Textile Mill Diorama

[J.L.]

The edges of the floor have been thickened and strengthened with oak veneered particleboard. They have been glued and screwed with Lo-Root wood screws that have the new Recex drive heads. They are a combination of Robertson and Phillips heads. I like them.

The Lo-Root screws are suitable for particleboard and MDF. I still don't trust them from spreading MDF so I drill pilot holes.

[J.L.]

When I took a look at the bare walls of this new diorama, my mind went back to setting the stage for the 2014 machine shop...

[b.lindsey]

John, I am quite sure this one will be just as impressive given the start you have made already

Bill

[J.L.]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Bill.

The boiler room seems to be holding my attention this last month. There's cast iron sitting on the bench eagerly waiting to be machined, but working in this room is just fun.

[ddmckee54]

John:

You built a ladder so that the fireman could get up onto the platform beside the boiler.  You gonna give him a safety railing because right now it looks like he could easily fall off the edge of the world.

Don

[J.L.]

Hi Don,
I don't think safety was high on the list, but I too wondered about a ladder that stopped at the edge of the brickwork in the photo below.

I mentioned to Jason, that you'd have to put a knee over the top edge and crawl forward on your hands and knees.

But then I saw the extended piece of hand railing on the right stringer. Mind you, coming down would be a leap of faith as you grabbed it and swung yourself around.

Actually, my eye caught the  same principle on a loading dock in a recent TV show. An extended railing was more elaborage and curled back on itself but it too was only on one side. 

[J.L.]

Thanks Tom...

[wagnmkr]

You are welcome John ... it looks good.

Tom

[J.L.]

Tom brought home from England mylar templates for all sorts of brickwork patterns. But none are available for the customary low arches found over most industrial windows. I wrote the company wondering why universal low arched brickwork templates were not made. They showed no interest stating that they were not common to most dollhouse applications. Fair enough.

So I made my own using the hard plastic found in produce packaging. Not as easy to use, but get the job done.

This is the door opening in the firewall of the boiler room.

[rudydubya]

Following along quietly John.  Very well done.

Regards,
Rudy

[wagnmkr]

That looks really good John.

Tom

[Ramon Wilson]

Impressive modelling John - sounds like you are really enjoying yourself with this build 

Tug

[J.L.]

Thanks Rudy and Tom.

Hi Tug,

Thank you for that kind response. Yes, I am finding this build rather special.

The flywheel is being machined for me as we speak. I have been on oral chemotherapy for two weeks now and being able to stay at home and putter in the shop with this hobby has been therapeutic. Four months to go.

I will pick up the flywheel when I am able to get out and probably drop off another large part that I feel I may not be up to machining.  In the interim periods, I can work on the diorama layout.

But there will be lots of smaller parts of the engine I can make as well.

Cheers...John

[Admiral_dk]

Beautiful result from your first homemade brick template (as all your other constructions)

And the best wishes with the chemo treatment and a healthy outcome 

Best wishes

Per

[Ramon Wilson]

Oh that doesn't sound very pleasant John - hope that all works out okay and that the side effects aren't too intrusive. I had a 'scare' about six years ago but despite losing a fair bit inside it turned out for the best. I have several friends who haven't been so blessed however so know only too well what you have to contend with.

It does look like your progress is helping take your mind off matters though - good luck in coming days  .

Tug