Forsthaus

F o r s t h a u s

o r

How I removed the world's largest Cuckoo Clock

Once upon a time there was this lovely Cuckoo Clock.

The original of this H0 scale model (Faller 389), the first largest Cuckoo Clock in the world,

can still be found in Schonach in the Black Forest.

For many years it stood on the hill behind the station!

Until the sound equipment broke down and battery acid affected the interior...

It was fun for many years having moving parts and a lovely cuckoo sound on my layout, long before LokSound was introduced.

Alas... those days are gone since long.

H e n c e . . .

Due to the 2019 Renovation of the Cochemer Bahn and while planning to have a large forest right behind the station,

I searched on the Internet for a lovely Forester's Lodge in H0 scale instead.

This is what came up: Forsthaus Busch 1675.

It's even the more interesting since most parts of this kit consists of wood.

Yep:

"ECHT HOLZ!"

Since this is the first time that I am working with both laser cut material and wood, I would like to introduce you to the making of this lovely lodge!

As you might expect from me, I did some painting for true weathering effect as well!

Now, let pictures tell the story

and see for yourself what will soon find a place on the Cochemer Bahn "Version 3.0".

At first, while opening this pretty expensive box (to me € 49,50), I was surprised by its... errr... emptiness!

That is to say: a lot of paper at the bottom, sustaining only 4 rather small and flat sachets.

However,

Don't judge a book by its cover or a box by its content!

The windows needed some lasur for contrast.

The wooden parts were just fine to me. Later on, they will only get some dry white tarnish.

Totally new to me - always working with Kibri, Vollmer and Faller - was the fact that Busch choose for both an inside and outside wall.

It looks like cardboard, but it is as firm as Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF).

And all parts fit in a most perfect way!

Curtains were placed (without glass) on the inside. Hereby you create depth between window glass and the curtains.

I choose for 3 sets of light: two for interior light on each floor, and one rice grain bulb on the outside above the door, for illuminating the area close to the entrance.

But before we come to that, let's first continue with the construction...