Worklist:
Test the layout and stock ready for the Eastleigh show.
Complete minor repairs.
Check key measurements for cottages.
No Laurence this week, but we were joined by Chris Holmes, who will be helping us at the Eastleigh show (as he did at Littlehampton in 2019).
The layout was still up, so Chris set his stock up in the fiddleyard and started running. Eventually, we all had a run and generally discussed the state of the layout and little tweaks that could be made.
Geoff repaired a rail joint that had been noted the previous week and then mended a section of damaged fencing. Stephen had previously noted that the new LED in the fiddleyard entrance was visible from the front of the layout, so he painted the public half black. At the same time, he also noted that the white areas either side of the fiddleyard cassette were quite noticeable and suggested that a blackout sheet might reduce the effect. Geoff prepared a piece of thin black card and it was dropped loosely into place. It worked well, so it will be stiffened-up and will be available for future use.
Note the half painted LED in the cassette connector.
Stephen also went next door to check some dimensions that were needed to determine the crank angle of the cottages. The angle was recorded and roof No.3 was trimmed to the correct size.
Chimney stacks had been made using stretcher bond brick sheet (as noted on many photographs of the time) and a couple of basic tube pots added to one stack. A selection of pots will be attempted.
Some dereliction will be worked into parts of the terrace to reflect the demise of the workman's cottages e.g. the odd broken window, some boarding up and graffiti? The corrugated iron will be made into a timber framed panel preventing access through the alley. Foliage will be trained up behind it and over the portion of tunnel that is visible.
