin, P2105P - SER station building LBSCR deep red and cream, P2106P - barrel roof station canopy LBSCR deep red and cream with LBSCR valancing, P2118P - LBSCR Goods Shed LBSCR deep red/cream.  I also bought their A4 card red brick (uncut) and their A4 red brick card (cut) (to use to make a platform) and some styrene steps that I can't see on their website at the time of writing.

 

I made them up, and I certainly can not call myself a skilled or talented modeller.  However, I am glad that I had done a few Metcalfe and Superquick kits before attempting the ABM ones. I found the station building (wooden-clad like a SECR one) reasonably easy.  The signal cabin was a bit harder.  I found the goods shed the most challenging.

 

The ink that they print them with is water-soluble.  I followed their recommendation of using UHU to stick them together instead of PVA.  I found the UHU better in some ways than PVA, but a little harder to control.

 

Sometimes the instructions seem very good, other times they seem a bit sparse.  On the other hand, you could probably say that about most kits.

 

I am glad that I bought the styrene steps.  I did try putting the cardboard ones for the signal cabin together, but failed miserably on that bit.  In my opinion, the styrene steps look better anyway.

 

The pre-cut sheet of brick paper did very nicely with some bits left over from a Metcalfe platform kit to do the platform.  That was a good buy, in my opinion.

 

I have used part of the uncut sheet to cobble up something loosely based upon the end loading dock at Hayling Island.

 

Despite my very limited skill, I am pleased with the kits.  They look like some of the buildings in the pictures of 'Southern Counties Branch Line Steam' by Michael Welch; obviously the ones I chose had a different livery.

 

Edit:  One thing I did find is that the station kit didn't seem to have any valencing for the rear porch.  However, the canopy kit had plenty to spare, so I don't think that that is a problem if you buy a canopy as well as a station building.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Richard Lee

[JimF51]

Thanks for all the info, Richard. I'm considering P2111 and P2116 stations, for 2 different locations, but any info is a help.

 

Jim F

[Richard Lee]

If you have a go at one of their goods sheds, you might find that, because they are based on a prototype, the entrances for the tracks are smaller than with some kits that were designed as generic models.  I had to do a bit of minor surgery on the doors for those entrances so that I can get wagons and goods vans in and out.

[Chubber]

If you have a go at one of their goods sheds, you might find that, because they are based on a prototype, the entrances for the tracks are smaller than with some kits that were designed as generic models.  I had to do a bit of minor surgery on the doors for those entrances so that I can get wagons and goods vans in and out.

Richard, is that because the doors hinge from the inside of the doors?

 

They would ordinarily hinge from the outer wall face so that they open clear of the opening...

 

Curious,

 

Doug

[Richard Lee]

The kit has them as sliding doors.  I presumed (after looking at the pictures on the website, and on the pack) that, with the LBSC goods shed, the runners are on the inside of the shed.  (The LSWR goods shed seems to have them on the outside of the shed.)

 

There are recesses in the platform inside the shed for the doors.  The instructions say:
 

 

10  Insert the doors and office and glue into position.  The doors can be glued open or shut.  The prototype doors hung on runners from the roof, so the doors sit in the recesses supplied in the platform when open.  Remember to allow sufficient room under the end doors to clear the rails.  If fitted, the office would usually be at the non-door end of the platform.

 

 

In 'Southern Counties Branch Line Steam' by Michael Welch, there is a picture with a goods shed at Baynards that looks suspiciously similar in style, admittedly early 1960s rather turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.  It doesn't look as if the goods shed has been used for a couple of years, but the building is still in a good state of repair.  I can't see any sign of the runners ever being on the outside of this shed.

 

On the ABM website, the LSBC goods shed is quite a long way down the page.  The LSWR goods shed is a bit further up:

 

http://www.abmrailcraft.com/product-list---4mm.html

[Chubber]

"...The kit has them as sliding doors...."  [EBBOM}

 

I asked because when I built a Wallingford E/S exactly to drawings, I had a real scare when I found my pannier only just fitted as shown below!

 

 

 

Definitely a place for a 'Beware  Restricted Clearance' sign or two....

 

Doug