At this point it looks a bit interesting but it was time to make it look a bit more interesting!

 With the acrylic mud dry on the diorama base for the tank transporter, it was time to add some more scenic treatment. First, PVA glue was applied to the wheel track areas.

This was then covered with kiln dried sand and a dilute coat of PVA glue was applied over the top to make sure it all stuck down.

Once dry the whole base was airbrushed with sand coloured paint.

A trial 'fitting' of the transporter was undertaken and the track spacing is right! Phew!

At this point it looks a bit interesting but it was time to make it look a bit more interesting!

So out came some scenic materials. a mix of static grass using mainly light greens and yellows was added.

Just the rest to do now! But that is a job for tomorrow!

Pizza base to diorama base!

Having built the tank transporter it was time to make a base for it to stand on as it is too fragile to be left sitting on a shelf!

My usual base is one of the styrene pizza bases that used to accompany a supermarket pizza. No longer supplied I do have a stock in store!

First job is to cut it to size.

Then the acrylic mud came out!

Applied with a stiff brush I created two sets of tracks and accompanying verges which turned this...

Into this!

That now needs to dry ready for the next course of scenic treatment!

Triumphal Tank Transporter Tuesday!

Triumphal Tank Transporter Tuesday brings you the completed, well, as far as I am going with it, IBG 1.72 scale Scammel Pioneer Tank Transporter and Crusader tank! it was started back on the 11th February so n early seven weeks to build although to be fair I have done a few other things as well!

The last parts to fit were the door mirrors, winch ropes for the trailer loading ramps and a shovel on the side of the cab of the Scammell.

So what does seven weeks bring me?

I'm pleased with that!  In fact I feel triumphal in having finished this kit that pushed me to the limits on occasions! Maybe I should call it Triumphal Tank Transporter Tuesday!

Much as I would like to have a go in one of these!

Seen whilst out on a bike ride...

Much as I would like to have a go in one of these, this is probably the closest that I will come! It is a road/rail capable excavator together with a couple of rail trucks to carry the excavated material. The yellow rail wheels are lowered onto the rail once the excavator has manoeuvred itself onto the track using its road wheels. I did look if there was a model of this at the Bingham Model railway Show but there was none so my 'haul' was a modest selection of 3D prints from my friends at the 3D Printing For Charity stand.

In amongst that lot is a lineside hut, a lathe, some pallets and crates as well as a Nissan hut! That should make an interesting build.

Bingham Model Railway Show 2026

I took Mrs. Woody on one of favourite wallet watching trips (that is my wallet she is watching) which was the Bingham model rail exhibition which is held at the Cotgrave Miners Welfare Club which is a big building built back in the day when Coal was King as the saying went and there was obviously a fair amount of money.  

Being like a theatre, there is a balcony which gave a good overall view as well as an unusal opportunity to photograph  layout from above.

From normal levels this n gauge layout, Barnwood, looked like this...

There didn't appear to be as many layouts as in previous years but never the less there were some interesting ones.

I was taken by this North American switching layout, Oliver Hill.

There is something very calming about a switching layout and the scenery was well executed too!

Little cameo scenes can add a lot of interest such as this of some grounds clearance operatives.

Hazelby Ballast Loader, was another n gauge layout that had a fully operating loader that filled wagons and that kept the younger visitors entertained!

Some very atmospheric lighting on a small engine shed layout Drinkallby West was well done.

Interesting to see some tram models working on a small layout.

 Porth Llechen, an 009 layout, was voted best in show and it is certainly spectacular scenery wise.

However, Mrs. Woody and me voted for St. Mary's, a 0 16.5 or NG7 gauge layout.

A simple three point loops with a siding was all the trackwork.

There was nice detail such as the station building. 

And the rolling stock was very nicely done to.

That was the first show of 2026 but Mrs. W will have plenty more to wallet watch over during the rest of the year!

Did I actually manage to buy anything? Well a few bits but more on that another time!

Another one sorted!

With the mechanicals finished it was time to put the Lima Prairie tank back together. However, before reattaching the body to the chassis, the opportunity was taken to give the body a bit of a clean.

In fact it had a bath! Using a brush and a popular brand of washing-up liquid, the fairies managed to remove most of the dirt!

Looking better after being dried off with Mrs. Woody's hair drier!

I had missed one thing though. That was, that there was another ballast weight in the coal bunker which had been hidden by the footplate. Looking at it revealed that the dreaded zinc rot had been busy. In fact, left much longer it is likely that the plastic body may well have split as the weight expanded being held in place on those two plastic lugs.

There was nothing else to do but remove it and that took some doing as it was well edged in place!

With it out, it was clear that this was beyond saving. The structural integrity has gone past the point of being safe so I have left it out of the loco.

With the body and pony trucks reattached the loco went back on the tracks for a final testing and it still ran well! Another one sorted!

First off was the fact that there was a track pin attached to the motors magnet - never a good sign!

Work has carried on with the dusting down, cleaning and lubrication of the Lima Prairie tank entrusted to me by Mr. B.

Having struggled to get the body off the chassis as outline two days ago it was time to look at the chassis and see what needed doing. First off was the fact that there was a track pin attached to the motors magnet - never a good sign!

With the pin out of the way it was time to look at the internals of the motor which looked a bit bleak! The commutator was certainly looking the worse for ware. 

The level of dirt was such that even solvent would not clean it so I used a wire brush to remove the gunk.

On the motor casing, the brush holders needed a clean up.

On the other part of the casing the drive cogs were removed for cleaning.

Whilst out, the main cog was given a rub down to remove the three ejector pin marks that stand proud of the surface and can cause unwanted friction in the drive chain.

Having given the various parts of the motor a clean and lubrication with oil and grease where appropriate it was time to remount it in the chassis. However, before that I had to deal with the dreaded zinc pest in the main ballast weight. I filed off the bulge and recreated the flat surface and luckily the rot had not destroyed the structure of the weight.

With that done the weight and motor went back into the chassis and before reattaching the pony trucks and body it was tested.

It ran! Next job is to reattach the above list parts!

That took some doing with Sammy Strimmer and Morris Mower!

Another day at the Rocks By rail Museum where it is always good to be at but when it is sunny weather it is even better! Only a week and a bit to opening and Richard is busy jacking and packing track.

Pam and Pete are busy painting the Weighbridge Office where Bill has a rare venture out - that mannequin does look realistic from a distance!

The inside is also getting a coat of paint.

Andy has brought in the colour aspects for the colour light signals.

As I am not skilled in these particular projects I went back to my vegetation al destruction with some work on the grass and embankment to the side of the entrance track.

Before.....

and after....

That took some doing with Sammy Strimmer and Morris Mower!