Wagon development
Roof slates
Cassettes
Cassettes
Caravan
Back to full strength and not a cough to be heard.
The first job was to set-up the layout. Stephen had progressed the 'Granary' and popped it in place for review. The two storage bays had been given backs and the interior walls covered in a diluted plaster mix giving a lovely rough surface.
The real building that inspired ours was a 3-bay cart store with a granary over. Rather than spanning the floor front-to-back, the internal bay walls supported the floor spanning across the openings. This allowed the floors to be lower, maximising the upper floor headroom. The end bay has a white 'downstand' panel behind the arch, representing the lower granary floor, which will be replicated on all bays.
During the week, Stephen had also developed a sheet of roof slates to be laser cut. A supplier of 'Yorkshire stone' roof slabs was found on eBay and the 22mm thick slabs looked just right.
As a non-regular (wobbly-edge) appearance was required, drawing experiments were undertaken and sent over for Geoff to run off tests and provide feedback. The final design was now loaded and the first of the three required sheets started. These took the rest of the session to print.
Geoff and Stephen had bounced more ideas back-and-forth regarding the new ore wagon and the underframe kit order had been placed with Cambrian models. They now discussed and developed the finer details such as body material, break gear and Kadee fitting.
Bodies - concerned about laser-safe plywood reports, S&G had searched for sheet wood materials. Obeche was favourite, but neither could find any locally in stock. Geoff found some sheet basswood and 'hard' balsa' - tests would be undertaken. These sheets are nominally 1.5-1.6mm thick. If two layers are used for the wagon end and headstock stiffener, an over-sized headstock would be created, so a different solution is required - possible mixed materials?
Stephen pressed on with the brakes. As the wheels are now higher, the fixing strip along the top of the provided shoes/hangers had to be cut down to re-align them. This also affected the V supports, which had to be removed. Checking the L&B wagon showed a simple rectangular strap, which was replicated in plasticard. However, the brake lever as supplied could not be fitted, because the hanger could not hang vertically. Experiments to bend the lever to the correct angle will follow.
Geoff researched Kadees and how the different designs could be fitted. There is a vast range and no immediate conclusion was reached.
Laurence checked and confirmed that 8 wagons and a loco would just fit on a standard cassette. Everyone now produced ideas for cassette 'end caps'. Pivoting, drop-down hoops and blocks with pins and holes in the running angles were favourite and Laurence proceeded to make up samples, for review.
Following Geoff's throw-away comment about a caravan ticket office, Stephen couldn't resist some research, which ended with a design for a small model suitable for cutting out on the laser.
More development work required, but it's quite attractive. Geoff had also managed to pick up a Dinky/Meccano caravan in poor condition. Sold as 1/43, it unfortunately wasn't.
A new office-frontage infill panel now sat in the first bay, comprising window, door and fanlight.
During the week, Stephen had also developed a sheet of roof slates to be laser cut. A supplier of 'Yorkshire stone' roof slabs was found on eBay and the 22mm thick slabs looked just right.
As a non-regular (wobbly-edge) appearance was required, drawing experiments were undertaken and sent over for Geoff to run off tests and provide feedback. The final design was now loaded and the first of the three required sheets started. These took the rest of the session to print.
The irregularities are quite subtle, but will hopefully give the required effect. Painting could reduce the effect, but trials and care will be required.
Geoff and Stephen had bounced more ideas back-and-forth regarding the new ore wagon and the underframe kit order had been placed with Cambrian models. They now discussed and developed the finer details such as body material, break gear and Kadee fitting.
Bodies - concerned about laser-safe plywood reports, S&G had searched for sheet wood materials. Obeche was favourite, but neither could find any locally in stock. Geoff found some sheet basswood and 'hard' balsa' - tests would be undertaken. These sheets are nominally 1.5-1.6mm thick. If two layers are used for the wagon end and headstock stiffener, an over-sized headstock would be created, so a different solution is required - possible mixed materials?
Stephen pressed on with the brakes. As the wheels are now higher, the fixing strip along the top of the provided shoes/hangers had to be cut down to re-align them. This also affected the V supports, which had to be removed. Checking the L&B wagon showed a simple rectangular strap, which was replicated in plasticard. However, the brake lever as supplied could not be fitted, because the hanger could not hang vertically. Experiments to bend the lever to the correct angle will follow.
Geoff researched Kadees and how the different designs could be fitted. There is a vast range and no immediate conclusion was reached.
Laurence checked and confirmed that 8 wagons and a loco would just fit on a standard cassette. Everyone now produced ideas for cassette 'end caps'. Pivoting, drop-down hoops and blocks with pins and holes in the running angles were favourite and Laurence proceeded to make up samples, for review.
Following Geoff's throw-away comment about a caravan ticket office, Stephen couldn't resist some research, which ended with a design for a small model suitable for cutting out on the laser.
More development work required, but it's quite attractive. Geoff had also managed to pick up a Dinky/Meccano caravan in poor condition. Sold as 1/43, it unfortunately wasn't.
