Back to 4mm scale for a day or so to make the signals for Geoff Taylors Penmaenpool. Here is the distinctive bracket signal that is opposite the hotel ( for those familiar with the location). With one of the 4 single posts alongside. I need to check for positioning, then add the cranks and tidy up. The ghastly weather has kept me inside and boosted the progress of several projects.
I used to be able to manage forming tumblehomes in 4mm scale with no problem. 7mm scale is another story. I managed to write off a set of sides, as the brass is a heavier gauge in this scale and I found it was like trying to bend a spring! Jonathan Matthews came to the rescue with this technique:- The the sides are clamped between a piece of 2x1 and skirting board in the workmate. Starting with just a little projecting the side can then be bent over the curve in the skirting board . This is done in steps - 2-3mm projecting more each time. This results in an over formed tumblehome. This can then be brought back to the desired curve to match the etched end by pressing down with fingers and working along the side with the upper part of the side overhanging the edge of the workmate, so that only the tumblehome receives pressure.
Then emery sticks of decreasing grades are used to reduce the inevitable fold marks.
Once finished, and polished with 1000 grade, the sides look a lot better. I tend to build in batches, and I remembered that I had built a whole set of LMS bogies a few years ago, so decided to include the 50' LMS brake in this curent project. So work on detailing the sides will now take place whilst I look out on the snow covered garden...