Wednesday 26th Feb 2025 a dry start that turned cold and wet.

More time on the draw cupboard, the draws were in the garden shed so have swollen with the damp air 2 fitted but the other 4 are now in the archiving office to dry out.

                        The cupboard has had a final sanding down before painting with cream undercoat.

                                          When dry it will be wood grained paint finish

             

The finished cabinet

With the season opening day this Saturday it was time for a clean around to make the exhibits more presentable so the Scammell trailer and Austin got a jet wash to remove the algae that has grown over the winter

Time to sweep up of the leaves from the Autumn fall that had blown in so a clean  out of Taylors office and the Pay office floors were a good starting point.

The glass counters and display cases have got a good dust covering so glass cleaner and a rag removed it.

The open fronted Foss Cross building got a visit with the leaf blower in suction mode to remove a decent pile of leaves and debris that had blown in.

A walk down to the line wagon always involves a look in the scrap skips, we find to 2T trolley jacks both working and one in very good condition although the handle was missing these were removed and put in our shop for £15 each to help raise funds. 

The line wagon got the roof light painting completed and brown was applied to the end door after it had been filled.

As the rain had stopped it was possible to get the oil lamp cupboard out from Taylors office for a rub down and filling of damaged areas, it was then moved to the workshop to keep it dry and out of the publics eye until it is finished.

Another good day with progress made working down the long list of jobs.

 Wednesday 19th Feb 2025 a dry and warmer start to the day so outside painting can proceed ready for the spring opening of the railway.

A walk over to Honeybourne signal box after putting the first top coat on 2 weeks ago it is now dry and warm enough to do a good top coat. Now it needs the light stone paint touching up.

          As we left the first coat                                                 The final coat.

        

 Taylors office had the peeling paint knocked off and primed 3 weeks ago so time to catch up.

                                  After the application of dark stone so just the sign writing to tidy up

Then spots of rain started dropping so cancel the outside painting and into the workshop.

The draw cupboard got all the paint stripped off with a hot air gun and scraper and awaits a full sanding down before a repaint.

The one side has pulled apart so glue was added to the mortice joints and it was pulled together with a clamp but the rear of the top needs removing and re securing with nails a mm or two back as it does not sit flat on the carcass after it has all dried out.

The Malvern Wells enamel sign has had it's first rub down of the filler and now needs another skimming in places to get it flush .

The WW2 stirrup pump we did 2 weeks ago had the handle pin removed and a new grip made from a broom handle fitted over it before welding it back in then oiling and staining the wood.

It is now ready for display but we need to find some old rubber hose to go onto it.

The line wagon has been worked on to try and remove the pressure gauge for refurbishment so photos next week.

 Wednesday the 12 Feb 2025 a cold damp day so no catching up on the painting outside so now a plan B day.

                                        

              Time to move the draw cupboard into the workshop after stripping and sanding the top.

                                                

The top paint was mostly not adhered to the wood so it came offf easily before a sanding over

Then it was into the workshop by the heater to dry out as it had been sat on bricks placed on soil before the corner wedges could be glues back in.

           

                                               

Onto the bench to fit the door which turns out to be taller than the aperture due to wood deformation so a sanding down of the top and bottom edges however this turned into the power plane to remove enough. 

     

                                             It now closes so brass screw time to hang it.

              

On it's side and some gentle finger nail work results in more peeling paint, but now in a dry area the wood can continue drying before a touch up and installation in the RATS building to store documents or photos.

                                        

It was then time for a couple of walks over to the honeybourne box to carry the smaller parts of the enamel Malvern Wells sign back to the workshop but on the way noticed we have a new sign post showing our museum coach.

                                                

The 2  smaller parts of the sign have been on the bench and the mini power tool with a sanding wheel attached was used to get the rust out before treating and filling the damaged areas.

                                         Filled and ready for sanding down/

                                           

                                  Then a repeat with the centre part which was in better condition.

The large part of the sign will need 2 bodies or transporting around as it is heavy and flexing.

Then time was up.

    Wednesday 5th Feb 25 a cool clear start but everything outside was wet.

So start in the shed on a world war 2 stirrup pump that needed some work as it was coated in grey preservative paint about 2 mm thick that had rubberised.

                                                

A serious attack on the large wire wheel got some off but a sharp implement and a screwdriver were needed to get the majority off and out of the corners and joints followed by some wire wool and more scraping. This is half of the foot plate post done which looked solid but was blocked with the paint

                                    

                       This was nearing completion of paint strip on the metal surfaces

                                    

The hardened rubber sleeve got treated with paint stripper whilst a visit to the line wagon took place but the exterior wood was to wet to paint so returned to the pump where the grey softened paint scraped off leaving the hard cracked rubber intact.

                                            


After some brass cleaning and polishing it was then time to mask up ready for a coat of gloss black as was found under the grey paint

the completed pump ready for display it just needs a hose fitted now.

As the warmer sun had been out and drying things up a walk to Honeybourne signal box showed most wood was drying

A nmanual stir of the paint got it useable and a base coat of dark stone was done

Back in the workshop the paint mixer was located and put on the wire wheel to clean off most of the residue and it is now in the drill ready to mix the paint for a second coat on Honeybourne

     Not a lot done but time consuming work and hopefully dry weather next week will allow a painting blitz on Honeybourne and the line wagon.