Thanks for your comments chaps but, looking at other work on the forum, I need to pull my socks up! Too much of the domestic chores getting in the way. That's life I suppose.
Finally completed the windows. Apart from the first one I made, there are only two others (to match it) that have narrow glazing bars. This is simply because I ran out of stripwood. So all the rest are made from matchsticks.
I also ran out of spare CD cases so used some 2mm acrylic sheet. Wood is glued directly on to the glazing. When dry, I use the Pu sealant to glue the units in to the casing. When this dry, I used the Aliphatic PVA to seal any gaps between the frame and cases.
Painting is tricky and I have got some on the glazing (which will scrape off - just like the real thing). I had thought of pre-painting the frames/bars but the glue would have had an effect on the oil based paint and probably etched it into the glazing.
Next job will be lighting inside and maybe making some external wall-mounted lights.
Windows fitted and everything painted to allow roof to be made and fitted. Once roof has gone on, the rest of the cladding to the tower portion can be fitted before the octagonal roof to that is made. Still, I'm jumping too far ahead there - need to make and fit doors, add door fittings to all and - the there's still the lighting.
The effect (says he after seeing the results ) is of an old building that has been repainted after many years of neglect ....
To be honest Mike, its the first building using lollipop sticks that I've painted. The first one I built (for my trailer layout) was just stained to represent unpainted wood.
Painting the station really heightened the warped and relatively rough nature of the wood. Unpainted, it looked fairly smooth after a light sanding ..... But it will do, the effect is a bonus I suppose - although I didn't really know how it would turn out.
What I need to find out is what signage or outside lighting American stations would have had in the 1930's. Anybody?
Had a go at making a couple of lights for over the doors (when I make them!).
Even though the station is pre-electric era, I assume that electric lighting came early to U.S. stations - unlike in Britain where gas or oil lasted into, or past, the middle of the 20th century.
The globe is a solid nylon moulding from the swivel face of a clamp. The gallery and chimney are offcuts of tubing from a trigger spray bottle, the horizontal bracket is a 40mm nail (with the head inside the tube) and the two stays are the + & - wires to the pre-wired LED.
Before mounting and painting.
In situ and painted.
Connected to a 12v battery.
Second lamp to fit on opposite side and then rest of LEDs to fit and wire up. Some I will leave as white and other will be yellow (the blue white gives the yellow a slight green tint unfortunately) - or I could use some small car bulbs I have?
Managed to finish the lighting - the LEDs don't look too bad in the dark - and move on to the roof. Plastic board again, wooden facias (bargeboards still to fit), and Tongue Depressors for shingles. Made a start - thought I'd pose it outside whilst operating a train or two...
Its quite therapeutic chopping up the wood for the shingles. A lot to do though.
Made some more progress. Laid about 1700 shingles on the station roof (still the octagonal roof for the tower to make) and it needs the ridge tiles making and fitting.
Lighting done and working - need to get a pic - doors made and fitted. Still plenty to do but it will have to wait till next week (two shows this holiday weekend and mods to do to the trailer if the weather will allow.
The "clocks" are back-lit too - and dead on time (twice a day)...
Great stuff Mick. I love the shingles, I always get a bit 'bored' when I lay the individual ones but the end effect is always worth it. Your station is a lovely thing!
Well, my trailer layout encroached on my "garden" time to the tune of four days. Then domestic garden time and other tasks before I could get to grips with the octagonal roof. Its not brilliant but it will do for me at this moment in time.
I also (yesterday) took advantage of the sunshine by laying the boards on the station "platforms" - having previously painted the concrete the evening before. It's still a work in progress (goods platform to make, footings for bay window on main line side, detailing (door furniture and signs), and then varnishing the complete structure.
Meanwhile, some pics of progress so far.....
The gap below the "bay" window and the site of the goods platform outside the freight section of the building...
Should also add that the ridge and capping pieces are made from scrap lead. I use barrier cream and wash my hands thoroughly after working with the stuff! The same (Polyurethane) glue was used throughout, including the boards and the lead work.
As I was up early this morning (don't do late nights - only early mornings) I though I would see what the lighting looked like in the dark. I stuck a 12v battery on the concrete base and connected the two wires (which will eventually be connected to a timed 12v DC supply), and slid the station down on to its' plinth..
First thing I noticed was the station didn't sit snugly down as on previous occassions. The reason was a warped board on the walkway - the overnight rain had caused the wood to swell and bend - this will be fixed later. The lights worked OK but my photography didn't. One pic in the dark was OK and two with the flash - the rest were consigned to the "bin". The flash cancelled out the LEDs apart from the two lights over the doors outside.
Anyway, three pics and a realisation that I need to improve my photography ....
The small goods platform has been made and awaits painting - plus the extra boarding below the bay window has been fitted and painted.
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