Popular Post Caley Jim Posted March 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 17, 2020 My latest involvement with the Dunallander project concerns the canopies for both the main building and the island platform both of which can be seen in this photo. I decided to start with the island platform ones, working from this drawing: As can be seen, the canopies are supported on transverse beams which rest on two longitudinal beams, they in turn being supported by columns at each transverse beam. these columns appear to be 'H' section, but with the channel infilled, presumably with timber. The exceptions to this, at least in the period modelled, but possibly earlier, being the outer faces of the end pillars which are not infilled. The pillars are incorporated into the building with the longitudinal beams forming the top of the walls. It would then have a flat roof with the glazing on the canopies going right across. I prepared a working drawing of the southernmost three bays to establish how all this was going to be modelled. The longitudinal beams and the inner pillars will be 1.5mm square brass tube, with the end pillars 1.5 x 1.5 'H' section brass. everything else will be etched, the transverse beams being inverted 'U' section with a top attached, the latter having location slots for the glazing bar pieces, lugs to support the glazing and tabs on the ends to which to attach the valence. A gap will be left above the valence to accommodate my usual style of gutter, made by scrawking a half-round groove in the edge of a strip of 20thou. styrene. By the period being modelled the valences had been reduced in height, losing their saw-toothed edging. Mike has already made the building, the walls including the pillars and longitudinal beam, so the latter will on run between either end of the building and the ends of the canopy. Artwork for a trial etch of these three bays was drawn up from this, including a jig to help assemble the parts consistently. The resultant etches have now been successfully assembled. The tabs for attaching the valence are not bent down as this would preclude my fitting the assembly back on the jig to work my way along assembling a bay at a time. I soldered a length of .25mm copper wire along the top of each ridge to both simulate the 'roll' which was there and also disguise the joints between the panels. Somewhere along the line I managed to lose track of one of the end panels. The last thing I did one evening was to trial fit it and I found that a little adjustment was needed to one of the side panels. the next evening I made the adjustment and then found that the panel had gone AWOL! I will put a spare one on the sheet with the etches for the remaining bays, but no doubt after I have done that the little gremlin who 'borrowed' it will return it, as always seems to be the way!! Only some minor tweaks are needed to the artwork to slightly simplify assembly before I prepare a sheet for etching the remainder of the bays. Some of these require to be modified to accommodate the chimneys and the two northern most bays have a curve to their western ends to align with the platform. Next up I'll describe the subtle differences between this canopy and the ones on the up platform. Jim 9 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 I mentioned that there were subtle difference between the island platform canopies and those on the up platform, as can be seen from this photo: and this plan: 1) The width of each bay is slightly smaller. 2) Each end has six glazed panels with 5 astrigals against the 8 panels and 7 astrigals of the island platform 3) The bays do not fit the footprint of the building. 4) As can be seen from the photo, the pillars supporting the longitudinal beam were not arranged as per the drawing, but were nearer the platform edge and are: i) only every second cross beam ii) of cast iron iii) have a square section connecting them to the longitudinal beam My interpretation is that these pillars supported the canopy of the original Scottish Central Railway station, which was lower, and this was replaced, designed to use the same pillars, when the island platform was installed on the down side to accommodate the Dunblane, Doune and Callander branch ( which became the C & O). Whatever the reason for the differences I have had to prepare a different drawing for them: The speckled areas are flat infill sections. The artwork for them will go on the same sheet as the remaining bays of the island platform. I've also dipped my toe into the world of 3D CAD and managed to produce a drawing for one of the cast pillars: Someone is doing a trial print of them on a home printer. The square spigot on top will fit into a short length of 1.5mm square tubing soldered to the longitudinal beam. That exercise was a steep learning curve!! Not likely to be any updates on here for some time now while I get all that artwork prepared and off to PPD for etching, though I will have plenty of time for that being essentially confined to barracks as both my wife and I are (chronologically) in an 'at risk' group. Jim 2 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold scottystitch Posted March 17, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 17, 2020 Incredible work with the etched canopy. Really clever work. Awesome, in the original, true sense of the word. Best Scott. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John57sharp Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Top drawer stuff. I stand amazed. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 Belated thanks for the kind comments, Scotty and John. I've spent the first couple of weeks of my isolation drawing up the artwork for the rest of the canopy sections, along with a couple of other things, assembled them on a sheet and sent that off to PPD at the weekend. Got a reply from them this morning to say that, unsurprisingly, they have ceased production for the duration, but my sheet will be in the queue for when they start back, so there will be no further progress on this project until restrictions are lifted to the extent that PPD can get back to work. Meantime, I've plenty other jobs I can be getting on with. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 Well, any piece of good news is welcome in these difficult times, but to get three in the one morning is a bonus!! Yesterday PPD sent a link for me to make payment for my order, which I did thinking that it would at least help their cash flow. Today I got an acknowledgement saying that they hope to resume limited production next week, so maybe i'll get relief from my soldering withdrawal symptoms before I need to delve into my stash of etched kits. Secondly, a surprise package arrived by post this morning contain these, courtesy of @Skinnylinny. There are another 6 in the bag, so plenty spares - and they ARE octagonal, though I had to look at them under magnification to be sure! I have thanked him in a PM, but thanks again, Linny. I am very pleased with these, being my first foray into 3D CAD (see 3 posts ago). The third good news was in the same postal delivery. The arrival of another sheet of £5.20 modelling card as part of an envelope containing a rather nice magazine with several 2FS articles in it. Jim 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) Now that the etch sheet from PPD has arrived I can get on with these - in between painting the 45ft 1st class coach. 5 bays have now been assembled: The gaps in the adjacent sides of bays 4 and 5 are where a chimney comes through from the island platform building below. One or two astrigals are going to need careful straightening! Being only 0.25mm square they are rather fragile. Only 9 more bays to go! Edited May 21, 2020 by Caley Jim Spelling correction 6 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 65179 Posted May 21, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 21, 2020 Forgive my ignorance Jim, but what is an astragal? Thanks, Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 39 minutes ago, 65179 said: Forgive my ignorance Jim, but what is an astragal? They are the frames between the sheets of glass. Same as the vertical and horizontal bars on a sash window. Jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Another 2 bays added, so I'm half way there (at least as far as the bays go). Another chimney coming up as you can see on the right hand bay. Jim 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave John Posted May 22, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 22, 2020 Very fine work Jim. So the brasswork is the common return for the LED lighting ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 17 hours ago, Dave John said: So the brasswork is the common return for the LED lighting ? Aye, that'll be shining bright! Jim 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 11 bays now assembled, leaving only 3 to do. however, as can be seen from the plan, these last three at the north end will be a little trickier as the long sides shorten to allow the canopy to follow the curve of the Oban bound platform. I just hope I've got my measurements right! Jim 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 The final bays have been added and the tabs to support the valences bent down. Here it sits on top of a copy of one of the drawings: The left hand (south) end is sitting in line with the drawing and it appears that the model is a few mm longer than the drawing. This would seem to be down to a distortion in the printing of this copy as the discrepancy is different on another drawing of which I have a copy. I have checked with the dimensions Mike sent me, and with him, and all seems well as the dimensions of the model concur with the original drawing.. Last night I added a length of valence down 85% of one side and this has made the whole thing rigid and no longer floppy! Jim 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 3, 2020 Author Share Posted June 3, 2020 (edited) The valences have now been added all round, though there is a gap at the south end (RH in this view) where the canopy fits over the end of the footbridge stairs. It is now a very rigid structure and, I'm pleased to say, sit nice and level on a flat surface. The gap between the bottom of the canopy ends and the valence is for the guttering to slot into. Jim Edited June 3, 2020 by Caley Jim Spelling correction 7 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted June 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 4, 2020 Looks fantastic Jim! Impressive work. Tom. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) Mike Rasmussen has kindly sent me the station buildings he has built and the canopy fits exactly onto the island platform building. I can now get on and fit the longitudinal beams and the pillars at either end, but that will not be for a few days as I have some other things which need my attention first. Jim Edited June 8, 2020 by Caley Jim 4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 13, 2020 Author Share Posted June 13, 2020 I have now attached the longitudinal beams at either end. With the building being card, I have been able to make it a tight fit between the inner ends of them. The H-section brass I had got for the outer pillars is quite thick in section (c0.5mm) but I’ve thinned it down from inside the channel on one side. and have now attached them at either end. Once all the soldering is finished I will fill the inner channel on these with styrene strip. The next pillars in I will make from square tube so that a spigot of 1mm rod can be fitted at the bottom to locate on the platform and the inner pillars will be square rod. Jim 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 13, 2020 Author Share Posted June 13, 2020 The rest of the pillars have now been fitted. The fret of etched cast iron brackets which Neil had got for these has arrived from Roy and I've fitted the first few around the pillars at one end. They are not exactly the same as the prototype, but are near enough to fit the bill. There are not enough of the large ones, between the transverse beams and the pillars, as these continue all the way along the sides of the building, but we've been able to identify that they came from Scalelink and I've ordered up another two sheets from Scalelink fretcetera, who have taken over their range of etches. Jim 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium CF MRC Posted June 15, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 15, 2020 Almost has a ‘Brief Encounters’ air to it. Tim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 On 15/06/2020 at 20:52, CF MRC said: Almost has a ‘Brief Encounters’ air to it. Could ModelU be persuaded to do a Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson? The etches of brackets arrive yesterday, so they have now all been fitted. The apparent angle of some of the pillars is camera distortion. They are all perfectly vertical! Seen better in this inverted view. The original fret I was given appeared to be in phosphor bronze as it has a very 'coppery' appearance. These new ones are brass. They grip the building, but it can still be easily removed. The eagle eyed will spot the top ends of the downpipes projecting through the valences. They are in different positions on either side of the canopy. Jim 3 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 (edited) Following a good clean with Flash Bathroom cleaner (other household cleaners are available) the 20thou styrene gutters have been fitted which gives the whole thing a more finished look. Especially in end profile. Pity I didn't notice that the left hand end bottom corner wasn't soldered down properly! Attention will now turn to the canopy for the up platform. Jim Edited June 20, 2020 by Caley Jim Spelling correction 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 First four bays of the Up platform canopy. As before, the tabs at the end and sides will be bent down to allow attachment of the valences. This fits against the building, so there is no valence at the back, but there is a strip to be attached across there to support the edge. Jim 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 Tuesday's dreich weather up here meant I got a bit more done. A further 3 bays added. and how it fits against the station master's house and waiting rooms. Only the three long bays to go! Jim 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 The ten bays have now been assembled, seen here on the plan with the main building. Next job to bend down the tabs and solder on the valences. Jim 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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