Check the alignment of the two joints prepared last week.
Re-adjust the middle joint.
Look at ballasting, scenery, bridge etc.
We started with item 2 - and almost spent the whole session on it.
The first thing we did was to break the existing pins out of their holes. Using glue (Araldite in this case) can have its downside, but very little damage was done to the timber frames as the studs were tapped out. Next - check the alignment pins and both were found to be a little undersized. Geoff set-to turning another pair. Before assembly, all pin and bolt holes were run-through with a larger drill, to make sure there was sufficient clearance to allow the boards/rails to be properly aligned.
It's a tricky board joint, with 4 tracks forming the main cross-over and one siding at the back. Whatever we did, all five lines could not be aligned, so the boards must have distorted over the 30+ years of the layouts life. All we could do was get it as close as possible and accept that some rails would have to be re-soldered.
After our customary lunch-break when Laurence arrived, we finally got the alignment as best we could. We had to apply glue to the pin threads after everything was assembled and keep our fingers crossed that the glue expanded right up inside. We'll find out next week.
Stephen switched to fettling the mine road base, which needed quite a bit of work, as it was not entirely flat. Extra screws and packing were required, but it was eventually resolved.
Laurence switched to infilling the old magnet holes with thick plastic sleepers, ready for ballasting.
A slightly frustrating session, but progress was made.
Afternoon tea in the garden warmth was gratefully taken.
