My updated and detailed version of the old OO Gauge Oakham Signalbox Kit from Airfix. It’s a very basic kit which needs a lot of detailing to bring it up to scratch and mine still needs a few more details plus a lighting unit. The colours aren’t accurate for an LMS box but were the closest I had before internet shopping became possible for me.
The kit is still in production with Dapol and was first released in 1957. My box was manufactured in 1977 so is technically still an airfix model.
The cameo “crime scene” is visible here – complete with graffiti, police tape and a boarded up broken pane of glass. It was only after I’d done the graffiti that the irony of what I’d unintentionally achieved dawned on me. “Gaz” obviously likes his star shapes (or perhaps he fancies himself as a bit of a GangSTAR, or even a GazSTAR?)
The storyline behind the scene is that kids were caught spraying a “tag” on the box by one of the station staff, and before running, one of the little sods threw a piece of ballast through the window.
Here you can see some of the rear details, including downpipes and a flue for the fire which is yet to be installed.
I invested in the Wills white metal detailing kit, which cost me somewhere in the region of £15 plus P&P. The signalman is in a nice action pose switching a facing-point lock lever. This was chosen purely so that I could get away with it – I therefore don’t need a signal or points permanently at “half-mast”.
There is a chair included in the Wills kit but I scratch-built mine using Milliput and Plasticard.
By: Spitfire Pilot - 27th November 2012 at 00:27
I saw an identical box on the S&C, but much worse off…..perhaps I should model that one instead if I can’t fix it 😀
By: Spitfire Pilot - 27th November 2012 at 00:23
Hi Spitfire Pilot;
I love it! That’s a great build of a very old kit! I’ve been wanting to have a go at one of these for a while as I spent my formative years in an LMS signal box as my Dad was a signalman in the 1970’s. He worked at the box at Purfleet in Essex and then Upminster. I found a photo of it online taken before it was demolished, so I may have to build one now.
I like the sound of the Wills detail set…I may have to get one of these. What’s included? Hope it has a Tortoise stove in there as this is the one item I remember the most! Purfleet was great because we had a siding next door that always had a Class 08 parked up and I got to play in it all the time. Upminster was magic too as I got to drive a train at the age of 9 as we had a branch line there that the drivers had to collect a token from the box. I ended up getting invited into the cab of a Class 302 for a drive down the branch line and back…wonder what the passengers would have thought!
What I don’t understand, is why with a railway orientated up-bringing, I ended up as an aviation buff! Still love the railways though!
Once again, cracking build!
Regards;
Steve
I’d have killed to have driven at 9!!!
Can’t fathom how I haven’t posted on this recently.
The Wills kit contains all of the above (except for the light cabinet, which is just scratchbuilt with plasticard). It does include a stove though I chose not to include it due largely to it’s modern image theme. It includes more levers than I’ve installed and additional instrumentation. For about £15, it’s a fantastic investment I think.
Got to repair it so I can make additions then (it was damaged by my nan whilst decorating).
I like the cameo idea Critter592 😀
By: critter592 - 26th July 2012 at 19:30
Tornado, I was going to write a long diatribe on your seeming inability to use the “shift” key and correct punctuation, but it has been a long day and, quite frankly, I can’t be bothered.
By: tornado64 - 26th July 2012 at 14:01
Superb model, Spitfire Pilot!
I particularly like the interior details and the crime scene is a nice touch – Perhaps you could include another cameo featuring a couple of BTP round the back of the ‘box kicking seven shades of sh– out of the perpetrator? :diablo::DLast time I checked, Oakham was in Rutland, and very much in (former) L.M.S. territory!
Here is a photo of the real thing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9003948@N05/4080494815/BTW tornado64 – I fixed the spelling and grammar for you! :diablo:;)
maybe so but it is very unlike most lms types , if it keeps you occupied i’m happy to let you !!:diablo:
By: critter592 - 25th July 2012 at 23:33
Superb model, Spitfire Pilot!
I particularly like the interior details and the crime scene is a nice touch – Perhaps you could include another cameo featuring a couple of BTP round the back of the ‘box kicking seven shades of sh– out of the perpetrator? :diablo::D
…it is more like a G.W.R. box that Airfix modelled…
Last time I checked, Oakham was in Rutland, and very much in (former) L.M.S. territory!
Here is a photo of the real thing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9003948@N05/4080494815/
BTW tornado64 – I fixed the spelling and grammar for you! :diablo:;)
By: tornado64 - 25th July 2012 at 20:09
nice work and convincing enough for an LMS box although it is more like a GWR box that airfix modeled
lms boxes of that size certainly in the ex L&Y area were red brick bases with horizontal running wooden planking on top
stairs are good but would have another upright in the centre
the roof is strange as built by airfix as the overwhelming type was a normal straight apex roof with bargeboards at either end although some did have that style
the flue i would also say would be inacurate as i guess a gas fire will be going there most boxes would have had a coal stove in that would already have a cast iorn flue system in so it would probably make sense to connect it to that altho railways can have odd behaviour
don’t forget the train register under the clock !!
By: RAFRochford - 5th July 2012 at 09:55
Hi Spitfire Pilot;
I love it! That’s a great build of a very old kit! I’ve been wanting to have a go at one of these for a while as I spent my formative years in an LMS signal box as my Dad was a signalman in the 1970’s. He worked at the box at Purfleet in Essex and then Upminster. I found a photo of it online taken before it was demolished, so I may have to build one now.
I like the sound of the Wills detail set…I may have to get one of these. What’s included? Hope it has a Tortoise stove in there as this is the one item I remember the most! Purfleet was great because we had a siding next door that always had a Class 08 parked up and I got to play in it all the time. Upminster was magic too as I got to drive a train at the age of 9 as we had a branch line there that the drivers had to collect a token from the box. I ended up getting invited into the cab of a Class 302 for a drive down the branch line and back…wonder what the passengers would have thought!
What I don’t understand, is why with a railway orientated up-bringing, I ended up as an aviation buff! Still love the railways though!
Once again, cracking build!
Regards;
Steve
By: Spitfire Pilot - 25th June 2012 at 18:52
P.S. Sorry for the poor lighting chaps. I’d even maxed out my phone’s brightness setting.
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June 25, 2012 at 6:50 pm