I am not going to mention the C word but that time is coming but in the meantime there is Halloween as I was reminded by this display I saw whilst out with Mrs. Woody the other day. It does look good but I am afraid pumpkins are not my thing!
Now, is it time to start my list for the big day?
Sometimes you see the strangest of things such as this oversized clothes peg in a local park that Mrs. Woody and I went for a first walk in.
I do seem to have a fascination with oversized sculptures as I have blogged about on previous occasions. Not sure why this is. Maybe it is simply doing the opposite of making miniature models and making oversized models of things? Whatever it is, I did like this a lot. But no, I won't be creating my own version for display in the WMD Towers garden! However, with some lateral thinking, what about making a miniature model of the oversized clothes peg? I could simply take a peg out of the peg bag and use that!
Back to more miniature mode items and the bridge that has featured in the last few posts slowly comes together as the underside of the arch has been covered in Metcalfe brick papers which match the other brickwork that it will adjoin to on the baseboard.
Slowly but surely this is coming on!
Model making time has been at a bit of a premium at the moment but I have grabbed the odd few minutes here and there to get some progress on the model bridge I am building. Having got the two sides fasten together it was time to infill the top of the bridge arch. As this is a semi curved area, I cut several lines part way through the card infill on its upper surface where it needed to curve. The picture probably explains better than my words!
I also cut out some additional cross members to strengthen the structure. Gluing everything in place I used masking tape to hold everything in place until the glue sets.
Once set in a day or so I can start looking at getting a top on it and some brick papers.
Anyway, Martini cocktails apart, Rob who is more of a pint man then a cocktail drinker, was applying the paint to the Plant Shed which will hopefully bring that project to a conclusion.
It is looking good and in my mind with its shape and now green paint looks a bit like a military hanger! I cant see Harriot the JCB flying though!
My thoughts of Rob being a pint rather than a cocktail man were challanged a bit when I looked in his van to discover this!
Upon questioning, Rob said he found it in a skip and it was ideal to put his gloves in. Really! Lucky the hanger, sorry, plant shed hasn't ended up being painted pink!
Getting back to more railway related matters, Richard and Martyn were out on the track with a spirit level which can only mean that there is more track work in the offing. The middle of October sees the last public operating day so I am assuming after that there will be some major engineering works to greet the incoming Winter months.
Another project for the Winter is the ongoing restoration of the Southern brake van which is under cover in the restoration shed. Having dried out over the summer and having had much of the rotten wood and metal taken off it, it should soon start going back together.
The wooden floor at one end has been taken out or rather swept out as it was fairly rotten! Martyn needle gunned the rust off the metal work last week so that area is ready for painting.
More painting can be done on the vacuum tanks as well which will make that look a lot more functional.
In between taking pictures I just got on with some grass cutting which will hopefully come to an end for the year in a few more weeks giving me more time to question Rib about the Barbie bag and see if I can find some more shaken, not stirred paint!
IN amongst the various maintenance jobs going on at WMD Towers I have found a few minutes to get a bit further with the construction of a bridge for My Last Great Project layout. With two sides cut out of mounting card the side parts could be attached.
As usual, much more to do but never enough time!
Not a great deal of time for model making at the moment as WMD Towers under goes some maintenance work. I demolished the brickwork under the bay window a week or so ago and then discovered that the drain taking the roof downpipe water was blocked which explained the mossy lawn that has developed over the years as the water was not getting away and soaking into the ground. Time to call in help in the form of Phil the builder who originally was just going to replace some radiators. Radiators replaced, he turned his attention to the drain. Removing the first clay pipe revealed a mass of tree root from the adjacent conifer. Despite using a pressure washer with a drain clearing attachment the root would not shift. Two hours later and using a cork screw attachment on the end of drain rods we pulled about 5 foot of tree root mass out! No wonder the drain was blocked.
Phil has dug out the roots around the drain, replaced the pipework and bedded it in concrete which should hopefully keep the tree roots from getting back in. He also strengthen the foundation for the wall with more concrete which should stop it moving again.
Whilst Phil was in the mood for dealing with concrete matters, he also reset some loose slabs using an innovative method - silicon! He has done this before successfully so I will wait to see how mine perform!
I did mention a money back guarantee but for some reason Phil put on his ear defenders! Must get a pair for when Mrs. Woody enquires on progress with her list of jobs for me!
I see an opening in this case is related to My Last Great Project Layout where work is progressing on getting scenery finished or at least to a point that looks like it may be complete! The latest part is to build a bridge/tunnel mouth on the station/storage yard approaches. It will hopefully all work out but at this stage it is slow going as measurements are taken and trial fittings made which all take time. At the moment one side of the bridge over the railway is mocked up in card and it looks good. If I am still happy in a day or so the rest of the bridge/tunnel mouth will be constructed.
It was not the busiest of days visitor wise at the Rocks By Rail Museum with a Quarry Day running yesterday as there were several other events going on in the area and the weather forecast had predicted rain. However, there was no rain so those that came enjoyed the sunshine and the Museum itself as well as all the activities that were taking place. All in all it was a great day, in a great place with great people!
The usual brake van rides were available and proved popular.
Doing my usual shunting activities I was more than ably supported by Graham and John who was driving Mr. D our shunting loco.
Mr. D, was looking good which is mainly down to John who has spent hours on getting this loco not only looking good but running well.
John's latest improvement has been to paint the operating panel to contrast with the rest of the repainted cab.
Meanwhile, Rob was demonstrating the drag line which always looks impressive.
And Martyn was demonstrating the face shovel.
We were all kept busy shunting and exchanging the wagons until the time came to park up wagons and loco and head for home!
And now back to my Last Great Project layout with the profile boards having been painted and reattached to the rear of the layout and wires connected up I was pleasantly surprised, in fact amazed, to find that everything worked with no short or dead circuits! It must be down to the amount of practice I have had on the previous three boards.
I have left the profile boards off the inside faces of the baseboard to make access a bit easier as I start to form the landscape for the far corner. A small start has been made with the base of the scenic module now cut to shape from mounting card.
This could take some time to finish!
Mrs. Woody had found details for an event from the Lincolnshire Makers Market which was being held at Little pontin Hall in, well, Lincolnshire! I never knew this Hall existed so it was worth a trip out just to see that as well as to find out what the Makers Market was like.
The Makers Market itself was spread around the stables and out buildings. There were probably 50 or so stalls all with interesting stuff including the box of cookies we came home with!
