In my previous blog entry I talked about using planning records to help research buildings at Clare. These have certainly help but what has helped even more is the advice and assistance from another RMweb contributor. Uax6 immediately recognized two small builds as Type A and Type B telephone exchange buildings and was able to give me loads of information regarding their construction. The 16 page 1950's tender document informing contractors the requirements to build one of these buildings was fascinating. Unfortunately I have failed the process immediately by not constructing the required earth latrine for the contractors  to use while building the exchange!

I've drawn out the parts in TurboCAD and have cut the parts in MDF. The central core is 3mm MDF for strength with the brick engraved layer in 1.5mm, just to keep things complicated the roof is cut from 1mm, the roof support from 2mm and the windows and surrounds from oiled manila card. Using lots of different thickness of material was probably overkill but I had all the different ones to hand. As usual I had to cut several parts more than once because I screwed my logic of which bit fitted around which other, I'd like to think I'm getting better and not making so many mistakes but I'm not so sure .

I'll continue assembling the exchange and also try to draw out the other type of exchange with the hipped roof.

The maltings building is also coming along. I revised my earlier drawing and shortened the model by one window bay because the original version was too long and left the end wall too far forward and in the wrong place relative to the goods yard. I'm still a bit too far forward but I think I'll live with it because shortening the building even more would not leave enough of it left to make sense.

I was pleased with the way the windows for the maltings came out cut in the manila card. I drew the glazing bar lines at .7mm which has meant that the glazing bars when cut at .5mm wide.

I've cut the windows in the 3mm inner layer to the size of these window components and the 1.5mm layer with the bricks engraved in it is 2mm smaller in each dimension. That means that the final window will have nice strong structure and I can cut some glazing material to fit.

It has been a great deal of fun so far making these buildings and I'll post more as progress continues.

David