Some more bits turned up, so time to make a start on getting the home-brewed points to work. First thing was to add a second tie bar. This isn't cosmetic, it really is needed to keep the gauge correct over the sliding chairs. I know everyone has their way to do tie-bars, this is the way I went, unobtrusiveness being the main aim. Working would be good too. Basically all I do is make two 's's out of wire stripped from some scrap twin-and-earth, with one longer arm and the other squashed flat with a pair of mole grips. The rails have been cleaned up with a fibreglass 'pencil' thing, and some flux applied to brew. The squashed ends of the copper wire also get fluxed. The first 's' is then soldered (tacked in the photo!) to the rail. Some of the insulation, stripped off the same cable is then filled with Araldite and slid on. Next, the other 's's long arm is slid in the other end of if the insulation and it's squashed end soldered to the rail. Using hi tec equipment, i.e. anything lying around, the blades are wedged where they should be, the insulation centred and everything left alone until the Araldite goes off (tomorrow). I also glued an eye to the blade tip tie rod for the point motor operating pin. Will this work - time will tell.

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