Signal box kit from eBay

[KeithT]

I have just bought this signal box from ebay.
Although it is not my intention to use it as a signal box it caught my eye because it looked a little out of the ordinary however I am not over impressed with quality.

The string courses don`t match up from one section to another which means I will have to repaint it to get it to look even and the windows, which are a poor fit, had massive amounts of flash that I have now partially sanded off but the most annoying aspect is that the narrow end wall to the staircase has been badly scuffed by a rotary sander and simply painted over.
When I look  carefully at the ebay image it is clear that I have received the kit shown in the pic. Whilst I did not spot it when I bid I was under the impression that it was just a sample image. The blemishes were not pointed out.
The seller has several other kits advertised.
My advice would be to scrutinise them very carefully before bidding.

 

[nicebutdim]

Interesting....I had considered buying one of these kits but you have made me think twice. Have you contacted the seller regarding the faults?

 

[KeithT]

I intend contacting him. The mismatch in the string courses isn't too much of an issue and neither are the ill fitting windows but the scraping of the staircase wall is pretty awful. Also, the resin is v brittle and translucent. It will need an internal coat of black paint if I intend fitting lighting.
Surprisingly given the problems the packing was the best I have ever experienced. Every piece was individually cocooned in specially tailored corrugated cardboard.

 

[KeithT]

Looking at one of his videos on youtube he describes the kit as "rough and ready, that's what it is."!!
Hmmm.

 

[maxi-model]

You'll have to excuse me for saying this but........you only get what you pay for. C £45 for a lot of pre-painted resin seems surprisingly cheap looking at other makers comparable structures out there. Painted or un-painted. "Caveat Emptor" applies here. Interesting handle the Ebay trader has. Max.

 

[Zerogee]

If the resin is transluscent and brittle, I suspect he's simply used neat polyester resin with no attempt to add filler to it.... fillers add both strength and opacity, not to mention reducing the amount of resin needed and thus saving the manufacturer money, so I can't understand why someone wouldn't do it! I used to do quite a lot of resin casting in my business, but sold that side off a few years back and now just concentrate on the metal casting as it's quicker, more profitable and a lot less messy!
I'm afraid I have to agree that this is very amateurish affair with several glaring faults (that sander scuffing is awful!), and I'd seriously consider returning it. I hope you kept all that well-fitted packaging....

Jon.

Edit: OK, just been on evilBay and had a look - yes, I can see Max's point that they are very reasonably priced. The very shiny finish on the unpainted resin ones does indeed suggest that it's straight resin with some colour pigment added, but no filler used. The ready-assembled model of the signalbox that is on offer (at £10 more than the painted but unassembled one) doesn't look too bad as a finished piece. I guess you pays your money and takes your choice, but I'd still talk to the chap about replacements for those badly scuffed parts!

 

[green park]

in the ebay pics he has put the scuffed staircase rear wall inside out but there is no brick detail on it. might be a bit draughty with those windows in this weather. brrr..... mart

 

[maxi-model]

If the resin is transluscent and brittle, I suspect he's simply used neat polyester resin with no attempt to add filler to it.... fillers add both strength and opacity, not to mention reducing the amount of resin needed and thus saving the manufacturer money, so I can't understand why someone wouldn't do it!

It would be unusual these days to use polyester resin (clue if it is - do you get a distinct odour from the parts when sanded ). One of the other benefits from adding fillers would be to minimse risk of large parts shrinking marginally over time. Polyester resin never actually cures, unlike modern polyester types. More likely this polyurethane resin that has been in popular use for some time. There are different types of polyurethane resin in use, some fairly resilient, some quite brittle but take fine detail better. (Info garnered from my old supplier Dave Buttress of CMA moldings of Birmingham).

Casr in point - I have beautiful hand built 1/14th scale model of a Ferrari 512BB Le Mans racer. It cost £900 (!) in 1990. The maker produced 25 and used polyester resin for the main moldings but it turned out he forgot to add a filler to stabilize these moldings. Result the model has been shrinking and distorting marginally over the 25 years I have owned it (I have been able to do some remedial work, but it would be unsalable). It was the maker's first foray into making his own models having worked for one of the big names, Conti, up till then. Reportedly he committed suicide due to all the comebacks. Sad but true tale. Caveat emptor, at any price. Max

Picture of the model in question today, click on link if you want to see. Still an impressive bit of modelling <iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125123762@N06/14476684857/player/" width="75" height="75" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[beavercreek]

Something bad must have happened when the mould for the staircase infill rear piece was made.
It is surprising that he has not just made another mould as it is a small piece in relative terms.
But saying that, it would probably, in most cases, be sited with the rear facing away from sight...

At £30 (unpainted) it is cheap for the size of kit (and an offer of £25 might have even be accepted), but as Max says it will probably distort over time, especially in hot summer sun.
Under £30 for a kit that size, even taking in some remedial work into the situation, is not too bad......

It reminds me of the 'quick and dirty space filler' wooden buildings that I made when I first was putting my layout together ! A couple of those buildings are still in use with new facades and detailing..........

 

[maxi-model]

but as Max says it will probably distort over time, especially in hot summer sun.

Mike, the only risk of distortion I would imply would be shrinkage and only if it were made from "un-ballasted" polyester resin and then only over a period of some time. I would not wish to impune the maker in any way. However, having said that if the wall thickness of the parts were thin I would recommend it were not placed in a "full sun" location and that all the joints, roof, walls and stairs were reinforced with a good sized bead of Isopon P38 or similar, as per instructions in GRS's BOB kits.

Given the surface damage to the part shown I wonder if it is not post the molding process and if this has come about due to some form of "back molding". Seems strange not to fix a master and the poor finish is not what might expect with a worn silicon mold. Max.

 

[beavercreek]

Mike, the only risk of distortion I would imply would be shrinkage and only if it were made from "un-ballasted" polyester resin and then only over a period of some time. I would not wish to impune the maker in any way. However, having said that if the wall thickness of the parts were thin I would recommend it were not placed in a "full sun" location and that all the joints, roof, walls and stairs were reinforced with a good sized bead of Isopon P38 or similar, as per instructions in GRS's BOB kits.

Yes it would need a fair bit of reinforcement especially as it seems to be un-ballasted and also thin!

Given the surface damage to the part shown I wonder if it is not post the molding process and if this has come about due to some form of "back molding". Seems strange not to fix a master and the poor finish is not what might expect with a worn silicon mold. Max.

The pictures of the unpainted and the painted examples on ebay show that the 'back of staircase' piece obviously has problems every time so not sure if it is a defect in the mould or in the process but strange that it is only with that piece.....

 

[KeithT]

I have had a surprising response from the seller:

"Hi,the kit is made of resin,hand made,it was never advertised as a plastic injected kit? Personally I think it adds to the quaintness of them? When the kit is assembled none of the scored parts are viewable. Please post it back to me 2nd class and I will refund you in full including the postage.Sorry you aren't happy with the kit and I have many happy customers. All the best Martin "

Hmm "adds to the quaintness"? - "none of the scored parts are viewable"!? As they are on the outside how can they not be viewable?
I did not comment to him on the loose fit windows and the large amounts of flash. Presumably they add to the character of the model too........?

Yes I will return it especially reading the comments about the effects of sun/weather on the resin. Indoors standing against a back drop the scored wall might not be seen, out in the garden it would be viewable from all angles.

Thanks for all the comments.
EDIT: As Beavercreek has noted the unpainted kit exhibits the same scoring so it has to be in the mould hence his unwillingness to supply a replacement piece.