This always takes time but is worth the effort to build a better model!

s 2025 draws to a close (and where did that year go?) the chassis of the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4 takes on some interest with the drive axle now in place along with its air bag suspension and the leaf front suspension is also attached. 

There were lot of mould lines to clean up and smooth off like these on the front leaf spring.

This always takes time but is worth the effort to build a better model which is probably a proverb that I should take forward to 2026! Talking of which, tomorrow is 2026 so have a Happy New Year, build some models and stay safe!

Chassis comes together!

After  yesterdays strange sights, today was much more on stream with the chassis of the Italeri Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4 kit coming together.

At this stage there is not a lot to show for the work put in but hopefully over the next few days things will become more visually exciting!

A day of unusual sights!

It was indeed a day of unusual sights! 

First off the sight of a model truck chassis being constructed on the workbench!

It must be about two years since the last one of these appeared on the bench! However the chassis rails have been assembled. Strangely, each side is in two parts which makes it tricky to join them so they are straight and level However, they are now glued and the various cross members and parts that fit in between the chassis rails are coming together.

Second strange sight was seen out on a drive with Mrs. Woody. I may have posted about this some time ago but I am sure that the collection of railway memorabilia in this garden has got bigger and very impressive it is too!

Finally the third strange sight seen on the same journey as the garden above was a herd of deer which suddenly came out of a field hedge and about a dozen of them then crossed the road in front of us, jumped the ditch and headed off into the distance!

I would normally associate deer with being near some wooded areas for cover rather than in the open fields of Lincolnshire but this lot appeared unbothered about needing cover.

A magnificent sight but it was not until we looked at them on the horizon that we saw the stag with some amazing antlers.

Mrs. Woody normally complains about my 'slow' driving but had we been going a bit quicker and arrived a few seconds earlier we could well have had deer's on the bonnet of the car!

It's time for a new project!

 Time for a new project? Probably not as I have so many already on the go that need finishing but I have an urge to glue some plastic parts together! So this is the chosen subject that has been sat in the Man Cave for about two years which actually is not that long as most of my kits are decades old!

I have not built a truck kit for about 18 months now so I need to reacquaint myself with the bigger scale but at least there are no etched brass parts!

I was amazed by this model of Locomotion! Just look at the miniature mechanism working as it runs in this short video

This was my one of my Christmas presents from Mrs. Woody. I have built up a bit of a collection of models of the early steam locomotives and one day I will get them all together for a running session.

The box for Locomotion is not very big compared to those that contain more modern locomotive models but very well presented and makes it clear that it is part of Hornby's 200 years of railways series. Upon opening the box I was struck by how tiny the model was. There were a few surprises as well. 

There is a nice level of foam packaging, a very informative information certificate, a cast name plate for display purposes, a bag with driver and fireman to fit. The part I had never seen before was that the protective clear packing was a Perspex box which is a first to me for a model railway engine! It certainly provides a safe repostitory for such a small and fragile model.

Getting it out of all its packing is when the real beauty of this model comes to light.

comparing it with the Class 08 shunter in the background which is a small locomotive on todays tracks the smallness of the model really shows itself.

Even the cast name plate which accompanies the model is almost as big as the model!

Looking at the information certificate I found out that Locomotion was the first locomotive to ever be preserved in 1856!

Thanks Mrs. W for a great present!

Neighbours can stop panicking as this drum kit is just a wooden model

Out on a Christmas Day bike ride to get a better appetite for lunch, I swung by the canal to see what was going on. Nothing! It was eerily  quiet with not a sole in sight,

Or was there someone in the distance?

Not sure exactly what this guy was doing highlighted by the red arrow but it does look like he was fishing! Maybe he was after his main course for Christmas lunch?

Anyway, back at WMD HQ, Mrs. Woody had dished up one of her famous lunches which stuffed me and kept me stretched out on the sofa watching Mission Impossible! Maybe I should rename my 00 gauge Last Great Project model railway Mission Impossible?

I am pleased to say Santa did bring me some gifts so I must have been good!

First off was a cycling related T shirt... 

...which says a lot about my life although not sure about the 'Still going strong' bit!

I also got a new drum kit!

However, neighbours can stop panicking as this drum kit is just a wooden model yet to be built but I'm sure I can get a beat out of it!

Last off is this wonderfully delightful model by Hornby of Locomotion.

I will delve into that a little more tomorrow as it is stunning looking model.

 

Merry Christmas from WMD!

Have a wonderful time!

If you cannot get to sleep tonight this may be just the thing to bring about the Land of Nod!

Well, it is Christmas Eve and in one more 'sleeps' I will know tomorrow if I have been good and get some presents! In the meantime, the WMD film crew have been out in the Man Cave with another layout update and a bit of train running which if you cannot get to sleep tonight this may be just the thing to bring about the Land of Nod!

Things that you might never have guessed about Woody!

Things that you might never have guessed about Woody! Yes, I play, or should I say bash,, drums! That is me in the picture, many years ago I hasten to add, playing a gig with a band I was in at the time. Note the half drunk pint of larger at my feet, its thirsty work playing drums, and the parker coat muffling my bass drum. Oh the happy memories! As you can probably tell I never became famous but I had a lot iof fun!

I still have that kit but nowadays I play an electric kit which is wife and neighbour friendly although Mrs. Woody complains about the tapping noise! There is no satisfying some people!

Just wish my wallet would recover as quick after one of Mrs. Woody's shopping sprees!

No time for model making activities at the moment but a bike ride was undertaken and as I was passing a diversion to on route to see how the canal was looking after the Summer of it just about drying out. Well, the recent rain has certainly changed things and it is now positively brimming to near the top of its banks!

I seem to recall being informed by those who know about such things that after the drought this Summer it would take months for the water levels to recover! Apparently not so!

Just wish my wallet would recover as quick after one of Mrs. Woody's shopping sprees!