Nice how a model can suddenly come together!

It is nice how a model can suddenly come together after time spent in dealing with separate parts and this is how the refueling point kit has gone. Not quite finished but certainly come together. The area that I had to do some work on were the hoses. There was a short length of rubber hose supplied and I did use that for the water hoses, but the fuel pipes were done with some electrical wire. Still not fully to scale but good enough for me.

Just a few bits to finish and then it will be ready fr the layout.

Fade to Grey!

The diesel fueling point is coming on but I went back a step and took the canopy off (I had not glued it so that was easy) and dusted off the base with a thin coat of light grey paint to fade the concrete coloured paint and weathering - just like that hit from Visage, Fade to Grey! I then redid the drainage covers with some dry brushing of brown to highlight the rusty metal and a  wash of black to pick out the recesses.

Yep! That's fade to grey!

More in keeping with reality!

After looking somewhat grey and then a supposed concrete colour yesterday, the base to the diesel refueling point has had the metal grills covering the drainage and oil capture point painted silver. Still looks far too clean though!

With some added dirt provided with black and brown washes the base looks more in keeping with reality although it just needs a misting of grey to tone it all down.

In addition, a start has been made on the diesel pump and the canopy. Hopefully it should look good when finished. 'Finished'. Now that is a word that is a bit of an oddity to WMD!

What colour is concrete?

After a few days of other things it is time to get back to the diesel refueling point for my 00 gauge Last Great Project layout. I usually prime parts off the sprue or when they are built up but I decided just to blast everything with rattle can grey primer. This was fine for the base and on the other parts it at least highlighted the various moulding lines that I would need to deal with.

Whilst the grey primer is a nice shade of grey, the base is supposed to be concrete so that got airbrushed with a coat of concrete colour paint. 

I am never sure what colour concrete is supposed to be! Looking around I see everything from a beige to a grey and many shades between. I am guessing some of the variation is down to the mix and origin of the materials used and some of it down to the age of the concrete itself. What is sure though, is that regardless of age, materials or mix, this base is far too clean for a refueling point so it will be weathered and then it may get misted with some grey paint just to tone the finish down.

The Last Post.

Following on from yesterday and VJ80 Day at the Rocks By Rail Museum, there is a short video of The Last Post being played which I always find emotional for many reasons. I think the recorded scene speaks for itself so I will leave it at that!

VJ80 at the Rocks By Rail Museum.

Having an Uncle who was a prisoner of war in Changi Jail during World War 2 and survived makes today a special day for reflection as I visited The Rocks By Rail Museum with Mrs. Woody. Being VJ80 day or Victory over Japan 80 years ago many people around the World will, wherever they are, be remembering loved ones, some of whom survived that conflict and others who did not. 

What has this to do with the Museum? Well the Museum is custodian to locomotive Singapore which was also captured by the Japanese. It returned to the UK after the war and worked in the naval docks at Chatham before becoming part of the Museum in the late 70's/early80's. It is now registered as a National War Memorial and is visited by many whose relatives were part of the Far East conflict. 

Being VJ80 da , the Museum made a big effort to ensure that both loco Singapore and the Museum itself were able to properly and appropriately host guests who had come to remember and reflect during the day and those involved in the events of World War 2 in the Far East.

There were a number of dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire representing the King and looking at all the medals being proudly worn by many of those attending it was clear that many of those attending had seen military service during their lifetimes.

Even clearer when colours are presented.

Various wreaths, poppies and white orchids were laid on Singapore following a various readings.

When everyone had finished, there were refreshments available in the cafe.

And Yvette baked and decorated this stunning cake. It tasted as good as it looked!

A day certainly of mixed emotions but a day for me to have pride in my Uncle, the Museum and its volunteers and those who attended to remember and never forget.

Good job I remembered!

As I am ballasting the sidings on My Last Great Project 00 gauge layout I luckily remembered that I wanted to incorporate a diesel refueling point. I had bought a Knightwing kit for this some 15 years ago when I was going to put it on my terminus layout Gailston before plans changed! 

Having unearthed the kit in the WMD Stores, I hoped that it would fit where I intended it to go and luckily it just about does! I say just about as I will need to make a slight amendment as it is about 2mm too wide but I have something in my mind that will hopefully work!

Next stage is to build the kit which will be a bit different from the recently completed Airfix Stoilly!

RIP Chloe Cat.

Only thirteen days after loosing Murphy Cat, Mrs. Woody and me had to let Chloe Cat go. She had lost the use of her back legs and could not stand up le alone move. 

She was about 15 or 16 we think. Like all our other cats, she was a rescue cat who came to us in late December 2019. She and her brother were roaming in Gainsborough after their owner died. Chloe's brother unfortunately did not last very long after that but Chloe was rescued and we became her new family.

She had a wonderfully characterful face and a beautifully soft coat which she hated being combed! 

She was one for going outside even in the snow but stayed in the garden where she would seek some shade on sunny days and sleep before coming back to the patio door asking to come back in and tucking into her food. Chicken was her favorite!

Even towards her last days she was still going out and looking out I still see her and will continue to do so. 

She is now under the apple tree along with all the other WMD cats who have passed on so she will have good company.

Rest in peace little girl!

All very therapeutic

Having now finished building the Airfix Stolly it is time to get back to My Last Great Project model railway layout. Having not done any work on it for a month I thought that I would get back into it with something simple and that would show quick results and all be very therapeutic. So, it was out with the ballast and a start on the sidings at the side of the station. As usual, the WMD Stores had already stocked up with the necessary materials including some special siding ballast.

I did mix the two ballasts in an old ice cream tub which I had to empty of the ice cream which was something that I did find somewhat enjoyable!

These were the sidings that needed ballasting with the mix.

A quiet hour or so saw part of the sidings spread with ballast and brushed into place.

Once happy that it was where it should be a diluted mix of PVA glue with some drops of washing up liquid was spread over the ballast.

It is now time to wait for it to dry before going onto the next section with further ballasting. All very therapeutic and a good way to get back into building the layout.

Woody's model bodgery on film!

The build of the Airfix Solly was documented by the WMD film crew and uploaded to YouTube and if you are interested in the visual delights of Woody's model bodgery just click on the video below!