Progress 

Wednesday 17th July 2024

I might have a cure for my insomnia and a method to stop the decals from peeling off my finished builds,  clear lacquer.

The Memorial Group Build has opened up a whole new world for me, projects I would have put to one-side are now possible in plastic. The twin fuselage/twin-tail boom or fit a larger engine to it now makes sense.

The 1/72 Gloster Gladiator Griffon is almost finished, just had to lacquer the lower wing this morning. The 1/72 Sea Dakota MR.2A has had a coat of clear lacquer applied,  I think that I have enough for two more builds before it runs out.

I must be getting fitter, it usually takes me two goes at doing the washing up. Now I can tackle it all in one go. Yes I still need a rest afterwards but the little things show improvement.

Quote from: McColm on July 16, 2024, 11:08:10 PMI might have a cure for my insomnia and a method to stop the decals from peeling off my finished builds,  clear lacquer.

Hopefully not the same thing for both ?   

Thursday 18th July 2024

The ex-Airfix 1/72 Mil-24 Hind renamed the Westland Sea Hart HAS.2 has undergone an aggressor paint scheme 'Red 50'. This now has the rotor blades from the Airfix Lynx  which are being painted.
The 1/32 Airfix Triumph TR4.A is undergoing a restoration. The previous owner painted the bodywork in lilac (purple) with brown seats and a bonnet/hood in Old English white.
Painting has commenced on the Marsh Harrier but this will need a another coat as it's a bit patchy.
 To occupy my mind I'm doing jigsaw puzzles online, otherwise it's research into future builds.

Saturday 20th July 2024

Yesterday Charlton Southeast London reached 31°C, so I decided to a bit of painting on the Marsh Harrier. The An-2 Sea Colt has reverted back to being a floatplane UR.2, it does have a SLAR pod fitted to one side of the fuselage but can be used for other duties when needed this will be in experimental colours as I am running out of acrylic paint.
The Westland Sea Hart HAS.2 'Red 50' is almost finished, just the torpedoes that need painting plus a few touch-ups.
The Westland Sea Knight HAS.3 is in the process of having some decals added as for the Gloster Gladiator Griffon I think it's finished.
Sanding continues with the Shelf Queens whilst listening to episodes of Judge Judy or I'm sorry I don't have a clue the Radio 4 comedy show.

The council in their wisdom decided it was a great idea to cut the grass and trim the bushes around the estate where I live, even though I had taken hay-fever tablets I was suffering from the effects of the pollen.

Today is a lot cooler but feeling muggy/humid a bit more PSR and I can finish off painting in the evening.
The co

Wednesday 24th July 2024

Yesterday I became a member of the '58 Club ', I didn't get up to much just PSR until the puty/filler ran out. A slightly different paint scheme for the Westland Sea Knight.

I was watching Pole Barn Garage on YouTube, the chap breathes life into rare American cars and pickup trucks. Some of the vehicles I have never heard of before but a few bodged parts and loads of licence plates to fill the gaps in plus the use of Tractor paint. Some get sold whilst others are donor vehicles for other projects.

Then I came across the Handley Page Hastings, at first I was wondering could it be used for the Group Build by changing the engines to Rolls-Royce Merlins as the wings from a Halifax if I used the Formaplane kit and a spare parts. Well I don't have a Halifax model but I do have the wings and engines from a Avro Lancaster or a pair of Shackleton wings.
Another thought maritime patrol, well it's got the range, plus lumps and bumps.
Maybe a long-term build would be better.

Back to the LTV F-8 Crusader, there was a two-seater but it wasn't widely available as I think only one was built ,as for the Crusader II or Super Crusader a two-seater is possible as I'm thinking of building the vacform kit with a Rolls-Royce Spey engine depending on my budget.

Saturday 27th July 2024

Today I went out to get a haircut, top up the electric and do a bit of food shopping. The barber welcomed me and asked if I wanted my usual. However,he must have thought I was someone else as he had selected number one on the clippers. Too late to change, number one all over for £15.
Lloyds Pharmacy have linked my meds together, free p&p so at least some good news,on the other hand the TV License Department will be making a visit next week despite my telephone calls to let them know that I don't have a TV license as I don't have a TV or watch live streaming on my tablet.

On the workbench, I've decided to use up the remaining acrylic paints to form experimental paint schemes. A few will look like a patchwork quilt in a similar style to the Swedish Air Force splinter camouflage.To cut down on costs a raid in the decal pile, should provide some strange concoctions.

Sunday 28th July 2024

I'm using the acrylic Sky paint on the 1/72 Lockheed YF-22 ADV,  Delta wing Swift and Lockheed F-35XL.  The Airfix multiple stand has two already built but 'spares and repair 'from another owner which is the Buckeye and  the Gloster first jet powered fighter, the other parts/arms snapped off whilst I assembled it.
I have found the splinter camouflage paint masks from DNModels for the 1/72 Saab 37 Viggen but there will be a different colours used.
Whilst looking at the Airfix 1/32 scale Triumph TR4A I'm thinking coupe. I think that there was a fixed head coupe, could have been a prototype built in the RW with a different front end designed by an Italian company. I'll have to do some research.
It was called the Triumph GTR4 Dove.

The Dove GTR4 was all British, insofar as the TR4 itself was British as it was styled by Michelotti.

Dove commissioned a hard top design for the TR4 from Harringtons in Bournemouth, and had around 50 of them built with blue-printed engines and two jump seats in the rear (for VERY short people!) as well as lots of other up-market bits and pieces. They were expensive compared to a standard TR4 but sold well, and one or two still show up at car shows to this day.

Monday 29th July 2024

I have started building the  1/72 Gloster Gladiator Eland floatpane but I'm using the spare parts from the Brengun Supermarine Spitfire MkVb plus the floats. The Spitfire might get the skis.
Painting has started on five of my assembled builds as I have managed to find Hataka US Army Desert Sand and a couple of Ammo acrylic paint.

My eye drops are now on prescription Hylo-Forte it's the same stuff as I have been buying over the counter at my local pharmacy for dry eyes.
I'm enjoying the sunshine whilst listening to the radio.

Friday 2nd August 2024

I didn't get much sleep last night so today will take in a walk with a snooze in the afternoon. I can't believe that I've got another three contenders for the Memorial Group Build, I usually struggle with just the one.

I received an email yesterday from the college, they need a passport size photo and my signature so that they can send it off as proof for SIA application which is currently running under Pearson who has a backlog of applications as far back as March 2024.
I'm in no rush to return to work having pencilled in the winter or early 2025, although I have to admit that my weekly shop does vary from month to month with the increasing high prices unless there's a deal or special offer, even the food banks are feeling the pinch.

Sunday 4th August 2024

On the workbench the 1/72 Westland Sea Knight is almost in the finishing stages, likewise the Airfix 1/144 Princess Margaret hovercraft has two coats of British Air Force green acrylic paint, so has the 1/72 An-2UR floatpane and the 'Green Goddess ' Supermarine Spitfire Eland (found some USAF decals).
The 1/72 Gloster Gladiator Eland has had a coat of lacquer (it's supposed to be clear but it's has a glossy finish).

Saturday 10th August 2024

I need to do another workbench top clearance in the search for missing parts. The Memorial Group Build entries are almost finished just a few paint touching ups

Some of my decals when dipped in warm water disintegrate or go milky then fall apart which is very frustrating, so a few of my builds will be sponsored by the oil industry.
PSR continues on the Shelf Queens edging closer to the paint stage. My supplies of acrylic paint are running out, although I do have enamel paint but no thinners. The brushes can be washed out under the kitchen sink taps and left to dry on the draining board.

I think it's time to play with my 00 gauge trains,I think that I have enough track for two circuits and the energy to get back up again without using a chair from the floor. I might buy some N gauge bridges for my Hogwarts Castle Hotel complex.

Feeling a bit tired after clearing and moping the floors yesterday as I managed to do it all in one session rather than having a few breaks in between each room.

My sister has arrived back from her holiday in Mexico, Playacar Cancan, Mexico City and a few days in Miami before the flight home to Truro. I got a couple of tops as a birthday present.

 

Sunday 11th August 2024

I didn't get much sleep last night, spent most of it watching Junkyard Digs on YouTube and Dashcams, roundabouts, cutting people up and ignoring the traffic lights.
I didn't find the clear cockpit canopy for the Buckeye,after the workbench tidy up but did find a roll of fine masking tape. My acrylic paint supply is down to 6 tubs which will be interesting in different shades of silver.
I'm calling the four Memorial Group Builds finished, just need to upload the photos.
A snooze after lunch should do the trick.