I’m looking for a suitable kit to model a station for a midsize junction town.
I’ve been considering many different stations out there, but I’m really lost on which one to choose. I’m not really up for scratchbuilding a station; i’d rather put that time into other parts of the pike and don’t see much financial benefit going with scratchbuilding.
So here are the parameters:
Platform length 4 ft (god hand scale )
Max depth including both platform and depot 8 in
Design that would fit in New England
Railroad set in 1980’s, so express not being served, although the station would have been built long before when express traffic still up.
Per session, I’d expect about 2 through trains and 3 terminating trains. The line would serve 1 line to the south and three to the north, hence the above figure. There may be car exchange between trains, with multiple trains having to use the station at once. Therefore, i’d expect 2 platforms to be necessary, meaning the kit must be of a type where the platform could be easily duplicated.
I haven’t quite figured out whether the platform would be covered or not. If it isn’t, it would be easy to use any station so long as it fit the New England scheme. If it were covered, that poses another problem with finding a kit that has expanable platform covers. Alternatively it could be a station with only the area around the depot covered.
Based on the above, what structures might you recommend or what other general advice might you have?
Thanks,
Might be a little small, but it’s your decision. I built the station, extremly fun and easy. Yuo could use a couple platforms combined to make it longer.
I agree with Smitty. Try looking at the American Model Builder site. They have quite the variety of different depot kits and they aren’t that hard to put together. Because they are laser cut, there is very little to no filing needed to fit parts together. I have their interlocking tower, boxcar depot, and Dill’s Market on my layout. VERY handsome kits. [tup][tup]
The Walthers freight depot is another nice one in styrene. It has a loading platform along the front, including a ramp. You can buy it in either the kit or RTR.
Just follow the directions closely. The trim is peel and stick which makes things real nice. The kits are cut out well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions here (although I doubt you would have a problem with that). Above all, have fun with it!!
I used an OOP Life Like Mainline Station for my mainline station, I extended the stock platform with styrene. It’s a B&O prototype, but I think it still has a nice Northeastern look:
For my branchline, I took an Atlas Station, and completely rebuilt the roof:
Even though it has a slightly European look to it, you might concider the Model Power station, plus Model Power sell covered platform extentions. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/490-480
