Tuesday 30th January 2024

Thomas Jensen has made several improvements to his Hornby Junior Paddington/Express battery powered train set on YouTube,  I personally think that he should have replaced the bogies rather than trying to upgrade them, something that I will attempt to do. The fitting of a rear red LED light can also be simplified by changing the wires and adding a battery.
The shape of the power cars can be altered with filler/putty so both of the Pullman paint schemes can be achieved with carriage walkways, the plastic track can also be weathered, with the possibility of a remote control system similar to the Lionel Trains, so sound can be added.
For me the KISS approach, Keep It Stupidly Simple as it would be impractical for me to be let lose with a soldiering iron.
 I've started going for walks in the evenings, every other day as it seems this week has a few appointments which means that I get a better sleep.
I'm still determined to visit the National Maritime museum in Greenwich and go to the indoor market, maybe Charlton House I've heard that the grounds are well kept.
I also hope to buy a few jigsaw puzzles, my stepfather used to glue them onto a board when finished and hang them as pictures.

Wednesday 31st January 2024

I've started the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne kitbash with the ESCI Boeing HV-22 Osprey. The Osprey has been stripped for parts, the Airfix Hind A/D front cockpit fits on the front of the Rotodyne. I did cut the wings of the ESCI Osprey but the HobbyBoss wings are a better fit so I have used them.
The sponsons cover most of the fuselage windows there's a fair bit of filler/putty needed. I have called this build the Westland Nightingale.

The Airfix Mil Mi-24 Hind A has been renamed the Westland White Hart, the kit is showing its age released back in 1984. The only gap I have found so far is the space between the cockpit and main fuselage. You can't see the inside of the cargo area although you could open the cargo doors if you wanted.
I managed to get a smudge of glue on the glazing so there won't be any interior detailing plenty of space for nose weight.

Friday 2nd  February 2024

So the Hornby Junior Express train set uses different wheels to those fitted to the usual rolling stock, so they can't be swapped out. The bogie will need replacing, the driving wheels also throws up problems as they aren't even connected to the swivelling bogie. Why is there a pair of buttons on top of the power car when one of them works. To save money they are repeated on the dummy car however a battery can be fitted in the dummy car with a red bulb.
On the plus side the wagons from my Hornby clockwork train set are compatible so with a bit of painting.
Taking an idea for creating a carriage from two power cars as the stripped down car is getting a new bodyshell.

I may have to return to school, becoming a student. There's courses at the London Furniture School for French Polishing and wood finishes but no guarantee of a job at the end of the course but a certificate. I  might even get a grant to cover the expenses. Well it's an option as I await my results of my health assessment.

Quote from: McColm on February 02, 2024, 06:25:03 AMI may have to return to school, becoming a student. There's courses at the London Furniture School for French Polishing and wood finishes but no guarantee of a job at the end of the course but a certificate. I  might even get a grant to cover the expenses. Well it's an option as I await my results of my health assessment.

Would certainly be a craft under the belt 

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 02, 2024, 06:30:00 AM

Quote from: McColm on February 02, 2024, 06:25:03 AMI may have to return to school, becoming a student. There's courses at the London Furniture School for French Polishing and wood finishes but no guarantee of a job at the end of the course but a certificate. I  might even get a grant to cover the expenses. Well it's an option as I await my results of my health assessment.

Would certainly be a craft under the belt 

When I was working for A & M furniture and TV  hire,  I used to do French Polishing as a job,. They moved twice to their current location near Old Oak Common in Park Royal Northwest London. I used to restore antique furniture as a sideline in my earlier days at the BBC Television Studios, White City when I became a security officer, that stopped after I was transferred to the BBC World Service at Bush House. The company that I worked for lost all the BBC contracts and I had to switch to working night shifts.
I have a couple of restoration projects in mind but they will have to wait until I can get the strength back in my arms and supplies of materials.

Getting your strength back should be the number one priority. I hope you are able to do that soon.

Quote from: kerick on February 03, 2024, 12:13:02 AMGetting your strength back should be the number one priority. I hope you are able to do that soon.

Indeed 

Thanks for your comments.

Saturday 3rd February 2024

The Hornby Junior Paddington train set arrived with the track and accessories. It doesn't look playworn, the red Express set made in China seems to run faster around the track than Paddington who was made in Vietnam even when I set them up on opposite sides of the oval track the Express catches up.
Well I have another carriage and an excuse to buy more track, this never came separately so another Express set will be acquired for a underground layout..

Sunday 4th February 2024

I have removed the motor from the Hornby Junior Paddington train set but kept the battery pack, then switched over the bodyshells. I then had to manipulate the carriage couplings as the Vietnam built Paddington and the Chinese Express have their couplings so that the two sets won't couple up.
For the first time I have lights on both of the EMU power cars (diesel-electric). The two leftover ends will go to form the brake/luggage car. At the minute the battery powered train is running around the Hogwarts Castle (hotel). This will need some work, as I intend to add spotlights in the grounds and build a 3D football stadium cardboard kit. I did consider a Galleon but the nearest kit is the Airfix Great Western paddle steamer.

Tuesday 6th February 2024

The 1/72 Westland Sea Knight AEW model has been transformed back into the ASW/ Assault Support helicopter.
The Airfix 1/72 Mil Mi-24 A/D  Hind aka Westland White Hart which has the A variant cockpit, now has the pivoting AEW radar on the right-hand side of the fuselage which replaced the weapons pylon, the one on the other side will be blanked over. The tail rotor might get changed as well.
The D cockpit has been grafted to the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne, parts from the ESCI Boeing HV-22 Osprey have been added and PSR has started. The main landing wheels have been fitted at the rear end and under the new nose. An extra set was found.

Thursday 8th February 2024

I've ordered two pairs of tracksuit bottoms and a Hornby analogue controller with the transformer. Just need to buy another analogue locomotive and I can run two trains in opposite directions when I get my 00 gauge layout sorted.
I have also ordered more track for the Hornby Junior Express AA battery powered train set,  the fake pantographes will be removed and replaced with vents or filler/putty. Additional weight will be added to the carriages.
The plan is to move the portable wardrobe in my bedroom into the cloakroom and then create a bookcase with the 3D Hogwarts Castle Hotel and grounds with the battery powered train set running around it, my hobby room will have my 00 gauge model railway layout.

Saturday 10th February 2024

Before I was admitted to hospital back in May 2021, I was working a three day week: Wednesday night and the weekend on days. If I can return to something similar as a security officer for the remainder of the year. Charlton Southeast London has a great bus service into the city and the railway station is a ten minute walk on a good day. If I need the London Underground then Woolwich with the Elizabeth Line,  DLR and the Thames River Service.

I ordered four squirrily bayonet light bulbs and a Tower air fryer cookbook, I've noticed that a lot of the vegetables have labelling for how to cook using an air fryer. The traditional English breakfast just isn't the same without a frying pan,so when did hash browns become part of the menu? Must have been whilst I was in the medical induced coma, a lot of things have changed since then.

Back to the workbench and the radial engines on Big Bertha have been removed, the Napier Eland turboprops from the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne are a much better fit whilst I listen to Spike Milligan read his books about his part in World War 2.
As for the 1960s GB, I've narrowed it down to four but I will probably continue with the theme throughout the year. Too many ideas but they can go forward to the 1970s GB.  Flared trousers and Kipper ties, that weird wallpaper and aubergine toilet suite.

Another plus is that my application for a postal electoral vote has been accepted.
So all those jobs around the flat will get done and in three years time I should be back to 60 hours a week, Hogwarts here I come..

Wednesday 14th February 2024

 A milestone has been achieved by replacing two light bulbs, I've been meaning to change the one in the hall and the lounge which is my bedroom for quite some time. It's only now that I can stretch my arms up high without the feeling of falling over.as the ceiling isn't that high for a stepladder or kitchen steps. Okay the energy saving light bulbs aren't quite the same, slightly smaller but do the job.
On the workbench the Airfix 1/72 Westland Lynx with the upgraded options are a cause for concern. One fits and the other one doesn't. I will attempt the changes for my version of the Wildcat.
PSR continues with the MARSH Harrier, the Eagle Harrier will be rebuilt. Something not quite right.
The new release of the Airfix vintage Fairey Rotodyne has a few issues from the reviews that I have read,they should have supplied alternative decals, I have serval ideas for the kit.

There's a job fair on the 5th March at the Powis Street Jobcentre,  more money to be spent on a belt and printing out my CV. I don't think tracksuit bottoms with trainers gives the right impression 🤔.
Got a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach on the 28th of February to discuss my options for returning to 'some work '.

Changing light bulbs may only be a small step, but it's a step forward. Well done 

Quote from: McColm on February 15, 2024, 12:57:22 AMThere's a job fair on the 5th March at the Powis Street Jobcentre,  more money to be spent on a belt and printing out my CV. I don't think tracksuit bottoms with trainers gives the right impression 🤔.
Got a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach on the 28th of February to discuss my options for returning to 'some work '.

As for dressing for the job fair ? I'm not sure what constitutes appropriate dress nowadays. I think interviewers tend to look at the person rather than what they are wearing ? Different in my day, but the world has changed for the better in some ways.  Ask your Universal Credit Coach what they think.

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 15, 2024, 06:05:40 AMChanging light bulbs may only be a small step, but it's a step forward. Well done 

Quote from: McColm on February 15, 2024, 12:57:22 AMThere's a job fair on the 5th March at the Powis Street Jobcentre,  more money to be spent on a belt and printing out my CV. I don't think tracksuit bottoms with trainers gives the right impression 🤔.
Got a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach on the 28th of February to discuss my options for returning to 'some work '.

As for dressing for the job fair ? I'm not sure what constitutes appropriate dress nowadays. I think interviewers tend to look at the person rather than what they are wearing ? Different in my day, but the world has changed for the better in some ways.  Ask your Universal Credit Coach what they think.

Thanks I really appreciate your support.