Andy Ross
Western Thunderer
Since Easter I have spent a lot of time redrawing the structure between the test track and boiler shop. This included sorting out how to do the recesesd widows
This involves several trial runs with the 3d printer and the laser.

You can see that when you interlace the corners you have to allow for the variance in the thickness of MDF. I have done a final test since I took these photos and based the corners on 2.2mm thick and they are now flush.

The depth to the window frames is also critical.
The plan now it to cut all the MDF for the wall details from one batch which should have a consistent thickness.
With this all sorted I then got on with redrawing the main sub structure - this is now all 3mm thick and on a proper base. Allowances have also been changed to accommodate the window frames including the stone lintels etc.
It took best part of a weekend to cut all the parts and this weekend to put them together.


The whole structure is just over 1.3m long.

Today I fitted all the roof trusses.


One of the doorways has stairs up to the offices - these ave been 3d printed.

The other thing that has taken time is the design of the false wall for the boiler shop and the half roof.
The structure is designed to produce a groove for the wall and roof section to drop into. (The needs to be removed for transportation).


The photo shows a short test section - the real one will go the full length of the builded and around the back of the tower.

On the full roof, every fourth brace will have a lug with a 6mm hole.

To help support this during shows there will be some braces in a position represented by the ruler. These will locate into holes drilled in the back board.
The roof will be tiles and glazed to match the roof on the main base board.

The vertical face will be dummy glazed as can just be seen on the photo with the TML loco.
The only issue in all of the above is that I have had to remove the point lever as it ended up in the garage on the building.
I am now looking at fitting a DCC point motor under the base board but as luck would have it we are very close to a diagonal cross brace. I will let you know how I get on with getting the point back in to commission.
Andy
This involves several trial runs with the 3d printer and the laser.

You can see that when you interlace the corners you have to allow for the variance in the thickness of MDF. I have done a final test since I took these photos and based the corners on 2.2mm thick and they are now flush.

The depth to the window frames is also critical.
The plan now it to cut all the MDF for the wall details from one batch which should have a consistent thickness.
With this all sorted I then got on with redrawing the main sub structure - this is now all 3mm thick and on a proper base. Allowances have also been changed to accommodate the window frames including the stone lintels etc.
It took best part of a weekend to cut all the parts and this weekend to put them together.


The whole structure is just over 1.3m long.

Today I fitted all the roof trusses.


One of the doorways has stairs up to the offices - these ave been 3d printed.

The other thing that has taken time is the design of the false wall for the boiler shop and the half roof.
The structure is designed to produce a groove for the wall and roof section to drop into. (The needs to be removed for transportation).


The photo shows a short test section - the real one will go the full length of the builded and around the back of the tower.

On the full roof, every fourth brace will have a lug with a 6mm hole.

To help support this during shows there will be some braces in a position represented by the ruler. These will locate into holes drilled in the back board.
The roof will be tiles and glazed to match the roof on the main base board.

The vertical face will be dummy glazed as can just be seen on the photo with the TML loco.
The only issue in all of the above is that I have had to remove the point lever as it ended up in the garage on the building.
I am now looking at fitting a DCC point motor under the base board but as luck would have it we are very close to a diagonal cross brace. I will let you know how I get on with getting the point back in to commission.
Andy



















































