October 2024

A bureau?... and another baseboard.

The household authorities had ordered a tidy -up of the "model railway room" months ago, so I thought I'd better get on with it. "I know", I said, "I want an old fashioned bureau,  I can work on the lift-down flap then store my scruffy tools, turps, rags behind it. All my materials can go in the drawers."  So a few visits to second-hand shops didn't throw up anything, nor did an antique centre, the bureau's in there were far too grand and expensive.  Then I thought, you twit! (being me), I already have one in storage! it is being kept for me after my fathers passing from the family house, a small reproduction one and of a suitable size for the room where I make my models.  

One of the only jobs I would do around the house when I was young (being a spoilt brat) was to polish the bureau, I liked doing that.  So the bureau was collected and brought home.  I repaired the cubby-hole fitment and strengthened one of the legs, polished it up, and filled it with my modelling stuff.

... all sorted and ideal!

New woodwork: Initially, I had ideas to build a new 6ft 6" layout using two boards, but I had to shelve that idea for a while as I simply don't have room to store another large layout.  So this is a small board that I can easily lift and transport, it's 36" x 20".  

  

The rear left-hand corner will contain a passing loop/storage loop.  the siding will run to a head-shunt and a kick-back to a goods shed.  The passenger platform and shelter will be at the front right.  I have a number of ideas for scenic features, some of which might work, some may not!