Review latest coal yard details
Coal yard staithes
Headshunt fencing
Platform seats
Back to the usual Wednesday, but Laurence was absent on grandfather duties.
Stephen displayed his latest pieces for the coal yard - bags of 'Homefire' smokeless fuel. These started out as Tamiya, 1/35 sand bags. After research, the width of the bags was within acceptable tolerance for 1/43 coal bags, but 5mm had to be cut from the centre of each bag, the ends glued together and joints sanded. Further research indicated that 'Homefire' was just available in our models time frame and so the bags were sprayed the recognisable yellow. New labels were created from scratch using Photoshop and the images printed onto transfer paper. After spraying with satin sealer, the transfers were applied to the 12 bags that had been prepared. Finally, a pair of long pallet frames were made.
Stephen prepared and glued more sections of sleeper to raise the rear of the coal storage area. Pieces of code 70 flat-bottom rail were cut to length and painted. These will be fixed to the faces of the sleepers as vertical structural supports. A piece of laser-cut card strapping, left over from the wagon building, was stuck on the top and painted.
Geoff had assembled the additional length of fencing to separate the head-shunt from the coal yard. The gate at the road end was made 'slightly open', but this left the new panel without rigidity. Thin metal strips were formed into diagonal braces and fixed to the end posts. The whole assembly was now painted.
It was dry enough at the end of the session to see what it looked like - excellent.
Geoff had rummaged through his castings box and found some bench seats, but was reluctant to use them due to their GWR roots. However, after a brief discussion, the G and R were cut and filed away leaving the W of Worton Court. But then, he prepared and laser-cut some C's making them far more acceptable - bespoke seats!
The yard with all features in place, including a hand barrow with a scratch wooden frame on a small metal cannon limber kit and an S&D wheel barrow.
It has been a stressful time for Stephen and Geoff, but the haven of the workshop to work on the layout and to engage with old friends has been a welcome and highly beneficial escape.
