Continue with construction of the new boards.
Laurence currently inspecting the inside of Kingston and St Georges hospitals (or possibly the other way around), so just Geoff and Stephen this week.
Geoff had been busy fabricating the rest of the knurled alignment pin units for the non-exhibition board connections. He'd also fabricated the 'pins' & washer units for the two exhibition board connections and fitted them to the prepared end timbers. Today, the first of the four new boards was to be started in earnest. The softwood and plywood top was assembled. Out in the garden, to avoid covering the layout in dust, the plywood overlays for the sides were cut on the bandsaw and glued in place. The construction design developed to solve various issues that have since evaporated, but we've continued with it anyway, as we'd bought the wood.
The completed board was bolted in place and the track positions reviewed. Having decided to make this non-exhibition board 'scenic', the outer (quarry) track was taken on a wider arc to allow more room for the 'tunnel' structure. A pair of track curves were cut from hardboard at 21" and 24", the two radii used on Geoff's track design. The engine shed position and point arrangement were confirmed.
Key setting out dimensions were now needed to accurately establish the track routes and following the session, Geoff prepared the required information. The two purple boards will be of much simpler construction. Any scenery to the right-hand board (square, full-box construction) has yet to be agreed, but is likely.
Over lunch the latest Narrow Lines was perused and as well as Chris Holmes' write-up of Stoke Goldington (and more photos of Geoff's loco's), was the presentation of the exhibitors 'Best in show' trophy at Littlehampton, received by Stephen (in Geoff's suspicious absence!)
