In disguise

The next job on the railcar is getting the replacement snowploughs ready and generally disguising the chassis. This is because I know where my limits are, so I’m using a second hand chassis that started life as part of an American diesel in a completely different scale, which will be pretty obvious if I don’t add some the extra lumps of plastic to disguise it.

I followed my usual approach of adding whatever seemed a good idea at the time, unhindered by any understanding of the actual mechanical wossnames involved. I’ve decided the cylinders behind the snowplough are the drivers supply of hot chocolate.

To my rather great surprise, attached and painted they look reasonably presentable as long as you squint.

Of course, as is the way of the world, as soon as I was done and all the bits were painted and weathered, I opened a ‘bits’ drawer and found the original snowploughs sitting there…

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Ploughing ahead II

This post is brought to you by poor organisation and forgetfulness.

Again.

I made a couple of snowploughs for the railcar project a couple of years ago, which had a few extra bits like extensions to the bogies for couplings and hints of various bits of undergubbins. They even appeared on the chassis, held on with Blu-tack.  They’ve been kicking about ever since, until I foolishly went and tidied my desk a couple of months ago, whereupon they vanished without trace.

“Oh dear”, I said, or words to that effect anyway.

And then, knowing that there’s a form of quantum physics that affects all lost items and keeps them from being found until they are replaced, I started making a new set.

This wasn’t all bad, as I’ve gained a bit of experience since I made the last set*, so I had lots of ideas for extra possible bits to stick onto the extra sections, plus some sand boxes which strangely did not go missing in the intervening time, tidying up not withstanding.

I’m not particularly mechanically minded so I have no idea what most of these extra bits are supposed to do. They look alright to me, so I’m not complaining.

*If not much skill or ability.

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Dry mess

The mess hall now has a roof, door and windows, which will no doubt come as a relief to the unfortunate soldiers who find themselves in this forsaken outpost of the British Empire. With that together it was time to focus on the reason excuse for the tower,  so a water tank was called for. (If you’re wondering, the reason is that a swashbuckling adventurer/dastardly bad guy can use it as a high vantage point)

I’ve noticed that tabletop games, especially in this genre, are a lot less ‘scale’ than model railways: they tend to be chunky, even cartoony. I’m guessing it’s because the models are handled a lot more. Whatever the reason I’m all in favour because no-one gets to say I’m doing it wrong.

In keeping with this, the ‘tank’ is an ear wash bottle, the same one as donated the turret for the steam punk tank, come to think if it. I could try and make a terrible pun out of this but I can’t think of one at the moment; suggestions in the comments please.

The ear wash was utterly useless so it’s good to have got some value out of the purchase.

The steps are staples and the handle from the ‘inspection hatch’ is from a bit of wire that looks suspiciously like it was from a Chinese takeaway box.

Now I’ve got to make this look like a convincingly rusty lump of metal.

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“Unfinished Projects Year II; The Sequel”

Not a lot happened on the model making front this year.

This was partly because of the aforementioned final project for my training, and presentation for same, meaning I’m now a Qualified Arbeitserzieher (occupational therapist). Meanwhile one resolution on my other blog was to finally cycle an imperial century (100 miles/160 km) which did not help model making although I did find some interesting railway related places.

Finally, along with the Elder Son, I finished the project to rebuild a 90’s era mountain bike into a retro styled touring bike. so it’s not like I’ve done nothing.

Next year then will be “Unfinished Project Backlog Year II”. To recap, this is:

Körschtalbahn:

Railcar: construction ten years and counting, I think…
Big Diesel: Waiting for me to get the courage together to try electronics, which I view as one step from sorcery.
Big Van: Supposed to be number 1 of 3, Ha, ha.
Wood Wagon: Ditto. Also meant to be a ‘quick project’ but I keep adding details…

Hmm… well, the railcar is almost done, the big van and the wood wagon are both completed, but the big diesel is still a bit of a holy grail and I keep putting it off. I’m determined that I’m not starting anything new though, so fresh goals will have to wait until I have a diesel locomotive that works.

Last year again:

Hofelbachbahn:

Finish Two vans
Ditto Farmhouse
Dismantle ‘Wörnritzhausen’ Mk 1 and salvage everything I can.

The vans are pretty much done, need to blog about that, but the motivation to finish a farmhouse that wouldn’t ever be used wasn’t forthcoming. I still have to face up to salvaging ‘Wörnritzhausen’ so taking a chisel to that is as far as my ambitions will go next year

I’ve done a bit better in the General silliness department, mainly I suspect because I default back to that when life is getting too stressful for more serious model making.

General Silliness department:

Steam Powered Tank
Monowheel: Probably not a priority, but still.
(Re) paint remaining figures.
“Army Buildings”
Also Several vehicle kits that don’t seem to have reached these pages…

The steam powered tank was finished quickly, and the Monowheel is complete and awaiting a decision on what colour it should be. The “Army buildings” will feature here soon as they’re my “holiday” project.

So, the goal for this year is to finish the backlog before starting any new projects, and keep blogging about same.

I’ve also got a few goals for cycling again, which will probably mess things up…

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