Tuesday 15th - Back to work

Well, it's just me back to work. Everyone has been very busy while I have been away.

Catching up with progress on SK 25451, both sides of the coach have now been greyed up, including the doors, and door edges and frames. All of this so much better than the messy preparation stage. Both ends are still at this stage, but again progressing well.

I was very pleased to see the Paintshop tower back alongside the coach, with the cleaning up of the Cotswold side of the roof well advanced. A quick inspection by Richard revealed that the tower could be moved further south straight away. Then it was back to scraping off loose paint and pad sanding, followed by vacuuming with the Henry, which is remaining aloft while this work is in hand.

Ainsley continued the preparatory work at the north end, with more filling and sanding.

David noticed that the door bases has not been greyed, so took on this job, adding filler where required, and later greying up.

With that completed he moved to the south end to continue the preparation work there.

Richard busy with the pad sander and well on the way to completing the cleaning up of this side of the roof. A wipe over with thinners and we can begin rolling on the first coat of Light Grey MIO.

Ainsley has more or less completed the filling at the north end - this now needs a general overall sanding before painting. Taking a break from  this, he cleaned up the face of the connection and gave it a coat of Red Oxide.

While all this was going on Maurice did a major clean up of the Paintshop with the large vacuum cleaner.

Now on to TSO 4867. More windows are being removed to allow underlying panel repairs, while the major metalwork repairs at the north end look to be coming along very well.

In the Woodwork shop Robert is heavily into making new internal frames for 4867's windows.

The first stage.

The completed internal frame sections being given the first overall coat of varnish by Keith.

What a treat to see the beautifully clean Black 5 running, and on the gleaming Crimson & Cream Rake 2 too.

Please excuse the indulgence of three photos - I even took a video!

And talking of gleaming, I had hoped to see SO 4798 on Rake 1 when I got back, but the steam heating test revealed a few niggles and as such the coach is now up on the jacks.

Keith had a number of trestle jobs to do besides the new window frames. More corridor connection parts are being top coated in Gloss Black , while below a fresh stock of patresses are being primed. These will also end up in Gloss Black.

Also running today and also looking a fine sight was "Betton Grange".