Breaking Ground - Finescale - of a sort

[Simon]

I really wouldn't worry about the rot issue as discussed, given there is some sort of air gap (which there is) I bet everyone that the bit of the shed wall under discussion will actually stay in the best nick, being protected from rain and the all conquering UV.

And if anything does "go wrong" then you can see the wood from inside and will know something is up, and could then pull the structure forwards to investigate - or are you going to weight it down with cast iron-ery and "Virol" signs?

Don't worry about it, instead how about installing a field telephone inside so you can wire HQ for tea and janitorial supplies?

Simon

 

[Peter Insole]

Hmm, a nice full size version of one of these would do very nicely...



but it would really require a pole or two, copper wire and some porcelain insulators to complete the job!

Oh dear, I think I'll need to take a break from digging for a while as I am still desperately trying to get the roof on, but I can imagine the additional fun the children would have constantly ringing Nanny up?!

Little Mr. T. is brimming with ideas too and has been giving me very clear instructions of where to put all the furniture, including details for the issuing of tickets, despite the building still being open to the sky at the time!

I am doing my best and had a jolly good go at it this weekend, while the weather and my own energy permitted. I am paying a heavy price for all the effort today!



Sorry, I forgot to advise professional chippies to look the other way before I posted these images!

A result of my rather muddled approach, I ended up having to tackle some very complicated joints and notches to achieve what I wanted. Adapting an existing structure for something it was never designed for throws all sorts of unexpected problems into the mix - not least of which was not ordering the right materials, or indeed even enough of it in the first place!



Keeping everything as light as possible on top might be mistaken thinking or a false economy, but I have committed myself now.

At the very last act I discovered that my own difficulty with maths had been unfortunately compounded by some rather naughty marketing practices by a certain, famous retailer:



I don't much fancy the common use of "Shuttering" for shed floors and roofs, as in my own experience it certainly seems to be vulnerable to moisture damage in the longer term. Having said that, I chose to splash out on a much more "appropriate" looking ceiling of thin, interior T&G rather than the cheaper stuff for this project in the hope that it will still be durable with a good coating of preservatives!

The frustrating bit was finding that after (so) carefully working out how many I required, I was still short of a plank (or two)!

"95mm x 7.5mm" is what both the manufacturer and retailer declare - although there is a small print disclaimer on the packaging that states that; "due to being a natural product, dimensions might vary slightly from the specification" - the discrepancy was in fact a full 4mm less in width!
Sold only in multi packs, I had intended to use the left over for cutting the valances, but when setting the planks out (seen in the above image) in order to calculate the precise starting point, I found to my chagrin that all four packs were used. Ho hum, I will now have to make another trip just to get one more!



An utterly exhausted fool, with amateur builder and unfinished building both wearing their hats at the close of play last night. Aches and inclement weather are enforcing a temporary, but nonetheless welcome rest for today.

Pete.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

In keeping with LT perhaps I thought you may have gone for a shelter like this....

...the classic LT bus shelter - this is a 4mm old 1950-60s Master Model metal one I've repainted





Or one if these - which offers no shelter whatsoever. This is a 7mm one I scratchbuilt.

 

[Peter Insole]

Ah yes Dave, that would have made life so much easier!

How well I remember swinging on the bars of those climbing frame type shelters as a child! Thanks for posting that fabulous reminder of an LT, perfectly vandal-proof but otherwise barely functional classic!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

Adding to my previous reply: Now if I had a trolleybus to run around my garden, like Mr. Peter Lepine-Smith...!

A very dear friend used to work for the gentleman, then trading as "Maypine" back in the sixties and can tell a few tales about him. One story was that he registered his trolleybus as a proper company and as a result received mountains of catalogues and other sales literature from the transport industry! He also obtained invites to some interesting events. On one such occasion, my friend was asked if he would like to be a representative on an official, guided tour of the Victoria Line construction works - which was gratefully accepted!
Another was that Peter wore his tram driver's uniform most of the time, and that he drove a black Wolseley car. When dressed in dark overcoat and peaked cap he was able to get away with all sorts of amusing liberties out on the road, with most people assuming at first glance that he was a police officer!!

Thank goodness for good old British eccentricity, eh?!

Pete.

Edit: I forgot to put the picture up...


(Copyright image shown for illustrative purposes only)

 

[Osgood]

I don’t suppose Peter Levine-Smith lived in Great Bookham by any chance?
If so I used to occasionally walk past the garden - despite the high wooden fence a good view of the overhead wires was available from the adjacent footpath.
I never did pluck up the courage to make enquiries.

 

[King Crab]

More thoughts!
It would be a good idea to separate the wooden structure from the concrete with a bit of damp proofing material. Then the timber won't soak up any dampness.
Any water falling on the flat concrete surface looks like it will flow inside under the structure....
With that roof overhang, you should make sure that the whole thing is well screwed down. Wind uplift will have it off and away...
Apologies if I'm covering things you have already thought of!
Wouldn't like to see all your good work spoiled.
Peter

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Adding to my previous reply: Now if I had a trolleybus to run around my garden, like Mr. Peter Lepine-Smith...!

Yes - I'd much rather have one of these one third size trollybuses than a car to run around in if I had an electric vehicle...

I see he had based his trollybus on a Reading Corporation 1961 Sunbeam F4A with a Burlingham H38/30F body. It was the Tilehurst destination which got me looking.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I don’t suppose Peter Levine-Smith lived in Great Bookham by any chance?
If so I used to occasionally walk past the garden - despite the high wooden fence a good view of the overhead wires was available from the adjacent footpath.
I never did pluck up the courage to make enquiries.

I believe he did - as it's mentioned in this short British Pathé film Busman's Holiday

 

[Osgood]

Thanks Dave
Also visible were two trolley buses in their garages - it looked a fascinating set up.

 

[Peter Insole]

Thank you King Crab for posting your concerns. I do appreciate it.

The large wall stops at the corner of the building and there is a clear space behind for drainage and future maintenance access!

The roof planks are not going to get fixed down just yet, and won't be until the shed is bolted firmly down over a dwarf wall (to keep the structure well clear of the concrete platform surface and any pooling water).

I can only build a floor once the anchor brackets are fitted on the inside of the studwork and are bolted into the concrete. Completing the integral roof joists and purlins first was considered the best way of ensuring that the structure is rigidly square enough when moved.

I still want to be able to nudge and fidget the building into a final location before I can mark it out (if I stand any chance of building an accurate enough foundation wall) and to ensure it "looks right" in position - mainly because the concrete pad is not quite level and is notably off square with the property boundaries and path alignment! The original (studio) pad was laid in open allotment ground, well before the boundaries were formalised.
Being only too aware of my personal handicap in not recognising numbers and a propensity to make measurement errors I do almost everything "by eye". I might appear to go about things in a strange order, but it is usually the only way I can get anything done!
The most important bit of the building for me will be the alignment of the overhanging canopy valance, and its visual relationship with the rails, platform edge and the garden as a whole. I am just not prepared to take any chances with this.

Tipping the shed on its side to work on the bottom (wall plates) is ironically the exact reverse of the method that was required to dismantle it in the first place at the previous owner's home!

I still worry about everything I'm doing, (all the time) and is yet another personality trait that I have had to cope with (most of the time) for all these years!

Pete.

 

[Simon]

Pete that looks just magnificent, I love the "loftiness" of the canopy, it marks it out as a true railway building to my eyes, not some namby pamby garden centre-looking pastiche!

I love your approach to building the whole thing and think that your dwarf wall will elevate it even further, both in height and general railway like splendidity.

It is such a pleasure and joy to see it coming together.

A well earned fag at the end of the day too, a great portrait pose.

Simon

 

[Peter Insole]

Thank you so much Simon.

Although I am severely constrained by both the existing building that was made available and indeed the site it rests on, the whole thing is still a miniaturised version. The only aim that I can hope for is to make it "look right" and possibly seem bigger than it really is?!

I have not only been too tired, but the frequent showers and gusty wind today would have stopped work anyway. Concern about the conditions have prompted me carry out several inspections, and one occasion late this afternoon I went down there with my baccy and a mug of tea. While there, it started raining again, so I got the chair out and sat, dry, under the canopy and observed the scene around me. While it is still very much a construction site, I could now more easily visualise the rain dripping from the patterned valancing, with a lamp glowing in the gloom underneath and casting highlights and shadows on some nice "Light Stone" paintwork.

I know it is primarily for the children's (and other grownups) benefit, for a few moments it certainly gave me a bit of a metaphorical hug!!

Pete.

 

[Dog Star]

... late this afternoon I went down there with my baccy and a mug of tea. While there, it started raining again, so I got the chair out and sat, dry, under the canopy and observed the scene around me. While it is still very much a construction site, I could now more easily visualise the rain dripping from the patterned valancing, with a lamp glowing in the gloom underneath and casting highlights and shadows on some nice "Light Stone" paintwork

No better reason for enjoying what you are doing... pushing you onwards... sharing your enjoyment with all of us.

 

[Peter Insole]

Thank you so much Dog Star, and indeed everyone for your "likes" too!

Although I would have been perfectly happy if it was any one of the family or friends, it just so happened to be little Mr. T. who was the first witness. He came trotting down the path and as soon as he spotted the building, he started running towards it and at the same time let out such a loud and prolonged "wow!" that I swear he almost generated a slight doppler effect?!

That sort of thing certainly does keep me going!!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

Did I really say "keep going" last Tuesday? Hmm! I'm afraid that in the meantime I had come more or less to a grinding halt. I was beginning to feel the pressure, and that is something I don't manage very well.

The main issue was to find some way of securely anchoring the building down onto to the concrete platform. I am particularly concerned about the relatively light weight of the structure, and that by adding a canopy at the front (that could also act like an aerofoil in high winds?) would unbalance it by quite a high degree. I am also only too aware that while I want the office to appear firmly rooted, I will at the same time need to ensure sufficient ventilation underneath to delay rot. It is simply not practical to install any sort of drainage channel or a soakaway on all bar one of the vulnerable facades.

The government might have momentarily lost control of the economy, but my own budget is starting to look rather perilous as well, so I'm getting worried about both now!

Now to the important business in hand:



I thought I was being clever by acquiring four of the above post bases! They were an end of line; bargain bucket offer that were cheaper than conventional angle brackets, and although of a peculiar design, I fancied with a bit of jiggery pokery could be adapted for purpose!

The treated timber for the joists was slightly over proportioned and rather pricey but was chosen because it is the same material that I am using for the railway sleepers, so all the offcuts wouldn't be wasted.

Having marked up, and then managed to hoik the shed out of the way with some generous assistance, I laid out the first course of bricks in an attempt to calculate what I need to do...




and that is when an awful problem was revealed:

While I am happy to cobble the main job with my own reclaims, some proper plinth bricks for the top course turn out to be over £4 each and are therefore completely out of the reconning, so in order to be able to firmly screw new bottomsides to them, the first and last joists will have to be set flush with a narrowed dwarf wall. Building it in the latter form means that I can no longer hide the bracket baseplates and bolt heads that would project outside the wall at the corners!

It then dawned on me that whichever method was adopted, the "Thunderbolt" holes would have to be drilled far too near the rear edge of the concrete pad to be of any use anyway!

I just could not see any solution whatsoever and became a bit freaky about the whole thing!

Presumably; "Mum" was getting fearful about my state of mind, and surreptitiously called Rich to come over and rescue me? While no immediate answers were forthcoming, we nonetheless had some really positive and constructive conversations about that and other related matters - and it seems to have done the trick! After being able to sleep a bit better last night, the ideas started to flow again this morning! An incredulously simple, and what should have been an obvious solution had been staring me in the face all along!
More of that for the next post though.

In the meantime: Thanks Rich, you are an absolute champion!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

I am afraid that I feel compelled to inform you all that I have unwittingly become the victim of attention from the criminal elements of our society.

Under normal circumstances, I have always been overly cautious about any "cold-callers", and give them short shrift every time, but yesterday afternoon my mind must have been elsewhere. A man approached me in my garden and addressed me using my full name, under the pretext that his company were going to attend to some trees adjacent to my property.

He then paid great attention to our railway.

While I was trying to be polite without giving too much away to a complete stranger, it quickly became evident that he didn't know what he was talking about, but I was surprised when he quoted a line that I had written on this forum.

I now realise that it was probably a terrible error of judgement not to write under the relative protection of a pseudonym.

It is too late now - what is done is done, and it's all "out there".

I have no wish to stop or withdraw in any way, and I am utterly determined not to let any vile, low-life, smackhead prevent me from continuing to doing so.

As you all might expect, I will now have to spend some precious time and finance on an extremely serious review of our security measures, and that arrangements are already well in hand.

Pete.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

A piece of 4x2 works wonders !
Col.

 

[Focalplane]

Baseball bat even better. Officer, I was just practising my swing.

 

[Allen M]

extremely serious review of our security measures, and that arrangements are already well in hand.

While a barbed wire entanglement is not allowed Roses and other bushes with good thorns and/or spikes are.

Regards
Allen