Tuesday 14th - Roof building

Tuesday tends to be mainly preparation and painting, but today a new building phase began with the Mink A van. When it comes to roofing a van Stu and Maurice take a break from prep and painting and temporarily join Richard and Paul.

Paul stands by with more planks for trial fitting, measuring and cutting to size. 

 Maurice watches as Stu on the steps moves the next plank into position.

The prepared plank is clamped into position ready for drilling the holes and securing with the nuts and bolts.

The end of the day and some very good progress made.

 The main door frames made by the Woodwork Team are ready for fitting.

On to BSK 34929 and the final door. Richard was first in so he started the lengthy job of filling, sanding and general tidying that will need to be done to both the door and frame before we can begin painting.

The bottom line on the large Cotswold side panel still needed doing so Roger set to taping up. It's a long slow job, but the excellent results make it all worthwhile.

We always apply two coats of yellow. After Roger had left, I applied the second coat, but it still looked in places as if it could do with a third. Yellow is a notoriously difficult colour to put on with respect to good coverage. It needs to be as good as that on the completed lining out on the door.

On to the work in the Door Team area where Ainsley is updating the diagram for an aluminium door.

 

 

While not busy taking photos, getting rid of the recycling, emptying bins, handing out work, and all the usual leaping about, I sorted out the Paintshop trestles, moving on completed items and progressing others. Amongst the latter was finishing off the corner units for the toilets in TK 24006 and undercoating the various parts of the new axlebox tool.

I was also pleased to be able to sort out my latest delivery of paint, varnish and thinners from Williamsons which had arrived just a few hours before. Amazing when considering I had ordered it literally only the day before.

In Upholstery the long running refurbishment of the Bubblecar seating continues. Dave vacuums the protective cover for the seat base springs.

Returning later to find the seat base reconstruction progressing well. 

The electric bread knife in action again.

 

It was another very pleasant day with the chill wind thankfully a distant memory and an ideal one from that point of view for some internal repainting in the rake.

Following our recent assessment of all the coaches on 25th November, one of the aspects that I wanted to get done was to repaint the Guards corridor in BSO 9000 and if we have the time some of the Guards compartment. Bob made a very good start on this and, if the weather doesn't become too cold, I hope we will be able to complete the job.