Level Crossing - Trains for Wargames part 4

Remember the bargain I picked up from that toy fair a couple of weeks back?

For £1.50 I was very happy !

My toy bargain

Well I have managed to use this for my own 28mm train track terrain.
http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/28mm-trains-gor-wargames-part-3.html

The dimensions of the crossing were perfect but the base I had originally built for my crossing was just too small to mount the gates so I ripped off the track and started again.

My original crossing

So using the metal base from the old toy as a guide I was going to need to rebuild the base base.

But first I had to remove the gates and posts from the old base. This was not without its perils, so donning a face mask and wielding me trusty dremel lookalike I cut out the old posts. I finally managed to remove the old solder keeping them in place but ended up ruining two cutting tools. 

 

Once completed I gave the gates & posts a quick clean up (the red paint came off !) and these are ready for a new coat of paint.

A new base board was cut - about 20cm x 20cm from hardboard.  The track was laid in the same fashion. Cover the track area in pva, stick down the track (with added superglue support) and then cover in ballast.

The whole thing was then painted black.

If you look carefully at the photo below you will see 4 blocks (wood) which will be used to hold the gates. These will be drybrushed up to look like concrete. To get the posts in exactly the right place I used the old metal base as a template and market out where the old holes were before drilling the new ones.

The roads approaching the crossing are slightly raised to allow vehicles to...cross

Once the groundwork was completed I could turn my attention to dressing the terrain piece. A few weeks back I purchased some white picket fences from 4D in London (a craft & model store full of wonderful things) which were originally intended for my station project but I thought these might make a good addition to the level crossing.

 

I cut these from the frame retaining the short tab holding them onto the sprue. With a few holes drilled into the base board these fences were fixed to base with superglue.

 

 

I am in two minds at the moment as to whether or not these white gates and fences need to be dirtied up…

 Almost there. A scattering of static grass, clump foliage and grass tufts complete the piece.

  The old white gates and posts were given a fresh coat of white paint along with the big red warning sign. Again these were glued into the blocks already cut.

The figures on display are 28mm Musketeer BUF troops and the PG tips van is a LLedo model of yesteryear.

In summary I think this makes a great addition to the rail tracks already completed. It feels very English, reminiscent of the railway children

 Until next time