Tuesday 17th - A Hive of Activity

 Another good productive day, particularly on the gala wagon front. Starting off with the Toad, the gang were already hard at work when I arrived in the morning, fitting the new floor in the cabin:

Maurice had plenty of painting to do:

The Bubblecar was another focus for today, Richard steadily worked along and did the vast majority of the taping up today:

Ian did a little more patch undercoating in green where required, before moving on to undercoat cream for the inside of the door window frames:

With his Broadway hat on Ian also inspected the wooden lettering cut by Ainsley for a sign on the approach road:

Very neat! Ainsley was in with Robert on doors for CK 16221:

Up until lunchtime apparently all was mostly going to plan, but unfortunately after that it all started to fall apart, with several things not lining up that are quite difficult to adjust without redoing a lot. The trials of standard Mk1 coaches!

I'm not sure if Rod had much better luck, he was on door pillar adjustment, checking for contact points with paint then out with the planer to remove any high spots:

Keith had plenty to keep him busy on the trestles today, scotches into red, priming the newly cast number plates for the Toad, and later on more RBr chair varnishing:

Speaking of, Dave was making good progress on the next one in the production line:

Apparently the first chair they did, which they used to make templates for the rest, turned out to be a bit of an odd one out, so lots of adjustment is still required for each subsequent one!

Adjustment wasn't necessary in the RBr, it's still lots of (controlled) destruction for Bryan:

A rumble and a 'toot' outside, what's that then, it's not time for a train yet?

It turned out to be the Cl.47, come to collect BG813039 which is off to pastures new:

Clive had a very busy day, we started off going through the list of all the wagons we want to run for the gala, and then he set too with the paperwork and inspections, here inspecting the GPV:

It turns out that there is no tick box on the Fitness to Run exam form that says "Signwriting complete" but nonetheless, it is now, as I finished this off today with 'GUNPOWDER VAN' in white:

Having to do it on a ladder leaning against the van, it wasn't really possible to use a mahl stick, so I had to do it all with a floating arm - so again, don't look too closely at this side!

Back towards the end of the day to see the Toad again, Richard had supplied Maurice with yet more planks to paint:

While inside things are really beginning to look smart, the floor is nice and solid now:

Put your slippers on before entering please!

The veranda end cabin planking is beginning to come together too:

As are the doors:

Thanks to Paul for those 2 pics.

Finally I finished the day making a start on setting out the kinks in the lining as it goes round the corner on the bubble car:

Ok, now I've just got to match the other 3!...

Catching up

 I've now got 2 lots of photos sent to me for the blog waiting for me to get round to writing a post, plus a few bits and pieces from me, but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance.

So first off, some from Richard back on Wednesday. Upholstery were 3 strong, all on RBr chairs:

 

Robert and Dave were apparently cutting up an old door from the Toad to make a new one:

Gerry and Rex were doing more destruction in the RBr:

 

Do you cut the green wire, or the red one?...

Trevor was on the door workbench working on one from CK 16221:

Not quite sure what this is for, John working on some sort of trolley, while on the right David got stuck into patch undercoating the bubblecar:

Thanks to Richard for those pictures. Onto Wednesday evening then, and some wagon progress at Toddington.

Mark and I carried on with top-coating the Macaw:

Half of it is now ready for signwriting when I'm next there.

Meanwhile Greg took on the Conflat with Beer Tank:

The new plan for this is to focus on the conflat and maybe take the tatty looking tank off for the gala until we can make that presentable too.

Progress was good though with primer splashed around as darkness fell, so we'll see what we can achieve.

Also in the dusk, we went round and topped up the axleboxes on both the macaw and beer tank conflat. Mark was pleased with the size of oilcan he found...

Onto Friday where Mark and my task was to do the drawbars on the big Mink G:

It's just about passable cosmetically, and after all, wagons were hardly ever in pristine condition in real days! Happily the hooks came out no trouble at all, so we cleaned them up, inspected the assembly and put it all back together with new split pins:

Passing through the barn, the Toad is really shaping up now:

And after all that, there's still Saturday! I was busy, and Dave was on holiday, so Ian stepped up, thanks Ian!

The two Andys (Andies?) took on the refitting of the toad's refurbished vacuum cylinder. Once again ir was lifted back in via telehandler.

John was preparing some metal banking strips for a metal work team project:

While Ken was preparing mounting brackets for the safety barrier chains to be used

during the forthcoming Gala:

16221 again saw a lot of progress, George found some more prep on the North end, while at the same end Steve and Simon were discussing how to install the new ceiling:

Ben and Chris were both working on door hinges, fiddly stuff:

Rod was fitting one of the door liners on the centre door, Robert did the same on the opposite site:

 

In the wood shop Dave was attempting to glue together some damaged Formica panelling:

Upholstery today were represented by John, Jenny and Laura:

Robert and Dave took a coach each today, Robert dismantling one of the toilet doors in 24006, Dave enjoying the summery weather doing some more body prep to TSO 4867 in anticipation of it entering the works soon-ish (when 16221 is done?):

Paul kept the troops fed and watered as usual, absolutely critical!

Thursday 12th May - More Floor

 As the title states, the floor in 1675 is coming along nicely and indeed we have finished the cross bearers to the south corridor connection. This means we now head North towards the servery.

This is the last one on the South end, before the base plate. Rex, Bryan and Gerry do the preparation and fitting. All bearers are drilled and made ready for the floor panels, we have temporary boards in place to make it safe for all volunteers.

I am welding the outriggers to the bearers, the framework is beginning to regain its former glory. Social distancing is very popular when welding takes place.

The team are already working on the next section towards the servery, that bulkhead is proving to be a challenge as the bearer runs directly underneath it. They will sort it.

This piece put up a considerable fight, but its lost to the team.

Inevitably a daily clean up becomes necessary, thus making the area safe and somewhat more pleasant.

We have the Toad and the Rbr along side each other, this makes it viable if Richard needs some assistance, in this case for Bryan to move across and lend a hand with the Toad ballast boxes.

Another one of the Toad, which is looking magnificent. 

Outside Dave H. is doing some prepping on M4867, it is hoped it will be coming inside later in the year for the treatment.

Bench work for Phil, a tedious job cleaning these racks but it has to be done ..... mind you I think he looks happy enough.

The other Phil and the Bubble car, still a lot of preparation to do.

Ah lunchtime, quite nice out so we decided to sit by the platform. Our happy travellers were also taking refreshment . Dinmore Manor in charge heading south.

Back in the barn, Phil and Richard were discussing 'redundant' equipment on 1675 .... well thats what they said.

Gerry on the afternoon session, preparing outriggers. Yes I did take this photo from a safe distance.

Phil is dismantling ......

Sadly I could not get much in for Wednesday and apologise to anyone I may have missed.

I will get you next time.