Worton Court: August 2016

Thursday 25th August

Worklist:
Work out how to adapt the saw benches to create supports for the layout.
Consider an idea for the control panel.

Full house again and a we reviewed Geoff's progress with fitting out the workshop, over a cup of tea. Geoff had built a timber framed storage unit for Worton Court, with one shelf at 900mm - the same height as the proposed layout height. Other donated steel racking had been assembled and boxes were starting to be moved to new locations.

The first item for discussion was the control panel section switch 'dilemma'. Hearing about the panel position change causing the up/down switch problem, a friend of Stephen's had suggested using an illuminated, latching push button switch. The operation of these would not be affected by the position of the operators in relation to the panel and it might even be easier to assimilate each sections status. Stephen had located an example at Rapid Electronics and Geoff will check with them that the operation was exactly as we required. (15 needed @ £1 each).

After a brief discussion, we confirmed the need to reduce the length of the benches to 21" - the width of the layout. This required one of the leg units to be moved and the excess timber cut off both ends.

We also came up with a design to provide an extension on top of the benches using the existing packing pieces on 10mm studding. This will allow us to finely adjust the top level if a floor is uneven.

The first packer being 'tapped' to receive the studding.

The completed unit awaiting removal of the bench ends and the studding cut to length.

Although it looks flimsy, we were surprised at how solid the whole unit was. After lunch, we went into production mode and by the end had the four benches modified, all of the studding cut to length, two more supports tapped and the fourth supports extended with what Geoff described as 'a decidedly dodgy half-lap joint'. Perfectionist!

Completed bench modifications.

Top member components ready for assembly - next week.

A very productive day.

Thursday 18th August

Worklist:
Review the new work space.
Get to know how the layout can be set-up in the larger space.
Investigate new saw bench supports.
Play trains!

The first pleasure of the day was to watch Laurence's face when he put his head around the door and saw that the boat had been replaced by a large space - priceless!

Geoff had been busy and had installed a window beside the entrance door. Although not too large, it allowed daylight to flow into the room and changed the feel immensely. It will also be the perfect place to build a quiet work desk.

The new window. The existing window will be filled in.

He had also fitted a pair of doors where the bubble-wrap strips had been, to form a solid removable screen. This will keep the heat in the work area, in the colder months.

The new door screen and orange saw benches.

Stephen had purchased three saw-benches to use as supports for the layout. These are tubular steel frames with a wooden top rail, that fold flat (£9 @ Homebase). A frame will be built on top, with a board levelling mechanism. The layout was set-up on the old tables and we decided that the current height (workbench + timber spreader) was OK. We then had a very enjoyable running session using lots of John's rolling stock.

Being able to walk around the layout was a joy!

Stephen testing the equipment including light switches never operated on the working layout.

Wheel cleaning on stock that hadn't run for many, many years.

Even watching the layout in use is more comfortable.

Planet diesel, unfinished workshop and mine lighting.

Working the fiddleyard cassettes from the rear will require plenty of practice.

Peco Hunslet and Gakken based coaches.
We're going to have to think about back-scenes, which we've never had before.

The control panel moved to the back, but without rotating it, meant the switches worked
back-to-front (i.e. up = on), which caught us out constantly.

Whilst the control panel had been designed for front-operation (a feature noted on several modern layouts) working from the back of the layout was a novel treat that hadn't been possible before and was very comfortable for us. Whilst point switches were neutral, section switches were suddenly upside-down. We will discuss this further, but the likelihood is that when the final fascia panel is made, the switches will be orientated for rear operation. For the current session, we had the speed controller worked from the front with another operator controlling the points and sections.

We thoroughly enjoyed the running session and were very pleased with the operating potential. Although there is still plenty to do on the layout, we actually found ourselves discussing exhibitions!

Thursday 11th August 2016

Worklist:
Progress engine room
Progress workshop

Laurence at the doc's, so just two.

However...............

Geoff announced that his advert on the Steamboat Association website had been answered and a prospective buyer for the steamboat was coming to see it in two days time! There was even the prospect that they might buy it and want to take it away. Gulp!!!

We spent the day moving everything from around the boat to new locations in the shed, on the patio, on rearranged shelves, on new, temporary shelves up in the roof space - in fact, anywhere that space could be found.

Then the same exercise was undertaken for everything IN the boat. After a check for useful items that long ago fell into the bottom of the boat, it was hoovered out in preparation was a wash.

Once the boat could be jiggled off the back wall a little, the trailer tyres were checked, inflated, swapped around and the hubs re-greased. It hadn't moved for 12 years, but all seemed OK.

On the Saturday morning, the car normally stored in the front half of the garage was moved outside. All of the parts, fittings and sundries to be sold were laid out, for viewing.

The prospective buyer arrived, lengthy discussions took place and 'tea was taken', culminating in an amicable sale.

The final obstructions to the boats exit route were then cleared and the boat rolled out to the waiting car. After a final cuppa, SL Icthus made it's way to its new home and a reflective Geoffrey contemplated the void left - in the workshop.

The layout stored on top of the boat and set-up in front of it, in the narrow gangway.

The temporary location of the layout sundries. But what if the sale hadn't gone through?

The boat paraphernalia hadn't seen daylight in years.

And there was even an engine!

She's beginning to emerge from her cocoon.

Checking the wheel by the back wall. The exit route out through the front garage would be cleared when required.

Sale completed, out she came and was hooked-up ready for the trip to her new home.

What are we going to do with the space?

Thursday 4th August

Worklist:
Engine room decoration and gallery
Main yard crane
Coal stage

Geoff had produced a preliminary design for the engine room floor and now trimmed it to size, and fitted it. It was very impressive and just needs a few tweaks. The walls are still being designed - we can't wait to see them.

He then continued detailing the gallery, adding chequer-plate decking and 'cast-iron' brackets.

Geoff and Laurence returned to the yard crane and fabrication of the foundation gear in particular. Following the previous disaster, a plastic gear was considered, but Geoff decided to try the brass disk again. However, this time, the post was reinforced with a section of pipe and the die was then hand-fed - slowly the gear was cut.

Blank disk

Hand feeding

The final gear

And cleaned ready for use

The teeth are actually the wrong shape, so the disk was raised and the teeth cut again, twice, to 'square-up' the teeth. More than good enough for our purpose.

The rest of the base components were then discussed/designed and Laurence set about making them.

Stephen glued the coal stage in place and then joined in with the previous items. Once dry, grass was added around the lower edges to bed it into the surroundings. Ground up coal and some splodges of black paint was added to the staging. A bit too much coal on the floor for the railway manager liking!

Thursday 28th July

Worklist:
Develop engine room layout
Investigate use of the 'spare' crane
Continue with coal stage

The engine was fitted slightly further back than originally positioned and the generator was also positioned closer to the engine to be more visible. This meant that the space in front of the central control panel became very tight. Geoff re-planned the area, deciding to move the panel to the right hand end where more space was available. This should still allow the vertical ladder up to the gallery to be located on the side wall.

The 28 double-stacked, ground floor batteries are now in a single block, retaining the 20 single row on the gallery.

Laurence rediscovered the a yard crane, from Geoff's section of Cottesmore, that had previously been considered for the main yard. A group investigation determined that the crane could fit where first thought, although modified bracing arms, a new pivot base and manual rotation mechanism would be required. A cardboard mock-up of the base was reluctantly made by Laurence, but it did help determine the base gear size.

Geoff and Laurence set about making the gear using an 'unusual' method, but it was brought to an abrupt halt when the large tap snapped due to the flexibility of the disk mounting shaft. A more solid mount will be made and the teeth cut on the edge of the base disk in due course.