Well done mate, just don't push yourself to hard

Thursday 17th October 2024

You know I said that I wouldn't be buying anything related to whiffery during November, well I have changed my mind. The umber brown Pullman Cream Tea Express needs to be finished so I can run it around my temporary track. Having seen a few of the photos from the Bachmann set my pair doesn't look out of place. They just need a few tweaks plus the decals. The roof on my set has been painted gun metal and I did stumble on two center coaches during the wee hours of this morning on eBay although the alternative is a HST coach as the Hornby Junior coach just doesn't look right and is a lot lower in proportion.

As to the Wizarding World 3D Hogwarts Castle (Hotel) project my idea of adding interior lights isn't too far from the smaller kits already available plus I don't have a Christmas tree at the moment but I have thought about getting a projector as seen on some of the YouTube videos of the 1/24 scale model at Leavesden Studios.
I've seen a few 3D football stadium kits which could be useful to convert into a Quidditch pitch and with a TT scale or N gauge train set running around it, this will look very impressive. Its a coffee table idea, once I convert the closet into a walk-in wardrobe.

Saturday 19th October 2024

It's official my Door Supervisor Licence badge arrived this morning. I sent my employer an email yesterday and I will send them another with a photo of my new badge, just got to wait for the wheels in motion to happen at their end.
Still got about two weeks worth of medication so this will be the last free batch. I've got a Universal Credit meeting with my new work coach next Friday afterwards I think that I will celebrate with a sit down Chinese meal. Got my eye test to look forward to and I should have a reply for when my doctor's appointment is.

Feels strange having achieved my goal, once I get back into a routine taking it easy. That's why I have asked for a three day week to start off with. If I overdo it, it's back to hospital.

More ideas for the next GB, although they will be based around some of my previous builds or those that I wanted to build.

I've been reading The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child. This was given to me whilst I was in hospital back in May 2021. I still haven't finished reading it. It's finally getting interesting. Reminds me a bit of those fly-drive holidays that I had back in the late 1980s in Florida and Phoenix..There's the official route with the toll roads or the 'I wonder what's down there ' route. No I didn't pay any toll fees but ended up in the middle of nowhere or a town without a name on the map.
I still have Europe to explore and parts of the UK, so there's a lot to look forward to. A new chapter begins.

Well done Mac.
 

Quote from: McColm on October 19, 2024, 03:34:17 AMI've been reading The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child. This was given to me whilst I was in hospital back in May 2021. I still haven't finished reading it. It's finally getting interesting.

It's brilliant, but then all of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books are, one of my FAVE authors. 

Thanks Guys 

Well done mate 

Sunday 20th October 2024

I haven't done any whiffery today, it will be tools down until Friday. However I have been browsing on a couple of sites that sell model kits & accessories.
 The F-15 Eagle was never used as a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft although I read somewhere that the Japanese did fit a camera pod to it. I have tried to use the RF-18 Hornet camera grafted to the F-15 nosecone but it didn't seem to work, maybe the pod from the North American RA-5C would work.
Then there's the USAF variant of the A5-B proposed but not taken up, I'm thinking Wild Weasel.
 As to the Polar War GB well trains usually run on track either below or from above, trams run on track or wheels and trolley buses wheels with electrical pylons so a hovertrain/sea-train should be possible.
I know someone will tell me that this has already been built and tested  but not the way I'm going to build it.
The Hovertrain requires a track either conventional or experimental mine won't have this, it will look like a DMU with an inflatable skirt, steering using tail fins and jet pods fitted towards the rear of the power car. Keeping it in a straight line with the help of GPS. It could be a forward command post when stationery having the other coaches kitted out with accommodation or sleeping bunks. Maybe a Arctic snow scene.
 Still got to work out the power source. I've still got a few pieces of the 1/144 Airfix Hovercraft let over but they won't be enough but I have been itching to try making a few more parts from resin.

Monday 21st October 2024

The wheels are now in motion with the Kingdom Services Group ,HR has updated their files and arrangements are being made to find me a manager who will explain to me what work they have available.
I can't put in a uniform request until I know what site I'm working on but I do know who to contact when this has been done.

I think that I will finish reading my book until I have any other news.

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

The 1/72 Shorts Serpentdyne is undergoing a face-lift, the original nose section has been cleaned up. As I don't have any glue, dry testing with other parts from the spares will create the clamshell doors. Just need to find suitable hinges.
As to the 1/144 Shorts Seal MR.1, PSR until the filler ran out plus a change to the rear engine. It's not there anymore. Parts from the Airfix 1/144 Hovercraft will form an air cushion for the landing gear.

I have polished my black leather shoes, cotton wool and black high gloss polish with a small amount of water in the lid. It all came back to me. Yes one shoe looks better than the other.
I'll have a go at doing some ironing tomorrow with a travel clothes steamer.

The hovertrain idea isn't going to work but a Polar Land-Train would be an easier option as I can use the Corgi Chub Pathfinder fire truck as the donor.

Sounds like progress. Since it appears to involve the government it's bound to be slow. Hang in there!

Quote from: kerick on October 22, 2024, 08:15:59 PMSounds like progress. Since it appears to involve the government it's bound to be slow. Hang in there!

I have my badge so I can return to work it's just getting a site that's in the London area. I can catch a bus that can take me into the city centre, or walk under the River Thames to Canary Wharf or London City Airport. I don't think HR has read my CV. I don't fancy retail ,I'm more front of house or fire control.
I'll give it a few more weeks and if there's nothing suitable I will ask for my P45 and try my luck elsewhere. I have a few contacts in the security sector.

Thursday 24th October 2024

The invasion of the ladybirds into my flat is steadily increasing as they can get through the seals of the double glazing.
I have spoken with my doctor and I will be attending the surgery tomorrow at 11:20am afterwards I have a Universal Credit meeting with my Work Coach at 1:30pm. Its all go or no go.
I'm still trying to read my book but I keep being interrupted by my fellow students as they want to earn some money before their security badges arrive. So I have sent them the Royal Mail Group website as they are recruiting staff in the sorting offices for the holiday period.
 Tools down as the filler has finished, I can't get any more out of the tube.
I have removed the Shorts Serpentdyne as I feel that the Italeri kit is a better option, I would opt for the Revell Blohm & Voss BV-222 but the kits are very expensive the nose is separate to the fuselage although there's always the vacuform kit, just need to change the wings. I wonder if this would fit over a C-130 or vice versa.
More whiffery ideas so I must be getting better but I haven't finished the last lot yet.
Decals must put an order in for Freightdog .
 On eBay another Pullman might be on the way if I win on Saturday

Friday 25th October 2024

My contracts manager has arranged for me to be holiday cover starting on the 10th November working at the London Headquarters of the Coca-Cola Group. I will be covering a night shift four on four off.
After a consultation with my doctor, he has booked me for a ultrasound scan as there's some swelling on the back of my legs up by the knee area. The fluid can be drained and there's an operation if the condition gets worse.
I have rescheduled my Universal Credit Work Coach meeting for next week as I was feeling extremely tired after coming back from the doctors surgery, besides the number 177 but was rerouted.

Saturday 26th October 2024

British summer time ends tonight/tomorrow morning. All those digital devices will automatically jump backwards by an hour which leaves with my watch and clock to adjust.
I didn't win the Triang Midland Blue Pullman dummy power car and the coach on eBay but ended up with two brake coaches from the Triang Pullman umber & cream set number 79. Plus the 00 gauge Dunstan Station.
This means with the arrival of the white Pullman decals and BR chevrons I'll be able to finish the 'Cream Tea Express '.
I'm hoping that the stickers that come in the 'Paint your own Hogwarts Express locomotive ' are the same size as either 00 or ho scale as I might be able to use them as well.

My stomach has shrunk, I usually can fill two plastic containers after a Chinese takeaway but this time its three and I didn't change my regular order.
A walk to the Iceland Food Depot will come in handy, "winner winner chicken dinner " still at £2.50 that's a bargain.

It's been a rough night, fever, nausea and the trots. This time I made it to the bathroom, all the way until my left leg fell asleep as I tried to get up and wash my hands. I need to invent a bed that fits in the bath tub for such an occasion. Now that my insides are clear the insomnia is back.
During the day I have been painting the now umber Triang Midland Blue Pullman aka The Cream Tea Express using the Grey/Blue livery as a reference. The Foxtail decals arrived but I haven't applied them yet as one of the cabs has a broken window strut so both of them have been removed so that the ends look the same. I might be able to paint the hand rails silver or replace them with fine wire at a later date. I will drill out the front lamps and add clear plastic lenses.
Going back to O level Physics I can build a circuit board for the lighting, still not comfortable in adding pickups points on the running gear so batteries will be used.
I'll probably end up painting the the two Pullman coaches in the same colours as the two units. I have noticed that several different colour schemes have been used for the British Pullman on different lines by different companies. My scheme covers several of them.