These are all the structures along the line so far. 

1. Misato Station          2. Haruna Station          3. Gunma Station         

4. A water tower          5. Workmans shed        6. Signals                     7. A rustic shelter

8. Wayside Halt            9. A small cottage        10. Castle Signal Box     11. Platelayers Hut

The first station to be built is the smallest, Misato.  Begin with the easier and smaller things and as one gains ability and confidence attempt more complex things.  This is my guiding philosophy and keeps me on a steady learning curve.  Misato is a country station made from bamboo and wood, both readily available.  The station building was scratch-built from ply and bits of wood and bamboo.  The roof is a conversion of two small 100yen (50p) models which were flattened out and glued on top.  In all, the building, platform, fences and seat set me back all of 500yen (2 & half quid).

In this picture the station has just been placed beside a section of track for effect.  Coming soon are pics of where Misato will be permanently.

This is the second real station on the Daruma Line. 

The platform is solid concrete, poured in position.  The fencing is from my favourite 100yen shop, capped with daruma dolls (painted by me).  All that is left to add is a ticket booth, station sign and some more seating in the form of a couple of benches.

To have a look at a couple of close-ups of the main building  please click here.

The Daruma Line is lacking on structure at the moment so I will attempt to build a very simple wayside halt to use as a place filler.  The plan is still just in my head, but I want to have a simple roof, supported by a couple of pillars, with a bench underneath.  The roof I bought for 50p and is the same as I used for half of Misato's roof.

Well, its built now but I just haven't got round to photographing it yet.  As water in Japan was once a respected commodity I have made a watering -hole Japanese style and a suitably rustic fence as a backdrop.  By the by, water was, and is still, used to irrigate the rice fields twice a year (ie. two annual crops) so it was very important.  Also the ceremonial ablutions before entering a temple or shrine are still practiced on the few occasions one visits a holy place.

This will probably get the name of 'Gunma machi' which is the rural area in between Misato, Haruna and Takasaki.

The first water tower was built from a tin of corn, a very small tin, with bamboo siding giving a more natural effect.  If it looks good I shall go ahead an make another for a different part of the line too.

Before I began this structure I duely researched Japanese water towers (i.e. used the Internet for about half an hour).  Unfortunately, most of the towers here were very similar to those on narrow gauge lines in the UK.  Ah well, time for a bit of imagination.  My water towers will be made of wood and bamboo as these are the traditional materials for building with here in Japan.  Well, bamboo isn't used now but it was and will be in my garden to hint at the simple lives the people who live in my garden lead. 

Looking around a 100yen ($1 or 50p) shop the other day I happened on the cooking section.  Here I was able to find bamboo mats which are used for rolling sushi rolls, all tied together.  Great!  Cut down to fit around an empty tin of corn they give the impression of a bamboo barrel.  Raised on a rudimentary wooden scaffold it looks much more Japanese than an iron tank on a plinth of stone.  The best part is that it has only cost me about 200 en ($2) to make a couple of them.

The water tube is two straws (the ones with the bendy bits) with a pulling chain to actuate.  Next is the coal station...

This little shed was made from a 4by4 block of wood, wrapped in plywood.  The design was lifted from an article in Garden Railways Magazine (the US one).

Later I'll include a reverse view so you can see all the mini posters stuch to the rear side.  It actually goes down about 10cm into the ground so it won't blow over in the strong Gunma winds we get from time to time.  The window is just a piece of perspex, sprayed cream on the underside and scoured with a piece of fine sandpaper.  Can't see in, but it looks like you might if you put your nose up to the glass.

This was made from cylindrical wood strips and straw.  I made it to slip into the background and slowly blend in.  It has yet to be weather-proofed, painted with clear water-proof exterior paint.

It has a real 'tatami mat' floor that I got from a 100yen shop!

This is the latest station / halt.

Very simply made from a few bits and pieces.  As yet some of the bits are not weatherproof so it is an on-going project.

This is a very simple single dwelling for a farmer.  Made from wood and painted with acrylic paints.  It set me back about 60 yen (30p / 60c).

The roof, which you can't see in the phot (sorry) is shingles, made from sand paper.

With a new roof, made from straw, this has been given a new position on the new railway.

Here is the new old signal box, a converted castle tower.  It still needs a big sign, stairs and lots of other details.  Being 99% concrete it should survive well out in the extreme Japanese weathers.

At the end of March I was lucky enough to go to the 16mm show at Stoneleigh.  While I was there I managed to find most of the things on my shopping list.  These were all, apart from 2 sets of points, small things such as lineside details and fixtures.  While browsing at some of the trade stands I found a few variations of the typical lineside hut used by workmen for storage and refuge from the weather.  These huts are usually sold as resin kits and go for about 20 pounds.  I didn't have a budget that let me invest in one of these huts so I decided to make one when I got back to Japan.

Many of the railway buildings in Japan were made of wood because it is cheap and is able to sway slightly when earthquakes hit.  Roofing materials included thatch, tile and wood.  I decided to keep things simple and went for a woodden roof.  As usual, the wood was treated with my favoured vinegar/steel wool mixture, which turns the wood a deep dark shade. 

As you can see, I still need to add a door handle so that the workmen can get inside.  There is a lamp, switch and batteries attached to the underside of the roof.