My next adventure will be in the building and lighting of Rail Scale Miniatures - Horwood Brothers, Kit #005.
This kit came out at the NNGC in Colorado in 2009. Dario Le Donne offered this kit at $295.00.
I wanted to get the kit but never acted on it and when I did, it was no longer available. I've seen it as high as $650.00 on Ebay. Like brass models, craftsman kit prices fluctuate from year to year.
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First a little history on the kit and how I came to get this one.
During one of our Saturday Butty Group (SBG) meets, Terry, Vietnam Seabee, mentioned he was building the RSM Horwood Brothers kit. I commented that I always wanted to get one but was lazy and missed it. He said he saw one for sale at Des Plaines Hobbies in Des Plaines, IL. Our meeting was on January 13, 2024.
When all the SBGs left for the day, I called Des Plaines Hobbies and they still had it in stock. And, it was for the original price of $295.00. I said ring it up. I got the kit in the mail 10 days later.
Thank you Terry for telling me about the kit as Des Plaines.
Before I get started, I want to say this will be a build over a long period of time. I'm looking at this kit as a part time one as I have many irons in the fire. Those irons are projects that need to get finished.
The biggest iron in the fire is a project to paint and sound 8 brass steam locos. I've been putting them off for 3 years. These are the last ones I have to get finished and then I can get back to models and the layout full time.
That said, here are the kit contents starting with the box cover.
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A 58 page instruction booklet including dozens of photos.
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16 templates and informational cards -
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Sign and floor sheets.-
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Three roof cards -
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Lots and lots of parts -
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Looking forward to your build Tom, this is a great kit, wish I had one. Mark
A box of strip wood/sticks -
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A box of 50+ white metal castings -
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I purchased the lighting kit for Horwood Bros. from Ngineering for $89.00.
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Quote from: craftsmankits on February 15, 2026, 06:02:08 PMLooking forward to your build Tom, this is a great kit, wish I had one. Mark
Mark,
I wish you did as well. One just sold at BrassTrains.com for $275.00.
Keep looking, one will turn up. The price is down on this one.
Tom
Looking forward to watching this one come together, Tom.
It should look right at home on your layout. Do you know if Dario is planning on releasing more kits? Either larger or diamond series?
Cheers, Mark.
Oh boy Tom, you're finally getting started on this. I look forward to seeing your build. Will it be done by this Saturday? ;D
Tom you're going to have fun with this one. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.
Ton that should keep you out of trouble for a few days.
Looking forward to the build.
Jerry
Quite a project, Tom. I've seen a finished one and it's huge. Looking forward to your build.
Jeff
I'm looking forward to following along as my build of Horwood Bros has been on the orphan shelf for quite awhile.
Terry
Following with interest, it looks like a very exciting build!
Quote from: Mark Dalrymple on February 15, 2026, 06:17:48 PMLooking forward to watching this one come together, Tom.
It should look right at home on your layout. Do you know if Dario is planning on releasing more kits? Either larger or diamond series?
Cheers, Mark.
Mark, Cheers,
Happy to have you along on the journey. I last spoke to Dario when I purchased the Drake Street Shop kit. He said he was working on ideas for another kit but didn't say what.
Tom
Quote from: PRR Modeler on February 15, 2026, 06:31:05 PMOh boy Tom, you're finally getting started on this. I look forward to seeing your build. Will it be done by this Saturday? ;D
Butty Curt,
Yes, finally and it will be a long build as well. Not sure it will be done by Saturday. Oh, you said this Saturday. No but it will be done by one Saturday n the4 future. 8)
Tom
Quote from: Larry C on February 16, 2026, 10:06:36 AMTom you're going to have fun with this one. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.
Larry,
Thanks for jumping on the wagon. It will be a fun build but not a quick one.
Tom
Quote from: Jerry on February 16, 2026, 10:11:42 AMTon that should keep you out of trouble for a few days.
Looking forward to the build.
Jerry
Jerry,
At least a few day for sure. I'm guessing many many months. Happy to have you following along.
Tom
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on February 16, 2026, 10:59:18 AMQuite a project, Tom. I've seen a finished one and it's huge. Looking forward to your build.
Jeff
Jeff,
Yes, it will be a project. I think you and I saw this one in the contest room at one of the EXPOS, don't remember which one.
This will take up 15 to 24 inches of real estate.
Glad to have here.
Tom
Quote from: Vietnam Seabee on February 16, 2026, 11:36:30 AMI'm looking forward to following along as my build of Horwood Bros has been on the orphan shelf for quite awhile.
Terry
Terry,
Thanks for getting on the front row. I've had this one for two years and wanted build it. Not sure about your build but, I've already found some issues.
I'll go over them as the build progresses.
Tom
Quote from: Yannis on February 16, 2026, 11:48:36 AMFollowing with interest, it looks like a very exciting build!
Yannis,
Happy to have you following with interest. I'm excited to get this one started.
Tom
I started to read the instruction manual two months ago. I've read through it a few times and getting familiar with the parts.
This kit, when placed on the diorama measures 15 X 24". I'll use the same dimensions but the kit will sit directly on the layout. I'll construct a concrete pad later in the build.
Here is where I plan to plant Harwood Bros. It is on the Summit Level (3rd.) of the layout.
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The base for the main structure (the service station) is a 3/32" thick wood floor. The floor in this kit was severely warped.
Here is how I fixed the warp.
I soaked the wood floor in a pan of water to loosen the wood fibers. I then placed a sheet of wax paper on the granite counter top in our laundry room. The floor piece was placed on the paper and another sheet of wax paper was then placed on the top. A pane of glass was then placed on top of the wax paper. I used metal weights to hold the wood floor flat until dry.
There are no photos of this step as back in December '25 I wasn't sure I was going to build the kit. Anyway, that did the trick and after four days the wood floor was flat.
Yesterday, I noticed a slight bend in the floor. I set it on two metal weights and placed a metal weight on top as shown below. This morning the floor was once again flat. Sorry for the above screed but, I wanted to share what I needed to do.
When the walls are glued to the floor, it will remain flat.
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Done for today.
Will you be able to brace that floor in case it decides to warp again? You might need to route out grooves in the plywood base for bracing underneath, if you can't put bracing inside.
My experience with stuff like this is it will eventually warp again if not braced.
dave
Quote from: deemery on February 16, 2026, 06:07:33 PMWill you be able to brace that floor in case it decides to warp again? You might need to route out grooves in the plywood base for bracing underneath, if you can't put bracing inside.
My experience with stuff like this is it will eventually warp again if not braced.
dave
Me too. Could you reinforce the floor-wall joints with 3/16" or 1/4" K&S brass angle? Pre-blacken, then epoxy in place everywhere there isn't an exterior door you want to model open?
Howdy Tom,
That is one heck of a score. Congratulations. I loved that kit when it came out, but spent my money on Banta's Pro Patria mill.
I am excited to follow your build. It promises to be fun.
Have fun,
mike