Thursday 19th - The pressure's mounting!

 With the gala just over two weeks away (have you booked your tickets yet?) preparation was in full swing. Bryan and Rex were on axlebox duty, first the Mink A:

And then the Mink G:

Up on the mezzanine Richard II was sorting out some circuitry for a new fridge on the third rake RMB:

Which he later took out to fit just as I was taking a photo of my progress sanding down the Mink A, to get a "Ah, you can help me lift it up"!

Oh alright then. Whilst there, I found Geoff and Roger engaged in various repairs throughout the third rake:

While Paul was making sure the short 4th rake for the 'local' train was in good order, here fitting a plug to the sink in BSK 35308:

Back to more sanding on the Mink, it's got to be in GWR livery by the gala!

In the background Dave was sanding the Quainton Road TSO, but later joined me on the Mink:

In other wagon progress the Toad continues to come on in leaps and bounds. The south end is more or less complete with window frames in:

Richard and I were both keenly aware of our gala deadline so we pulled a late shift which enabled him to make good progress at the North end too:

A very satisfied worker! The space on the right is the only bit of timberwork left on this, apart from fitting windows.

With most of the Mink pad sanded down I broke out the undercoat for the last few hours:

I managed to get virtually all of the Malvern side done:

Some of our less urgent projects also saw progress today. Jeff and Bob were on the bubble car, and finally some topcoat! But first Jeff finishes off taping up with the line gauge:

Be the end of play the gutter to top line had been done all the way round, and about half the Malvern side had been glossed as far down as the waist line.

Phil and Gerry were in the RBr, I missed a photo of Gerry, but Phil's got the acro-props out for some ceiling work by the looks of things:

While in TK 24006 Robert was sanding down the north vestibule, which came up rather nicely:

We did watch a train or two go by on this fine day, it says we must in the rules!

Friday - more wagon work!

Action on two fronts today at Toddington, the beer tank and the Macaw. The conflat had some undercoat applied, the tank itself still awaiting prep:

The water tower was playing up and needed emptying to repair. The locos were all brimmed but there was still some left, and so the beer tank was soon filled up too.

Onto the Macaw - I actually did this bit on Wednesday before it chucked it down with rain much to my annoyance:

Today saw a big push on the timber work, with Mark, Steve and Neal all involved:

The replica numberplate was also fitted, and the number painted on above:

An overall view, beginning to look the part now! Just a few more planks to put in and the other side th signwrite.