Arkwright´s Shop
This is another of the free Christmas Downloads from John Howe of Kingsway Models. The 2019 Free Download is, in my opinion, the most successful download kit from KIngsway Models. It is a model of the shop in Doncaster used in the BBC TV Comedy "Open All Hours". It features two bay windows, one above the shop and one on the side at ground level. The door next to the shop is very effective. The sheets were printed at 51% full scale for N scale (1:148) onto stiff card (220 gsm).
I glazed the windows (except the shop window) by adding a layer of thin clear plastic between the outer layer and the printed windows. The latter are very effective - basically dark except for the coloured curtains. I am not so sure about the shop windows - not bad but there should be a better way of getting spatial relief of the contents of the window. The inset shop door is very good. There are some things I got wrong - the sloping chimney stack and the angled shop sign.
Conclusions
A very good kit from Kingsway models. So what have I learnt:
- The quality of the design for the doors and windows makes a huge difference. I suspect the dark blue door is taken from a photograph. The windows also are very good. On my walks, I have looked at how windows appear in real life in daylight. The basic colour is black/dark grey except for curtains or blinds which are close to the window. This what we have here in the yellow curtains with the far distance as dark grey. My addition of a layer of clear plastic helps by giving the reflection typical of glass. This also helps the bay windows.
- I am convinced that using flat slate roofing, as in this model, is the right step forward. Many modellers use overlapping strips of slates to build a slate roof (as in the Scalescenes models). Again, go and look outside at a slate roof. I cannot see the layering effect from ground level on roofs around here (pantiles, yes). I have used the overlapping slates on a Scalescenes model and now feel it is difficult and unnecessary in N scale. A good slate roof paper is easier and better.
Article dated: 28/03/2020