As a bit of a diversion from soldering bits of wire together to make a tree, I've spent a few more hours on my version of Mortonhampstead Goods Shed.

I've been trying to get the roof on. To this end, I'd already made the main part of the roof from 0.030" plastic sheet, but because of the rather open nature of a Goods Shed I wanted to put in the roof trussing, etc too. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the interior of Mortonhampstead Goods Shed actually looked like so I've based the roof support structure on a couple of images I do have of Newbury Goods Shed. These seem to show a main beam running centrally along the length of the shed (which provides the top support for the crane), the ends of which are supported on large pieces of stone set in the end walls. From these ends, further diagonal support beams radiate out to further support the ridge beam at the apex of the roof. Transversely across the roof are more beams running up from the top of the sides to the ridge beam. The central one of these has a supporting structure of almost horizontal beams with diagonal and vertical beams providing support.

All of this structure has been represented with strips of plastic sheet (either laminations of thinner material or 0.060"). I have painted these beams in GWR Light Stone.

Roof Supporting Beams

I have also built up the barge boards on the ends of the roof with laminations of 0.030", and the gutter and soffits from the same material. The gutters are simply represented by gouging a U shape along the edge of the plastic sheet, turning it over and sanding the edge to a rounded profile, then a 3mm wide strip sliced off which can be cemented to the underside of the roof. The soffits were built up below the gutter and when all was thoroughly set the barge boards were filed / sanded back to give the characteristic end profile. I will not worry to much that the ends of my gutters are open as once painted I don't think it will be noticeable.

Barge Boards and Gutter prior to filing back

Roof temporarily fitted. Building up the Barge boards and gutter around the edge of the roof means that I've been able to make it a tight fit around the walls so potentially I won't need to glue it on.

I've also provided the shed with an interior wooden office. One image I have of Mortonhamstead seems to show such an office, and clearly shows windows looking out over the road entrance. The window was drawn onto Cobex sheet with a ruling pen, when dry a plasticard frame from 0.005" sheet was carefully fretted out and fitted and the whole lot fixed behind the wall. To provide a bit of interest inside the shed I've added 3 P&D Marsh barrels, and some sacks (which may be Fleetline - I've had them so long I can't remember). I also built up some plastic packing crates (just laminations of plastic shaped and 0.010" strips around to represent wooden boxes / crates).

Ian