Finished benchwork

 

Finished benchwork plan. Only 2 more to put together. Next the backdrops and the foam. After the foam is painted an earth colour, the buildings can be set out to get the best arrangements. Once we can get together we can finalize where they all should go and plan out the trackwork. 

Maybe we should set out all the track to see how much we have, we may have to settle for a single mainline, this plan is quite big.  Hope to see everyone soon.

Building repair

 Jim Kent donated a box full of buildings to our club, thank you very much. These are buildings collected, but never repaired or finished, so if anyone wants to do some repairs and or painting, let me know 519-539-2128. As an example, there is a few old western style building that are the original plastic colour, there is a station that needs some pieces glued back on and it could use some paint, there is a farm house that has many pieces that need to be glued back on. There is a few buildings that just need a little weathering and a few pipes or chimneys.

Provincial Pandemic Lockdown

 We are in an emergency stay at home lockdown imposed by the province for the month of April. No indoor gatherings are allowed so layout construction has been paused until the lockdown is ended. 

Tuesday night meeting and work night

 Tuesday March 30 

Don was delivering our financial report, but stopped to open a card, Barb Owen gave the club $100.00 dollars, wow, thanks on behalf of the club! Her sister also made us cookies, yum! I should also thank members who have brough in various items like lumber, for our use.

 Rob asked if we should drain the water heater, as it is not in use. He also mentioned that the roof of the entrance leaks were it joins the building. Jim repaired a second toilet, and we are looking at rehanging the washroom doors so they open out. Don also mentioned a layout that is for sale, but we decided it would be counter productive at this time, not to mention covid concerns. 

 The crew added the top plates to the remaining frames, finished the peninsula corner, built more benches, about a dozen more needed, and started building the big curve on the end of the peninsula. Another good night's work.

Friday framing

 Friday March 26

 Found out Rob and Ann were at the club cleaning up again. Washroom is now clean, thanks

 Cliff, Glen and Rob retrieved the last of the 2 x 4 lumber from the trailer. 

 Don and Rick worked on benchwork, as we are running out of lumber, they were pieceing short pieces together.

 Glen, Rob, Donald and I finished the frames for the pensula, after laying it out on the floor. We think it is a good idea to use our 1/4 inch plywood on top of the benchwork to get the outside curve of the peninsula. This curve would be doubled using short 1 x 4s sandwiched between 2 curved plywood arcs.

The idea was hatched that we could add cleats, of scraps of wood, to the back of the benches and set the backdrops on the back of the benchwoek and attach it to the cleats, see picture below. This would raise the top of the backdrop above the 2 x 4 frame about 1 to 2 inches, no big deal.

Tuesday night working on the railroad

March 23 

Rob and his wife cleaned up the yard around our building, 5 bags of leaves and vines, great job!

 Support frames along the south wall, and from the east wall to the centre peninsula were put in.  Then with a screw, in the floor, and a 6 foot cord, Mike drew a circle on the floor where the central peninsula will be. This will help us locate it's final position while maintaining optimal aisle widths. The end of this peninsula is the last section of frames left to be built. 

 Benches continue to be constructed but we are running out of 6 foot 1 x 3 lumber, so we are going to build a few 5 foot ones.

Friday at the club

 March 19

Don S. brought over all the 1 x 4 s he cut down to 3 inches, which a crew used to make 8 benches 6 feet long. Work continued on frames, finishing up the east and west walls. The south west corner was finished to the furnace. The joining section from the east wall to the peninsula was started. Only then did we realize we could not reach the fuse panel, so we made 1 section only 18 inches wide.
A discussion was started about not including the bridge section, for now. That section would take a lot more time to build, extending the construction time. We will have to make a decision soon.