Wednesday 5th April

Worklist:
Inspect the new toy
Review the generator room interior
Review new bits & pieces
Crane detailing

After the break, getting stuck into the layout again was 'side'lined' by the demo of Geoff's new toy...

The A3 laser cutter had arrived a few weeks previous, but this was the first week we actually saw it in action.

It cuts cardboard and plywood, so suitable materials are still being sought. Two experiments resulting in items for the layout were the generator room window cut from thick paper.

The central 'opening' frame will be assembled open.

Placed on the outside, to review the effect.

And the batteries for the same room, cut from 5mm plywood. They are a bit on the 'well done' side as multiple passes were used, but this can be controlled better, with usage.

'The Swede' sanding plywood batteries!

There's still a lot of experimentation with materials, cutting settings, software (drawing package and translation programs), but some bits had been produced, and it showed that the potential is enormous.

Geoff had also moved the generator room wall and floor finishes along. Designed in Visio and printed on gloss paper, the walls had white glazed tiles with red skirting and dado. Geoff wants to carry out some mods before it's all stuck down. The back wall will mainly be covered by the control panel and stacks of batteries, which continue up onto the balcony. The effect is great.

We even had the engine sound unit running.

Laurence continued with his crane and almost reached a stage requiring spray-paint.

Stephen brought along a new bogie flat wagon to compliment the railcar. These and a small wagon for ballast top-ups, will make a neat maintenance train.

Jubilee track load

Stephen had also produced a pair of ladders - one fixed and one extending. Although the previous ladder made for the water tank was 'OK', these had the rungs fitted 'properly'. They've been painted and are ready for fitting around the workshop.