Four joined the meeting in April with one apology.
There was an error in the previous report. 'Elysia Place', was mis-labelled as Elysia Palace – my error - Paul.
Mike started the meeting off with a discussion about his new build engine shed.
Construction in progress.
The building is fairly standard with two layers of 1.5mm mount board bonded together, being a photographer I create a lot of spare card for modelling, my other materials include 1mm mount board and thin card. Windows are formed with card main frames with self adhesive labels used for glazing bars.
The roof structure is supported on King Post trusses and tiles are strips of thin card cut between tiles, I will try double cutting as discussed at the meeting next time I build a roof.
My main search now is for gutters and downpipes, I will try the splitting of plastic tube, at present have not found a supplier of 2mm or 2.5mm thin wall rigid tubing.
Model complete except for rain water gutters and down pipes, also weathering.
As a change from Kurseong buildings in previous meetings, John showed us progress with a model of the Glyn Valley Hotel in Glyn Ceriog which is to be used as the centre piece of a new club layout for the Sussex Downs Group. The layout will be freelance but has a Shropshire setting. The model follows John's usual practice of embossed card suitably painted with watercolours, windows cut from several layers of card and slates cut as individual rows from thin paper. (The photograph is taken from Rails to Glyn Ceriog by John Milner and Beryl Williams).
Robin reported on his latest projects.
The Engine Shed.
This was inspired from the Nilgiri carriage and wagon repair shed of the mountain railway in Southern India. The original has two arched repair bays and a steep pitched roof. Due to space limitations I made mine a single loco repair shed with a much modified roof. The large arch is going to replace the current square entrance.
The building walls are balsa and card. The roof is all card. Once again all card is from our recycle bin.
The Signal Box.
This little signal box too was inspired from a photo I had seen on the internet. The dimensions I got used a bicycle that was resting against one wall. I went down to our shed and measured the cycle and extrapolated its dimensions to come up with what you see in this photo. It too is a work in progress including the steps to the operations floor. What appears to be frosted glass in the window is glue. I was testing out "Uhu" clear glue to see if it would hold in such a large opening.... it does!
The bullock cart.
After much searching on the internet I did find some rough dimensions, but it turns out that each builder had is own measurements as per region. I will base mine on two solid spokes as It's the best I can manage. What I observed in most of the photos is that the dimension of the wheels match almost the hip bones of the animal's hind quarters.
I had made an Indian cow to go with it, but I can't find it at the moment.
Paul had completed – after many years – an industrial building on his 009 layout Melton Market.
Two Majorcan 3' gauge Brown Marshall coaches had also been finished with bolt head detail, vacuum pipes with final painting and weathering.
Paul also explained how he had added the bolt head detail to the coaches using quality writing paper, dilute PVA glue, a fine paint brush and a brass 'pin' – photo provides some hints.
The next meeting is planned for 23rd June starting at 8.00pm.
s.p.t. 24-4-22