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Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Time for a Western.

I don't get to operate the TV remote control here at WMD HQ. That is very much a Mrs. Woody job for some reason I have yet to work out! Therefore the likelihood of a John Wayne western film on the TV is as remote as the remote control itself! However for my purposes the Western I am interested in at the moment is the Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western locomotive. Built in the early 1960's as part of the railway modernisation plan, 74 of them operated mainly in the western regions. They were a diesel hydraulic design and as well as the distinctive engine sound they also looked distinctive and that is one of the things that attracted me to this model. If you want more information the Wiki page, click here will explain the technical details far better than I can.

I have had my model for some time now - purchased during the start of the pandemic - it now needs to exercise its motor! 

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

For my model I needed to add a DCC 21 pin chip. Having recently done the Dapol Class 73 I am happy to say it was as simple as that especially as I managed to fit the DCC chip the right way round this time!

The loco and the DCC chip in its packaging.


Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

Four screws, one at each corner, allow the body to be lifted off.

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

With the body off the circuit board is revealed with the blanking plug on top.

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

Blanking plug removed and DCC chip plugged in - the right way round!

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

There is a pack of detail parts to fit including some headboard inserts and a very nice set of etched name plates for Western Dragoon. I will fit these later once the loco is run in.

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

Once I programmed the DCC chip it was time to run it in so onto the layout it was. Looks great and runs superbly. Certainly not a cowboy loco! Now, if I can get hold of that TV remote control there could well be another Western.....

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western

Dapol 00 gauge Class 52 Western




Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Ground Hog Day and a white stripe!

Out on an early morning bike ride this morning it was like Ground Hog Day as I came across the pack of dogs that I encountered out on my ride yesterday morning. Either they had been on a very long walk or our paths crossed as they went out on another walk. Either way it was an unusual event and in less than 24 hours - Ground Hog Day!

Hunt dogs

The reason for the early morning bike ride was that it was another day at the Rocks by Rail Museum. In my last post I highlighted that variety was the spice of life and today was no different. My morning job was to paint a white stripe along the edge of the platform to clearly define the edge to passengers. 

Start of the morning.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Mid morning....

Rocks by Rail Museum

End of the morning and looking good!

Rocks by Rail Museum

After lunch a bit of work with others in tyding and sorting the 'bone yard' of parts which revealed some interesting discoveries such as this pile of parts for several sets of points! It may just look like a pile of junk but it all has a use at the Museum just like my pile of junk useful things that Mrs. Woody calls on an almost daily basis junk! Now that is another Ground Hog Day!

Rocks by Rail Museum

Rocks by Rail Museum


Monday, May 9, 2022

Just about done!

I was just about done having finished going up a series of hills on my bike when I was able to take a well required breather having caught up with this pack of dogs out for some exercise! I was not going to take on the cycling prowess of the accompanying staff so as they turned left at the top of the hill I turned right!

Hunt dog exercise

Back at the comfort of WMD HQ the Peco Leyland National Bus is just about done too! The closeness of the digital camera shows up flaws but put it in the setting of the layout and it looks at home. It will probably make any bus enthusiast weep in frustration at what is wrong with it but I am happy with it and that is what matters! Sometimes you can to concerned with getting everything spot on when in actual fact as long as it looks right in its final setting from normal viewing distance and you are happy with it then it is actually right. I will let you decide if my philosophy is right from the photos.

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit


Sunday, May 8, 2022

The bus has windows.

In between bike rides, cleaning bikes, fixing punctures, grass cutting and the other things that make a day of relaxation not so relaxing I did manage to fit the windows into the Peco Leyland National Bus. The front windscreen took some filing down to get it to fit and I did paint the moulded in windscreen wipers to add a bit of detail. I also managed to paint in the lights and attach the main front lights as well as adding some of the decals. Things are looking good unless you are an expert in buses in which case my build will no doubt grate! However in my World anything is possible!

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit


Saturday, May 7, 2022

The wheels on the bus go round and round - well not quiet yet!

The wheels on the Peco Leyland National Bus would go round and round if they were fitted but I am getting there! The bus now has a driver and passengers. Having searched through the WMD stores I came across some Bachmann engine crew figures which had a suitable already painted member in a seated with arms looking as though they would hold a steering wheel pose which was liberated from the pack. No driving the Flying Scotsman for him - just a bus. Oh the indignity! Apologies to any bus drivers reading this! I also came across a pack of Dapol platform passengers which had two seated people that were duplicated across the three sprues that the pack contained. Two ladies and a gent were taken from the pack and they were painted in my vision of fashionable attire for the go getting bus passenger of the time. They will not be on the front page of Vouge! 

Peco National Bus Kit

The bus body has had a white stripe applied over the windows despite my fears of things going wrong. Firstly Tamiya masking tape was applied and the edges sealed by airbrushing a coat of the green paint around the tape edges. The theory is that if the masking tape leaks it will not show once removed as the same coloured paint wont show and will also seal the edges of the tape before the final colour is applied - well that is the theory!

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

So lets see how the theory works out.....

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

Not bad! A few odd places where there has been a bit of bleed through but it looks remarkably good - to me anyway! Some touching in will sort out the paintwork and there is a need to paint in a few details like the lights and apply the decals yet so more to do but this is where I am up to.

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

Should look good with the wheels fitted!

Friday, May 6, 2022

Chip day and the Leyland National bus turns green - with envy?

For many people Friday is chip day with a visit to the local chippy. However the chip I am referring to is more about electronics and model railways but more on that later.

The Peco Leyland National bus probably is not envious of the electronic chip but has now been painted green following some more work on getting the joints smoothed.

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

The paint is Tamiya Park Green and was airbrushed following thinning. It probably needs another coat but I will let this one dry overnight.

Peco National Bus Kit

There is probably going to be a white or cream strip along it unless I see sense and realise the issues of masking to airbrush the strip. Once the paint job is done then I can fit the glazing and floor pan. I do think I need a driver and passengers so I will need to see what is in the WMD stores which will probably mean more work and painting.

Moving onto the chip part of this post I have had for some time (and if Mrs. Woody is reading this that some time is a very long time) an 00 gauge Dapol Class 73 in EW&S livery. It goes with my other similar liveried locos. I had not run it yet so as in a frenzy of tidying up that revealed its presence I decided to put a DCC chip in it and get it running. The job entails taking the body off which is held onto the chassis with 4 small screws. Having done that the circuit board for the DCC chip and the various lighting sockets is revealed. 

Dapol EW&S Class 73

There is what is termed as a blanking plug on top of the circuit board which enbales the loco to operate on DC. The blanking pug is taken off allowing access to fit the 21 pin DCC chip.

Dapol EW&S Class 73

Dapol EW&S Class 73

I did not photo the DCC chip in place as I forgot due to spending a frustrating hour trying to get it to work. I even went to the extreme of dismantling the circuit board to see if there was a detached or broken wire. What actually was wrong was that I fitted the chip upside down - Doh! However with the chip the right way round it worked fine! It is a beauty of a model and runs superbly. I had it run in hauling a rake of Mk3 coaches as I did some more tidying up. Maybe the bus is green with envy at this loco?

Dapol EW&S Class 73

Dapol EW&S Class 73

Dapol EW&S Class 73


Thursday, May 5, 2022

Variety is the spice of life!

Another day at the Rocks by Rail Museum and more variety spice up my life. The lady who was rostered to run the café today was unfortunately unable to come in so I found myself volunteered to run the café and welcome guests. Luckily for those with delicate digestive systems it was agreed that I would not have to prepare any meals and only offer drinks and prepacked food. So no spices there then! It was not a busy day so I spent most of the morning having a deep clean of the kitchen area. Just don't tell Mrs. Woody or she will expect me to do the same at home!

Looking sparkling!

Rocks by Rail Museum

Rocks by Rail Museum

Whilst I was doing this job that brought me to my knees the rest of the volunteers were trying to sort out some sleeper issues at one of the points. It must have been complex as at lunchtime the 1956 book of track laying (costing 28 shillings at the time - that is £1.40 for those unfamiliar with old money) came out for reference! I think I must have aided the process by serving strong tea! Despite my top rate service the only tip that I got was to make the tea quicker next time!

Rocks by Rail Museum

The afternoon saw me reacquainted with the lawn mower and a session cutting the grass around the car park whilst Geoff strimmed the edges.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Rocks by Rail Museum

All in all another great day a lot of variety to spice up my volunteering life!


Wednesday, May 4, 2022

National Bus moves on the Woody Way!

The instructions for this kit instruct that you build the body around the floor pan. Now I have in the past said I should follow instructions and certainly if Mrs. Woody gives one I do - well usually! In this case however there are issues if you do. For one thing you would need to paint the interior of the body panels and fit the windows. Do this and the job of masking all those windows to paint the exterior of the body becomes a nightmare. In addition I knew that the body panel parts did not fit together that well which would mean that I would have to either live with a model with horrible parts fit or struggle to make good the joints with the glazing fitted. So I adjusted the 'instructions' so that I would paint the interior, build the body, make good the joints, paint the exterior then fit the glazing and then fit the floor pan. Technically this should not be possible but I noted that I could flex the floor pan enough to get it into the body shell.

So with the revised 'instructions' in my mind the work began with painting the interior of the separate body panels. The instructions helpfully have the prototype colour scheme which was chocolate brown for the floor, green for the seats, earth brown for the lower body, cream for the window surrounds and roof and black for the doors and front panel. Say no more!

Peco National Bus Kit

Once dry the body was built up and sure enough there were some issues with the fit of the front and rear panels. These were filled with plastic putty and after a while sanded back.

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

The bus then had its windows masked in readiness for the paint booth.

Peco National Bus Kit

A grey coat of primer was then airbrushed over it which highlighted that my filling skills were not as good as they should have been! However the primer did highlight that the body shell is very detailed and deserved some time spent getting the parts fit as good as possible.

Peco National Bus Kit

Peco National Bus Kit

At the moment the joints have another application of plastic putty which needs to harden over night before being sanded and a further coat of primer added to see if I have cured the problem! Then we will see just how good the Woody Way is!

Peco National Bus Kit


Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Jobs you would rather leave to others!

Mrs. Woody has a list of jobs that she would rather leave to other people - namely me! Whilst I am happy enough to do these jobs there are some tasks out in the wide World that you would rather other people have. Out on a long bike ride today (now at 1917 miles this year so far) I saw two such tasks. 

First off National Grid are uprating some of the transmission network as part of a project to increase capacity as we become more electrified as a Country. The guys doing the work are in a cradle hanging off the wires attached to the pylon. The whole thing sways as they move about and with a bit of wind it can take on a life of its own. I don't know if any of the wires are still carrying current but regardless I am more than happy that these guys are doing the work and not me!

National Grid

Second job was on the East Coast Main Line where they are working on the overhead wires. Although much closer to ground the electricity will still kill you if it goes wrong.

East Coast Main Line

I know the lines are live as the trains are still running. Again, another job I am glad others are doing! 

I did however end up spending a pleasant 20 minutes train spotting! No idea what these new trains are but they look good!

East Coast Main Line

East Coast Main Line

I think I will stick to the relatively safe pastime of model making and doing Mrs. Woody's rather less challenging jobs!