1:35 Railway guard home

Railway guard's house in 1:35 scale

This is a building for a diorama, not a vehicle model. A guard's house is a small structure of the kind that stood at level crossings and along the tracks. The man who worked the barriers, checked a section of the line and reported trains passing lived and served in it. For a modeler it is an exceptionally practical subject: it is small, so it fits even a smaller diorama, and at the same time it immediately explains where the scene is. A stretch of track and a house like this are enough for the viewer to know that he is standing by a railway line. The 1:35 scale matches ordinary models of military vehicles and figures.

Building and painting tips

• First wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent and let them dry thoroughly.
• Assemble the walls on a flat surface and keep checking the right angles.
• Bond with super glue and apply a base coat before painting.
• Paint the plaster in layers from dark to light, because a single-color wall looks flat.
• Concentrate the weathering near the ground, under the windows and under the eaves, because that is where dirt settles in reality too.
• Add small details to the surroundings, such as a pile of firewood, a fence or a garden, because only then does the house come to life.

Who it is for

The building suits diorama builders who need a small structure with a clear function, and modelers who build railway scenes in a large scale. The work is not complicated; the main thing is patience in painting the surfaces, because the credibility of the building rests precisely on them.

It is not a model of a vehicle or of hardware. Paints, glue, a base and figures are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.