I was looking for some modelling materials on the internet last week, and I chanced upon the website of Walker Models, a Queensland based business that produces a fairly extensive range of laser cut H0 building kits (and accessories such as fences). Their website address is https://www.walkermodels.com. I would add that I have no connection to this business. Now my layout is British outline but, as I am not concerned with 100% accuracy, I have added a handful of Australian details, and decided that one of their smaller building kits would fit nicely into an empty corner of the layout. The kit arrived today. It makes up into a model of the Barleyfields Road Gatekeepers Residence at Uralla in NSW: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?id=3150137
I am a UK based Australian modeller and I think Stuart Walker is on the Platform 1 facebook page. There are some very nice buildings on this website - seriously tempted. Dave
I made a start on assembling the kit, and have completed the basic frame of the building. The frame is cut from 3mm MDF and the only difficulty I had was separating the parts from the fret, or whatever you call the left over bits. This I put down to my unfamiliarity with the medium, rather than any shortcomings on the part of the manufacturer - it is the first laser cut wooden kit I have seen, let alone attempted. My inexperience resulted in one end of one of the roof supports slightly delaminating - not something that really matters, as it will be hidden once the structure is completed. All the parts fitted together perfectly. Hopefully the remainder of the kit, which is mostly 1.5mm (or thereabouts) ply with a few plastic bits, will go together just as well. I see no reason why it shouldn't. Here is the progress so far:
I'm just using ordinary PVA woodglue, although I'll have to use something else when I get to the plastic bits.
I was thinking that it might be easy to paint the building once it is finished but, after I had a dry run with the outside walls and saw how it was coming on I thought better of that approach, and followed the instructions, which recommend painting the pieces prior to assembly. The original building (as with a lot of other Victorian era buildings in Australia) although of full brick construction, is painted. The walls are an Indian Red colour, which I didn't have to hand, so I mixed some LMS crimson and GWR brown and painted it with that. The lean-to affair on the back wall is painted the same colour as the walls on the actual building, but I'll make it a light creamy grey on mine for a bit of contrast. I was puzzling over how to glaze the windows until I realised that what looked like window shaped pieces of MDF were actually pieces of clear plastic with a protective layer of adhesive tape on both sides. The confusing thing was that the tape was the same colour as the MDF and the plastic was the same thickness as the MDF..... If I have time tomorrow to do any model railway work, we'll see a bit more progress on the build then.
I'm getting there, albeit slowly. I decided that, rather than the walls being painted red, I would give the building a brick finish so, after painting them, I rubbed some white poster paint on and then rubbed it off with a damp tissue. It was quite effective at representing weathered brickwork. I did, however, find out one other thing that you shouldn't do with laser cut wood kits - I used a bit too much water at one point and ended up with a couple of the sides warping. Clamping the outer and inner walls together while the glue dried took care of the worst of it, but there are a few gaps where the walls join. When I finally plant it on the layout I might disguise the gaps a bit by putting some climbing plants on the walls. This is how far I've got so far:
Maybe try sealing any MDF / ply parts first with a varnish then dull it down prior to mortar courses and paint. That might be a bit freindlier to you if you apply water to the face of it later. you are doing a great job of it regardless. cheers toto
Just caught up with this thread and nice to see the progress you have made so far. I have quite a number of Walker kits and if you go to my Dargan layout in members personal layouts, you will get an idea of the range of kits they produce. At last count I think I have 15 or so among others with many scratch built. Pages 13 and 14 of the Dargan thread show some of the models on the layout including the gatekeepers cottage. I always use super glue to put them together as it is inexpensive and very quick to complete the models. All should be painted before assembly as it avoids the intricate detail around window and door frames. I use model master acrylics which seem to do the job ok and are a good base for the final weathering. Look forward to seeing the finished product Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Hello Richard Yes, I have noticed the buildings in the photographs of your layout and thought them to be very nice models. I chanced on the Walker Models website a couple of weeks ago when searching for something else and didn't realise then that they were the ones that you had used. I was so taken by what I saw that I decided I had to have at least one of their kits to give my otherwise British layout a hint of Australia (I also have a few Holdens and a Chatswood to Wynyard bus to populate the station forecourt with). I selected the gatekeeper's cottage because it would fit perfectly into a vacant corner on my layout. I actually would have rather bought the kit of the Thirroul Railway Institute but, when I measured up the space I had available, it would have been such a tight fit it would not have looked right. The kit for Dubbo station is particularly impressive. Strange to say, although I have been to Dubbo several times, I have never visited the station. I'll have to have a look at it next time I'm there..... Regards. Jim
I've known Stuart for a few years now and he always has a great selection of kits on display at exhibitions. Been quite a few times where he has sold out on certain kits. They go together with no fuss at all. In a matter of fact, just today whilst I was up in Maitland helping a mate on his layout, his nephews visited so we got them started on a couple of kits. Cheers, Gary.
Yes Jim would also like to visit the Dubbo station and we had planned a visit also including an overnight at the zoo but of course all that went out the door with the covid 19 restrictions on travel. The closest I have been is on the Indian Pacific but of course it was late in the evening or was it early morning? It is stiil on my list sometime. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Like most of my modelling projects, this one got set aside when I decided to start on something else, but I've got going again on it. I was trying to follow the instructions but came unstuck when it came to affixing the window sills. The instructions say "Now glue the window frames to the windows and then glue the window seals into place". So I glued the windows to the window frames, and was left wondering what window seals were. I assumed this must have been a reference to the combined window/window frame unit as there had been no mention up to that point to gluing them in place on the walls and, when you fit the windows, you effectively seal the structure. It was not until I had assembled the veranda and glued it all in place that I realised I still had to fit the window sills to the outside walls - not a problem with the sides, but it was a bit tricky getting the front ones glued in place now that the veranda posts were in the way. Construction is slowing down at the moment, not because I have found something else to start on again, but because I thought that the kit would look even better if I fitted gutters and downpipes. I'm going to get myself some Ratio ones next week before I glue the roof in place. Jim
Gutters, down pipes and roof edges make the final product look great. Dont forget to use Gormo's solution for cast iron down pipes. They are easy to construct and really add a finishing touch. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Well, as luck would have it, after I posted that, I logged out of the forum and ordered on-line two packs of Ratio guttering and downpipes from a firm I've been dealing with a bit since the virus restrictions came into play, the Little Train Shop in Newnham, Tasmania. I first dealt with them when the Covid-19 restrictions were initially imposed, mainly because they were offering free post and packing for the duration of the restrictions. Now that the restrictions are being eased, they have reinstated their post and packing charges, but they are not excessive, their range is good and the service is good too so, unless I can obtain something locally over the counter, they will be my first call. As for guttering, I'll try Gormo's method if I need any more, but next time, not now. Anyway, back to the model. It went together quite well, with a couple of hiccups as described earlier. It was my first attempt at a laser cut wood kit, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, I would say that you have to take your time over something like this. If you rush the painting and construction it would show it, whereas if you take your time, follow the instructions to the letter (aside from the bit about the window seals!) and add a few details, you will have something that will be an asset to your layout. I think mine will be, although it is a bit incongruous on a Dublo 3 rail layout - or maybe a bit whimsical..... I think the guttering and downpipes really add authenticity to the building, so much so that I'm surprised something to represent them was not part of the kit, but it's not too difficult to add them yourself. I decided to paint mine to represent any old 19th century cottage rather than the specific prototype on which it was based, so I painted it in colours that appealed to me, instead of making it an exact representation of the actual cottage. Having completed the construction of this kit, would I do it again? Yes, I would like to, but unfortunately I don't think I have anywhere I could put another of these models. The one I would pick, if I had somewhere to put it, would be the Thirroul Railway Institute. I still have to paint the gutters and downpipes (they will be the same green as the doors and window frames) but here's how it ended up:
Well done...it is pure Australiana to have the two tone awning and with the correct period colours. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Hi Jim Thought you would like to see my version as it is on the Dargan layout. Imagine how great yours will look when installed on your layout! I just have to get someone to sit on the front porch like yours! Also. looking at it now, I will have to do something about paving the driveway lest the Station Master's car get bogged in the mud come winter. The Station Master is quite comfortable in his pleasant surroundings and is enjoying this prestigious posting at Dargan Station. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Here's a couple more coincidences. I have a blue-grey EK Holden ute parked next to mine as well (no Falcon station wagon though). And I was thinking about having some vines clambering up my one too. Not sure if I'll do it though. I couldn't resist another one of these kits, although it had to be a small one (mind you I can't see any more room available for a third one). I just ordered a QR Cream Shed building kit. I know I'm mixing States, but my layout is hardly prototypically accurate anyway. Jim
The completed QR Cream Shed building in a not very prototypical position, but nicely filling an otherwise empty corner: One of the supporting piers under the platform has a bit of a lean, but that will be fixed when I glue it down.