Point rodding.
Cassettes.
A straight follow-on from last week. Laurence pressed on with the extra cassettes while Geoff and Stephen progressed the point rodding.
Stephen started by testing the stock clearance of the rodding along the workshop. Ideally, it could be a little further away from the rails, which would coincide with the ideal route through the timber walkway. First, a sloping panel was removed from the existing walkway and a new, flat panel inserted. The end rodding support was lifted and re-glued so the rods were aligned nicely past the new panel. Planks were then inserted beyond the rodding, completing the extended path.
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| Loose rodding to determine the correct crank positions |
Geoff had determined that properly cleaned piano wire could be soldered, which meant we comfortably had enough rodding material. Stephen took three short lengths of brass and assembled them in two support frames - only one would be required, but the other kept the ends in place temporarily. With the ends flattened and tinned, the rods were soldered onto the cranks. After applying a slight curve, the loose ends were soldered together and, once the temporary support was cut away, the end was glued down between the path planks. Two small squares of plasticard representing steel plates bridge the rodding gap.
The final flourish was a panel of floor planking for the frame working area. It's just below the platform level, which looks about right. Its extent can be adjusted when we look at the area in detail.
The question of where the bell, light switches and track layout board are to be located was raised again. Geoff still favours a high-level pelmet over the lever handles with the track board position 'to be agreed'. Stephen favours the side handrail with a box and a sign at a lower level, as previously suggested. Geoff will investigate prototypes further, and report back.
