Model Kit | Constance Signal Tower by Faller

It's been awhile (three years!) since the Sunny Model Railroad site was updated, and I can't think of a better topic to write about than this Constance Signal Tower model kit by Faller Gmbh.

This highly detailed kit is faithfully modelled after the original Constance Signal Tower that was built in 1886. The original Constance -- or Konstanz, in German -- is preserved in its original colors, in a railway museum in Blumberg, Germany.



Constance Signal Tower by Faller

Following the protoype, I painted the walls the original signal yellow and the roof a dark red. I did some simple weathering of the yellow walls and red roof with some black and brown crayon, and a quick brush with very dilute india ink. I've always liked weathering with india ink as it also brings out the detail of model kits -- details you probably would never notice if the kit was painted a basic single color.

I took some liberty with the window frames, metal supports and ladder and painted them metallic silver instead of the dull blue-gray of the original. I felt that silver paint would make the model stand out better on the layout.



A Fleischmann goods train passes under the Constance signal tower. Moose not included with the kit! 

This kit comes with transparent plastic sheets which are glued behind the window frames to create the impression of glass windows. I also installed a Fleischmann light bulb inside the tower which will be lit with its own on-off switch once I'm done sorting out the electrical wiring for all the buildings under the baseboard of my layout. Whenever that will be.

The figures in these pics are from Woodland Scenics Train Personnel set in HO scale.



A railway man signals to his colleague to get the moose away from the tracks!



Someone had better get 'round to trimming the grass near those tracks.

Like most Faller kits, the instructions that came with model were not very clear and some of the important parts did not fit together like they should have. This kit is not for beginners! More experienced model builders will enjoy the challenge though, and once the Constance Signal Tower is up with trains running under it, it adds a nice bit of historical detail to any layout.



Another view of the moose and her calf.

More model kit buildings on The Sunny Model Railroad:

Western Homestead Shanty by Life-Like models

Country Chapel by Faller

Sanding Tower Model Kit by Faller

Atlas Picket Fence and Gate Kit

Model Kit | Atlas White Picket Fences

Also from my e-Hobbyland order -- an Atlas Picket Fence and Gate set in HO scale, sheep not included!

The set comes molded in pristine white plastic so I just had to give it a once over with ModelColor 005 Ivory.




Atlas Picket Fence & Gate Set

As I mentioned in an earlier article, ModelColor's line of water-based acrylic paints makes for fast cleanup -- just run the paintbrush under running tap water.



Painting the picket fence with ModelColor 005 Ivory

Once painted, I had to cut the fence to appropriate lengths.

Gluing the corners with Tamiya Cement I placed the fence so that it fit squarely around the house.



Atlas Picket Fence installed. Note hinged door and glue blob on upper window -- whoops!

I also had to decide on the positioning of the picket fence's 'gate', relative to the front door of the house. I figured the best placement would be to position it off-center from the front door -- left slightly ajar in this pic.

Yes, the door is hinged to the door-frame and can be opened and closed. The house is from a Pola Windmill set I purchased locally.

A little green shrubbery, courtesy of Busch, adds to the realism.

That's what I like about taking pictures of my layout. Somehow, pictures reveal certain details that we may have overlooked.

Like the huge blob of Tamiya cement on the corner of the upper casement window of the house above!

Below is the windmill scene on my layout before I installed the Atlas Picket Fence. Looking at the pic I realise that I still have to cover the base of the windmill with ground cover to hide the plastic base and make it blend into the landscape. Details, details..



The Pola Windmill set includes the windmill and the two houses I placed on each side.

More model kit buildings on The Sunny Model Railroad:

Western Homestead Shanty by Life-Like models

Country Chapel by Faller

Sanding Tower Model Kit by Faller

Constance Signal Tower Model Kit by Faller

Woodland Scenics | Fine Leaf Foliage Part 2

Here are couple more trees I made up with Woodland Scenics Fine Leaf Foliage. I really like the Fall Mix as it adds some nice color -- reds and yellows -- to the overall layout. Things would look overly green and pretty monotonous otherwise.

Woodland Scenics Fine Leaf Foliage looks much more realistic than the usual lichen that most hobbyists use to make their own trees. In fact, after using Fine Leaf Foliage, I took all the 'lichen trees' off my layout!



Woodland Scenics Fine Leaf Foliage attached to tree armatures with PVA glue

I attached the foliage with little of PVA glue, careful to try and get the little 'branches' on the foliage to attach to the branches on the tree armatures.

PVA glue is great -- it takes a while to dry but once it sets, it provides a very firm bond and is nearly invisible.



Woodland Scenics Tree Armatures. Gotta get rid of those sprues and conceal the bases with ground cover!

I still need to remove the little sprues still attached to the bases of the tree armatures, glue the bases down and conceal them with ground cover.



Woodland Scenics Fall Mix adds a splash of color behind the Country Chapel

As you can see, I've recently added telegraph poles to my layout -- been looking for these for ages. I'll talk about them in another instalment soon.