Platform awning

 Wagga Wagga station - platform awning part 2.

The last major part of the main Wagga station building remaining was the platform awning.

Before the heritage rework and painting of the station, 3801 was doing the honours on a tour train on a wet day 

In 2020, I had measured, and photographed the platform awning

This last image shows the orientation for the end of the platform awning, and the iron work

I provided those measurements and pictures to Ross Balderson, who had earlier offered to draw them up in Corel draw.  In February last year, Ross asked that I bring the partially constructed station to an NMRA meeting over in Canberra, where he could test the drawing against the model.  Most worked out, except for the dimension across the gable walls on the platform.  It turned out that I had mismeasured by 2mm.  The 2mm compounded out to almost 1cm across the entire platform length.  Fixing this in Corel was straight forward.  Ross then used his connections, and after a process taking about 6 months, the etches arrived.

It was with some tripidation to find out if the platform etches actually fitted.  Ross had designed the etch to be joined in 2 places to get the full width - which worked well.

Placing the etches on the platform to check what modification was needed.

To my absolute relief, the fit was near perfect.  Parts aligned correctly.  The only modification was a small extra length on the ends of the long etch - and this was there just in case.

Perhaps I am being dramatic, but knowing how many measurement compromises, and scale reductions I had done to make the main station, having the etches fit was a minor miracle. 

Assembled into the frame. 

Ross had etched the brackets, but not the extension on top of the bracket. (see the prototype picture above)  This was my fault in not providing Ross with that information.  Not a big issue, I found a 1mm square brass rod in my stash, and soldered it to the bracket.  It will be trimmed shortly.  Repeat for all 12 brackets

Modified brackets soldered to the main etch with low melt (144C) solder.  (Flash photography shows a shadow)

To add some strength, as well as providing an edge for the later styrene, an "L" shaped brass shape was soldered to the bracket extensions again with low-melt (144C) solder

To locate the pole bases, the etched brass "pins" were positioned over the styrene pole bases, made earlier

Posts added to the fret, again with low melt solder.  Note the styrene posts on the station walls - in roughly the same location as the prototype picture (above)

I used a post-it note template to check the awning end, as well as a pattern for the styrene.

The awning is made from styrene.  The wall support spaced with 0.080 spacers, and will be held in place with bluetac, whilst small screws are fitted to enable later removal.  The styrene resting on the brass bracket already has the guttering.

The first section of corrugated styrene cut and fitted.  

Awaiting painting. 

A steel train passed Wagga in 2016.  Picture taken from the footbridge.  Very close to the angle with my model picture.

A couple of extra shots of my model, better showing the roadside view

I am tickled pink to get to this point. all the major construction is now compete. 

Next stage of the station build is the painting.  I have already made a start, but I will leave that for my next blogpost.

Stay safe, and build a model or two.

Until next time