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SP Tool Sheds from AL&W Lines

Here are a few tool sheds/speeder shanties that I recently completed using the excellent kits from AL&W Lines. The prototypes for these shanties are based on extensive field research and SP's Common Standard Diagrams/Drawings. Some of these structures still survive to this day.

The kits themselves are very easy to build, and are constructed of lasercut wood, with additional details from styrene and other materials. To match some photos of sheds that I had, I modified these kits slightly by replacing the stock shingles on the larger toolsheds with simulated tar paper from Builders in Scale. I also replaced the standard hinges supplied with the kit with hinges from Grandt Line. Lastly, I made my own hasp and lock assemblies for the doors using leftover hinges from the AL&W kit. I've never built laserkits before, so please pardon any gaffes that might be apparent! For the B&B sheds (the big ones -stock #SP4) below, I tried for a late-1970s appearance, when they generally looked pretty run down. The little shed (stock # SP2), I decided to "break the windows" a bit in one of the panes just to make things a little more plausible to me for a 1960s/70s appearance.

For more information on these kits, please visit the AL&W website.

Much Thanks to those on Trainorders.com who provided me with a bunch of great photos to choose from.

Best Regards,
Harry Wong

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Large shed with B&B siding SP4 - weathered appearance for a late 70s look.
Large shed with B&B siding "SP4" - weathered appearance for a late 70s look.		 I replaced the stock hinges with new hinges from Grandt Line #5095.
I replaced the stock hinges with new hinges from Grandt Line #5095.		 The door hasp was constructed from bits of plastic which were part of the kit-supplied hinge assemblies.
The door hasp was constructed from bits of plastic which were part of the kit-supplied hinge assemblies.		 The prototype that was at Woodford, CA had overhanging tarpaper, so my model here has it too.
The prototype that was at Woodford, CA had overhanging tarpaper, so my model here has it too.
I beat up the sides and stained the wood a little.
I beat up the sides and stained the wood a little.		 The tarpaper is from Builders-In-Scale. The kit supplies normal rectangular shingles for an as-built appearance.
The tarpaper is from Builders-In-Scale. The kit supplies normal rectangular shingles for an as-built appearance.		 Kit SP2 - SP Tool Shed (small) with drop siding. Kit assembled completely stock.
Kit SP2 - SP Tool Shed (small) with drop siding. Kit assembled completely stock.		 generally a stock appearance, with just one bashed out window pane per side!
generally a stock appearance, with just one bashed out window pane per side!
This kit built totally stock, with the exception of the little lock & hasp that I added.
This kit built totally stock, with the exception of the little lock & hasp that I added.		 Another view of kit SP2
Another view of kit "SP2"		 Kit SP4 features board and batten (B&B) siding. I substituted simulated tar paper on the roof, instead of the stock shingles
Kit SP4 features board and batten (B&B) siding. I substituted simulated tar paper on the roof, instead of the stock shingles		 Another view of the weathering I applied.
Another view of the weathering I applied.
Front view of new hinges and hasp/locks that I added.
Front view of new hinges and hasp/locks that I added.		 View of the other side.
View of the other side.		 The first SP4 kit I built. For this one, I built it roughly according to photos supplied with the kit.
The first "SP4" kit I built. For this one, I built it roughly according to photos supplied with the kit.		 I used faded red tar paper per prototype photos.
I used faded red tar paper per prototype photos.
This is loosely based upon the shed still at Chiloquin, OR.
This is loosely based upon the shed still at Chiloquin, OR.		 back side of the shed.
back side of the shed.		 Grandt Line hinges added here too. D'oh.. I need to paint the edges of the roof..
Grandt Line hinges added here too. D'oh.. I need to paint the edges of the roof..		 The other SP4 that I assembled.
The other SP4 that I assembled.
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tracktime06-Dec-2014 01:57
Hi Gary, Thanks very much. I may have faded the color a bit. I'm not too worried about it, because the color fades a lot in real life anyways, especially for a model of a weathered/dilapidated version as I was trying to replicate.
Gary Ray 29-Dec-2009 00:34
Harry,
Beautiful work. I see some variation in the Colonial Yellow color. Did you use the AL&W recommendation (Polyscale PRR buff) or come up with some other formula? Any hints would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gary
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