Confession time, I have a thing for a nice box… signal box that is…
I often look around the interwebs looking at various box kits. One day, I was happily googling (other search engines are available!) when I came across the MMR Models Large GWR Signal box, based on the one at Newton Abbott (linky)
As good as this box looks, and I will get around to buying one at some point, I decided that perhaps I should start with something smaller. I noticed that they were due to be at the NEC for the Model World Live exhibition so the plan was to have a chat with them in person. The only problem was they were not where they should have been as when I first looked, their allocated spot was empty. Thankfully they had just been moved to a different spot.
The kit comes as laser-cut MDF and card. Each section is a sandwich of material, the photo below shows the inner layer with the door. Once the box shape is formed you then add the cladding layer followed by a further layer that represents the structural timbers. Windows are also a sandwich, with an inner frame, glazing followed by the outer frame. This all combines to form a box with plenty of depth to it.
This photo shows the internal part of the sandwich plus the roof trusses.
There are still some exterior details to be added but they are going to wait until I finish off the interior, the parts of which are from Ratio
For comparison, this is the Gaugemaster Fordhampton box, adapted a little as the kit as it comes, has a panel where I wanted a lever frame. Again the frame is from Ratio with some details from the Modelu range of detailing parts.
To give you an idea of the size of these parts:
The camera really picks up my painting imperfections in something so small!
Conclusion: Would I buy the MMR kit again? Absolutely, it was a pleasure to put together. Will I buy other kits from them, again absolutely. Out of the Gaugemaster or MMR, which is the better kit? MMR all the way, I don’t think there was that much of a difference in price either.
