Stuart Beam Engine in Diorama

[b.lindsey]

John, will the railing follow the curves of the oval cutout too?

Bill

[J.L.]

Hi Bill,

Yes, I'm thinking that back in the day, there may have been square cast iron posts with round profile sections except where the rails pass through. A ball on top? If holes were cast in the square sections, a round rail system would be possible.

I think I would bend round rails around each end of the opening unsupported. The opening is only about three feet wide.The rails coould probably span this curve without support.

So, six posts - three on each side? Glosss black paint - brass or black rails?

 

[ShopShoe]

Go for Brass Rails. I can visualize that.

Or I can see the rails and posts made of iron and everything but the rails painted, those might have been smoothed and polished. (Labor was cheap in those days?)

--ShopShoe

[b.lindsey]

Brass would look nice, but I suspect the black painted rails would be more authentic. But since labor was cheap, there could have been someone to keep brass rails polished up too. Your choice, neither would detract in the slightest from the diorama

Bill

[Jasonb]

Brass would be a bit too much bling for me but painted posts and bare steel rail would still look Ok. And if you paint the posts nobody will know if you glue a ball into a depression on the top of the post

[J.L.]

Thank you all for your input on the gallery railing around the opening. One thing for certain will be painted posts - red! The Victorians loved accent colour and the engine's red wil compliment the whole project.

Here is the more utilitarian and lighther stair railings. I did not set off the smoke alarm, but found the paper master plan used to make the stairs very helpful in setting up the jig.

Here are the two sets of railings before being cleaned up and painted glossy black.

Cap rails will be added later. Strip brass has been ordered or I would have put them on now. I think they can be glued on with CA glue.

[b.lindsey]

Nice John, and not overwhelming either.

Bill

[J.L.]

Thanks Bill.

The lugs soft soldered to the rails made it quite easy to bolt the railings to the stringers.

[J.L.]

In this photo, the first set of raiing has been shortened. You can see all the clamps holding what was original with a newly placed post on the left. I am glad I did not throw the jig out before making this change!

The clamps keep everything in the same plane and prevent anything from springing while soldering.

[J.L.]

One step at a time...

[b.lindsey]

One step at a time...

Pun intended no doubt   Looks great John!!

Bill

[J.L.]

Hi Bill,
Yes, 2/3's of a pun at best.

The stairs in place...

[J.L.]

Sometimes you don't think of things until you step back and have a look at what you have made. And step back I wouldn't want to do standing on the gallery near the stairs.

I have to make a wall around the opening now to keep somebody from taking a header into the stairwell!.

I will make a low wall and paint it. The styrene strips come in handy for trim work. The wood is grooved panelling left over from the two previous dioramas.

[b.lindsey]

Incredible John. I would swear I was standing in a museum or and old pump house ...a testament to your skills and photography.

Bill

[J.L.]

Thank you Bill. You embarrass me with your accoldates.

The wainscot around the stairwell nears completion.