Almunge, as produced by Jeco (manufacturer's photo).
Swedish Scenic Models in H0 Scale
We are creating a new model guide; one about models that are suitable for a Swedish diorama that are not the trains themselves. We will cover cars, buses, lorries and eventually buildings! We will be adding to this guide over the next couple of months before settling down, but modellers' notes are welcome. Again, we are concentrating on models ready to 'place upon the layout' out of the box, but the photos might shew one or two others...
Enjoy!
Road Vehicles: Cars | Buses | Lorries
Structures: Railway Station Buildings | Other Railway Buildings
Somewhere to Live | Somewhere to Work, Shop, etc
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Structures
There is a fair number of manufacturers of H0-scale model buildings, and the models are mostly suitable for central Europe. Precious few have included the one odd Nordic model in their range, but other suitable models are produced by some of the smaller manufacturers, and for some of our readers, there may be a few surprises also! Modellers must beware, some H0-scale models are actually TT-scale, and are therefore really suited to background scenes; Heljan especially (though their Swedish models are mostly H0). Also, Pola models are assumed to be produced by other manufacturers now, as Pola seem to be concentrating on their G-scale market instead.
The presentation here is slightly different from rail and road models, as buildings usually have only one prototype. Our Honourable Mentions will include other buildings that with a bit of modification could be made to look Nordic, and are therefore not quite so specific. Pictures are mostly of assembled models here at the FLMJ, but there are a few manufacturers' promotional photos also.
Railway Station Buildings
Almunge Station
Almunge is in central Sweden on the narrow gauge (former Roslagsbanan) line from Uppsala.
Jeco produces a limited edition model of Almunge station as a ceramic model (ready-built).
Almunge, as produced by Jeco (manufacturer's photo).
Diö Station
Diö is in southern Sweden on the main line to the north of Älmhult in Småland.
Pola used to produce a model of Diö station building, but this model is now produced in the US by Model Power and sold as "Chester station." (Most recently, this has appeared in Heljan's lists as a ready-built model!)
Diö station building as a model, seen here at the old Månstorp.
Hennan Station
Hennan has become quite a famous station; the building has been moved to the National Railway Museum at Gävle and rebuilt there!
MobaArt produces a wooden model of the station building as a kit, believed to be their first Swedish model.
The Hennan prototype photos are from the Swedish Railway Museum website, the model is from the MobaArt website.
Klippan Station
Klippan is also in southern Sweden, but in Skåne, on the line between Åstorp and Hässleholm. This is also the home station for a preserved railway, and the model is based on the building used by this latter railway.
Heljan produces a model of the small station building and 'convenience block.' (#156)
Klippan used at Siljansnäs and Steninge
Mariefred Station
Mariefred is quite close to Stockholm and is at the end of a short narrow-gauge railway from Läggesta. A nice day out from Stockholm can be made with a round-tour ticket that features a steamboat from the harbour at the Town Hall to Mariefred, the narrow-gauge railway to Läggesta, and then the SJ train back to Stockholm. The station building is remarkably pretty and always nicely kept. Originally, the line was standard-gauge, so the model would not be out of place on a similar model diorama. (The standard gauge branch joined the through line at Läggesta, and the 1935 track layout has been copied on the FLMJ for our station at Månstorp!)
Heljan produces a model of the station building, but not all of the recent modifications are imitated on the model (but the model is not inauthentic for a certain period). The model is also available with a different roof as a US hotel! It is a little too small for H0-scale, but much too big for TT-scale! (#135)
Mariefred used at Köpingsvik
Nyåker Station
Nyåker is on the Northern main line between Mellansel and Vännäs in Norrland.
Artitec produces a model of Nyåker station building as a resin kit. It is highly detailed and appropriately priced!
Nyåker, as produced by Artitec (manufacturer's photo).
Åmål Station
Åmål is on the secondary line between Trollhättan/Öxnered and Kil in Västra Götalands Län. The station building here is of brick construction.
Heljan produces a model of the station building as it was a few years ago; but quite frankly, the modifications have not enhanced the appearance of the building, so the model is perfectly acceptable as it is. (#153)
Left - Åmål station building, by Heljan, seen here at the old Lövhöjden.
Right - And here is Åmål station building, with an InterRegio train reflecting in the windows! Notice how it has been extended at each end. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Åseda Station
Åseda was an interchange station along the VHVJ where it met the standard gauge line from Nässjö via Vetlanda.
Euromod produced a wooden model of the station building many years ago, but it does turn up at swapmeets from time to time, even in the UK!
Åseda used at Köpingsvik.
Other Railway Buildings
Other Stations
There are a few station buildings available that we believe are not especially Swedish, but with a little modification here and there, could fit a Swedish scene.
Heljan produces a small station (art # 130 - Martofte, on the Danish island of Funen, on the Odense-Kerteminde-Martofte Jernbane) and a large station (art # 157 - Holme Olstrup, Sjæland, Denmark) which would be OK; and there is a very modern station (art # 120), which is typical of modern structures anywhere, not especially Sweden.
Faller produces a kit called "Waldbrunn," which can become a credible representative of the stations on the line to Simrishamn in Skåne.
Top Left - This is a model of Martofte station building in Denmark; it suits the FLMJ's Månstorp station very well.
Top Right - Holme Olstrup is also in Denmark, but passes well for a Swedish station building.
Bottom - Waldbrunn is in Germany, but the Faller model shews that it is so similar to Simrishamn in southern Sweden.
Locomotive Roundhouse
In Sweden (as much as the rest of Scandinavia), loco sheds are mostly circular buildings around a turntable. As models, these can be quite bulky, but if space will permit, they're worth fitting in for the right atmosphere!
Faller produces a 3-track roundhouse, which appears to have a smaller profile than others available. There is also a 3-track extension available.
Fleischmann produces a 3-track roundhouse.
Heljan produces a 3-track roundhouse and a 3-track add-on kit to go with it. Heljan also produces a double-track straight engine-shed, and a single track loco shed.
Kibri also produces a 3-track roundhouse and single track add-ons.
Märklin produces a 3-track roundhouse.
Noch produces a 3-track roundhouse, but we doubt its suitability for a Swedish diorama! There is also a single track extension available.
Vollmer produces a 6-track roundhouse and a 3-track roundhouse, but we are not aware how many tracks the add-on kit has!
Top Left - Not a Roundhouse, but not all Swedish locosheds are ... this Heljan model is quite acceptable for the Swedish scene. (A roundhouse is proposed for Fjällnäs, but we'll have to see if there's room, first!)
Top Right - The unique Rz-loco stands outside one of the roundhouses at Gävle.
Middle & Bottom - Manufacturer's photos of the Heljan roundhouse; one shews main unit and add-on together; the other picture shews the add-on standing alone!
Signal Cabin
Most stations were signalled from a small frame or panel on the station platform. Modern signalling is in a Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) centre as part of (usually) a bigger building. Independent signal cabins were not so common. Typical construction for such a cabin in the few locations where they existed would be a brick or concrete lower section and timber upper. One closed example can be seen at Sollentuna (between Stockholm and Märsta), where it is now "Paddy's Pub," but no railway artefacts are preserved within. One interesting example (long gone) was the cabin at Malmö, which had a British-built Westinghouse style "K" lever frame, two levers from which are preserved at the museum at Ängelholm!
Euromod produced a typical signal-cabin kit in wood, but this is quite rare today.
Kibri produces a model of Marbach signal cabin (art # 9477) which would not need much effort to modify to look Swedish.
Vollmer produces a model of Nurnburg signal cabin (art # 5732) which would not need much effort to modify to look Swedish.
TeknoBygg produces not a model of a signal cabin, but a model of the small platform-mounted frame, the so called, "Ställverksapparat!"
Top Left - Malmö signal-cabin as it was.
Top Right - Paddys Pub at Sollentuna; a former signal cabin.
Bottom - Not all signalling was controlled from enclosed cabins; here is the 'frame' at Rättvik as it was in 1990!
Top - The Euromod signalbox kit was used at Köpingsvik, as seen here.
Bottom Left - A Heljan brick signalbox alongside a Kibri brick/timber signalbox. Either would be OK in Sweden, the Kibri model especially. Note however, that the Heljan model is TT-scale!
Bottom Right - A closer view of the Kibri signalbox. Note that the white paint was applied at the FLMJ; necessary for the right atmosphere!
Railway Department
Heljan produces a sand and coaling unit (#111), small goods shed (#1760), large goods shed (#1780)
Left - Heljan's goods shed (part of...) can be seen at Gärde on the FLMJ. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Right- Not necessarily the prototype for Heljan's goods shed, but clearly shewing how authentic the model is! [Photo: P. Grace.]
Lineside Buildings
Former linesman's huts (small houses known as Banvaktstuga) are dotted about the country here and there. There are very few identifying features, but good clues are to look for small houses adjacent to railway lines. Sometimes, they will have an identification number on!
EA Hobby produces a few similar designs of Banvaktstuga.
Heljan produces some suitable small houses that are suitable to use in this way.
Somewhere To Live
What the manufacturers have to offer
Artitec
There is a nice range of low-relief buildings available from Artitec, some of which would suit a Swedish background very well
These Artitec low-relief buildings are perfectly suitable for Sweden, and these will be going in at Månstorp.
Auhagen
11402 - The only model in Auhagen's range that could be used in a Swedish diorama without modification is this kit; an apartment block, typical in the larger towns and cities.
The Auhagen block of flats is shewn in these two pictures. The front view is very plain, but does illustrate a very typical Swedish feature, the fact that there would be half a flight of stairs to reach the lowest level (and therefore only half a flight down to the cellar). The rear view shews another very Swedish feature, balconies!
Heljan
There are a number of models in Heljan's range. Availability is uncertain, however.
137 - This is a Swedish farm comprising a small house and barn.
139 - This is a larger Swedish house.
213 or 1773 - A small modern house, suitable for the outskirts of a large town, or as a large summer-house.
217 - This is a large Summer-house.
1179 - A block of maisonettes.
1706 - A more modern town house.
1781 - Another more modern house.
Top Left - Heljan's Swedish House, a bit under-scale, but a fine model.
Top Right - Heljan produce two of these in a kit, one yellow, one brown.
Middle Left - More likely to be a summer house, but strangely, some modern country stations are built this way, today!
Middle Right - A small brick cottage, now near the crossing at Lövhöjden.
Bottom - Front and rear views of the Heljan Maisonettes. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Pola
Pola used to produce a delightful Swedish country cottage, now sold by Model Power through Walthers (US) as the "Little Red School House."
This is the former Pola house; the FLMJ has several, all painted differently!
Faller
208 - This is a kit of three small allotment buildings, and although not specifically Swedish, would not be out of place.
Busch
1080-1084 - Nice summer houses are in this number range from Busch - same building just different colours!
Kibri
8160 - For a modern slant on an old design, this Kibri kit is a good one. With some modification, it can be made to look like an older traditional timber house.
Left - This apartment block has shops on the ground floor.
Right - This white (concrete) house is Swedish in design, but might be more traditional if made to look like wood!
Somewhere To Work, Shop, etc:
What the manufacturers have to offer
Left - This post-office building is, on the FLMJ, shared with the local Police!
Right - Assorted modern industrial units are available from American manufacturers, this from Rix!
Heljan
136 - The most authentic church is probably the Heljan model of Seglora Kyrka, now rebuilt at the open air museum at Skansen, Stockholm. There are minor detail differences between the model and prototype, not beyond modification if desired.
202 - Another church of unknown origin, but quite suitable for a southern Swedish country scene (it's actually Danish).
1702 - A very ordinary supermarket, no known original, but suitable for a Swedish scene, though a bit under-scale.
1775 - Conversely, this is a small "L" shaped building with several small shops in.
Left - Seglora Church, as a model from Heljan.
Right - And here is Seglora church, preserved at Skansen in Stockholm. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Bottom - This barn comes in a kit with a small house.
Jeco
Jeco produces a Ceramic model of a small "Konsum" store.
The Jeco "Konsum" store.
Pola
535 - A typical Scandinavian dairy shop.
This Dairy shop was a kit from Pola.
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