PROJECT 3: MAKING THE LEVEL CROSSING

One of Staverton’s most distinctive features is the level crossing. There are actually two sets of gates – one protects the main line, the other the bay platform. I used Peco’s trusty LK‑50 kit, cutting the gates in half.

STEP BY STEP

1 Mark where you want your road to go. Fix two layers of mounting card to the road area, bringing the road level up to the tops of the rails. Paint with Woodland Scenics Asphalt Paving.

2 Remove the lamps and the red warning discs with a sharp blade. Use a sanding stick to ‘thin’ some of the parts of the gates because the plastic is a bit too chunky.

3 I cut each gate in half to create a length more akin to Staverton’s twin level crossing gates. I made new warning discs from off-cuts of plastic sprue, painted with Humbrol red paint.

4 The Peco level crossing kit comes with posts and fence panels. The shortened gates will still clip onto the posts. Complement the Peco fence with GWR spear fencing (see p51).

5 Cut holes into the mounting card with a sharp blade to accept the base of the gate posts. Secure with a little PVA.

6 Fill the ‘four foot’ with Osborn’s Models’ hard foam cobbles. Cut a suitably sized strip with a sharp blade and glue with PVA.

7 After the crossing was in position, I lightly painted it with diluted India Ink to reduce its bright white plastic appearance.