Project 4: THE Platform

Taking a cost-conscious approach forces you to think about all aspects of layout construction. For example, I’d never considered how much it costs to build a platform. Before, I might have splashed out on Bachmann resin pieces or Peco kits. But they cost a lot of money. I decided to make my own platforms, using a piece of mounting card that I bought from my local Hobbycraft. The first job is to decide how long and how deep your platform is going to be. The final length is usually a compromise between what you’d like and what your layout size will permit!

Step BY Step

1 Cut out the platform shape using a cutting mat, a steel rule and sharp craft knife. Use a fresh blade and made the cuts slowly. Use fine sandpaper to smooth the edges of the cut cardboard.

2 Use a carriage to test the correct height, and remember that passengers usually step up to the train. Cut strips of card to that height and also to the length of the platform, angling the ends.

3 Cut more strips to platform height. These will become the internal supports, to give the structure strength. Use Woodland Scenics Scenic Glue to assemble the components.

4 I used a sheet of Scalescenes Coursed Rubble to make the platform wall. Cut to shape with a fresh blade and fix it to the mount card with Pritt Stick.

5 Now you can paint your platform surface. The real platform has an asphalt and coping stone surface, so I painted mine using Woodland Scenics Earth Colors.

6 To make the white line on the platform edge, I used Woodland Scenics Earth Colours white and some Gaugemaster masking tape.

7 As the goods shed opens out onto the platform, mark its footprint on the platform surface. Then, with another fresh blade, remove this card and slot the goods shed in place.

8 The Scalescenes sheet contained coping stones. Cut them out, reduce the size of some, and fix in place with Pritt Stick.