About Kingsway Models
& how to build the kits
Kingsway Models offers a range of distinctive card building kits.
These are mainly in the commonly used 1/76 scale suitable for OO gauge model railways, although there is also a smaller range in 1/43 (O gauge).
A comparison of different scales. The larger Little Chef model is to 1/43 scale. In this scale a human figure would be 42mm tall.
The smaller model is to 1/76 scale in which a human figure would be 24mm tall. The model has had a small diorama base added.
Ready built models are now rarely sold by Kingsway Models - I simply do not have the time to build models to order, these days. Occasionally I may have 'first build' examples of new kits. Should any become available they will only be sold through this site.
Building the kits......
The kits are not precut. You will need to be able to cut stout mounting card, approximately 1.4mm thick. For this you will need to use a sharp knife and steel rule, on a cutting mat. The kits are not designed for children although older children may enjoy assisting an adult.
Many buildings will have a number of window openings that will need to be cut out individually.
The kits are designed to be assembled by adults. They vary in size and complexity but even the smallest are likely to occupy the builder for a full afternoon. Larger models could take a few days.....
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Use Bostik All Purpose contact glue or UHU to glue the parts together.
I suggest that you should not use pva glue.
Please look carefully at the photos below to learn more about the contents of the kits, and/or download a typical instruction sheet using one of the red buttons.
A pencil with a long lead (cut with a knife) is especially helpful for colouring cut edges. Use a 2B or 3B grade to enable different shades to be applied as required.
In a similar fashion, coloured felt tip pens are often useful to match certain parts.
Note that the card is not precut.
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The most important skill that is required is the ability to cut thick mounting card (1.4mm thick) safely and accurately. Because of this, the kits are not suitable for children.
Kit contents
A kit will contain a number of sheets of mounting card with the parts printed on. Many kits will also have thinner sheets of card to enable curved parts to be constructed, or alternative names or signs to be applied.
There will be a sheet of instructions with diagrams showing the process of construction.
Click a button below to see a specimen instruction sheet.
Click one of the pictures below to see a photo sequence of a kit build. Click the individual pictures to see captions.
ST Staines bus garage FLATS Block of flats H Hackney bus garage
The video shows the build sequence of the Kingsway Models SJC, St Jude's church kit.
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To see further details of the kit click the button.
Half relief
Many of the buildings are half relief. This means that there is no rear detail to the model.
Half relief buildings take up less space and are especially useful on a model railway or diorama where the layout is viewed only from one direction.
Full relief
Kits that are described as full relief will build a model that can be viewed from all sides. The picture shows how full relief and half relief models may be used together to create a scene.
John Howe has been a model maker for over fifty years, with a general interest in London Transport. In the early 2000s he built a fictional Underground layout called Cromwell Road, featuring scratchbuilt surface stock trains. For more pictures click the button.
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Later, he exhibited a couple of London Transport themed tramway layouts based on real locations - the Kingsway Subway , and Dog Kennel Hill.
For pictures of the Kingsway Subway layout click the button.
For pictures of the Dog Kennel Hill layout click the button.
Cromwell Road
Kingsway Subway
Dog Kennel Hill
Models of real buildings seemed to really capture the interest of the viewers. John wondered if he could design a card kit of the well known Kingston bus station.
This became the first Kingsway kit, later joined by the adjacent cinema.
These two kits are still available, amongst a large range of other bus garages, and cinemas, and shops and churches, and pubs, and houses, and .......... many others!
The first Kingston kits were sold in 2006. Many other bus garages followed, and then Underground stations.
Since then, well over a hundred other card building kits have been added to the range.
John still models London trams and very occasionally exhibits his latest portable layout - Kennington Cross, which includes many Kingsway items in standard and modified form. He continues to design new kits for the Kingsway range.
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Kingsway Kevin arrives
Since 2006, over 20000 Kingsway Models kits have been produced and sent throughout the UK, and around the world. In the first year just 315 kits were sold. The annual sales have increased greatly since then as the range of items offered, and the demand, has grown. This has gradually made it more difficult to find sufficient time to design new items for the range.
Kevin Ward has now taken over the preparation and dispatch of kits. From October 2024, the majority of orders will be posted from his address in Kent.
'Mild mannered', Kevin has a wide range of practical skills that he has learnt in the real 'one to one scale world' and is very quickly coming to grips with taking responsibility for producing Kingsway Models kits into the future.
John will continue to develop the range, with hopefully more frequent additions andI may also possibly be able to offer some ready-built items.
Distinctive models
Each based on a real building
Kingsway Models
From the smallest beginnings....
(circa 1962)
Kingsway Models
..... and on and on
Kingsway Models
Model buildings .........
.... created in card
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Kingsway Models
.......... the cat's whiskers!
The kits are designed by John, drawing on many years of personal model making. Many of the models in the range were inspired by suggestions from customers, but as demand has grown over the years, finding the time for new additions is much more difficult.
Kits are now printed and packed and posted by Kevin from Kent, with myself ready to assist if needed. Usually orders will be posted within 24 hours (except at weekends). Occasionally at busy times, it may be slightly longer.
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We will usually respond within a day or so to email enquiries.
Orders by post are welcome. The CONTACT page gives details of how this can be done.
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