This Tuesday’s Talk featured various pictures of the colliery line to NCB Graig Merthyr colliery, Pontardulais. MrChairman showed pictures including enthusiasts visits and regular workings. Later MrBell provided various interesting photos including some B&M and Barry locos. There were a select five present, but of course, work was continuing on Ty’n y Coedcae at the clubrooms.
The full brake gear can be seen with the pull rod running to the handbrake wheel. The folded up long footboards have had the brackets strengthened with wire, though if you look carefully some of the very delicate riveted fixings have broken off. After fixing they are quite strong though. there are short upper footboards too along with the hand brake column and safety loops which were bent up from wire as none were provided in the kit. with these components fitted the van is nearly ready for painting.
Further brake van progress Read More »
With the Evostik cleaned off the floor more of the cassettes could be assembled. At the front are three loco-sized ones, properly weighted down while the glue sets. The long cassette to the back only has one of the aluminium angles glued in so it can be left to set. It is much easier to check and guarantee the correct gauge over the 1.2 m length if both aluminium strips are not able to shift on the glue.
There seems to be a bit of a theme around glue developing. Back around the 12th LBH made a mess with PVA, ending up with what looked like a Christmas cake. My effort on Monday was smaller and easier to clean but much smellier. (I was attempting to stick some cassettes together)
Away from the clubrooms Mr C pressed on with the ADR brake van, adding detail to the ends. Then the internal partitions were completed with doors and handles.
The two L shaped sections were the tried together to complete the box and the alignment was very good. After soldering together the partitions were slide down in place and fitted after a little trimming. The body is pretty rigid and square.
The newly applied timbers to the back of the hut needed staining to represent the preservative applied. Once that wall was done the others needed further stain too so they blended in.
The resin hut just needs the window fitted. It took longer to find the glazing than to clean up and prime the framing. It can be fitted next session, and then perhaps a bit more colour on the brickwork at the back.
Rhobat has been working on this Peco laser cut kit. Its based on Arisaig on the West Highland. The accuracy of the cutting helps with forming the bay windows which can be tricky.
Tuesday was a regular Zoom session which featured the second Quiz of the festive season. Quizmaster StephenB teased us with Welsh based questions requiring a bit of in-depth knowledge of minor railway locomotives – which I sadly lacked. The final question – current TfW stations with a k in them – was also taxing. (there are 18 of them).