Be inspired....

The Kingsway range of card kits is designed to provide an authentic diorama in which to place scale model vehicles. Card does have it's limitations and a few well placed extra details can radically enhance the overall scene. Take a look at these superdetailed dioramas and be inspired.

For useful advice on constructing a diorama click here. 

For even more inspiration look at these pictures of bus garage models made by the late Mark Adlington. Click here.

For photos of an interesting project to represent 5% of the 1959 London fleet in 1/76 scale click here.

Further photos of interest can be found here.

For information on my Kingsway Subway and Dog Kennel Hill tram layouts click here.

Meanwhile take a look at the following pictures of detailed 1/76 dioramas and be inspired.

 

 

Period Streetscene

1/76 scale period street scene in black and white
A convincing street scene can easily be put together using kits from the range. Here three kits - the Odeon (CWLO), Burtons (BTG) and Woolworths (WWMD) have simply had card paving and road vehicles added. Figures, lamp posts and other street furniture would make the scene even more realistic.

Streetscene with Odeon and Burtons
Below shows the new art deco shopping parade incorporated into the scene, which has a selection of 1960s period shop fronts.

Street scene with art deco shop parade

 

Seven Kings

Seven Kings bus garage Kingsway Models diorama
Diorama of Seven Kings garage showing the original Edwardian style frontage shared by many LGOC buildings of the period. In the seventies the garage was rebuilt in modern style to accomodate DMS vehicles - it closed in 1993. Until rebuilding, it was the last London Transport garage to have an exclusively RT allocation.
This diorama is for sale. Click here for further details.
Seven Kings bus garage diorama built from the Kingsway Models card kit

 Leyton

Leytonstone garage diorama

My diorama showing Leyton garage.  A Ford Anglia Estate car with roundel roofsign is parked outside the garage. An Austin service van is just inside the garage as a learner driver in an RTL summons up the nerve to brave the traffic.
This diorama is for sale. Click here for further details.
Leytonstone garage diorama

 

 

Ferodo Bridge

Ferodo Bridge with streetscene behind.

A once familiar scene in many towns across the country was the Ferodo advertisment on a railway bridge. Some still remain. Here the kit has been built as a single span bridge and a suitable streetscene picture has been placed behind.

Diorama by John Howe.

Hornchurch 

 

Hornchurch garage diorama built by John Howe

Hornchurch garage diorama built by John HoweA diorama showing the now demolished Hornchurch garage as it was in the seventies.

This was built by me and is for sale. Click here for further details.

 

 

Romford (North Street)

North Street diorama by John Howe

My diorama of Romford (North Street) as I remember it in the 1970s, with the SMSs and DMSs to the fore. The only additions to the standard kit are some paving, the figures, and two lamp standards formed from electrical copper cable.

North Street diroama by John HoweNorth Street diorama by John Howe

 

Amersham Garage

Roger Shaw's Amersham diorama
Roger Shaw's Amerhsam diorama
Views of an Amersham diorama owned by Roger Shaw. Mark Adlington built the kit and also the scratchbuilt model of the original Amersham and District building which stayed in LT use and in fact outlasted the newer garage building. A few figures and other vehicles make an authentic setting for Roger's collection of historic LT buses.
Roger Shaw's Amersham diorama

Amersham garage by Clive Greedus
Coming forward in time to the late fifties, Amersham is now seen with postwar vehicles, the oldest being T790. This diorama is by Clive Greedus who has added some interior detail.
Amersham diorama by Clive Greedus

Maidstone & District, Tunbridge Wells St. Johns Road Garage.

 

Tunbridge Wells diorama by Peter Greaves
Views of a Tunbridge Wells, St Johns Road, diorama built by Peter Greaves.
Tunbridge Wells diorama by Peter Greaves

 

St Albans Garage

St Albans Garage diorama by Mick Parsons
Views of a St Albans Garage diorama by Mick Parsons. The bus station provides a large area to display buses - although the gentle slope (needed to accomodate Charles Holdens art deco style bus shelter) means that the buses need a 'blutack' handbrake!
St Albans garage diorama by Mick Parsons

 

 

Leyton Garage

Leyton Garage diorama by Mick Parsons
Leyton Garage diorama built by Mick Parsons who once drove RFs from here. Some interesting vehicles can be seen including a training RT in green livery and a Silver Jubilee SRM.
Leyton Garage diorama by Mick Parsons

 

 Dartford Garage
Dartford by Neil Craig
Dartford by Neil CraigDartford built by Neil Craig
Dartford adjacent yard by Neil CraigViews of Dartford Garage built by Neil Craig, who has added a representation of the bus parking area to the side.

 

 

Barking Garage

 

 

Barking Garage built by Clive Greedus

This model of Barking Garage is set in the 1960s. A rather primitive looking block building was situated between the entrances at this time. Areas of paving have also been added along with plastic fencing and traces of 'vegetation'. The garage has been made deeper and some interior wall detail has been added.RT leaving BK garage by Clive Greedus

Plastic lettering has been added along with other details such as fire alarm bell and a guard railing made from some bent wire.

Diorama built by Clive Greedus

Upton Park Garage

Upton Park diorama built by Clive Greedus

RM1 on Clive Greedus' Upton Pk dioramaUpton Park has a nice wide entrance with plenty of space for posing buses. Taking a photo of the real thing is rather difficult as the street is quite narrow - with the model there is no problem. Here plastic lettering has been added to the wall as well as some lamps made from scraps of wire and plastic.

Diorama built by Clive Greedus

Kingston Bus Station
Kingston Bus Stn built by Clive Greedus
A favourite of many enthusiasts, Kingston remained the same for years with just the buses gradually changing. Here the bus station is shown in trolleybus days with the clock being supported on a trolley pole. The fascia lettering is done with plastic letters and some figures have been added to bring the scene to life. The essence of Kingston in 1960 on your bookshelf.
Kingston by Clive Greedus
Here is the same setting a few years earlier when TDs reigned supeme.

Diorama built by Clive Greedus

For more photos of Clive's work, click here.
 

 

Kingston by Roger Shaw

 

Earlier scenes on Roger Shaw's Kingston diorama with T, LT and ST on show.

Kit built by Mark Adlington. Sky by me.

 

 

 

Peckham Garage

 

PM diorama by Roger Shaw
An early postwar scene at Peckham garage on Roger Shaw's diorama. The kit was built by Mark Adlington.

 

 

Pm diorama by Roger Shaw

 

Windsor Bus Station

Windsor bus station by Roger Shaw
Windsor bus station by Roger Shaw
Windsor bus station in wartime. White paint on the wings, a red STL borrowed from the central area, and an emergency Green Line working. All represented with more of Rogers large collection of LT vehicles.
Windsor bus station by Roger Shaw

 

 

Tottenham Garage 

Tottenham garage by Clive Greedus

Tottenham interior Tottenaham interior by Clive Greedus

Tottenham garage was a distinctive building, it still stands - although it has been rather truncated in recent years.

Here Clive has added his usual plastic lettering and lamps. He has also added a detailed interior using a printed copy of an interior shot as a background which appears to give extra depth.

Diorama by Clive Greedus

 

Fulwell Depot

FW depot by Clive Greedus

Fulwell has seen everything from trams to buses with trolleybuses in between. Here it is depicted in trolleybus days with Q1s evident standing on a printed base showing the tram tracks still in existence.

The tapering trolley poles have been produced from the plastic handles of a child's paintbrushes, bought for less than a pound. Centre stage here is one of London Transport's fleet of AEC tower wagons used for overhead  repairs.

Diorama by Clive Greedus

 FW depot by Clive Greedus

 Morden Underground Station

Morden Diorama by Nigel Ridout

Morden at the end of the Northern Line has always been a busy interchange for buses. During the sixties the forecourt would be full of RTs on the many routes that used the stand. Here the addition of paving, fencing, a Zebra crossing along with figures and cars has recreated the busy forecourt of Morden Station in the 1960's.

Diorama by Nigel Ridout

 

Morden diorama by Peter GreavesMorden diorama by Peter Greaves

Morden diorama by Peter Greaves

Pictures of a Morden diorama built by Peter Greaves. This shows the station without the rather bland office block that was built above it in the sixties. The careful placing of figures and accessories has produced a busy scene in which to display model buses.

 

Arnos Grove Station 

Arnos Grove diorama by Alan Purssey

Arnos Grove Station built by Alan Purssey with an ST and LT scooter - these would have been in service when the station was constructed in the 1930s.

Rayners Lane Station

The Rayners Lane station diorama of Roger Shaw. The station was built by Mark Adlington. Rogers fine models of the ST and DA buses bring the scene to life. The shot below shows how even without vehicles the use of figures and street furniture can bring the scene to life.

 

Rayners Lane diorama by Roger Shaw

 

 

Reigate Garage

 

Roger Shaws Reigate diorama
More interesting LT vehicles from Roger Shaw's collection. The garage was again built by Mark Adlington, and Roger has added the distinctive fencing that bordered Reigate's yard.

 

 

Hertford Garage 

HG diorama by Roger Shaw
HG diorama by Roger Shaw
More of Roger's collection of classic LT models showing a busy early scene at Hertford. The kit was built by Mark Adlington, and I've added a computer sky.
Diorama by Roger Shaw

Have you built a Kingsway diorama that could be inspiring. Email me via the Contact Page.

 

 

  

card kits of real places