jameshilton
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The story of an Engine Shed for the EJ&KLR
[size=14pt]My G-scale journey continues and I'm beginning to really really enjoy working in this scale. It feels much more liberating and the bulk and familiarity of the materials you can use is really refreshing. So the EJ&KLR (rhttp://ejklr.blogspot.com/ < Link To ead my blog - much more regular updates than on here) needs a shed.
This project is very emotional because although these plans were discussed with my father, I never had a chance to show him the plans before http://ejklr.blogspot.com/2011/01/keith-hilton-1942-to-2011.html < Link To he passed away on the 10th, earlier this month. Buildings and structures have always been a big part of his modelling, he scratchbuilt a massive GWR Engine Shed for our Didcot layout in my early teens, along with a workshop and coaling stage - all out of plywood and hardboard - then clad with plasticard. Later on he built two massive grain elevatorsfor our http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14061 < Link To Harris, Saskatchewan layout based on the Canadian prairies, this time MDF clad in plasticard.
He was more of an artist than an engineer or draughtsman, a trait I expect that came from his life long passion for geography (and in particular teaching - inspiring and energising students - he went from teaching, to lecturing to Head of Department at Chester College and on the way wrote a best selling Geography A-level http://www.amazon.co.uk/Process-Pattern-Physical-Geography-Hilton/dp/0003223094 < Link To textbook). In this vein his structures were artist impressions - really realistic, but not ultra sharp or accurate scale models - they captured the emotion and character of the structures they represented with an imperfect warmth that I always found hard to replicate in my early teens. Even more recently I've been hugely frustrated by building structures in 4mm, never quite happy - although http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/376/entry-4310-down-the-station-in-the-morning/ < Link To Rose Hill station was a triumph and a model that Dad reflected really captured the character perfectly of the suburban run down station.
Everything in G is big though - so the idea of going back to my natural wood working, well wood bodging skills came to mind and a suitable quantity of MDF was purchased from the local DIY superstore. But what to build? There was a distinct lack of suitable plans to follow despite trawling the internet. On top of that the EJ&KLR is a freelance creation of both my father and my minds. I've always had in mind something along the line of the Welshpool and Llanfair in nature, but with a http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/show.php?image_id=1013&cat_id=134 < Link To strong Austrian influence.
So the first few days after http://ejklr.blogspot.com/2011/01/keith-hilton-1942-to-2011.html < Link To he passed away I found myself doodling plans - and after about Mark V I had something which did it - captured the essence of what I wanted to create. It's got an element of the Welshpool and Llanfair running shed, along with Austrian Narrow Gauge sheds evocative of the last days of regular steam operation on these lines in the 1970s.
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After the purchase of the LGB U-tank 0-6-2 I knew the vital dimensions I needed to accomodate so I drew up a sketch in Adobe Illustrator to get the proportions right - something I'd not done previously. It all looked well, and so with a few tweaks of the geometry around the door and incorporating some construction notes I was ready to start.
The weather today however has not been conducive to cutting up wood outside - however a small break in the rain (well it turned to drizzle) and I braved it and in under half an hour had all the pieces cut out (just by eye following pencil lines with my jig saw - no precision cutting here) and dry assembled in the kitchen to check the design had translated well to 3D! To give you an idea of the size this is 40cm long, and 21cm wide - about 25cm high. The sides are 12mm and the ends and base are 9mm MDF. Satisfyingly chunky.
the sides and marked up the doorways and windows. These parts were taken back outside. To cut the windows you drill a hole in the middle and then use the jig saw to open the window up by cutting into the corners and then back along each edge. It sounds tricky but is really straight forward. I took the finished items back into the kitchen and wow - it looks superb. Absolutely perfect.
This project is as much a tribute as it is therapy - and I'm finding the skills I'm using quite energising at the moment. Combining notebook sketches, computer drawings, woodwork - and creating something chunky, heavy with real mass - it's very satisfying and creative.
So anyhow - what next? Well it's now glued and drying in the kitchen and I've used a diluted exterior PVA mix washed over the MDF to seal it. The first coat of primer has now been applied as well - but with a 24 hour drying time I'm now treading water. I need to complete the interior painting before I can measure up, cut and glue on the roof! This is likely to be finished with tar paper, whereas the walls will be painted in Sandtex exterior masonary paint.
Questions, comments, thoughts, reflections, encouragement - all welcome. Can I all urge you to visit my blog ( http://ejklr.blogspot.com/ < Link To http://ejklr.blogspot.com/ < Link To http://ejklr.blogspot.com</a></font></font> < Link To http://ejklr.blogspot.com) as well - as it's dead easy to update that straight from my iPhone, unlike posts on here which require a bit more thought, effort and the use of my Mac.
