Create your own buildings
Is scratchbuilding as easy as some modellers claim? PETER MARRIOTT takes the plunge and tries his hand at creating two structures for his project layout.
Is scratchbuilding as easy as some modellers claim? Peter Marriott takes the plunge and tries his hand at creating two unique structures.
Most of my previous layouts that have appeared in Model Rail over the years have featured the same of type of building: I’ve either used and adapted resin ‘ready-to-plant’ structures or built or kit-bashed plastic, cardboard and laser-cut kits. But the truth is I’ve been avoiding scratchbuilding like the plague! Sometimes, however, scratchbuilding is the only option. And that’s the case for Project ‘Cromford Goods’, because there are no ready-to-plant models or kits available of Cromford & High Peak Railway buildings and structures. I would have to give it a go... Scratchbuilding often sounds complicated, but many scratchbuilders say that it’s quite easy. Allan Downes, for example, always stresses how simple his techniques are. I decided to test these claims. I used Allan’s basic method for making a building - making a shell from card and covering it, then adding a roof with separately applied tiles and using ready-made doors and windows. In this case, I used the innovative Redutex embossed sheet material along with laser-cut doors and laser-cut selfadhesive roof tiles from York Modelmaking. This is scratchbuilding, 21st century style! Making structures from scratch takes a lot longer than using kits but - and trust me on this - it’s a lot more satisfying. The real boon is that you end up with something that will not appear on any other layout. Right: ‘J94’ 0-6-0ST No. 68006 waits at the foot of Sheep Pasture Incline before departing with wagon loads of RCTS ‘High Peak Railtour’ participants to meet the main train at High Peak Junction on June 27 1964. The steepness of the incline is apparent as the line disappears under the A6 road bridge, the two tracks dividing as they skirt round the catch-pit that was built after a spectacular runaway. The necessity for this precaution was demonstrated by the fact that a broken wagon was still in the catch-pit!
PROJECT ‘CROMFORD GOODS’ PART 3: CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS • MR219 Designed trackplan • MR220 Choosing track