Bagshot station build

[Thirtysecond]

I suppose the big question is; did Bagshot have dirty windows or clean windows? In reality I guess it depended to a large part on the Station Master and what sort of regime he imposed. The Thornton Heath station of my boyhood always seemed quite a grimy place despite having only the occasional steam train pass through but I can remember being amazed by the pristine nature of some other stations on the Southern. Epsom Downs, in particular, always looked immaculate.

In any case, if TOO dirty, nobody will be able to see the model's amazing interiors!

 

[Peter Insole]

The precious few photo's of Bagshot station in BR (Green & cream) days show very tired looking paintwork, but the windows are all sparkling. It was a fairly quiet station, so I would imagine that the staff might have rather been occupied with cleaning than sitting around and getting bored out of their skulls? Even the signalman was a porter for most of the day, except for a few short periods when he was required to switch his 'box back in to the Ascot, Camberley block section!

Another bonus of using real glass in the model is that it can be allowed to get naturally dusty and greasy, but can be very easily wiped perfectly clean again!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

Continuing with the window theme, this little monkey has kept me going for a while.

The gents' WC interior walls are solid 9'' plain, painted brick. A sash box normally fits neatly into a half brick recess, including plaster render, so the architrave sits flush with the inside surface. This WC has a slender "Hopper" type window fitted, and might well have had a few inches of exposed brick around the frame. When building the walls, I had not made allowance for this, so have had to "box up" the unit, and provide an architrave too.

Quite a bit of fiddly layering, trimming and trial fitting was needed. I think the appearance was worth it?



Having got the complete frame to a snug fit, it was time to make up the casements.



The lower one is fixed, while the upper is hinged, opening inwards. As it is all made with plastic, making it work will be a bit of a challenge! I still haven't decided whether to just set it permanently in the open position or have a go?

Meanwhile:





I found a decent reference pic of a lavvy hopper with a wrought iron bar arrangement that fitted the bill, so made a copy using brass wire.

The ends were bent over 90 degrees, and then hammered flat in the vice jaws.



The flattened ends don't show very well, but are prototypical!



The wonky top edge of the frame box reveals one of the problems of fitting this window: I had carelessly glued a noggin at an angle!

I wasn't too bothered at the time as I knew it wouldn't show when the window was installed. It has just now given me a load of grief, so the moral is; Save a lot of future aggravation, try and get it right in the first place?!

Pete.

 

[Dog Star]

Cold water feed to the cistern next?

 

[Tom Insole]

We've got everyone one here marveling at the fine craftsmanship and photo angles...
In terms of a tiny bit of wonky noggin, I guess it's just a good job you didn't have to scrap it, flush it down the pan and start again!

Really do need to come see this lot in person, I think the last time I visited the chippies were still in the building.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

The wonky top edge of the frame box reveals one of the problems of fitting this window: I had carelessly glued a noggin at an angle!

I wasn't too bothered at the time as I knew it wouldn't show when the window was installed. It has just now given me a load of grief, so the moral is; Save a lot of future aggravation, try and get it right in the first place?!

Pete.

Heh happens in real life, I trained as a chippy and I've lost count of the number of times that someone has measured, on site, an out of square aperture and given me the taller measurement instead of the shorter for me to make a box sash or other frame back at the works ........that was years ago by the way 'cause they don't make frames by hand anymore.

Col.

 

[phileakins]

As an aside Peter - how do you mean to model the distinctive odour ......

Phil

 

[Peter Insole]

Progress has been interrupted, courtesy of a health issue. My mind and body has been elsewhere, to very dark place in fact, but the less said about that...!

The little wee sash window came out fine and has proved the principle, but the big ones with their long, thin glazing bars worried me to a standstill.

"That might work?, nah, it wont. Will it?" has gone on long enough. My main concern are those vertical bars. They need to be exceptionally thin, yet strong enough to stay straight.

It has been every bit as fiddly as expected, but here is the first one:



Making up the frames as before; with .40'' and .10'' sheet, I have found that the smallest Plastruct "I" and channel sections all fitted perfectly together!

The main difficulty is ensuring that the glazing is cut accurately. A snug, but not too tight a fit is required to ensure that the bar cannot pop out, while at the same time making allowance for the materials to expand or contract.



The glazing material was installed first, then the "I", cut over length, was slid down the small gap and glued into the frame. The bar could then be cut and shaped to fit inside the channel top rail.



Well, that's the plastic one done. Now for the clear glass top sash...

...Gulp! And then there's only six more to do...

Pete.

 

[J_F_S]

This whole project is utter madness.

And I absolutely love it - where would the hobby be without this kind of stuff - keep up the inspiring work!

Hope the health issue goes away satisfactorily.

Best wishes,

Howard

 

[David Varley]

Just catching up with this and the photos of the WC window with the retaining bar had me grinning from ear to ear. Remember one just like that from when I was little. Lovely stuff

 

[Peter Insole]

Thanks Howard and David. I spent a while this afternoon cutting more glass panes for the top sash, but could I get them the right dimensions? I've now got a nice pile of spare, odd size rectangles!

Finally, just before it was time to get ready for work...



Still a bit of tweaking and trimming to do. I shall have to call the window cleaner in soon, but I ought to let the "putty" harden off a bit first?

Pete.

 

[Pencarrow]

Pete, that brick colour and texture is superb.

 

[Alan]

Sorry to be boring. Just STUNNING!!!!!!.

 

[JimG]

Still a bit of tweaking and trimming to do. I shall have to call the window cleaner in soon, but I ought to let the "putty" harden off a bit first?

Peter,

You've even got me looking for the mastic - the bane of my life in the Victorian buildings I lived in.

Jim.

 

[Tom Insole]

Glad to see you back on track and making progress! I was going to say you need to sack the window cleaner but as he's not been yet I'll let you off...

Did a great job not getting putty finger prints all over the glass I must admit. I'm sure we had a few stubborn prints when we needed new panes because of the odd snowball, mug or slammed patio door.

Was great to see it in person last week and make me realise just how small these little bits are as the photo's make it look so real and a lot bigger

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

It's also the small details you see everyday but ignore such as the metal air vent to the left of the window which are sublime.

 

[Peter Insole]

That was no odd snowball Tom, that was Mum's! She just doesn't know her own strength. I wasn't very amused at the time to cop one in the face... ...while standing inside our nice cosy front room! It was quite funny really wasn't it?

Thanks also to everyone for your comments and likes.

While there are more than enough small details to revel in, and keep the enthusiasm going for some time yet, I feel that "cracking" the windows problem is a major milestone. I just hope that this coming winter I don't clumsily end up breaking a Bagshot one myself.

Mind you, I guess were are all even anyway if I take account of the window pane that I deliberately threw a breeze block through in order to observe the effect for a book illustration.

My poor boys. Fancy growing up in such a nutty household?!

Pete.

 

[Tom Insole]

Definitely something to giggle about now.. maybe not so much at the time.
I think growing up the way we did made us how we are today.. Plus we didn't turn out badly! I've got the same enthusiasm as you and even though I know Leanne wouldn't let me have quite so much memorabilia as I'd probably love to own... There'll hopefully still be some that'll stay safe.
'The Cambridge Blue' is one I'll one day look forward to showing future generations.
"That name plate your granddad held above his head on Cambridge station back in 1991!" stands as a quote I look forward to saying.

Always did enjoy trips out to get reference material having trips on all sorts of railways or visiting some almost forgotten locations to get a few pics and measurement's before they disappear forever.

 

[Peter Insole]

I must apologise for the intermission. This last few weeks I would have been very busy with the day job, a good opportunity to give the bank account a bit of a boost, but as luck would have it an urgent appointment with a surgeon got in the way. Just when I thought the first round of perforations were healing nicely, I had to be rushed back for some more!

As many of you may have noted, I have a passion for all things London Transport, but there is one kind of tube that I am not too keen on now: Very thin ones with extremely sharp, pointy ends!

Feeling rather groggy has made work on Bagshot a bit of a plod, but there has been some progress. In a rigidly enforced confinement, I have been going stir crazy looking out at the glorious Autumn colours through the front room window. So what have I been doing for distraction?

More flippin windows!



Not only more, but the most awkward to boot!

As the arches were hand cut they are not perfectly symmetrical, so the frames have to be carefully trimmed to fit neatly in the 'oles. It is going to be a whole bundle of fun when it comes to the sashes, and nipping the glass for these?

Actually, it will not be quite as difficult as it might first appear. Conveniently, the sashes are square topped with solid triangular fillets to match the profile. Ugly when open, but an absolute sanity preserver!



I thought I'd get the "easy" bottom sashes done first.



One more to finish, and then it's time for a cuppa, followed by the upper!

Pete.

 

[Heather Kay]

Glad to hear you're sort of on the mend, Peter. I'd begun to suffer withdrawal symptoms!