TERRY SMITH shows us how these two kits can be used together.
These two smaller kits in the Fordhampton range could even be part of a corner filler for a corner, if you get my drift? While not primarily designed to go together, you can see that the GM422 Site Offices and the GM420 Farm Silo kits could indeed be placed next to each other.
On their own, both are hugely versatile kits that can happily be used on layouts based in the period of forty years ago right up to today. The Site Offices are in fact two portacabins, which can be placed on top of each other or left as single storey structures. They are always seen at any kind of construction site, but they have been put to many other uses such as used car lots, yard offices, and even cafés. There are so many ways you can use these kits. The GM420 Silos, while advertised as for farming use such as grain storage, can also double up as silos for storing cement and used on building sites or at aggregate suppliers. Let's see how this two kits go together.
Although it is a small box, it seemed crammed with plastic sprues.
The kit is moulded in three colours and, while it could be built as is, I identified these sprues as ones I wanted to re-colour.
The sprues containing the doors were also singled out and treated to a coat of Humbrol AXD6085 Satin Black spray paint. Note the use of a cardboard box as an impromptu spray booth.
Spray outside if you can, better for your health!
All the parts laid out prior to sticking together.
A notice board was placed near the entrance to the cabin and I glued the door open so it could be seen.
I didn’t go crazy with the weathering, but you could, even using a heat source to give the panels dents and then paint them rust colour. I went for a simple wash of very thinned black paint to pick out the ribs of the metal.
Simple but effective – Network rail logo was printed from the internet and placed on the cabin, and with the aid of some rusty OO Scale rails, a figure from Bachmann and an Oxford Diecast Transit we have a neat little modern image yard.
These smaller silos are intended to be used in farming locations.
As always, a cutting mat and a sharp blade are useful, but I would say essential in this case with the fine mouldings that need to be trimmed.
Do read the instructions to identify where this half-moon shaped cut out goes, it will save you grief later!
Get the framework done properly and the silos themselves will just drop in nicely.
This is how the pipework goes under the silos should you wish to have them permanently connected, I preferred not to do this.
The finished silos were also treated to some light weathering. How much is up to you. I just applied some thinned streaks of black and rust down the silos themselves, and some rust paint around the joints of the framework.
From farming use to a building site - the silos together with the site office kit make a useful couple.