Saturday 18th - Snatched opportunities

Being somewhat busy with the Bubblecar, as if often the case many of the photos are snatched opportunities, but hopefully I have covered most of what was going on today at the Works. Apologies to those I have missed.

Beginning today with Upholstery, Laura happily adds the finishing touches to another of the chairs from RBr 1675. Later in the day she came down to the Paintshop to check on the status of the remaining chairs undergoing varnishing - we will try and get these completed ready for next weekend. There are actually 22 chairs, not 24 as originally thought - within 1675's seating area there is a half-table hence needing only 2 chairs.

Four more of 1675's part-refurbished chairs. I'm not sure who the stool is for, unless of course one of those used in Upholstery, but it has been nicely re-covered.

Another very nicely refurbished chair.

John sorting out the all-important paperwork associated with Upholstery.

As often happens my paint orders turn up on days C&W aren't working, but thanks to Malcolm, Head of S&T, everything was removed from the pallet and put inside our lobby.

And in case you wondered what the pretty little tins were with the order, these were made by our paint suppliers to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee as they regularly supply goods and services to members of the Royal Family.. The tins contain sweets and afterwards can be used as money boxes. Jenny happily took one for Upholstery.

 

 

 

 

In the Woodwork shop I caught Steve cutting out a small piece of ply.

 

 

 

 

In fact he was making a useful tool to act as a guide for a block of wood destined for CK 16221.

Dave was carefully lining up a section of ply against a pre-cut piece that was curved along the top edge.

It was for one of the second class compartments in 16221, where it sits at floor level underneath the side supports for the seats.

 

 

 

 

A peek inside one of the first class compartments reveals the new veneer panelling on the window wall. This will look superb with 3-4 coats of varnish.

Simon was in the centre vestibule adding draught excluder to the central doorframe on the Cotswold side of the coach.

 

 

 

Ben was adding the door locator to the right hand side of the Cotswold side north end door frame. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick check to see if the hollowed out section is deep enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Working on the fitting of a door liner on the opposite side was Robert.

George was back working on the south end of 16221 after a spell away. As well as volunteering with us, he is also with the Dogs Trust and the National Trust at Hidcote Manor. He has done an excellent job at both ends of the coach, generally cleaning up and filling, and then applying oxide where needed, and finally a coat of dark grey undercoat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

John had an interesting job this week, fettling some wooden buttons for a lighting control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lighting control concerned from RBr 1675.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Freight Gang were busy again with the FOWS Toad brake van. Maurice uses a combination of pad sander and angle grinder to remove more of the old paint from the Cotswold side.

On the Malvern side Paul E. is sanding down the handrails prior to giving them a coating of green primer.

Our 3rd Rake Maintenance chaps were busy again in both the 3rd Rake coaches and those used for the Gala 4th Rake. Dennis takes a well earned break prior to returning to the former.

 

 

Finally on to the progress with the Bubblecar 55003.

When it came to the exterior livery these vehicles were certainly different from the ordinary DMU, not that I am an expert on any diesel or electric vehicles, although I saw them gradually appearing during the time I was trainspotting. 

With the Bubblecar, not only are the lower lines wider than those on the DMUs that we have, they are edged with a 2mm black line. With tape on for the lower line, Alex carefully measures up before applying the tape for the top one.

The result was somewhat disappointing as the black edging barely shows, probably because we are using the same green as used for the DMUs (a decision made by the CDRG to keep everything the same basic livery). The Bubblecars had a lighter green and as such the black edging would have been visible. A check with one of the members and the decision is to abandon this, which in turn will save us a lot of time and effort.

 

 

 

The next job for Alex was to make a tracing of the original whisker at the north end and make markings on the paper to indicate the correct location on the right hand side and in effect mirror the original. 

The whisker is then outlined on the tracing paper in chalk before carefully removing.

 

 

 

 

With the tracing correctly positioned on the right hand side, Alex now uses a pencil to draw along the outline of the whisker, the chalk on the reverse side marking the paint accordingly. This in effect is exactly the same process with all the other signwriting where French chalk is used to mark the item ready for painting.

 

 

The first coating of cream top coat and the second whisker is in place.

Alex then painted free-hand the curved sections of the lower line where it drops below the cab windows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Cotswold side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The upper curved sections were similarly done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Cotswold side Pam and I got going on the lower line, a sample of which Alex had done on Thursday.  

Always with concerns about the tape pulling off some of the second top coat, we did the job in stages along the side of the car - taping up and then adding the first top coat.

 

 

 

 

To ensure good coverage, after a reasonable time a second coat was added and the tape then carefully removed.

In the meantime another section was being taped up and the initial coat added and working around each other the entire lower line was completed. 

 

 

 

Just gone 6 p.m. It's been a long day, but great satisfaction seeing the lower line almost complete and the Cotswold side finally taking shape.

A little tidying up to do on what we have done, especially with the door handles as the lining out goes across the top half of the base plates and it's difficult to prevent tiny paint runs around these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A final photo of the north end of the Bubble before packing up and going home.

And finally, Andy enjoying the last chocolate eclair during the afternoon tea break.

[Photo : Paul W.] 

Less tea for Andy when he and Jenny got home?! 😀