What is "kit bashing"?
Basically this is taking a kit (or more specifically parts of a kit) and adapting these bits into something else that you require such as a smaller building, structure, or even a new locomotive. two kits can also be combined in this manner.
For this article I will concentrate on three readily available OO Scale kits from the Dapol range, and show you what I have done with them. Of course, these techniques may be used for our Kestrel N Scale Kits as well (Ed's Note - which I authored in an earlier article entitled "Kestrel Kit Bash").
The first kit used was Dapol DAC017 Signal Gantry, which is a signal gantry. For my industrial layout, I required a pipe support gantry so this kit was ideal. One of these kits was purchased, and the length of the run was measured, then it was calculated how many more would be required for the run I required. Once worked out, the required parts were chosen, and construction began.
Using basic tools, (scalpel, razor saw, and files) the girder sections were cut to length and glued together, to form the structure that fitted the site. Once finished, the pipe work (from the Walthers Cornerstone range) were added, the whole thing was lightly airbrushed and weathered, and then installed on the layout.
The second kit used was DAC007 Engine Shed. This kit has a good old industrial building feel about it, so fitted in very well with the layout I was constructing.
Two kits were used for the structure I required, and the kit was more or less assembled as per the instructions, except that some of the windows were blanked out (using Plasticard) and the interior was fitted out with boilers from the Bachmann range, fitted with a flickering fire effect from Train Tech. I added a Bachmann round chimney, and my boiler house was complete.
The third kit used for this article, namely kit DAC026, is the Pug locomotive.
This is a small industrial locomotive, absolutely right for conversion to Narrow Gauge locos in OO9 or HOm using an appropriate chassis. You can also use it as a scrapped standard gauge loco (without the expense of rusting up a runner), or just using various bits to detail other locomotives.
I don’t like to think how many of these kits I have butchered in my time, but as they are inexpensive it is a good way to learn the basics of scratch building, as you can then add home made bits to existing kits or just use bits of the kits themselves which may be difficult to model at first. (Roofs doors, windows etc.)
Tank from Pug Kit on OO9 locomotive.
Cab from Pug Kit on OO9 locomotive.
Back plate from Pug Kit on OO9 locomotive.
I hope this has given you an insight into another branch of our hobby, and the spur to attempt it yourself.
Happy Modelling,
Martin.
MARTIN LOVELL shows us how he has modified some Dapol kits.