It is now time to consider where I go with this potential project!

Well, I dug out some set track and put together a first radius curve circle of track which is 15 inch radius and connected up a controller. I then set the Bachmann 0n30 2-6-6-2 locomotive on the track, turned up the power and off it went without a hitch. According to the internet it should not be able to do that!

I also dug out some third radius curves which are about 21 inches in radius and laid half a circle around the first radius circle just to see the visual difference. What is the point of all this then Woody you may ask? Well, it proves that a layout could be built on a baseboard as little as three foot, or a metre for metric readers, square. make it four foot square and the track visually looks better. It is now time to consider where I go with this potential project!

Digging around in the Man Cave I unearthed this beauty!

 Digging around in the Man Cave I unearthed this beauty!

It is another 0n30 loco which is a scale I have talked about a few days ago in a post. This is a mallet which has an articulated  2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement. It is also DCC sound chipped although I had to re-solder some wires to get it to work.

Although a large model of a large prototype it is said on the internet that it will go around 18 inch curved track.

It ran well on straight track! It would certainly look a lot better with some more appropriate scenery on the layout I said I would build this year. Less then 11 months now!

F7 Friday!

Something dug out of store and a real stunner it is on a wet miserable Friday - the F7 A and B unit in Union Pacific livery which in my mind is one of the best USA liveries for locomotive. 

These were the power house locos of the 1950s and had that distinctive bull nose and a set of airhorns that didn't just say I'm on my way, they said get out of the way or else! This unit has a DCC sound chip with that very horn! 

So on a rainy day I just ran some trains which is what the hobby is all about! Better get out the way the F& is running through!

The rattle can was shaken but not stirred!

Sometimes you take a risk and it works out. Other times it doesn't! I took a risk in trying to paint the cab of the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4. It was dry. The temperature outside was about 8C. The rattle can was shaken but not stirred and so outside the cab parts, rattle can and I went. 

Unfortunately, whilst it was dry, the air was moist so the paint bloomed which is what happens when the paint absorbs moisture as it leaves the rattle can and lands on the object to be painted. The effect is that what should be glossy dries matt. Not the effect I was after! However, it is at least a base coat which will take another coating of paint on a dry, moistless and warm day and should dry glossy. When that day will come with the current weather forecasts is something that maybe some time off!  

No wonder it is called the Gigaspace Cab!

It's now time to think about the cab itself on the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4 kit and the main parts make up an entire sprue.

I could not resist but temporarily put the cab sides, back and top on to see what it looked like on the chassis. Big is the word. No wonder it is called the Gigaspace Cab! 

Having got that far it almost seemed rude not to put the front end on, temporarily held together with some masking tape. It looks even more impressive!

I did learn something from all of this though. As I suspected it will not be possible to slide the cab interior into a built cab! That makes painting interesting but I think I can get away with the sides and back glued together and then painted. Then add the other parts already painted and hope that the joins do not show!

Mrs. Woody prefers to avoid my advice on décor and colour combinations!

One of the reasons why Mrs. Woody prefers to avoid my advice on décor and colour combinations is perhaps best explained by the colours I have painted the bunk of the truck cab in! They look rather fetching to me but then that is my view! Anyway, the cab interior is on its way with the major parts assembled

With the interior top glued in place there are just a few more smallish parts to add.

I now need to put some thought to the assembly and painting of the cab itself. Normally I can assemble the cab and slip the interior into it after the external painting. However I have some concerns that this may not be possible with this kit which could make things interesting and complex! 

Am I a Gongoozler or a Lock Anorak? Or. Everyday is a school day 2!

For those interested in canal matters will know I have posted variously over the years about the varying fortunes of the local canal that sometimes gets visited by me whilst on a bike ride. My most recent visit shows that the canal is back to healthy levels and indeed looks very canal like again.

Having a couple of spare minutes, not something that I admit to Mrs. Woody, I casually typed into Google (other search engines are available, etc) 'Is there a name for having an interest in canals?' and this is what it came up with!

Yes, there is a specific, widely recognized term for having a keen interest in canals and, in particular, watching canal boats and locks in action: Gongoozler. 

Here are the details regarding this and related terms:

• Gongoozler: A person who enjoys watching activities on the canals (especially at locks) but does not actively participate in boat navigation. The term is often used affectionately by the canal community to describe canal-side spectators.
• Gongoozling: The act or hobby of spending time watching boats, locks, and general canal life.
• Origin: The term originated in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely from the Lincolnshire dialect words gawn and gooze, both meaning to stare or gape.
• Other Related Terms:
  • Canal enthusiast/fan: Used for someone with a general interest in canal history, engineering, or photography.
  • Lock Anorak: An informal term for a canal enthusiast who is deeply interested in the specifics of canal locks, a "geek" for canal infrastructure.
  • The Cut: Used in British canal slang to refer to the canal itself (originating from when canals were "cut" out of the landscape). 

Gongoozlers often collect or create canal-related art, take photographs, or simply enjoy the tranquillity and activity of "the cut". 

Well I never knew that so everyday is a school day but it leaves the question as to if I am a Gongoozler or a Lock Anorak? I don't think I will seek Mrs. Woody's opinion on that! 

They looked like they were still in their PJs!

I could not help but smile and take a photo as I parked my bike up at a village store whilst out on a cycle ride this morning and these two poked their heads around the corner. They looked like they were still in their PJs! 

Back at WMD HQ and in the Man Cave, the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4, kit comes with a veritable array of decals and this is just one of the two sheets! There are enough number plates to decal up a fleet of trucks!

Now I am not at the stage of being able to use them until the cab is assembled and painted but there were five decals that I did need for the interior - numbers 1 to 5 logically enough! Small they are but they will make a difference.

Close up digital photography is very unforgiving as this shot illustrates but you can see the detail of the decals.

 From normal viewing distance the whole cab area looks a lot better and it certainly looks a lot more comfortable with th seats installed..

It still looks grey but just a bit less!

Moving onto the interior of the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4, it all looks a bit grey at the moment so to add some variety, I cannot say brightness, I have added some black panels to the seats. Looking at online images of the real truck, there appear to be as many differences in colour schemes as there are locks on Mrs. Woody's purse! So I have taken the easiest route gone with my take on what is suitable for the interior and given up trying to get into Mrs. W's purse!

The dashboard is also getting some detail with the air vents painted black and the screen painted a translucent black.

It still looks grey but just a bit less!

Well, everyday is a school day!

A dry day meant it was back to Treasure Hunt Junk at the Bone Yard at the Rocks By Rail Museum! At the moment Sammy Strimmer has been left in the cosiness of his shed as I have been dealing with the various saplings that have grown over the years. I am not sure of what sort of saplings they are but they have sharp spikes to them which seem to be able to penetrate any protective wear! 

Any way the day started with this mess...

...and ended with this lesser mess!

The back of the cafe is now much more visible and hopefully opening up the area behind it will help maintain the building by getting some sunlight and air around the back of it. You can also get views like this which has not been seen for years!

I had some very welcomed assistance with Alex, Gary, Martyn, Richard and Steve doing the burning. I think they were quite keen on this as it was a cold day and the fire offered some warmth!

That large heap was continually topped up over the day but eventually it had all burned down.

Was there any junk? Well I did uncover this rather strange looking thing.

I am informed that it is a Casting Table. It would have been used when casts for objects were being made before molten metal was poured into the cast. Well, everyday is a school day!

I also discovered that there was another set of tracks behind the first set I found a few weeks ago!

Not sure if they will ever be used again but at least we have a pair!

Not sure what I will discover next time I am clearing the Bone Yard but it is always a surprise!