Well the man cave set up seems to be working well. 

Have since added a waste bin, plus successfully clambered up the loft ladder with a cuppa in one hand.

Small tub of water for PSR purposes lives up there now, will occasionally need to change the water, of course.

Progress being made on the Hurricane builds, pics to follow on the whifs in due course.

At the moment I'm just about resisting starting a new build for the Polar Wars GB - I do my best to support GBs but mostly end up adding to the part build mountain and I really would like to get the Hurricanes done before starting anything new!  What I have in mind for the Polar Wars GB is a straight build in whif markings....may yet happen.

Have decided 2025's modelling will include a long-planned FROG Shackleton rebuild.  The end result will be a whif.

When you live a lot closer to grandkids than you once did, you should expect to become head of the family Toy Hospital.

So when one of the grandsons broke the leg off my son's 25+ year old Buzz Lightyear, surgery was called for.  Hip relplacement not entirely successful but the knee still bends and Buzz can still strike manly poses:

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He can also camp it up a bit:

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And blag a ride on My Little Pony:

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Quote from: kitbasher on December 04, 2024, 09:57:55 AMWhen you live a lot closer to grandkids than you once did, you should expect to become head of the family Toy Hospital.

So when one of the grandsons broke the leg off my son's 25+ year old Buzz Lightyear, surgery was called for. 

It's all  part of the grandparent contract.  With grand-daughters, my work is putting limbs back on dolls  but I do turn up at the village  repair café on the first Saturday of every month too.  My jobs there are  "anything that needs soldered"  and  (as an accomplice of Bob and Derek)    "having a go at completely  lost causes"

  

  

I've been doing this for a long time around the house with my toys, my nieces toys and Mums jewellery. This week it's been the Christmas decorations - a trio of wooden soldiers glued together with a tiny amount of cheap glue in a low-pay factory in Asia. Quick dab of Revell tube glue should hold them together for a while!

I also had to repair 'Money Cow' after another grandson had hurled it across a room 😂

If your hobby involves connecting small parts together then your family will see you as being capable of mending anything they have broken.

Quote from: zenrat on December 07, 2024, 03:41:26 AMIf your hobby involves connecting small parts together then your family will see you as being capable of mending anything they have broken.

I think you may be right!  And Buzz has broken his leg again so more mending.

Anyway, up to The Smoke yesterday for the London model show, what's become a traditional early Xmas lunch with Chris and Nick in the nearby pub, followed by my first stewarding stint in The Globe for a while (courtesy of house move, etc).

As Chris notes in his blog, the show was rather disappointing but great as always to catch up with Chris and Nick there.  Also didn't buy anything but thanks again Nick for honchoing the Telford Invader, Corsair and resin bits from Lee.  Thanks also Chris for the Hurricane. 

Yep, lunch + beer was good and The Globe session was lightened up no end by having to help Hannah Waddingham find her seat.  Tall and very glam even in a parka and baseball cap.

Her I mean, not me (don't wear baseball caps 😂).

Quote from: kitbasher on December 08, 2024, 02:55:50 AM......and The Globe session was lightened up no end by having to help Hannah Waddingham find her seat.  Tall and very glam even in a parka and baseball cap.

Oh dear, but I suppose SOMEone had to do it, eh Dave?   

Good to hear that the bag of bits has arrived.  Can't quite remember what's in there, but iirc pP1131 tail feathers, plus 1121RN and P1129.  There may have been some early Swift ones too.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 08, 2024, 04:25:41 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on December 08, 2024, 02:55:50 AM......and The Globe session was lightened up no end by having to help Hannah Waddingham find her seat.  Tall and very glam even in a parka and baseball cap.

Oh dear, but I suppose SOMEone had to do it, eh Dave?   

Deployed my best Hugh Grant telephone voice.

Quote from: The Wooksta! on December 08, 2024, 07:18:03 AMGood to hear that the bag of bits has arrived.  Can't quite remember what's in there, but iirc pP1131 tail feathers, plus 1121RN and P1129.  There may have been some early Swift ones too.

If the Swift bits were rivetted then yes they were in the bag.

I've a fair amount of resin stuff from you now, Lee.  I feel one or two Frankenwooksta Aviation creations coming on.

Blimey, barely 51 weeks to Christmas!  Or just a few days to the next Orthodox Christmas - take your pick.

And on that jolly note may I wish you all a belated happy and prosperous 2025.  Avoiding modelling-related New Year resolutions, however it remains my objective to finish off as many part-builds as possible.  Also balance purchases with stash reductions.  Finally (and most importantly) enjoy my modelling.

I've a couple of long-standing whif ideas plus some real-world builds that I want to bring to fruition this year, fingers crossed they'll all happen.  May join the local modelling club (never been in a modelling club before).

Anyway.....

Well, what a week. 

Progressed a handful of part builds, more on each in due course.  One is very close to completion - yay!

Gallbladder op finally happened.  All went well and recuperation has facilitated aforementioned modelling.

Applied to become a volunteer with the National Coastwatch Institution.

Shocked, dismayed but not surprised by the rapid and distasteful politicisation of the UH-60/CRJ700 collision.  Lots of speculation and more than a bit of tosh in the media about what may have happened, ATC aspects, aircraft equipment, etc.  The only certainty (to me at least) is that the unprecedented political posturing and sloganeering has made the NTSB's job a lot harder.  And most likely undermined FAA morale.

EDIT: And finally, grandchild 5 (granddaughter #1) visited for the first time.  We'd briefly met 3-week old Ruby Rose just after she was born but this was our first proper meeting.

Quote from: kitbasher on January 31, 2025, 09:29:06 AMGallbladder op finally happened.  All went well and recuperation has facilitated aforementioned modelling.

Good to hear