Applying clay in the turnouts improvisation.

As we were using ready made points, and being n gauge, there was no way we could apply clay above sleeper level as the point mechanism would no longer work. So, a comprise was reached where we only filled in-between the sleepers to the sleepers height. Still producing the effect of being embedded in the surface.

In order to get the clay in-between the sleepers an improvised syringe was fashioned out of the Biro which was previously scavenged for the "cobble former", and a screw driver which fitted the shaft perfectly. This was then filled with moist DAS clay, and applied between the sleepers of the points, using a knife and then fingers to gently press it into place, checking each time that the point mechanism still moved.

Modelling often calls for improvisation, and this was one of those times...

Ed