Working Bee on FreeMo Modules

Monday (Public Holiday) last week was the scheduled working bee for 8 Div 1 guys at the Superintendent’s place with a 9:30am start, to work on the Div 1 FreeMo modules.  I got there about 2 minutes after our scheduled arrival time and almost everyone was already there.  The modules were being removed from their storage in a shipping container to the garage where we were going to do some work.  Legs were attached and the modules stood up. 

First job was to test fit the wooden road over rail trestle bridge and determine if the concrete plinths were the correct height.  Some alterations were made and the bridge fitted quite well.  We then started to Dremel away from plaster around the bitumen (stained balsa) roadway next to the bridge.  This was glued it, weighted down and left to set.

While this was occurring some painting was being down to a second module.  We then did some fence installation on this second module.  This was then handed over to a couple of other members to try their hand at fencing.  Once that was done, I showed the guys how I cover the painted plaster with a covering of sands and coloured dirts.  A short demo turned into the whole side of the module being sceniced with dirts and everyone was impressed and tried their hand at it.

A bit of a farm homestead will be placed to the left of the fence on the left.  Trees and various grasses are still to be added.

After lunch we returned to the bridge module and scattered first around the concrete plinths and did the rest of the module.  Then the fencing contractors were unleased.  While this was occurring the terra-formers and then the plasterers were working on another module.  The plaster was only completed on half the module.

My wooden road bridge in place on the module

A view from a bit further away showing the approach roads each side and the railway boundary with some fencing.

All-in-all a great day, with plenty of work completed, homework tasks for some guys given and plans for next January’s clinic session being formulated.  I think we will have some split post fencing created, and people showed how it gets installed, followed by a tree making clinic, and potentially some 3D printed cross arms with insulators installed on some stained telegraph pole posts for later inclusion on the layout.  We may also be able to squeeze in a session on scratch building a farm shed from styrene and/or maybe wood.

On Wednesday I went to the shed and started planning the entry into Sunnybank Station.  I had one LH curve point, but needed another.  I went to a local hobby shop and saw a Roco curve point, so I picked it up.  Boy is it produce a sharp curve.  I can’t believe people could get away with making things that sharp.  So I have cut some 3mm ply as a template for the next section of baseboard for the curved section from Sunnybank Station towards Rocklea Siding. 

I had other activities on the other days and did not get around to doing anything.  But I did visit the Train Club on Saturday for our monthly meeting.  Traffic there and back via the city was horrendous, so I will probably go via the gateway next time.  There were plenty of people there and people running on all the layouts.  What was lacking was people running on the 12mm on HO layout, as I think the top deck was closed as some track activities were underway.  The clock continues to tick down towards our trip to Sydney to view the Rosehill Exhibition in 2 weeks’ time.