7mm On Heather's Workbench - three is a magic number

[Steph Dale]

The gloss coat went on yesterday. On inspection this morning, tiny fibres had found their way onto the surface again. Serious consideration about how I can make a budget clean room environment for this kind of work will follow. It might make an interesting thread.:

Surely a lab coat and anti-static gun would be cheaper and easier? I suspect most of the problems you're having are due to the material...

Steph

 

[Heather Kay]

Hi Steph.

These are all options I will consider. I think making the spray booth area more permanent, with boarding and a basic positive pressure air flow will all help. Currently, it's a thought exercise, with outline planning permission from Best Beloved.

 

[Heather Kay]

Crikey! Things move on apace now!

I set about glazing the D94. As I mentioned before, I had a cunning plan to use the kit glazing to make templates to help cut the glass microscope slides.



Each window shape was measured up to be slightly under the actual size I needed and marked out on some graph paper. I used some masking tape to act as a datum. Working with glass is a pain. It's all but invisible! It also takes a while to get the knack with the carbide tip, but happily my wastage rate was relatively low.

I researched what other people use to fix the glass in place, and it seems to fall back on the good old Kristal Klear, so that's what I used.



Here's the first completed side. Those reflections are the business.



I had pondered how to replicate the hammered glass used in the lavatory windows. I'd seen several examples where people had used plastic report covers to great effect. I had a used ring binder pocket, and here's the result glued behind the glass. I think it looks about right.

With both sides of the D94 glazed, and the van section window bars done, it seemed churlish not to assemble the sides and ends to the floor. Call it a morale booster if you like, but I can now say I have actually finished one of the triplets - aside from a little bit of QC to sort out.

 

[Ressaldar]

cracking stuff there Heather, well done.

cheers

Mike

 

[Heather Kay]

cracking stuff there Heather, well done.

Ta. I did crack one or two of the window panes as well.

 

[Ressaldar]

Ta. I did crack one or two of the window panes as well.

did your eyes glaze over at that moment?

cheers

Mike

 

[Heather Kay]

did your eyes glaze over at that moment?

Oh-ho-ho!

Actually, be warned this glass stuff is pretty fragile. I've just cracked a large window pane and I have to fit a new one. This is why I don't glue the roofs on.

 

[john lewsey]

Cracking stuffff can I pop. Up tomorrow to have a peeeeek

 

[lancer1027]

Superb work Heather

Rob

 

[Heather Kay]

Cracking stuffff can I pop. Up tomorrow to have a peeeeek

No problem. I'm out this morning, but any time this afternoon.

 

[john lewsey]

Hi people I've just been up to Heathers to look at the brake coach STUNNING in my humble opinion loved it

 

[Heather Kay]

 

[Rob Pulham]

Superb Heather

 

[john lewsey]

Rob they really are lovely

 

[Heather Kay]

Can I just say using real glass for glazing models is probably the single most frustrating thing I've ever done?

I have glazed four sides, and used 50 of the 100 slides in the box. I try to salvage large pieces that may yield door and droplight sized bits, but I have a funny feeling once a slide has cracked incorrectly, stress patterns are set up that cause it to tend to break unpredictably. I'm happy I bought another pack of 100 slides, so even allowing for the current wastage rate, I should be able to finish these coaches and have some left over.

Another factor is ensuring tiny fragments of glass aren't left where they will sit under the piece being cut, or under the steel ruler. Then there's finding the sweet spot on the cutter, and clearing up the shards as you work so you don't find something painful embedded in your hand...

The oddest thing is I get high levels of wastage cutting large windows, such as those of the corridor sides (those first class sections on the E127 especially), yet I can cut a wavy line on a bit of waste and it'll break exactly along the line leaving two lovely wavy bits of glass. I don't get why a simple straight cut is such hard work.

Anyway, having vented frustration here, and had a nice relaxing sit down away from the workbench for half an hour, I think I may attempt to at least get the two remaining large corridor panels cut and fitted today.

 

[Overseer]

Hi Heather

Have you tried using a lubricant while cutting the glass? Not sure if it will work the same way it does with thicker glass but leadlight makers and glaziers use kerosene while cutting glass. It might help but will also need a degreasing wash afterwards.

 

[Heather Kay]

Have you tried using a lubricant while cutting the glass?

I hadn't thought of that. I don't have kerosene to hand, but I wonder if a spot if olive oil might work. I'll report later, once I've recovered from the outcome of the first test at Trent Bridge.

 

[Simon]

Good old white spirit will work as a lubricant, I had similar experiences to yours and found it a definite help.

Coaches look superb!

Simon

 

[Heather Kay]

Another one bites the dust. No, not more glass, though there have been one or two moments...

The E127 composite is now ostensibly complete.





I really ought to create a "works building" backdrop for these sorts of portrait.







This leaves the C54 to glaze. Final details will be seeing to some fit and finish issues on the ends, specifically where one bottom corner never seems to meet the body curve properly and will need a spot of filler, and to make and fit the end handrails - as task I am looking forward to as light relief from the sound of breaking glass!

 

[Ressaldar]

great work Heather, but I'm surprised that you were able to do any work with that close shave over the Aussies.

cheers

Mike