Weds 13th/ Thurs 14th - Good progress
A two day posting with grateful thanks to Gerry for Wednesday's photos.
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Wednesday
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Ken working on the north end corridor connection from RMB 1876.
Trevor working on the south end Cotswold side door of 1876.
Rod fitting another section of internal window frame on SO 4798.
Stu working on the piston from a vacuum cylinder.
The weed spraying wagon is progressing in leaps and bounds with our Metalwork gang doing a great job. The roof strengthening spars are now being added. Nick readies another section to be welded in .........
......... and then proceeds with the job.
The red block is a very powerful magnet, very useful for holding metallic items in place while being worked on.
Checking the result.
At the opposite end Bob is grinding the top to provide a clean surface for welding.
A bit of brute force is occasionally needed!
A gentler job for Bob, painting the corrugated roof sections in Light Grey MIO.
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Thursday
Both wooden buffer extension saddles had cracked and needed replacing - we have a stock of these we have ready made for such occasions. The twin securing bolts were also badly rusted and in a poor state. Alan warmed up the rusted bolts in an attempt to loosen them.
The ones on the Cotswold side were in a better state, so Geoff had a go with an adjustable spanner .........
....... but still no joy. Both sets were eventually extracted and new wooden saddles and bolts attached.
Alan and Jeff watch D6948 with the first train to Cheltenham. Full diesel running will no doubt continue while the hot dry spell continues.
We are making good progress with the repaint of TSO 5023 into crimson & cream. Martin begins flatting the Madder undercoat on the Cotswold side using 240 paper.
He is later joined by Jeff. I had also got stuck in, soon coating my hands in pink!
On the Malvern side Ralph, who we have on contract for a total of six days, uses a circular pad sander with vacuum attachment to flat the first coat of crimson top coat. This certainly made a good job.
Phil finishes the roof painting.
With the flatting of the bottom section on the Cotswold side completed, Bob begins adding the first top coat.
Martin does the same at the north end.
Phil is testing the electric circuitry at the south end of SO 4798.
The green light indicates all is well with this side of the coach.
As soon as he switches off inside the light turns red.
Now to check the opposite side.
Maurice cleans up the replacement buffer for the Open C wagon .......
....... and then coats it in red oxide.
Two of the axlebox covers are similarly treated. The buffer coil spring will also be done.
Gerry has the power saw preparing some angle iron for the weed spraying wagon.
Now to line it up and check the fit where it has to go.
The corrugated sheets for the wagon's roof now painted and ready to fit.
The Broadway train leaves with the other Class 37 37215 in charge.
Derek fitting another repair to the Malvern side of the Monster van.
Some minor bits of painting were required at the north end of RBr 1675 which Jeff sorted out.
Cotswold side lower panel top coating complete, so why not do 5023's sole bar as well. Bob paints on the Gloss Black.
Ralph opens up another tin of Crimson ......
..... and then with some Painter's Friend (an excellent paint conditioner produced by T & R Williamson) added, proceeds to do a first class job with the second top coat on the Malvern side.
The result is fantastic!
The completed first top coat on the Cotswold side.
Great progress you certainly achieve an excellent finish.
ReplyDeleteA nomenclature note, the buffer saddles are the steel forgings that fit over the buffer rods when the buckeye is down, the small wooden support blocks are not the saddle. I must confess I have never heard a specific name for them, there are other things that had names like bow girders, coffin rods, bridals and frying pans (though I don't think you have any of those).
Malcolm in Canada