When I found all the extra goodies under the layout, I came across two of the Magnuson Main Street Crossing kits.
Each kit includes a gateman's tower, interior details, shed, crossing gates and some junk details. The kit is all white metal castings.
Everything was packed in a small box.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173200-554132022.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173337-5541462.jpeg)
This build will be a side build and not one that will get a lot of time. I'll work on it between other builds.
The instructions sheet was very fragile and tears easily.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173518-554151659.jpeg)
All the parts came in clear plastic bags. Some of the tape on the bags was crystalized.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173518-554161581.jpeg)
Both crossing gates are badly bent.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173518-554172118.jpeg)
However, the metal is soft and can be reshaped.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173518-554192431.jpeg)
The tower, shed and roof panels are wrapped together.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173551-554202405.jpeg)
Back in a few.
Obviously one of the tower walls didn't quite get all the metal in the mold.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173551-5542190.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173551-554221193.jpeg)
I cleaned out all the flash. Now to assemble this mess.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280525173551-55423734.jpeg)
Ah it will be fine. The manufacturer cold pour could pass for joist rot.
Philip
Howdy Tom,
Great job repairing and cleaning up the castings. A little paint and all will be good.
Have fun,
mike
I had that kit a long time ago, and loved it. I wish I had more of those crossing gates.
dave
Cool, yet another Tom build to follow.
I'm sure you have a trick to fix that wall.
I'll definitely be following along. Good luck. ;D
Well this is going to be an interesting build.
Great looking kit, Tom.
I have plans in a MRR magazine for something very similar to this that I plan to scratch-build. Its good to see that quality control is as good now as it was back then... I'm looking forward to seeing you work your magic on this one.
Cheers, Mark.
Hello Tom, what an interesting looking little kit. I can't wait to see what you do with it. I always enjoy the small metal kits. The detail stands out well after the painting is done.
Tom I don't see a problem with you handling the project!!
Should be interesting for sure!!
Jerry
Neat kit Tom, I'll be looking in..... :)
Quote from: Philip on May 28, 2025, 05:57:57 PMAh it will be fine. The manufacturer cold pour could pass for joist rot.
Philip
Philip,
It will be fine. And, it could be joint rot but I have a solution I'll try when I get that far.
Tom
Quote from: friscomike on May 28, 2025, 06:28:37 PMHowdy Tom,
Great job repairing and cleaning up the castings. A little paint and all will be good.
Have fun,
mike
Mike, Howdy,
Thank you kind sir. This will be a fun little project. I have two spots picked out for the two towers.
Tom
Quote from: deemery on May 28, 2025, 06:45:31 PMI had that kit a long time ago, and loved it. I wish I had more of those crossing gates.
dave
Dave,
You don't still have it? I visited MB Kliens (sp) in Baltimore and they had 5 for $10.00 each. I bought all five and sold three for $45.00 each on Ebay some 25 years ago.
These two will stay on the A&S RR.
Tom
Quote from: Rick on May 28, 2025, 07:20:26 PMCool, yet another Tom build to follow.
I'm sure you have a trick to fix that wall.
Rick,
Happy to have you follow another on my builds. This one will be "When I get to it" type build.
I do have a plan for the tower.
Tom
Quote from: PRR Modeler on May 28, 2025, 07:42:45 PMI'll definitely be following along. Good luck. ;D
Butty Curt,
Happy to have you on the adventure.
Tom
Quote from: elwoodblues on May 28, 2025, 08:02:24 PMWell this is going to be an interesting build.
Ron,
Yes, I agree. Happy to have you following along.
Tom
Quote from: Mark Dalrymple on May 29, 2025, 03:57:31 AMGreat looking kit, Tom.
I have plans in a MRR magazine for something very similar to this that I plan to scratch-build. Its good to see that quality control is as good now as it was back then... I'm looking forward to seeing you work your magic on this one.
Cheers, Mark.
Mark, Cheers,
You will have fun with the scratch build. I built four from that MRR article, two with stairs and two just the tower on stilts.
I built them in October of 1979.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-290525174412-554251530.jpeg)
I sometimes sign my builds, not all the time, but when I feel like it needs it.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-290525174412-55426382.jpeg)
I gave the two single towers to local modelers back in 1979.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-290525174412-554271616.jpeg)
Quote from: nycjeff on May 29, 2025, 10:05:08 AMHello Tom, what an interesting looking little kit. I can't wait to see what you do with it. I always enjoy the small metal kits. The detail stands out well after the painting is done.
Jeff,
Glad to have you on the bandwagon for this one. Not sure if I'll use the shed or scratch build my own.
Tom
Quote from: Jerry on May 29, 2025, 10:29:46 AMTom I don't see a problem with you handling the project!!
Should be interesting for sure!!
Jerry
Jerry,
I agree, this is pretty much a no brainer. But it will be interesting for sure.
Tom
The second kit end walls and gates weren't as bad as the first kit.
These gates weren't bent at all. There is a little "wall rot" but certainly not as bad as the one on the top right.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-290525172715-554241717.jpeg)
Done for today.
NIce project
Tom, BESTTrains part 4-0305 Crossing Gates is a pretty good match for the old Magnuson part:
IMG_0852.jpeg
dave
Quote from: deemery on May 30, 2025, 03:28:12 PMTom, BESTTrains part 4-0305 Crossing Gates is a pretty good match for the old Magnuson part:
IMG_0852.jpeg
dave
Dave,
Not exact but very good looking gates all the same. Thanks for the info.
Tom
I was going to work on Merchant's Row I today after cutting the grass. I sat down and started to fiddle with the walls on the gateman's tower.
When fitting two of the walls together I noticed a gap between the window frames. So, the walls needed to be straightened. I just laid them flat on the work bench and pressed them as flat as I could.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172803-55428482.jpeg)
Next thing I knew, two hours had passed and the four walls and floor were super glued together. The next photo shows how bad a fit the first kit went together. I realized this was do to the bad castings in the one kit and my not paying attention more to the build. Hint - I got carried away and didn't take many photos of this build.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172803-554292350.jpeg)
However, I did get the walls level in the first kit in spite of myself and the bad castings.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172803-55430260.jpeg)
I did pay attention to the second kit and realized one of the problems I had with the first one was due also to the wall being different heights when aligned at the bottom.
You can see the window trim between the windows and walls don't line up.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172804-55431955.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172804-554321907.jpeg)
I carefully filed the bottoms so all four wall trim boards were at the same height.
Also, the casting in the second kit were 100% better than the first kit.
I aligned the floor and one end wall and then super glued them together.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172841-55433738.jpeg)
Next I test fit and then glued one side wall to the floor and the end wall.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172841-554341759.jpeg)
The the other end wall. I'll fill the small gap at the bottom corner with putty.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172841-554351082.jpeg)
The remaining side wall was a nice tight fit and it was glued in place.
Both towers were square and true and that was a blessing.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172841-55436444.jpeg)
I used my sanding disc with medium grit and leveled the bottom of the first kit to sit a little lower. The first one was slightly higher than the second.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172841-554371338.jpeg)
Not that it mattered but I wanted them both the same height.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172908-554382018.jpeg)
I'll wash them in warm soapy water and when dry, spray on a primer coat.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-300525172908-554401593.jpeg)
Done for today.
Howdy Tom,
Excellent work fusing the metal sides. The trick with the sander is cool.
Have fun,
mike
Tom, you always make it look so easy and I know it's not.
Great job getting those irregularly sized walls together.
Not only did you get them together, you got them level and square.
Bravo.
Great progress and problem solving Tom.
Seems like poor quality control is creating a lot of extra work for you, excellent fixes Tom..... :o
Hello Tom, looking good. Are you going to place any interior details in the sheds ?
Great modeling! Take a bow Tom! It looked terrible (factory) in the beginning.
Tom once again you become the problem solver!!
Just wonderful modeling.
Jerry