We had 16 in today, a very good turnout for Tuesday, although I didn't capture all the activities. All the photos are in the order taken.
As it's Tuesday we had a good number of the Painting and Prep team in and obviously nearly everyone was involved with SO 4798. Beginning with the Cotswold side, David concentrated on the south end, initially doing some further filling.
On the Malvern side Stu checked all the filler for any ridges that needed sanding down. 240 paper finished it all off to give that super smooth result.
Ainsley began his day up the tower, finishing off the area above and alongside the top of the connection. He highlighted that we had some work to do where the filler pipe modifications and roof repairs had recently been done (a length of gutter on the Malvern side needs putting back), but in fact under the layer of dust it looks as though the roof has only been undercoated, not already top coated as we originally thought. Hmmm, a bit of catching up to do!
We're still not entirely sure we have come to the end of the coach roofs that Bob Mac painted. H⁶⁶⅚e did so much roof painting, often well in advance of a coach's refurbishment.
Keith prepares the two vertical connection supports destined for the south end of BSK 35308.
Maurice and Paul continue the fitting of the top level planks on the Mink D van. Each one has to be dealt with individually, requiring careful measurements and subsequent recessing work to ensure a good fit.
Roger worked on the north end on the Malvern side of the connection, initially giving the main non-treated area a good hand sanding.
Maurice carefully cuts the recesses in the latest plank.
Now happy with his sanding efforts, Roger begins greying up his work area. Normally we go straight to Dark Grey undercoat, but this coach has required a lot of filling and building up, hence the Light Grey base coat at the ends as well as the sides.
Richard continues his window undercoating on the Cotswold side.
Ian is restricted to low level work now, but he is more than happy to do sole bars, headstocks, buffers and the various underframe parts. The Cotswold side battery box is pretty rough and needs a good clean out and repaint. The main lower cover could do with replacing, while the top cover seems to have disappeared.
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Quite a turnout to watch 2807 come by with Rake 2, our almost all Crimson & Cream rake. |
Back to David who is now adding Cream undercoat to the south end door on the Cotswold side.
With the prep work completed Ainsley greys up the area above and to the sides of the south connection top.
With Roger's end greyed up and the filler along the side re-greyed by Stu, the Malvern side is looking good.
What a joy to sit outside for lunch and bask in the very warm sun. I even got myself in the shot.
The hardest part is having to move and return to the Works.
3850 steams into Platform 1 with Rake 1, .......
...... which gives me another opportunity to capture our newly refurbished RBr. The platform edge is captured in the gleaming lower panelling.
While David is working on his door, Ainsley has progressed to greying up the Cotswold side of the south end.
Being such a warm day the primer painted on the connection supports had dried to the extent that the Dark Grey undercoat could be applied. The scissors in the foreground remain to be put away after another rag cutting session, one of my many logistics jobs when looking after the team.
It's Paul's turn to cut the recesses in the next plank for the Mink D.
Stu is another of the team who needs to stay on the ground, though he will do short spells on steps. He certainly doesn't hang about though as the north half bottom panel is once again undercoated in Dark Grey. Earlier on I got the vertical demarcation tape on the end, which means we can undercoat to the end of this side.
I thought Richard was going to complete the undercoat Cream at the Cotswold side north end, but he's sticking to windows and moved round to the Malvern side. Richard loves doing these, which is good news because not everyone does.
The Cotswold side from the north end at the end of the day.
The last trains of the day with 2807 on Rake 2 and 37215 now on Rake 1. And now the clocks have moved forward, it's still lovely and warm. There will also be plenty of light for the drive home - bliss!
