Coach 9 - Official Work Thread

[Ron Ginger]

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]

     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]

Pics from today after the second coat of varnish.

[Jeff Schumaker]

Thanks for the photos, Brendan.

Jeff

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

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]

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)

[Ted Miles]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Window latches to keep the windows up when they are raised.

[Jeff Schumaker]

The latches turned out great, Ron.

Jeff

[Ron Ginger]

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]

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]

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

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