Buckden on the Kettering and Huntingdon, and "Cranford Shed"

[Ivatt46403]

3 hours ago, 1722 said:

Excellent article on a quite superb layout. Another for the less really is more category. Congratulations. 

 

Thanks Chris I really appreciate that!

 

Marcus.

[Ivatt46403]

Obviously I've been very quiet on this thread of late as I got distracted modelling Coombe Junction Halt and an homage to Nick Gurney's excellent The Sidings  which now sits in my study bookcase.

 

A quick snap of the vaguely-relevant-to-this-thread celebrity Class 66 "Cranford Shed April 2020" on Coombe Jct Halt below:

 

 

 

This loco was bought with the proceeds from the Railway Modeller Cranford Shed article, and recently named with the addition of some ever-excellent Narrow Planet/Light Railway Stores custom plates.

 

Anyway, the wet weekend/Twitter Model Railway Show/Alex's stunning Huntingdon East shed got me inspired to pull the Emergency Ratio Midland Signal Box Kit out of the model box. I bought this a while as I just fancied building a kit but hadn't quite got to it.

 

I wanted to build it "as modelled" by Ratio, so was looking through my Kettering & Huntingdon books to see if I could find one which was actually built to full 4-window size. I couldn't, but did find two pictures of "Kettering Iron & Coal Co Sidings" in "Railway Images around Nothamptonshire", (1992), Richard Coleman and Joe Rajczonek, W.D Warton, Wellingborough. This also showed a novel arrangement of steps and privy, plus some alterations to the windows. I had intended to just build as per the kit instructions, but I couldn't help myself so kitbashed it to include the differences.

 

 

I got as far as the above image before making that decision of course! A few shots in cruel white undercoat below:

 

 

As the prototype is was on the Midland Mainline I think it will have probably been in standard maroon and cream, but I rather like the green and cream that the Kettering and Huntingdon ones were painted so I think  I'm going to go with that.

 

Marcus.

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Ivatt46403

[46444]

On 22/02/2022 at 15:31, Ivatt46403 said:

Obviously I've been very quiet on this thread of late as I got distracted modelling Coombe Junction Halt and an homage to Nick Gurney's excellent The Sidings  which now sits in my study bookcase.

 

A quick snap of the vaguely-relevant-to-this-thread celebrity Class 66 "Cranford Shed April 2020" on Coombe Jct Halt below:

 

 

 

This loco was bought with the proceeds from the Railway Modeller Cranford Shed article, and recently named with the addition of some ever-excellent Narrow Planet/Light Railway Stores custom plates.

 

Anyway, the wet weekend/Twitter Model Railway Show/Alex's stunning Huntingdon East shed got me inspired to pull the Emergency Ratio Midland Signal Box Kit out of the model box. I bought this a while as I just fancied building a kit but hadn't quite got to it.

 

I wanted to build it "as modelled" by Ratio, so was looking through my Kettering & Huntingdon books to see if I could find one which was actually built to full 4-window size. I couldn't, but did find two pictures of "Kettering Iron & Coal Co Sidings" in "Railway Images around Nothamptonshire", (1992), Richard Coleman and Joe Rajczonek, W.D Warton, Wellingborough. This also showed a novel arrangement of steps and privy, plus some alterations to the windows. I had intended to just build as per the kit instructions, but I couldn't help myself so kitbashed it to include the differences.

 

 

I got as far as the above image before making that decision of course! A few shots in cruel white undercoat below:

 

 

As the prototype is was on the Midland Mainline I think it will have probably been in standard maroon and cream, but I rather like the green and cream that the Kettering and Huntingdon ones were painted so I think  I'm going to go with that.

 

Marcus.

 

 

Superb work Marcus.

 

Can't believe I missed this. 

 

Nice take on the Ratio kit and captures the Kettering prototype nicely..

 

Further instalments awaited..

 

Cheers,

 

Mark 

[Ivatt46403]

Thanks so much Mark.

 

The signal box has been very fiddly to paint so I'm working up the the enthusiasm of finishing it!

 

Marcus.

[Ivatt46403]

A quick update to show where i've got to with painting this. It has been mega fiddly and I'm not entirely happy with it (especially some of the green).

 

 

It is almost certainly the wrong colour, but there's a nice photo of a not disimilar one at Raunds in Steam Railways in Colour Around Northamptonshire and I decided rule one applied...

 

Marcus.

[46444]

14 hours ago, Ivatt46403 said:

A quick update to show where i've got to with painting this. It has been mega fiddly and I'm not entirely happy with it (especially some of the green).

 

 

It is almost certainly the wrong colour, but there's a nice photo of a not disimilar one at Raunds in Steam Railways in Colour Around Northamptonshire and I decided rule one applied...

 

Marcus.

 

Brilliant work all round Marcus.  Very nicely built and finished.

 

The green actually suits it very well. 

 

Looking forwards to further updates.

 

Mark 

 

 

[jamieb]

I've recently built one of these for my embryonic layout and with the benefit of hindsight,I would definitely paint the individual parts before assembly.I have a second example to build and that's what I intend to do

[Ivatt46403]

1 hour ago, jamieb said:

I've recently built one of these for my embryonic layout and with the benefit of hindsight,I would definitely paint the individual parts before assembly.I have a second example to build and that's what I intend to do

Yep I think that’s the trick, although figuring out the sequence of what to paint abs when made me throw my hands up and just build it. 
 

That’s an interesting paint job on yours - is it based on a prototype? I see you understood the wire bending jog instructions better than I too…

 

Marcus. 

[jamieb]

The handrails on the balcony were a total pain I ended up using trackpins  for the uprights and soldering the handrail to it .My second example won't have a walkway

The paintscheme is authentic, when the North East region took over the ex LMS lines in West Riding they repainted them in their regional colours of blue and white.Bolton Abbey is an example where pictures are available on-line.Another ,although further afield is the box at Snaith West where the ex L&Y box was replaced by a MR box (presumably in LMS days) and became part of the North Eastern region in BR days 

 

The model isn't quite finished,awaiting nameplates and weathering Also has a fully detailed interior,none of which can be seen! 

Edited June 26, 2022 by jamieb
Added more info

[Ivatt46403]

I'll try and get some better pictures later in the week, but for now here's a quick phone pic of the little diorama I've planted the box in.

 

Marcus.

 

 

[Ivatt46403]

Well apparently now I just model signal boxes 😀

 

This one is nothing to do with the Kettering and Huntingdon I'm afraid, based entierly on a little survey of Lllandrindod Wells box when I was visiting a friend recently:

 

 

[Ivatt46403]

I was quite taken with it and thought it might be a fun little project following my Midland one. I was happy to find that Dexter's Cove Models do a laser cut + 3D print kit of this very box so it went together quite quickly and nicely. I've also finally found a way of doing mortar that I'm pleased with involving a base coat of Halfard Camoflage Khaki before painting the brickwork:

 

 

 

I'm quite please with this one, a few little bits to sort including some longer grass and foliage at the back. I changed the roof to be ratio slate tiles and it is partially fitted with the level frame kit.

 

Marcus.