MARK HOLLAND looks at how to enhance the Fordhampton Police Station kit.
Recently we added some new buildings to our Gaugemaster Structures range, which included a Police Station.
Now, as our shop layout currently doesn't have a modern police station, I thought the new Fordhampton kit would make a good addition to our high street.
The kit comes with a cardboard interior designed to be placed inside the completed building, to give the effect of occupied rooms etc. behind the windows. I thought I’d take the opportunity to add my own interior during construction and show off what can be done with a few simple additions.
The kit comes in pre-coloured plastic and as such can be built with no painting.
The ground floor constructed. I won’t give you a blow-by-blow account of building the kit, it is a reasonably simple structure and following the instructions shouldn’t you give any problems.
The kit is also the basis of another couple of kits in the Fordhampton range (they shouldn’t be too hard to spot!) so has a few extra bits that aren’t needed in the police station. Luckily, a ground floor interior wall is normally surplus to requirements, so is free to be modified. After measuring up, with help of a friendly police officer, I cut out a section of the wall. This will become the reception desk.
The wall/desk in position and given a basic coat of paint. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just give the impression as it will only be viewed via a window.
Now some seating for the reception area. I used Preiser PR17215 which gives the right look/feel. After painting the floor a generic light grey (again it isn’t perfect) and adding the chairs, I cut out some of the posters that come with the kit and put them on the walls. This was done just to break up the large wall when viewed via the window.
Any self-respecting waiting room needs people waiting! So after selecting a few random seated people from Noch and Preiser they were added to the chairs and a friendly constable added to keep an eye on things.
The top floor was constructed as per the instructions and added to the ground floor. After it was in position, I cut a plasticard floor and glued it into place. This is necessary as the kit doesn’t come with a floor for the first floor.
Preiser do a lovely office set that I thought would give just the right look to the upstairs.
Office complete, the floor was given a coat of garish green before placing the furniture and people/officers, I’m not sure how necessary it was but I know I’ve done it!
Once the station was complete, I gave the whole building a dark grey wash just to make it look suitably grimy. This was done by just watering down some grey paint and painting it over the whole building, allowing it to run into all the brick joins and then gently wiping it off with some kitchen towel. This leaves paint just in the joins and helps make the building look less 'flat'.
Now it is in place and ready to dispense the long arm of the law!