Wednesday 9th August 2023

No meeting last week, but there was interesting news to discuss - an invite to the Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Society model railway show in May 2024. Being 9 months away, a 6-board layout was more than feasible and would be a great test before the Birmingham show the following autumn.

Geoff had met another modeller at the TDMRC open day, who described the excessive cost of van hire for the over 70's, so planning for three-car transport was top of the list. Two friends, both experienced exhibitors, would be approached in due course. Two new trestles would be required, plus extra lighting, extensions to the fascia, backdrop etc. Our existing trestles were very bulky, but a trial strip-down showed that they could take up less space. A third, decent sized car should suffice. 

Worklist:

Discuss trestles (see above).

Print more windows.

Test the addition/fixing of glazing sheet.

Cut-out remaining openings.

Firstly, the remaining windows for the separate building were printed and popped into place. We were very pleased with the effect. The glazing bars of the larger windows were found to be bowing outwards, which would not be acceptable when the glazing is applied. 

As they hadn't been specifically cured, an off-cut of glass was cleaned and the window units pressed flat while they had a few goes under the nail-bar UV unit. They came out flat, but now needed to be paired up with some glazing sheet to see if they can be stuck together. Geoff did a trial run and used superglue to bond them. The usual 'fogging' of the glazing occurred, but a few drops of 'anti-fogging' were applied. We'll see how they are once dry. Fortunately, we are not looking for clean windows - quite the opposite, so this shouldn't be a problem.

Meanwhile, Stephen started cutting out the rest of the window openings. It was decided to install floors, however minimal, so that different effects could be achieved in the separate spaces e.g. lighting?

Plain 'metal' infill panels were fitted between the ribbon windows (covering the 'steel frame' behind!). They will all be measured and new windows printed in due course, although it was noted that Geoff has spent a fair few weeks on the printer and is due a spell of railway modelling for a change.

Geoff moved on to drawing and printing the opening casements. Slightly wider horizontal and vertical frames will be laid flat or slightly ajar, with the underlying glazing bars removed, to create opening windows. They looked quite flimsy, but came off the 'build plate' easily.

As we have a large number of tests, failed and surplus window frames, the idea of making the separate building a sub-let unit a bespoke window frame maker could be a great choice!

Stephen had been working at home on the house & office buildings and brought them in for a 'fitting'.