HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Worklist:
Discuss Stephens cottage alternatives.
Progress cottages.
Discuss other buildings.
XPS!
No meeting last week as Geoff was otherwise occupied. Lawrence was unable to make it again this week and Geoff had a mid-afternoon appointment, so a disrupted but still productive day.
Stephen had been having more thoughts about the cottage doors and had circulated some sketches to illustrate three options: Doors onto the rear path (could be viewed as front or rear doors) and two windows only options (assuming the front door was on the other side). After a discussion about the nature of the footpath, it was decided to proceed with the doors option.
Stephen had made some individual cottage fronts comprising two-layers of 5mm polyboard (overlapping for ease of joining). These included a panel of 'waste' material along the bottom, to allow the ground level to be scribed. The lower end of the footpath was feathered down to yard level and the first two fronts trimmed to suit. These will be covered with a smooth stone plastic sheet. Geoff suggested he made some 3D printed windows and doors, together with all of the rainwater fittings. Roof slates will be the laser-cut cardboard strips, as used for the main building in Worton Court station.
With the layout set in the 1960's, the cottages have always been seen as fully or partially derelict. Geoff's idea to disguise the board joint by creating an overgrown alley between the 're-purposed' managers residence and the bottom cottage was developed further. Due to a wooden fixing block, the managers building would have to be brought slightly forward, which helped disguise the board joint further. Foliage and debris could be used to disguise the joint further.
We should be able to fit a full-depth gable wall on the end, allowing the path to wrap around to the street beyond.
The two industrial buildings in the stonemasons yard were also discussed in more detail. It was felt the workshop structure should be clad in the coursed stone (Slaters) and not corrugated iron. However, Geoff wasn't keen on the proposed roof. Stephen had roughly modelled a flat roof with a parapet to keep the overall height down and prevent the creation of acres of slate. A quick trial of a hipped slate roof was made. After discussing the modelling potential that a flat roof offered, with possible lantern lights, water tanks, pipework, drainage fittings, debris etc., Geoff slowly came around to it. Then later, while looking for something else, Geoff came across the photo below; a group of gable-ended masonry buildings with corrugated iron roofs. The extra features shown could well be an excellent mid-way design blending nicely into the adjacent, fully corrugated warehouse. Design still TBA!
XPS - Geoff had circulated a YouTube link to a WW2 diorama video. The French café was shown emerging from a block of XPS, which was wonderful to behold. Formerly known as Styrofoam (and bright blue), it appears now to be known as Ravatherm (dark grey) and is becoming very popular with 'crafters'. Geoff had sourced a large block (construction offcut?) and Stephen had sourced a sample pack of 6, 10 & 20mm sheet (used as underlay for electric heating). The idea was that the thin sheet could be overlaid on a cardboard shell. Geoff now decided to use his block to make the coping stones for the retaining wall. First hand sawing it to get a piece that fitted in the bandsaw and then cutting 3mm strips. After gluing in place with superglue, he used a selection of dentists and other tools to scribe and shape the copings. He was extremely pleased with the result, which opens a new range of techniques to be investigated. Hopefully, a painted version will appear soon.
The foam-based Café series of videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7y0QMzAp5w
6, 10 & 20mm sample pack (eBay). The material is very light, but surprisingly strong.
CAD - Stephen has been distraught at the recent loss of his AutoCAD package following a computer failure. After looking at a few free alternatives, he discovered QCAD and, after a brief trial, purchased the Professional version at £30! As it was 'along-the-lines of AutoCAD', it was relatively easy to pick up the basics although copious practice sessions will be needed to get up to speed with it. This version opens and saves DWG files, which means access to old drawings is possible again (to large extent).
