Thursday 12th - Quite a day!

 Another really good day for progress, in particular for SO 4790.

The Paintshop whiteboard at the start of the day. This would soon be changing.

Alex had been in on Wednesday to progress the repaint as much as possible. And quite a bit had been achieved, including second top coating the north end doors and corners. More lining out had been done, and best of all adding the coach number on both sides - when that happens you feel that you are really getting there.

Also on Wednesday Pat had repainted all the skirting in the three vestibules, which immediately transformed them. Just some revarnishing to do where necessary and we may even have time to repaint the ceilings.

Starting off today were Jeff and Alex taping up ready for adding the black band to the remaining incomplete lines, Jeff on the Cotswold side, Alex on the other side.

Paul got cracking on more window scraping.

Moving rapidly along with the tape on both sides of the band99.

Taping up complete for this band and the Black gloss goes on.

The lining out in this area on the Malvern side south end is complete.

It can be tricky removing tape. The best way to do it is in short lengths, snipped with scissors. We sometimes used to walk along pulling off the entire length. It sounds fun until those occasions when the tape snaps and flies back flicking wet paint onto the side of the coach.

With lining out completed, bar the north end doors and corners, Jeff began painting the door stops, handles and droplight bars in Black gloss. 

The Cotswold side centre area now looking very good.

[Photo : Paul]  There are still many other aspects to consider, one being the corridor connection sliders. Initially the north end one didn't seem too bad and, as the door will spend all the time open, it didn't seem worth a repaint. However on closer inspection ......... 

Paul captures me giving this a first top coat.

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Now, following on from Tuesday's post, a bit more on the Gold paint being used for lining out and the coach numbers.

The colour as previously explained was used with the lining out done with the Carmine (Crimson) and Cream liveried coaches. It's more muted than the more familiar bright yellow.

A pot used on Tuesday really displays the colour.

Close ups of the lining out and coach number. This is also used on BCK 21272 which has the same livery.

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A lucky hurried shot of 3850 heading into the station. As always we wave to our passengers, many of whom happily wave back.

We need to get back to BCK 21272 and complete our painting and varnishing in there. However Dave continues taking a break from that and resumes the varnishing of the remaining compartment doors from TK 24006, beginning with a light sand of the initial coat of varnish.

The second coat goes on ........

....... and includes some removed panels.

Richards I and II, (and Phil), were busy in 1675's pantry.

Also in 1675 was Pat undercoating the ceilings in the servery and saloon (Malvern side)

Inside SO 4798 Dave (and Bryan) were working on the base level internal window framing.

Just Maurice doing MICA van jobs today, here undercoating the locking bars ..........

......... and later cleaning up the Cotswold side metal frame before coating in Red Oxide.

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And finally.

Before packing up for the day a last look from the south end of the Cotswold side. More to do on the black panels!

Alex updates the white board, removing completed jobs and adjusting what is left on.

This is a momentous occasion for Alex because it will be his last midweek attendance I guess for quite some time. Next week he begins full time working with Network Rail. He will based in Bristol and Cardiff, but commuting from home. So it will be Saturdays only from now on, with maybe some Wednesday evenings with the Toddington group depending on how things pan out. 

We all wish him well in his new life on the Big Railway.

The sun begins to go down and the shadows lengthen at the end of another good day at the Works. What a contrast to Tuesday evening after all that rain.