Hi

My 3D printer is on hold at the moment so in a bid to get my trains up and running I'm working on a temporary station using Metcalfe kits. I have promised myself that the proposed model of Acklington station will prevail eventually but I want to get trains fully operational by Christmas. I have found since I started this layout that approximate deadlines help to keep things moving and like most of the children I used to teach I leave everything until the last minute!

So, I've started on the Metcalfe mainline station which in its basic layout is similar to Acklington in that it has two end gabled sections with a pitched roof centre building. I will use the parcel office kit to respresent the single storey section of Acklington. The first job was to change the colour of the doors and internal walling that is supplied with the kit. For this I scaned the necessary parts and placed them into Coreldraw, my go to 2D package. Using the scans as a guide I traced the parts and redrew all the details in the colours I was after, NE green & cream - I have a couple of pots of this from Pheonix paints as a guide but I also used in this build; Vallejo Model Color Ice Yellow and Game Color "Verde Asquerosso Sick Green" would you believe it, which are a good match for the Pheonix paints but in acrylic flat paint.

I have also added round windows to the ends of the gable walls facing the platform in order to improve the look as this will be the side facing the front on my layout. I used a leather punch for the hole and made the outer frame using some styrene sheet, cut square with a hole drilled through. The bars are very fine self adhesive vinyl (see the end of this blog). The stone surround to the windows is from a scan I did from the clock surround on the front of the building.

I added interior images - see previous entry on Metcalfe kits - including the the unseen front face of the building in case this is ever used in a different setting. Led lighting has also been added throughout including platform lamps rather than canopy lighting as I intend to replace the building section later.

I like to take some time with these kits and as the roof is very visible this has been covered with laser cut tiles from York models, new chimney stack surrounds, new ridge tiles and lead flashing. The chimney pots are my favourites from S&D Models. The roof is painted and then dry brushed as are the white metal chimney pots. 

I have also changed the platform covering, going from tarmac to stone slabs with a drop shadow effect used on the platform front brickwork in order to make it appear grimey. Although this kit has taken about a month to build I am pleased with the result and am looking forward to adding the parcel office and island waiting room. I can then build the platforms to suit using my new graphic used on the station building.

Finally a mention about the printing - just an inkjet HP printer has been used but I did use Family Tree FolkArchive quality acid free paper from Amazon - helps to stop colour fade, and for the internal wall tiles etc I have used printable vinyl stickers (A4 sheets) from TownStix, Amazon again. This prints really well and I have found the adhesive qualities to be excellent - great for printing your own "tinplate" signs etc.