Wednesday 26th July 2023

Worklist:

Windows.

Another full session of printing for Geoff, but this time it was windows. He'd made a start using the measurements and ideas noted last week. The first window panel was very well detailed, including opening casements, but the glazing bars looked quite heavy in comparison to the engine shed windows. A redraw was undertaken based on the engine shed windows and a new set of frames printed (below). 

However, these weren't all successful, possibly down to a different batch of resin, requiring print setting modifications (i.e. length of time for base-layers and successive layers), which proved more successful. 

The depth of the glazing bars was then doubled to give them more rigidity, and we had a workable window frame. The production of opening casement frames that can be applied separately will be trialled. (Note the small reveal around the window perimeter to hide the edge of the glazing sheet).

While the printing exercises were underway, Stephen carved away the foamboard window reveals at an angle to reduce the visible wall depth. The window units have a 5mm reveal built-in for rigidity and to provide a much neater appearance than the foamboard.

All of the openings for the separate building and the link unit were measured and drawn, ready for printing.

Opening up the exterior walls made us start thinking about the interiors, which will need to be addressed in due course. However, copious dirt dust and dirt on the windows will hide a lot. First, the rest of the windows and casements need to be produced and installed.

Wednesday 19th July 2023

Worklist:

More corrugated roofing.

Roller shutter door!

Windows?

We started where we left off. Geoff printed roof panels and Stephen glued them on. 2 new panel sizes were required which were adapted from existing sheets. While these were being created, Stephen took some plain plasticard and a panel of corrugated sheet and created the parts for a roller shutter door.

As a ramp up to normal internal floor level had not been catered for outside, a ground level threshold was required. Discussions ensued as to how a channel/grating could be applied to the ground surface without making a mess - experiments will follow. Meanwhile, the door parts were glued in place.

Soon, all of the corrugated roofing was complete and thoughts turned to windows. Starting with the separate building, all openings were measured and glass panels with an approximate ratio of 7:10 were quickly calculated (we were very lucky!). Geoff will research metal window frame details and draw them up for discussion next week. The main building will have the window openings cut out next week and those window designs agreed.

The roller door did look a bit 'modern' and the possibility of the masons 'renting out' this building to another company came to mind. The possibility of different loads/materials in the yard was appealing. More anon.

Stephen had finally made some progress with the two brick buildings (office and managers house) and brought them down to see them in their future setting. The area is a bit of a hotch-pot, but hopefully still appealing.

The overall skyline of the two boards is getting a bit crowded.

3D printer in action. The 'build plate' is being lowered into the resin and will go down to the bottom of the tank. The product image is projected through a transparent screen in the printer base and cures a micro-layer of the resin, onto the plate. The layer complete, the plate is raised fractionally and the process repeated. Where would we be without it?

Wednesday 12th July 2023

Worklist:

Corrugated roofing.

Yes, that's all there was this week. Geoff 3D printed it and Stephen glued it on! The only 'exciting' bit was when a new length of sheeting was required that Geoff had to create from one of the other sheet drawings. One more week of roofing and we can move onto windows and details...

It's the fact that each sheet is separate and not perfect that helps with the overall satisfactory effect.

Wednesday 5th July 2023

Worklist:

Footpaths

Factory cladding and roofs

Discuss TV appearance!

Geoff tried out a new pot of paint - Humbrol Dust Wash. He added dabs of other colours as well and after drying out a bit, the effect was slight, but worthwhile. Maybe another coat next week. The landing had a layer of thin card applied, with random stone slabs inscribed. The landing leads to an alley, but because of the fire in the first house, the alley will be blocked off with corrugated iron due to potential wall collapse. There'll be a lot of wild shrubbery as well. 

Stephen pressed on with the factories, first making the rainwater outlet box, then moving on to gluing ridge units in place. More ridges were required, so Geoff fired the 3D printer up.

Then the fascia's were fitted.

Using some left-over 10mm top sections and two standard 'overlap' panels filled the roof length nicely, so Geoff became a corrugated iron printer for the rest of the afternoon.

We just had to discuss Geoff's Appearance on Secrets of the London Underground aired on the evening of Wednesday 5th. He was interviewed by Tim Dunn, standing inside one of the carriages he is overseeing the restoration of at the London Transport Museum workshop. A few hours filming was reduced to a few minutes of TV, but it was good to see Geoff in his 'other' project.

Images from the Yesterday channel programme 'Secrets of the London Underground' broadcast on Wednesday 5th July 2023.