Platform surface part 1
I've recently spent some time laying the platform edging strips that were discussed in a previous blog entry. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131/entry-17632-diamond-embossed-edging-stones-platform-paraphernalia/
In order to make it easier to lay the tiles along my curved platform edge, I cut each edging strip into three pieces each approximately 50mm long. These sections were glued to the platform surface using rapid set epoxy resin. Although using epoxy resin may seem a bit overkill, I like the fact that while it's setting it progressively gets more viscous and allows a bit of "fine tuning" of the curve before it finally sets.
Edging stones in situ on platform
Once the edging strips were laid the next step was to consider the platform surface. In a number of period photos I noticed that although the majority of the platform was covered in what looks to be fine ash, the surface under the station canopy and areas of high passenger use were laid in diamond embossed tiles, similar to those used on the platform edging.
I decided I would like to represent this feature on my model so spent some time researching the size of the tiles and the pattern in which they were laid. The tiles appear to be the same width as the edging stones at 5 inches across, but are shorter in length at 10 inches and do not have the curved bullnose on one face. They also appear to have been laid in a staggered pattern where the adjacent tile overlaps by 1/3rd. In Stephen Williams book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Western-Branch-Line-Modelling/dp/0906867983 there are photos of tiles laid in this fashion running at 90 degrees to the platform edge and other examples laid longitudinally down the platform length.
I decided to use the cadcam printed strips as a starting point for creating the tiles, because although the wrong length, at least they had the diamond embossed pattern incorporated in them. I used a two part liquid silicone to produce a mould from the cadcam strips, which once set captured the diamond pattern very well.
Silicone mould to duplicate cadcam edging strips
The mould was poured using casting resin to produce lengths of strip that could be used to make the surface tiles.
The finished tiles needed to be a scale 10 inches by 5 inches, so the strip was marked and the excess length along with the curved bullnose was removed using a razor saw.
The strip was then cut into individual tiles in preparation for laying in the new staggered pattern.
sectioning the strip into individual tiles
The tiles were then glued to a scrap piece of 20 thou plastikard using cyanoacrylate, using a ruler as a guide to keep the courses straight. Each tile is 6mm by 3mm in 7mm scale and it was quite fiddly trying to coax them into position, I certainly wouldn't fancy attempting it in 2mm scale!
The edges of the plasticard were then trimmed and sanded to ensure a good straight edge
A mould was made of the finished tiles once again using liquid silicone. I found that resin castings poured from the mould tended to curl up during curing and I struggled to get a decent flat surface.
As a way of side stepping the problem I tried pouring the mould in Plaster of Paris, which I'm pleased to say has reproduced the surface detail in the mould and has remained perfectly flat once set! As an added bonus the fact that the tiles are made of plaster means I can use PVA glue to fix the tiles onto the platform surface and not need to endure the smell of any more Araldite!
Silicone mould of completed tile panel
The staggered ends of each panel link together to enable large areas of paving to be constructed fairly easily.
I've marked the platform surface with pencil lines, so hopefully these will act as a guide once I start laying the tiles onto the platform surface. The laying of the tiles and simulating the ash surface on the rest of the platform will have to wait until the next blog entry!
Platform surface with alignment lines
Until next time, my best wishes.
Dave
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