Wednesday 24th January 2024

Worklist:

Progress tree.

Complete paving.

Add rust to window frames.

Build water pipe enclosure.

Fix engine shed roof down.

PS: Paint the back of the layout.

Geoff has been making a tree using stranded electrical wire and now applied a coat of PVA, followed by a mix of grout, then a dry dusting of grout, to simulate the bark. It's coming along well.

Stephen laid the paving slabs in front of the office. 

The step up to the loading dock didn't look quite right now it was 2mm lower with the slabs in place. A ramp might be the answer, offering a way of trolleying goods down to paving/road level. To be discussed.

Geoff moved on to applying rust to the windows on the factory buildings.

The junction of corrugated iron to the ground was discussed again. It was agreed that some weeds/foliage would be required, but some transfer of the dusty ground up the lower areas of cladding would surely be inevitable. Further investigation will be undertaken.

As discussed last week, Stephen made a small timber cabinet (plasticard) for the water feed to the engine water tank. (The pipe is coming underground to the cabinet, through an isolation valve, then over the rocky ground to the tank. However, while reviewing the temporary installation, the steep slope of the roof and the fact it falls towards the front (and over the door) were noticed - what was he thinking? It will be modified with a shallower roof, falling to the rear.

The engine shed roof was finally glued down. We had delayed this as we hadn't tested the lighting 'insitu' and might need full access if there was a fault that needed rectifying. Anyway, the roof is fixed now, so we'll sort any problems out, if and when we find any! (There's a set of doors around, somewhere...)

A long discussion took place about the trestles for the extended 6 board layout, and it was decided to sort them out first thing next week. We need to ensure we know where each needs to go (the two new boards go between the existing boards. We also need to see how the two new (single frame) legs can be attached/secured and how the lighting/fascia poles are to be supported. It was then noted that the new boards hadn't been painted. Geoff found the original tin of grey undercoat, so we painted the boards!

Wednesday 17th January 2024

Worklist:

Trestles.

Office paving.

Factory: signage, facias, rainwater pipes.

Firstly, we received the sad news that the Warley Model Railway Show at the NEC has been cancelled. The exhibition is run by the Warley Model Railway Club and they have decided that, with dwindling club membership, they are no longer able to put the show on.

Geoff got to work on the trestles and soon had both frames assembled and the adjustable feet fitted. The 3D printed 'pads' will be designed, printed and fitted in due course. 

It was agreed that the frames would require diagonal bracing arms to ensure that they don't fall over at inopportune moments. These will be assessed the next time the layout is set up, which will be in the near future.

Stephen continued to make paving slabs from thick card, coating each of them with diluted PVA and leaving to dry in front of the essential fan heater. The ground in the paved area was not level, so filler was applied. The building itself also needed a packer along the front edge. The slabs should be fixed down next week.

Geoff painted the factory fascia's, 'beefed up' the signage outline and added more rust streaks. The metal windows will get the rust treatment next week.

Geoff will attempt to design gutters for the factory - possibly ogee profile, but half-round would be quite acceptable Geoff!

A brief discussion took place regarding the water supply to the engine shed tank. It was originally going to be an over-ground pipe from the back of the layout  passing the end of the cottages. The current idea is that it will come underground to a point on the front corner of the end cottage and rise up in a small enclosure. 

Wednesday 10th January 2024

Worklist:

Trestles.

Engine shed windows.

Rainwater downpipes.

Paving.

The adjustable feet for the trestles were ordered and had arrived the following day. Unfortunately, they did not live-up to the superb delivery. The plastic end caps were poor quality and rotated freely, meaning the thread had to be held to facilitate adjustment (an annoyance). The threaded arms were not straight and needed re-threading. It was decided to substitute with our own M8 bolts and 3D print suitable feet. However, they were cheap and the finished items will be very satisfactory.

Geoff moved on to the two new trestle frames, the timbers for which were prepared the previous week. A lot of discussion took place regarding the additional timber blocks required, for at least one of the trestles, to take a new lighting pole. A reminder of how much 'infra-structural' work is outstanding.

The engine shed window glazing was reviewed and the heavy 'misting' caused by the superglue used to fix the glazing was a disappointment, but not wholly unexpected. Stephen applied a layer of water-based clear varnish noted for reducing the misting. The immediate effect was promising (below right), but after a while, the misting returned, albeit around 90% of the initial effect. 

Geoff had produced drawing files of the rainwater downpipes for the factory buildings and now ran-off as set, for appraisal.

They are a bit 'chunky', but are a great addition to the factories. Apparently, swan-necks below the gutters are beyond our draughtsman's expertise, but we should get over that by some heating or manual manipulation of a pipe section. Gutters next please Geoff.

The area in front of the office has been debated quite a bit. Geoff wanted the proposed paving slabs flush with the general yard, to allow vehicle access, but Stephen wanted a defined edge, preferably a kerb. A chamfered kerb satisfied both corners. The loading dock platform and step were glued down together with a thick card kerb strip, hardened with PVA. 2' x 3' card slabs of the same thickness were cut out and the surfaces 'hardened' with diluted PVA, to allow them to be finished/smoothed.

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Worklist:

Review some trees.

Discuss, design and start to make the two 'trestles'.

Geoff had started a wire tree just before Christmas. Over the break, Stephen had found some he had made years before. These were 7mm scale except for one 16mm scale tree (not shown), which was ruled out for Worton Court. The trees will be finished and 'planted' in due course. Geoff's new tree on left, is awaiting its textured coating.

We need two more trestles for the two new boards. The Homebase metal frames don't appear to be available anymore, but it was agreed that something that would take up less storage space would be better. An all-timber traditional frame was discussed. However, single panels rather than 'A' frames would be quicker and easier to build, and take up less space. We found some 'damaged' hardwood planks left over from Geoff's boat-building days. Some cutting down and surface preparation was required. Out came the circular saw to cut to width, followed by the 'thicknesser', to finish the faces.

Some adjustable feet will be purchased and the frames assembled next week.