As I've explained elsewhere, I have concerns about the long-term stability of solvent-based chairing, particularly on point-work. As 'Ambridge' is designed for the 'long term', it's got to be right - if something goes wrong in 10 years time I might not have the eyesight/manual dexterity to fix it! However, I do like the 'look' of C&L chairs (as ably demonstrated by Mikkel & others, so I'm going the route of 'standard' 'EM' construction (ply sleepers with the rail (code 75) soldered to 2mm copper rivets)., then dressed with 'C&L' chairs. This is where the tedium sets in (as those who have done it doubtless agree!) Each chair has to be cut in half (danger of 'Ping' factor) so once the chairs are separated from the spue,

they are place on double-sided tape. For obvious reasons I deal with the left- and right-hand chairs seperately... The chairs are then halved - not with one stroke but two, both angled into the chair thus releasing the webbing foot that the rail normally rests on - and which gets in the way with rivet construction. You can just see tiny 'blobs' of web left behind from the first set...

Once separated, the half-chairs need to be securely stored. Thankfully my wife uses contact lenses and the containers come in very handy - they're even markd 'L' & 'R'.. Short interlude to help Zoe - she's just tripped over the cat again! (Note to self - Must remember NOT to throw the contact lenses away next time )

Prepping the point comes next - I never manage to get the rivets completely hidden by the rail - so out with the trusty 'Dremel' and grind away the visible part of the heads (otherwise the chairs ar not going to 'sit down' properly). I then fit the inner chairs - tedious and time-consuming but no issues with 'handed-ness' -

(the silvery out-of focus 'splashes' are were the Dremels been working!)

The last step in this particular part of the process is to add the outer chairs -

remembering that, as this is a siding (part of the stone wharf) with 'each-way' running, the chairs were keyed alternately - LRLRLRLRRLRL - B----R! So I lay the left-keys first , then the right keys - or vice-versa (except when youve done about 10' of track like this you're too knackered for the 'vice' bit....)

Chairs are held in place with 'MekPak' or any other butanone solvent - which works well with the ply sleepers pre-stained with potassium permanganate (cheers 'Black Rat'). I now only have to paint the rail, lay it, ballast it & wire up the pointwork and I might actualy be able to play trains (or more importantly get on with the challenge entry).

Hopefully progress will be quicker now that I've finally retired! ('Whats that dear? You've burned yourself ironing 'cos you couldn't see the iron properly? YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT???')

Regs

Ian