Tuesday 29th - Dust, doors and a whole lot else
With the weather looking somewhat uncertain it looked as though the outdoor work would be limited, however we would see how the day progressed. There was certainly plenty to do inside!
A quick catch-up with Upholstery and their amazing progress with the two FODR contracts. The pile of completed seats for the first contract grows, while the side panels have been carefully wrapped ready for collection.
The new templates made for the second contract which involves a MK 2 coach, and as previously mentioned, something very new for us.
A mystery envelope for Jenny? All will be revealed in due course.
There was once again a huge effort with the two Tool Vans, 4 and 92, beginning with Robert doing some more plank replacement at the north end of 92.
Today the plan was to get the sanding down completed. Maurice gets cracking on the Malvern side of 92.
Stu on the Cotswold side, carefully cleaning out the grooves.
Ian started off cleaning up the sole bar on 92.
Later on Maurice had moved round to the north end of 92.
Ian later attacking the south end.
Pam joined in on the Malvern side.
As previously, the plan was sanding in the morning, painting in the afternoon. Maurice begins the major vac session.
The playful side of me again, but the dust wasn't as deep this time.
Pam joins in with the broom.
So, is that it with the sanding then? Sadly not quite. Hopefully Thursday will conclude what must be the dustiest refurb we have yet undertaken, and I would like to think the last like that.
Meanwhile, all the hard effort is really paying off with Tool Van 4 as the second coatings are going on. Alex and Maurice look on as Stu adds Gloss Black around the Cotswold side doorway.
Pam finishes off the GW Brown on the Malvern side.
Maurice completing the GW Brown on the Cotswold side, while Alex adds another coat of Red to the north end. It will be the large "G W" and "4" on both sides next.
On now to RBr 1675 and the continuing saga of the doors, and Robert in very determined mood to get the Cotswold side kitchen double door working.
Various adjustments of the door liners were necessary.
Returning later from my job in the Barn, both doors were closed. It looked good, but was it?
Robert makes some further adjustments to the surrounding metal panelling. The capping strips still have to be fitted and not cause the doors to jam.
It's nearly time to finish for the day. Once again returning from the barn, I see that the doors are again closed and there's taped note across them.
He's done it! Well done Robert.
Despite the occasional shower, Derek was able to do some more repairs to the planking on the Monster Van. There is a lot to do, but it's a good start.
Alex took the opportunity to try and get the "R O Y A L" completed on the Model Railway TPO, but mid way through the red highlighting spots of rain were felt and reluctantly he had to call it a day.
The mid-afternoon crossover with "Dinmore Manor" southbound and "Foremarke Hall" northbound. The rain began to fall again, hence the second photo taken from within the Barn. There were some good numbers on the trains again.
Another chair to be re-covered. It had been sanded and a light stain added, but there was no way this could be varnished in the Paintshop with all the dust. Although not yet ready for Upholstery, their workshop provided a nice clean environment.
Alan however could do some initial priming in the Paintshop, firstly some handrails from one of the tool vans, and then .... argh, I forget what these are. Answers on a postcard please, as the saying goes!
Then it was back to the compartment door from TK 24006 which he had been working on two weeks previously. It might seem excessive, but as it is the oldest MK1 in the Heritage movement, we want to make 24006 look really special when it is eventually restored.
Keith takes the opportunity of a dust free Workshop to give a second coat of varnish to another of 24006's compartment doors.
Into the Barn now and some excellent progress with FK 13326, which will be output in Chocolate & Cream as it will be going into the Main Rake. The Malvern side still needed a degree of preparatory work as shown up by the Light grey undercoat, in particular around some of the windows where more filler had to be added. David worked at the south end .....
................. while I concentrated at the north end. One aspect that was needed was to further sand down where the base of the central line had been as it was still prominent in places. The replacemnt line would of course now be just the two band black-yellow, not the three band yellow-black-yellow of the Maroon coaches.
The Cotswold side was in a much better state and as such Richard could begin undercoating the windows.
He made some good progress, eventually getting to the other side of the central door. Window painting is fiddly and not all of the Painting Team enjoy doing them, and that includes me. Thankfully Richard does and always makes a good job of them.
David finished his day with the large Workshop vacuum cleaner and did a great job cleaning up most of the floor on the Malvern side. I later looked after the area where I had been working.
Alex finished his day with a very rapid undercoating session on the north end of the Cotswold side of 13326, initially the cream and then the brown. What a difference! Basically we can paint between the end doorways on both sides, with the exception of around one of the Malvern side windows that will have to be taken out to allow a panel repair under the gutter.
It was a good day, and the usual final cup of tea in the Mess Room, with chocolates from Pam, was felt to be well earned.
