Suggestions for a lighthouse kit?

[Todd W.]

Good Morning Modelers,

I am nearing the point on the harbor/wharf area of my layout where I can begin the creation of water. Most all structures, piers, docks, platforms, retaining walls, and landscape around it are about ready to go.  I have one specific footprint atop of a seawall of rocks that is dedicated to the addition of a lighthouse.  I thought that would have been one of my first structures I would have done, but as per the mold of a model railroader, I began the harbor and a thousand other ideas for it took over and I began working on those, neglecting a lighthouse and thinking I would sooner or later get to it.  Well later is here...lol.  I think my hesitation was finding a lighthouse in a kit that looks quality and has some unique charm in the style of coastal Maryland or New England.   Have scoured the internet and have come across some but they were either cheesy and cheap looking or they were craftsman kits (which is what I am looking for) that were so expensive that I'd have to refinance my home.  OR if I found one I did like, it was out of production by the manufacturer.

Any ideas on available kits that any of you are aware of?  I have even considered scratch building one, however my expertise on lighthouse architecture is zippo...

Todd

[rslaserkits]

You might check out the Mispllion Lighthouse. I did the HO design for Groovy Jeff but he then sold the design to I think Seaport model works. For the N and O scale versions I do them and have in stock.
rich

[Todd W.]

very cool Rich!  I do like this design!  I checked out Seaport Model Works just now and this could be an option!  I should have posted that I am modeling HO Scale...lol.  I had in mind all this time prior of a separate lighthouse from the lighthouse keeper structure, and the lighthouse being the standard rounded version, but this is definitely a different and unique concept!  Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[rpdylan]

I wanted a lighthouse on a small outcrop of land for my layout- kinda like the way it is on the FSM. I bought this cheap kit for about $15 at Springfield. I sprayed it with primer, covered with Liquitex stucco, then painted it white and used some chalk powders on it. It actually came out really well. I plan on putting a slow strobe "lighthouse" LED that I saw from Microlumina.....

[Todd W.]

YES!  that is what I am looking for Bob! Or at least what I had in mind and it fits an East Coast/Maryland design lighthouse to a T.  I love what you have done with it, adding the stucco and weathering.  I will have to look for this model somewhere!  Bingo!  Thank you very much!

Todd W.

[Timbob60]

Here is a link to an eBay seller who has some......

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/122438949100?rmvSB=true

And the US eBay link......same seller

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-City-Hobbies-Maritime-Lighthouse-HO-Gauge-BCH-International-8519-/122438949100?hash=item1c81ee18ec:g:rMkAAOSwLnBX7or3

Geo2rge aka timbob60

[restocarp]

Best produced a model of the Thomas Point Light:
http://www.besttrains.com/products_1017.html
It is very Maryland and very cool, but kinda expensive.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I always admired the lighthouse that Dave Frary made out of scotch tape rolls. There is a photo in his Model Railroad Structures book.

Matt

[RailroadKits]

The Crow River (or was it CC Crow?) lighthouse on the Pennsy...



JD

[Timbob60]

CC Crow's lighthouse is out of stock.

Geo2rge aka timbob60

[rpdylan]

couple more pics to show what I did with this--- the lighthouse comes molded in red, and looks God-awful out of the box.  I like using a quality primer paint, so I used the Camo spray paint to cover the red and put a surface tooth on the plastic.  I applied Liquitex stucco, (going back over it again after it dried to make the covering as even as I could). After the stucco dried, I lightly sanded the stucco to smooth it down a bit and know off any high spots.  Then I painted it white. black and rust pan pastels applied after. The top railings were primed, painted with grimy black (the paint from Micro-Mark, which I like)- then rust powders applied.  The windows were painted a dark green.  The clear part at the top has these molded raised lines in it- I masked these lines on either side with some tape and applied paint to represent the framing between the glass panels.  I need to put another coat of that paint on and some more weathering with powders-- this thing is sitting on a shelf waiting for its home on the layout.

[Todd W.]

Bob, this is fantastic!  Thank you very much for your photos and the details of how you finished and painted it!  Friday night I did order the lighthouse off Ebay from the suggestion and link provided by TimBob60.  It has shipped already and supposedly should be here by Monday.  So today I went out and bought the liquitex stucco, and I am going to put your idea to work!  I also have the camo primer and grimy black.
  I will post photos here as it goes.  I do appreciate everyones help here on the modelers forum.  You all are great! 

Todd

[rpdylan]

As crazy as it sounds, I really think that the secret to weathering/ finishing models is pastel chalks.  I think I put the stucco on in a couple of coats,,, hitting the spots that were a bit bare the second time.  I also found that hitting the surface with some sandpaper after the stuff dries really improves the look by knocking down the high spots and evening out the coating.  I found that the rust colored chalks really made the thing look real,,,,,start out light with the chalks, using a soft brush, and weather until it looks good to you.  I kid you not that when you open the box, the kit looks like a junky toy,,,,,I also painted the inside wall of the lighthouse body with black paint,,,,,

Looking forward to seeing your results!

[Todd W.]

Bob, My lighthouse arrived last week and you were not kidding, it looks like the old McDonald style toys you got with a kids burger.  However the details molded into it are pretty decent.  I plan to jump into it tonight as I have the Liquitex stucco you mentioned.  A new experience for me as I have yet to work with their products.  The rail on the overhang is missing a section at one point about 1/2 inch and looks like it was just an error mold, but that is easily fixable with some craft wire......I will let you know how it goes and post photos here as it progresses!

Thanks again, Todd

[rpdylan]

Told you Todd!  The thing is so toy like out of the box! .....
    I primed the plastic with some Camouflage paint--- It puts some tooth on the plastic for the stucco to adhere to.  It took a couple of coats to get a uniform application all around the structure.  After the stucco dried I lightly sanded it to knock off the "high points" and I found that it really helped get the finish that I liked. I then painted it white.....
     I think you will be surprised at how it comes out- I know I was pleasantly surprised. Look forward to seeing your photos!
BTW, for the cat-walk grating and railings, I painted the plastic with grimey black, then after the paint dried, I brushed on some rust colored pan pastel--- its a nice effect. 

[Dave K.]

Looks like you're headed in the right direction with the tips you've gotten so far. Looking forward to following along. 👍🏻 Bob, that came out beautifully!