Ross Stewart - 3669 May 2005

May 2005 (Part 2)

Click on any photo for a full-size version

During an interesting weekend in May a big decision was taken to hang the new end panels on side A. These panels are approx 6 feet in length and are rounded in 2 dimensions. This looked like fun. How are we going to avoid splitting them? The picture on the right shows the before framework.
	However the above picture doesn't show the curves that we will have to work round. Each side will have 3 separate panels of approx 12 inches wide. This picture gives a better idea of the shapes and curves. It also shows the LNER brown on the underframe and proves that we have gone all the way round!
After much thought and cups of tea we went for it. Simple one to start with. Went well. Didn't split it. Lots of clamps and brass screws. The red bar is the supporting scaffolding so that we could reach the top which is approx 15 feet off the ground.
	We used cardboard templates to get the basic shape. Again lots of clamps and struts that went across all three panels to secure the panels while encouraging them in three plains. Each panel is secured every 3 inches with brass screws. The final beading has yet to be fixed. As with the side panels, the panels are secured by glue blocks (remember the framework above). Now at this stage the cheap labour managed to miss the panel pin holding a glue block and split the middle panel along a 24 inch section. Much consternation but after more glue, rubbing down etc, it looks OK.