The EJ&KLR station building

[jameshilton]

The line is now at a stage where it is ready for the station building, and the last few months sketching in notebooks finally saw some measurements transferred to 'wood' (well MDF), cut out and glued together...

The design is a bit of a hybrid of Austrian and Canadian prototype with some UK influence thrown in!

I used 9mm for the walls and 12mm for the base... I use MDF as it's easy to work with (but do wear a dust mask people and if you can cut outdoors). To do the windows I drill a big hole and then insert the jigsaw, cut a spider to each corner, parallel to the line. Then cut back from there to the next corner. Hopefully the photo makes it obvious.

Still a long way to go...

 

[nicebutdim]

I'm going to be following you with alot of interest here James. You are doing exactly what I've been planning to do with all the buildings I'm going to require.
A good start there, I'm good with a jigsaw but sometimes find the blade bends a little. Probably me pushing too hard!

 

[jameshilton]

Tim I used to have trouble with my old jigsaw, I bought a £50 one a few years ago when I built my daughters dolls house and that is massively improved in performance and it gets a nice straight cut VERY easily. The one thing I notice is that although you have a perfect join between the two cut directions on the front, if you flip it over you find a slight overcut on the back so you need to seal it properly (I use PVA watered down slightly as a sealant) before priming and top coats to make sure it's 'garden safe'.

 

[Shawn]

Good start. Cant wait to see it on your layout when done. Nice work so far.

 

[jameshilton]

It's been a while since I posted any progress, well the building has been sealed and primed all over and the glazing and doors have been cut.

Tonight however I focussed on progressing the window detailing.

First a scale drawing is drawn up, then the window is tacked over this with masking tape loops to stop it shifting about. Pencils are used as spacers and a metal rule as a guide. I use a bow pen to draw in the frame. In this case I started with a grey/cream colour and then filled in the dark brown afterwards.

The result is only flat but at a distance does a good job or copying the original inspiration, as pictured on this photo of Blamau on the Ybbstalbahn.

 

[jameshilton]

And I forgot to mention - it's quick too - I rattled off the first colour for all 24 windows in an hour last night, I daren't imagine how long I'd have been cutting out bits of plastic to do it in 3D!

 

[beavercreek]

Hi James
A nice build you are doing and a good tip for quick windows!
I was wondering about the priming and sealing of the MDF. Have you used the water-resistant variety of MDF?
I had/have a building of a square lighthouse that I bought in Italy (mad impulse buy). I asked if it was wood and was assured that it was and that it was made for outside.
It looked great and very different to usual lighthouses BUT after one year of being outside I noticed that the 'ends' of the sheets, that make sides, were expanding and distorting the surface. On a closer look I discovered that it was not wood but in actual fact MDF. It was beyond repair so I just tried to seal it and used wood preserver and let it 'degenerate' into a long disused building that added 'atmosphere' to that part of the layout.
Moral of story is ...if it is MDF and it is going to stay outside, give it many coats of thinned varnish, before painting it, especially the ends of the boards that overlap to make the corners of the walls or the roof edges and will be exposed................

 

[jameshilton]

Thanks Mike, it is MDF, normal variety but the dense 12mm stuff rather than light weight 9mm or 6mm. Sealed with a thinned coat of waterproof PVA, which is rubbed neat into the bear ends afterwards too. Then painted with outdoor primer, and finished with outdoor masonary paint which is quite flexible. However the saving grace is it's actually only outside when the line is running!

 

[beavercreek]

Should last a lifetime then!

 

[dudley]

its looking great, keep the photos coming, looking with interest.

 

[jameshilton]

Funnily enough I actually finished the windows last night...

I'm going to detail the doors (handles) then paint them - and I've got some dummy walls to add for the interior before I can fit the roof and paint the outside walls with the final colour - it's starting to look something like, but will be transformed with a roof and the dorma in the roof.

 

[Don Gilham]

That looks terrific James !!!

 

[jameshilton]

Looks an interesting product. I'll be painting it with Sandtex smooth masonry paint, a very pale cream to match the engine shed.

 

[CoggesRailway]

looks good. you are one of the premier league modellers on here, bit likr mel!

 

[jameshilton]

Ian I think that might be stretching the imagination a little bit - but thank you anyway! Now I'm happy with the size having put it next to the large OBB coaches I'll sort out the interior walls and roof, it'll transform in the next few weeks

 

[playmofire]

Great work, James, and I think you underestimate your skills. Can't wait to see the end result.

 

[jameshilton]

Progress on the station has slowed whilst I've been respraying vans and tinkering the Rugens. However I've been trying out some ideas with the Staters 8mm black plasticard letters I aquired at the same time as the plasticard for the Rugen side tanks (that have yet to be satisfactorily mocked up so are on hold).

First up is a generic Austrian inspired station name board, with the station named 'Alisendorf', a twist on Mum's name. I'm pretty happy with it, it's edged with satin black paint applied with a bow pen.

The second thing is the signal board type signs. I made one up earlier in the week more closely to scale but it didn't look right next to the chunky track so I've mocked up a second using a BBQ skewer rather than cocktail stick and a slightly bigger back board. I think it's a good compromise. What do you think?

 

[jameshilton]

We're getting there...

The 'felt' roof is fitted (with gutter sealant) and the end detail added to the underside of the roof. I have also painted the underside with a dark grey, as on the engine shed, up to the 'door step' level, which has the visual effect of lowering the structure.

Still needs chimneys, and possibly timbers supporting the roof overhand - and if I can find something suitable I might do downpipes too...

 

[Madman]

I see that someone has already brought up the issue of MDF outdoors. I also see, in your reply, that you have sealed it well and expect it to only be outside when operating. In the future, however, if you can get a hold of Medex, (brand name) or some other manufacturers water proof MDF, you will be making life alittle easier on yourself. With the water proof MDF, the structures can remain outdoors. MDF is like a sponge. One little opening for moisture to get through, and it's like a cancer. It just seems to spread whether you looking or not.

 

[jameshilton]

Dan if I'm ever lucky enough to have a line in my own garden (this one is at my parents) then I'd want structures to live outside and would use different materials for sure, probably a marine ply core, or even plastic. As it is, the EJ&KLR is only used once a month so I'd not be happy leaving structures outside anyway, as I'm not there to check up on them...