Caravan
Water tower roof
New path
After a weeks break we were all ready for work....
Geoff continued to detail his caravan. Based on real caravan photos, his own drawings were used to laser-cut the whole body in thin card, laminated for strength. Even the panel cover strips were cut in self-adhesive paper. The caravan will become the 'office' for the burgeoning restoration group, so the previously produced furniture included filing cabinets, tables and an office chair. 'Glass' has been inserted into the window openings. Finished in cream gloss spray paint, he's now deciding whether to paint some panels a contrasting pastel colour. Today, he built the underframe and tow bar, modified from an old US military kit.
The water tower has never been fixed down properly because it needs a roof - Laurence's next task. After a chat with the team to determine the design and 'real-life' construction, (sub-structure, roof finish, access requirements etc) he made a start.
Another joint discussion revolved around how to disguise the central road running straight at the backscene. Being so close and square-on, the options were few, but turning it tight behind the goods shed was the most viable. Stephen argued that the road was part of John's design because it had to be there - the Cottesmore end section prevented any other position. Now we had the new end board and had created an access road through to 'the business end', the rear road was not actually required. We had notionally thought it could be the public entrance from a car park or similar, but a path could serve the same purpose. A path it would be, winding behind the goods shed, allowing the grass/shrub covered bank to extend along. Stephen readily took this on...
Clearing shrubs, marking out the profile and gouging out the roadway to bed timber steps.
Scraps of foam carved and glued in place to dry over lunch.
And finally coated in plaster to form the bank behind where a fence and shrubs can be added.
Another back drop issue was addressed as Stephen had brought along two trees he'd started for his windswept shelf-display track in Gn15. This was pertinent, as the electrical wire branches had a flat back (designed for the shelf location), all lay blown to one side, and were a good size for large 7mm scale tree. One tree in particular would be perfect for the top of the bridge road, at the junction with the backscene, and the branches were bent down over the road. Geoff had already been investigating a herd of cows as a possible solution to the backscene interface - a combination of the two solutions looked good. The other tree would be suitable anywhere along the back of the layout. Both trees would be finished with textured bark, and foliage.
