An NSR Absolute Block instrument

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous & Oddities' started by Andy_Sollis, Aug 5, 2023.

  1. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm more edging towards some kind of screen printing for the archs? Would that be more likely ??
     
  2. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Andy,
    Painting in the old days sometimes was done with a brush method that gave an almost perfect finish similar to spraying.
    The paint tin was placed in a saucepan of very hot water to heat the paint. The heated paint could then be brushed on and give a very good streak free finish.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  3. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I have heard of similar, although oddly it was a rattle/spray can that had been used..

    my grandad once claimed he had painted a bus with a watering can! I’d love to know how!
     
  4. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Before my time tho but the decorating firm I worked for had a disused set of cast iron "kettles" which had carry handles and looked a bit like small witches cauldrons, the idea was the kettles were filled partially with water and heated using a blow lamp and the required amounts of paint was decanted into a smaller dry +kettle which sat inside the larger heated one. That was how paint was warmed on site, can you imagine the fumes given of from lead paint containing cadmium and other nasties, no wonder the life of an average painter in those days was around 50. Then not to mention how tools, paint and long wooden ladders were pushed around on heavy two wheeled hand carts, so if the chemicals didn't get you exhaustion did... a hard life indeed.
     
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  5. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Hi Andy,

    Not quite as odd as it might sound. I have been researching LMS paint standards for rolling stock this week and came across this note in Bob Essery's An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons volume 2

    "While the specification does not detail flow painting, this term was used by London Transport to describe a method used to paint buses. The paint was poured into a distributor which allowed it to flow out onto the top edge of the bus. The paint then flowed down the bus sides into recovery drains"
     
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  6. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    @York Paul and I used to volunteer with his brother till Terry passed away last year. Had the pleasure of meeting Bob a few times to. Both genuinely nice fellows I thought.

    so my grandad was speaking the truth! Thank you!
     
  7. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Amazing. Yes, and much less health and safety. No hard hats, working at heights no safety harnesses etc..
     
  8. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice weather today.. but that may be causing an issue with it drying and dragging the shellac.

    I’ve stripped the main part back and given that it’s first wipe over.
    IMG_2285.jpeg

    The door is still to be disassembled to complete the last of the first wipes.

    the top has now had a 3rd wipe, but this has t gone too well. So I think a rub back with some OO wire wool may be in order and then go for a 4th.
    I’ll replicate this on the bottom half as I progress through it all.
    IMG_2286.jpeg
    the top showing the inside
    IMG_2287.jpeg
    upper side panels.
    IMG_2288.jpeg
    lower side
    IMG_2289.jpeg
    and the other lower side.

    I’ll leave this to cure as such now as I’m on night shift so won’t be doing anything before tomorrow aft.

    or I may look at the transfers for the front plate. As much as it’s enjoyable, I’m finding some of the stages now quite daunting as I don’t want to screw it up.

    andy
     
  9. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    @gormo

    going back to your initial advices should I wire wool it after the last layer of shellac and before polish? Or just polish the top layer of shellac?
     
  10. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Andy,
    Wire wool the last layer of shellac.....just to take the shine off it.....you will also notice after doing that if you run your fingers lightly over the surface it will feel smooth to the touch and you won`t feel any little pimples in the finish.
    Then you polish it........have three clean soft cloths ......T Shirts or cotton undies are good.
    Put the polish on and rub in well with cloth 1
    Rub most of the polish off with cloth 1 and then buff with cloth 2
    Do the final buffing with cloth 3 and you should have a nice satin finish that feels nice to the touch.....and looks good.
    A high gloss finish is a modern finish and really not appropriate for your instrument.
    Your instrument should, and will have, an old but cared for look about it when you`ve finished and personally, I think that is ideal.
    You`ve come this far Andy and your doing a great job of restoration.....this last part is the icing on the cake......:thumbs:
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  11. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Brian, thank you…

    one final question @gormo , glueing.. I’ve not yet glued the top half together. Most is held by screws or tacks, but obviously on the front the uprights have the grain top to bottom, and the bottom and top panels have the grain left to right. Does the shellac need to follow the grain here too? I’m concerned about it standing out at the joints?

    although I suspect I’m answering my own question if that last layer is rubbed back, then the polish shouldn’t show up the direction?
    So should I glue up now before the last layers go on then?
    Andy
     
  12. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Yes.....glue up first.....any excess glue can be wiped away and then you are ready for final layers and polishing.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  13. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I’m on it!
    image.jpg
     
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  14. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    And so it begins.
    IMG_2303.jpeg
     
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