OO gauge signal box

Hi All.    I would like to build a small to medium size signal box. I have some Wills plastic parts, ie tiled roof, wooden structure, brass Etch windows , even the steps and handrail even an Etch door. One big problem, Me, I don’t know where to start. And if I purchase an interior kit with the stove, levers etc should I begin there and build outwards?At Least that  way . The interior would fit, even though the outside may be “ a load of tat “, would someone please advise me on my plan??  Best wishes. Kevin

HI there,
Have a look at my web page 

Resource not found

which has a photo image signal box which was printed and stuck onto a foam core "box"

Hope this helps!

Trevor

I am in the same boat. I want to do more scratchbuilding but don't have access to plans and my drawing skills rely heavily on graphpaper.

Others more skilled than i will be able to comment on your plans. But here is what i have done.

In a couple of cases I have downloaded kits from sites such as scalescenes or model railway scenery. They are relatively cheap and you know the dimensions are going to be good and in proportion. I then use the inner shell as a basis for my building. Sometimes as is and sometimes modified to suit my needs.

Good luck with your endeavours.

Evan

Hi Trevor.   Thank you for  your reply.   That does look like a very good plan, but, you haven’t met clumsy old me.That is why I have earmarked the the Wills plastic parts in my thread, and that may need reinforcement ?
I will keep your idea on file for when I either get my laptop sorted or a WiFi copier/scanner.
Best wishes. Kevin

I forgot that I had put some stuff up about 6 years ago on this forum! This is the link to ithttp://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=9679&forum_id=14&page=1

Some of those buildings are on my website on different pages while there are others as well… hope they help!  If you need a bit of a tutorial let me know!

Cheers from Australia

Trevor

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Trevor.   …   That does look like a very good plan, but, you haven’t met clumsy old me….

Kevin, I would probably give you a very good run for your money in the clumsiness stakes but that does not help you right now.  As long as you are OK with a sharp pair of scissors, you should be OK!

The basis of my buildings is 5mm foam core cut to fit the sides. You do the ends first cutting the shapes. You can use one of those renewble knife blades which will need to be replaced about every 4 or 5 pieces you cut. If you find that the foam core is starting to tear, it is time to change the blade. 

Even if you do tear it, because it is only the sub base to the print out, the clumsiness does not matter!

If for the sake of argument, you are making the signal box I have drawn, make your front and rear the same height as the front and rear walls but both the front and back widths are reduced by the thickness of the peaked ends. 

The box can then be put together just with PVA glue, then you wrap the paper printout around that box which becomes the former of the building you are making. The roofing is up to you but for most items I find card is enough.

The biggest single expense is the box of single A4 sticker paper so I do try to maximise for the buildings I am making.  The foam core and card I use are freebies from my friendly local printer so the printing is virtually the only cost I bear for doing this.  The hardest part is making sure of the alignment when wrapping the printed sheet around which is a reflection on the clumsiness factor…
If you search through the website, you will find a lineside hut as well as a box shaped factory you could try first … and at least get your confidence up!

Hope this helps somebody reading this anyway!

Trevor

Thank you again Trevor , but I will have to sort out my “Printer/ Computer “ before I can download anything first.And I have so many projects on the go at the moment. With that idea from Chubber , my Shunting Puzzle is going to grow, by how much I don’t know, and with my bad memory , I am also busy trying to get my “Apple Passwords “ sorted before they lock down my iPad.     Best wishes. Kevin

Good luck with the dreaded Apple password Kevin !!

Liz has an iPad and we hit a problem when Apple didn't recognise her password.  What a headache that was …………………….  We finally got it sorted but not without "outside help"

I'm definitely sticking with Windows …………………………!!!!.

Hi Petermac.   Thank you for your reply. I have an appointment at “Apple Regent St” today. The trouble is my bad memory, and the fact that I changed my email address and bank details when I had my I/D stolen.They seem to think that everyone with one of their devices with a bad memory is crooked, I will have to get my
HP Laptop sorted out, then I can catch up with the real World again. Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Petermac   Following my visit to Apple at Regent Street, I have realised what a waste of good quality Retail Space they are. It would seem that the “in word” is PERFECT , completely the opposite of my opinion .I had better stick with Curry’s pc World in future ? That is if they can fix my HP laptop?
Best wishes Kevin

Did you get it fixed Kevin or did they just shrug ?

Hi Petermac.  The trouble stems from two facts? The first being their lousy idea of “ Security” Ie meaning that I must keep the same mobile phone number from the time that I purchased my iPad , in the meantime I signed up with-a BT Sim only, Then there was the fact that I had my I/D stolen and now had a new email address. So the security has gone “ out of the window “, I have to log on with my old email, but they cannot send the code to my phone to type in, because I don’t have the same phone. Simple?   Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Kevin

I can't remember if I've told you this story.  My late mother in law bequeathed me her iPad, but by the time I received it from the estate, the passwords were lost in the mists of time, and the heat generated receipt had long since faded.

A daunting prospect; but I telephoned Apple help direct.  They were very understanding and helpful.

I had to send them a scanned copy of the death certificate, together with a statutory declaration from the executors, stating that I had received the iPad (number etc), as a bequest.

Apple Legal got back to me within a few weeks and were able to reset the iPad remotely, using my PC - once I downloaded iTunes.

Now this presupposes that you have another computer as a tool to do the work.

Your laptop would do, but it sounds like it's a bit dodgy; so it might need to be replaced.  So why do you need the iPad?

Good question.  I use mine for programming my RC model aircraft receivers; as I do with my iPhone - and for taking photographs and videos.

Oh.  And for grand child minding.   

Hi Max.   Thank you for your reply. It does sound familiar . But I am really sorry for visiting the Apple store in the first instance, but in my case matters were exasperated by the fact of getting my I/D stolen and having changed my email address, bought a new phone which could not accept the original chip/ sim thingy., then going with BT , i have visited Apple Regent Street twice to sort it out and have had many phone conversations all to know avail, the difference being , as far as I am aware, I am the original purchaser. Maybe you have some influence ? Or something you could share with me? Because at the moment I can obviously use email, and safari, where I cannot get the full package, maybe they don’t trust me? Best wishes Kevin

Hi Kevin

If you are the original purchaser and you still have the receipt, you can call Apple Help desk direct.

I found that Apple stores are only franchises - more like box shifters, really.

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple (UK)   should be the international help desk via your local toll free number.

Here's another contact . . .

Official Apple Support

Hi Max. Thank you. I kept the receipt in a safe place? But cannot remember where that is. But I paid for it with a bank card , so All is not lost? Fingers crossed.  Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Max.  This is a further reply. I phoned my bank, explained the problem with the iPad payment receipt, but, there was no demand on that day (9th February 2016 ) which is something that I not understand .Best wishes. Kevin