Yard paving
Surface treatment experiments
Mine siding platform
Geoff cut-out panels of embossed plastic paving and glued it on the yard. We were particularly pleased with the way the path strips had been adapted into an expanse of paving. The completed area was given a base coat of the same paint used for the bridge walls and the wall copings. Gulleys will be added.
In the central area between the tracks - the future coal yard - the plaster edges were fettled to blend with the track ballast and then given given a coat of the 'Filthy Yard' textured paint tested the previous week.
Over lunch, the postman delivered a consignment of 'chinchilla dust'. Geoff had read a book by Iain Rice describing its use in creating textured surfaces. Laurence followed Geoff's instructions and painted a test area with gloss paint and sprinkled it with the dust, which resembled dried bread yeast. We'll see what it looks like next week.
Stephen continued with the new mine siding platform. Having decided to use the Slaters van as a dry/secure store, the sleepers along the 'back' of the platform were lifted and refixed to form a wider platform. Timber packer sheets were glued inside the sleeper surround ready to receive the plaster infill (next week). Finally, a three-man effort - cutting and straightening copper wire pieces, drilling holes and inserting same - completed the days work of fitting lengths of rebar to hold the sleepers in place.
