I seem to spend a lot more time building layouts rather then playing or should that be operating them!

I seem to spend a lot more time building layouts rather then playing operating them! So that I did just that! I ran some trains and it was a really relaxing fulfilling hour or so!

What was running? Well, this 8F was in charge of the mineral wagon train. I do like the the looks of this loco with its 8 main wheel configuration, black paintwork and a look of power!

It certainly had no issues with the 24 wagons behind it.

Next up, another powerful loco in the form of the 9F. Again, with a 10 main wheel configuration and that classic black paintwork it oozes the power to haul freight as the real loco did.

The classic Class 25 diesel which was the mainstay of much of the freight operations of British Railways in its early days and well into its Corporate Blue era. Many of these locos are still alive and well thanks to the preservationists. 

Finally, the Class 58 which saw a great deal of action hauling coal hoppers especially on the so called Merry Go Round operations to the power stations when they burnt coal. A great model in EWS livery hauling a rake of Turbot wagons.

I really must play operate the layout more!

It may well be make believe but is that not what model making is about ?

Sometimes, when a project is taking a while and progress seems slow, it is worth taking a step back and just seeing how things have actually progressed and if that progress is leading to an end result that is worth the work. I did just that!

The bridge project that I am currently working on is taking some time to do but with the main structure together it does alter the character of the station area of my layout . Put together with what I have already done the atmosphere and character of a small urban station and goods yard, hemmed in by walls is really coming along just as I hoped as these photos illustrate - well to me anyway! 

Class 153 and Calss 156 in Central Trains livery stand at the platform whilst the goods yard plays host to a rake of BOC bogie tankers.

Having just arrived in Platform 2, the Class 153 has cleared the single line out of the station so that the Class 156 can depart.

Which it does!

Meanwhile, the resident Class 08 shunter is topping up its tanks at the refueling point before moving some more wagons around the goods yard. 

All the above descriptions of what is going on may well be make believe but is that not what model making is about - creating your own World?

Another day and another side of the bridge covered in Metcalfe brick paper!

Another day and another side of the bridge covered in Metcalfe brick paper!

I thought that I had better see how it looks on the layout before going any further and yes it is as I hoped. It gives a good scenic break as trains come into the station on the inner loop whilst the antics of those trains on the outer two loops are visually separated.

Lots more to do so I better get on with it!

I am not going to mention the C word!

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!

What is my thing is at the moment is getting this bridge built and it is coming along - just very slowly. In fact Halloween and the day that the C word relates to may well go by before this is finished! The latest progress is getting one of the sides covered in brick paper. The white part left will be covered by a yet to be built embankment.

Now, is it time to start my list for the big day?

Oversized clothes peg!

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!

THe bridge moves 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.

Is that a James Bond paint - shaken, not stirred?

 That was the view yesterday as I set to getting ready for a day at the Rocks By Rail Museum. It did look a little eyrie but as always (well some of the time anyway), the sun was shinning on the Museum as well as this tin of paint which conveniently had the date when it was shaken (is that a James Bond paint - shaken, not stirred?).

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!

And now it begins to look like a bridge!

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.

And now it begins to look like a bridge!

As usual, much more to do but never enough time! 

Resetting some loose slabs using an innovative method - silicon!

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!

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.