Author Topic: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread  (Read 206126 times)

Ron Ginger

  • Museum Member
  • Flagman
  • *
  • Posts: 41
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #495 on: April 04, 2023, 09:16:07 PM »
Today the first coat of varnish was applied to the entire interior of the coach. This went much faster than we expected and looks great. The product we are using requires additional coats to be applied within a few days, so we are going to do the second coat tomorrow (our regular Wednesday work day) and then do additional coats Thursday and Friday. We planned 4 coats of this first product, kind of a primer for the varnish.

After this we must hand sand the entire coach before doing the final 2 coats.

I should mention our choice of finish products. Since Eric and I are both boat builders I contacted one of the major suppliers to the boat industry,  Epifanes. Their US sales manager has visited us several times to help with the selection of product and to help us understand their application. He also arranged for a generous discount on all the products we need. Their US headquarters is just up in Thomaston.

As for the brass chandeliers Eric found we could buy most of the components from a number of lamp suppliers. I have agreed to take on doing the lamps, right after I get the interior hardware done. I now have all the casting back and have polished a bit more than half of them. I expect I will have all the hardware ready to mount when the varnish is done and the surfaces ready for hardware.

Eric and I are both very happy with the look of the coach inside. Sorry that we are keeping the door locked, but the finish will look much nicer with less dust in it. As soon as we get the varnish on we will be allowing limited visitor access.

Ed Deere

  • Museum Member
  • Switchman
  • **
  • Posts: 51
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #496 on: April 05, 2023, 02:36:12 AM »
     I myself have been involved in the Maine boat building tradition professionally for nearly 40 years. The Epifanes product is truly one of the best choices. Once done with the varnishing, waxing is also important to protect the surface from the daily abuse. Like a prestige yacht, once this rolling master piece is completed it will be a shining star for many years with the proper care.

     I have watched , visited this project and have enjoyed the craftsmanship of Eric and Ron. The final finishes is what sets apart many of the good from the great.

Ed

Brendan Barry

  • Museum Member
  • Dispatcher
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,109
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #497 on: April 05, 2023, 03:30:48 PM »
Pics from today after the second coat of varnish.







« Last Edit: April 05, 2023, 03:33:11 PM by Brendan Barry »
United Timber Bridge Workers, Local 1894, Alna, ME

Jeff Schumaker

  • Museum Member
  • Inspector
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,378
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #498 on: April 06, 2023, 07:33:19 AM »
Thanks for the photos, Brendan.

Jeff
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a moose trout out of my hat.

ALAIN DELASSUS

  • Museum Member
  • Engineer
  • ****
  • Posts: 726
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #499 on: April 06, 2023, 10:39:03 AM »
Great job ! I do admire your stunning craftmanship but also your endless involvement and amazing steadyness in your work, never anydowntime. BTW does the varnish smell  good ?  I like that smell. And of course thanks Brendan for the pics.

Graham Buxton

  • Museum Member
  • Fireman
  • ****
  • Posts: 469
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #500 on: April 07, 2023, 09:44:30 AM »
I should mention our choice of finish products. Since Eric and I are both boat builders I contacted one of the major suppliers to the boat industry,  Epifanes. Their US sales manager has visited us several times to help with the selection of product and to help us understand their application. He also arranged for a generous discount on all the products we need. Their US headquarters is just up in Thomaston.


I see that Epifanes publishes quarterly Newsletters that feature projects where customers have used Epifanes products.
https://www.epifanes.com/newsletters


Perhaps with an offer to provide photos and some background text Epifanes might be interested in putting an article about WW&F Coach #9 in a future Newsletter.  :)  I expect that Epifanes newsletter has a diverse audience.




(I'm not even a boat builder, but I enjoy a free subscription to West Systems (epoxy products often used by boat builders) EpoxyWorks magazine, available both in print and PDF versions.  https://www.epoxyworks.com)
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 09:48:02 AM by Graham Buxton »
Graham

Ted Miles

  • Museum Member
  • Fireman
  • ****
  • Posts: 349
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #501 on: April 09, 2023, 11:26:15 AM »
folks,
         The new coach is looking wonderful; even before the later coats of varnish go on the interior.     
 I am also glad it is possible to do the oil lamps in house; places Like Adlake do wonderful work, but they are very pricey! This will save some much needed dollars!

Ted Miles, Life Member Build 11 Contributor

Ron Ginger

  • Museum Member
  • Flagman
  • *
  • Posts: 41
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #502 on: April 21, 2023, 08:01:20 PM »
I have continued to work on the coach hardware in my home shop. I received about 350 castings from the foundry based on my wax parts. We lost a few parts due to minor defects in the wax that the foundry caught. The parts are bead blasted as the final clean up in the foundry, so I have been polishing them to get a better shine. I have found the small scotchbrite wheels for the Dremel to work best, although it really eats up the wheels.



The window latch requires a small spring. I made a jig to bend the spring and have now made a few. Here are a couple latches assembled and ready to mount.



I've got about 6 latches finished, only 26 to go! I work on them a couple hours at a time and should have them all ready to mount when the varnish is done and the windows installed- maybe late summer.


John McNamara

  • Operating Volunteers
  • Supervisor
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,617
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #503 on: April 21, 2023, 11:02:54 PM »
I hope we can make up a little glossy photograph booklet of progress shots explaining all the detail work that you and Eric (and others) have done.

-John M

ALAIN DELASSUS

  • Museum Member
  • Engineer
  • ****
  • Posts: 726
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #504 on: April 22, 2023, 06:47:36 AM »
After the cabinetwork for the body of the car, the mechanics for the trucks here is an other outstanding craftmanship  artcasting. BTW what are those fine pieces made of ,bronze?

Bill Baskerville

  • Museum Member
  • Inspector
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,444
  • Life Member
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #505 on: April 22, 2023, 07:22:14 AM »
Window latches to keep the windows up when they are raised.
~ B2 ~ Wascally Wabbit & Gofer ~

Jeff Schumaker

  • Museum Member
  • Inspector
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,378
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #506 on: April 22, 2023, 08:36:46 AM »
The latches turned out great, Ron.

Jeff
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a moose trout out of my hat.

Ron Ginger

  • Museum Member
  • Flagman
  • *
  • Posts: 41
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #507 on: April 22, 2023, 03:04:21 PM »
Quote
I hope we can make up a little glossy photograph booklet of progress shots explaining all the detail work that you and Eric (and others) have done.

-John M

Eric and I frequently talk about producing some kind of book about the entire construction. We have hundreds, maybe thousands of photos, but the organization of it all into a book would be a huge job. I would really like to do it. Maybe when the coach is done I will take on a book. When we finished the S.D. Warren locomotive restoration at Boothbay I did a small Google photos book. I think it may still be available to print.

Jason M Lamontagne

  • Operating Volunteers
  • Supervisor
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,846
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #508 on: April 22, 2023, 04:19:52 PM »
I’d always wanted to do one of these books on the locomotive 9 restoration.  Something to capture the attention to detail paid by so many- the original grease cup of No 8, the whistle, the jacket, studying photos for plumbing details and reproducing it- so many details that all blend together now.  Perhaps we still should. 

It’d be great to see such a book on coach 9.  Those kinds of documents help make this work worthwhile.

The window latches look fabulous, Ron, thank you for sharing.

Jason

Mairi Dulaney

  • Gandy Dancer
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #509 on: May 19, 2023, 09:07:46 PM »
I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I was doing some related research and came across this:

https://cdm16397.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15323coll6/id/5055/rec/46

Quote
Manufactured for Wiscasset & Quebec Railroad. Interior view. Bracket for Hat Basket for Wiscassit & Quebec RR Cars #4188-89; 13"" x 13""