Farnham Common Signal Box

[Martino]

MUCH too hot to actually work outside today, or even run the railway. Right now, at 7.30pm it's 91F with 'feels like' index of 105F, so you can imagine what it was like at high noon - or at least after I'd finished watching the Grand Prix. Yesterday was the same.

So, inspired by Steve's signal box build, I dug out my signal box plans kit I picked up when I was in the UK last year and decided to start work. I knew right away that there is no way I can approach Steve's workmanship, but with my bodger's toolbox ready - off we went. (Also working on the first station platform for Farnham Common at the same time, work on when while the other is drying, so to speak.

The workshop isn't air conditioned, but there was fan going, and so, stripped to just a pair of shorts and a bandana (not a pretty sight) .....

I don't think the UK has 'Yard Signs' but they are pretty prevalent here, especially during elections. They look like this.

Any way, we had a pile of old ones at work left over from when Huckabee was running for President. I didn't think he'd want them again, so I liberated a few.

Like this.

I thought these may be a useful material.

Seemed simple to cut them out and start sticking together.

The windows are just in place to get the idea of how it's going, everything like that will come out before a spray of primer, and then the actual windows will be glazed, and pained where required.

Decided to put some stairs and a porch on.

This is the inside, with the floor. Planks (coffee stirrers) were laid, these will be stained and a Back2Bay6 signal box interior fitted.

More progress

Chimney made and fitted

Then a start on the planking.

 

[Martino]

While this was going on, I also started work on Platform 1 of Farnham Common Station.

There will be fences, platform shelter (or building) and with luck some stone fencing to the front, but I'm not sure about that yet.

Difficult to get an idea of it yet.

In the midst of all this activity, I managed to stick my craft knife across the end of my thumb, so perhaps red may form an element of the colour scheme! Lady Wife was NOT impressed, but did put her nurses uniform on.......

 

[minimans]

Lady Wife was NOT impressed, but did put her nurses uniform on.......

OOOO I bet that ended the days modeling!!!!!!!

And the more I see of your modeling Martin the more I think you are fibbing about the bodging bit!! very nice work. having seen the sign board in use reminds me I have tons of that stuff at work filched from the race track, after the race meets it all ends up in the recycle bin...................

 

[dunnyrail]

Superb use of recycled materials.

Why the heck cant UK politicians leave useful stuff like this after they have bored us stffl for months with political campaigns. They only appear to know how to take money of us.
JonD

 

[C&S]

Very nice model, Martino.

That plastic poster material looks like the sort of stuff that estate agents' signs are made of here in the UK (rather like plastic corrugated card with a flat face on both sides). Plenty of those seem to get "accidentally" left behind after the house sale goes through round here. They usually come with a useful 8ft length of 2x2 as well. I've never actually taken one, but I'm sure home owners, if asked, would be glad to get rid of them - sometimes they are just left lying in the street.

 

[Gizzy]

....that plastic poster material looks like the sort of stuff that estate agents' signs are made of here in the UK (rather like plastic corrugated card with a flat face on both sides)....

Known as Corex board over here in the UK....

 

[yb281]

Excellent modelling Martin . Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

[Bram]

That's looking great Martin, I think the colour scheme as it is rather fetching

 

[Steve]

Brilliant work

 

[simon@mgr]

There needs to be a new section, "Best use of campaign material", or rubbish, whatever the may be.
Great start here.

 

[casey jones snr]

An excellent build. Great recycling.

 

[Martino]

Well last week was too hot, this week too hot and too wet! That the beauty of living in the nearly tropics! I'm not complaining.

So, more work in the workshop......

More planking added, and the machinery room windows created in a false front wall. These will be glazed but be black behind, as invariably you couldn't see inside anyway!

..and from the other front quarter

...and from dead ahead

with the windows and everything off for a quick spray of undercoat

..again from the other side

Temporarily reassembled and on the paver that it's going to be bolted to.

..from the side

..and just a gratuitous shot of the workshop as I was rooting through my box of LGB spares for a lighting kit!

 

[Martino]

As usual, I had the 'while that's waiting to dry' project on the go too.

About 18 months ago, I built a buffer stop. As I've got two more stub ends that need buffers, I built two more.

Here's the original, having been outside for 18 months.

This is one of the new ones. I haven't got any ballast, so filling up the top will have to wait till next weekend. This one is at the end of the temporary line of where the line to Beaconsfield is going. I have to create the viaduct, and then, at this point create a removable bridge to let the mower and dogs through.

..and number three, also waiting for ballast. This is at the end of the line to Gerrards Cross. Again, a temporary stop and the embankment need to be built and it's too hot to be heaving bags of drainage rock around!

The all have LGB caboose lights, and they are soldered to rail clamps inside. Means I can see that track power is reaching all the extremities without having to run a train there!

 

[Martino]

I can't believe that it was last August since I did anything with the signal box!

Anyway, it's now nearly finished. Just requires the name boards and a few other small touches.

Here it is in position. It actually will be a bit lower down, so the stairs touch the ground.

Final positioning when the station area is relaid and the rest of the platforms put in and the goods shed (another project for the hottest days of the summer).

 

[C&S]

Great result - you'd never guess the construction materials now! Have you got plans to build a matching station?

 

[JRinTawa]

Nice. I like the fire bucket detail too.

 

[yb281]

Looks great. The best use I've ever seen for political signs .

 

[Martino]

Yes, working on a station waiting room for this platform - sort of GW pagoda, a goods shed based on Taplow, and a station building for the as yet un laid side which will have a branch bay and loading dock.

Need to get the main loop finished first, and some of the projects will be done inside during the really hot summer months.