au-2309 Completed Signal Box sitting on its sub-baseboard that will be secured by a small nut and bolt.
Model railroad kit bashing is taking a standard building kit, like the Ratio Signal Box Kit 503 here, and improving it by custom modification. I use this kit bashing technique In addition to scratch building to provide buildings for my layouts, including Hintock. I improved the Ratio Signal Box by the addition of a characteristic lobby. Out of the box it is fair enough, but much enhanced by this use of the imagination and ingenuity. The following images illustrate what I did, those familiar with the kit will readily observe what alterations and additions were done, so commentary appears unnecessary. For others they will act as a guide. It is worth doing. The result is a good kit becomes more individual and more railway like. This I built on a sub-base, I find this convenient as it oftentimes eases installation and re-positioning. The ‘Hintock Signal Box’ name plate is not yet installed.
au-2305 LH detail showing the added lobby.
I did not detail the interior except for a suggestion of the shelf behind the front windows for the block instruments. You can if you wish but I do not spend time on things that cannot be readily seen. And positioned where the Box was in the first instance it was at a distance. Now in its new one the interior cannot be seen at all.
au-2301 RH end. The nameboard is yet to be added, when installed it will read “Hintock Signal Box”
It was for that same reason I did not bother about the rear wall but, of course, when I turned the Box around it needed doing and that proved to be a tricky task. On all my buildings I put the date made or altered and that can be seen here. This forms a history and are interesting to look back on when changes are made. This was built originally in 8/2010.
au-2306 Box and sub baseboard seen from the rear. Note the card back wall (this was not normally seen) and the re-positioned and altered chimney.
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