Wednesday 21st December 2022

 Today is the shortest day in the UK calendar, it's also putting me into uncharted territory as two builds are very close to being finished. Not only that put forward into a Group Build where the Whifferteers will cast their votes next year.
As someone said, 'it's not the winning that's important,  it's the taking part. '
 Then there's the transporter, it's not going to plan. Yes it will be finished in time but I'm not happy with it. I think that I have 'bitten off more than I can chew'.
On the creativity side it's a challenge but if you have driven or been around trucks it's missing a few crucial parts. It's a bodge.
 Where's the snow gone,  two and a half weeks, then some rain and it's all gone.
A very productive year for me,  reunited with the stash although I think that there's a box missing with my long handle razor saw. Ah well I can always get another one.
It's the time to think of the less fortunate ones, stuck in hospital or confined to bed unable to do any whiffs apart from those in their heads.

It's Christmas Eve and all is quiet in Charlton Southeast London, I haven't done much as I was expecting a few deliveries which didn't happen. Presents from family, I'm sure that they will arrive within the next couple of weeks.
My bank account is frozen until my new debit card arrives just in time for the sales.
In 2023 I intend to use the Sanger 1/72 Avro Lincoln B.2 and Avro Shackleton MR.1. There may well be a Avro Shackleton airliner using Avro York decals.
B-29 freighter or turbofan variant.
I have decided on a 00/ho gauge track plan from the Peco 8th Edition April 1998a combination of plan 5 and plan 10. Once the ground work has been done.
 I think by the summer of 2023 I should be able to use power tools, my woodwork skills haven't left me.

Sunday 1st January 2023

As JJ Cale said ' I have the green light baby,  I have another year '.
The start of my second year in my council flat in Charlton Southeast London, its warm and comfortable. The pantry is well stocked.
I have to thank the residents of Charlton for putting on a great firework display which started at 10pm and yes Monday is another Bank Holiday there's another one on May 8th for the coronation of the King.
New years day in the past had me watching the parade up in London or going to the Temple with my dad,then having a Chinese buffet afterwards.
I know that I will get better, stronger and the pain will eventually go away,, hey I might even finish my current builds, however I don't think that the transporter will be finished in time for the GB deadline. Well I have two finished builds.

Quote from: McColm on January 01, 2023, 03:18:01 AMThe start of my second year in my council flat in Charlton Southeast London, its warm and comfortable. The pantry is well stocked.

Which is a pretty good start to the year, have a good one 

Quote from: NARSES2 on January 01, 2023, 03:28:32 AM

Quote from: McColm on January 01, 2023, 03:18:01 AMThe start of my second year in my council flat in Charlton Southeast London, its warm and comfortable. The pantry is well stocked.

Which is a pretty good start to the year, have a good one 

Thanks, it's a very quiet start to the new year.

Monday 2nd January 2022

With the logistics group build ending soon I have been thinking of the theme cargo/freighter aircraft. In the annuals of time there used to a whole bunch of conversion kits. I have come across the Handley Page Halifax Halton conversion set from Blackbird Models, there's also Avro Lancastrian, Lincolnian they use the same kit nose and tail ends, the C-87 (Privateer Matchbox or Revell kit/ twin tail fins for the Liberator), Shorts Stirling but I haven't seen the Boeing C-108 Flying Fortress set recently.

Quote from: McColm on January 02, 2023, 02:00:37 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on January 01, 2023, 03:28:32 AM

Quote from: McColm on January 01, 2023, 03:18:01 AMThe start of my second year in my council flat in Charlton Southeast London, its warm and comfortable. The pantry is well stocked.

Which is a pretty good start to the year, have a good one 

Thanks, it's a very quiet start to the new year.

A lovely start, Stephen! Take care, and keep up the good work! 

Tuesday 2nd January 2023

Thanks for everyone's support, it is really appreciated.  On the drive to get most of my started builds finished I have ordered a 5-tier shelving unit. The first of many, at least I can have a space for my two finished builds.
As for my 00 gauge train layout, the pieces will be bought separately. I already have an oval track but I can start to add extra left or right sidings to it each month starting in February. Then come up with a baseboard at a later date.
As for now it's buying some rattle cans and acrylic paints.

Thursday 5th January 2023

Today might be my productive day so far this year,  the BAe 146 did have a concept of being a twin-engine turbofan variant and having had a rummage in the spares box I came across four resin CFM turbofans in 1/72 scale I think that they are from the Combat Kit E-3D conversion set or upgrade set. I'm not too sure if the previous owner sold the whole set or just the engines.
The 1/72 BAe 146 AEW.1 Sky Fox prototype will get two CFM engines whilst it's own engines will be cut to fit the BAC Black Crow.
The Daytona Transporter crane will be painted as my attempt to weather it didn't work out.

Saturday 7th January 2023

I've been resting up from my cardiac gym session on Friday. Extra workouts using different muscles, which means everything hurts the next day.
So I have been watching videos on how to make resin moulds as I keep finding the odd one part engines and with the prices of model kits going up it makes sense to try this out.
I've always wanted to find a way to put a square peg in a round hole, like a turboprop Connie and Sunderland, then the Neptune without having to buy a new wing. That sort of thing.
Some of the moulds will use plastic parts and others carved from balsa wood, now that I have the time to experiment.
It will be handy to have some propellers and turbofan engines. Car mirrors and windscreen wipers.
Larger parts might be cast in sections,  I have an idea for the Avro Lincoln  fuselage but I'm not too sure if it will work.

Monday 9th January 2023

I had my Cardiac gym assessment today, my instructor is very pleased with my performance and has given me permission to train on my own. My blood pressure is 130 over 80 which is very good and I have lost 5kgs so my goal is to get down to 16 stone which is achievable by November 2023.
I worked out longer and harder today with a couple of different exercises as I have had trouble using the chest press.
My concentration has improved as I managed to stay awake during the Hornby 2023 video, TT:120 did get a brief mention but the digital control system was a bit drawn out ,fascinating if you are into that sort of thing. All I know is that Hornby prices are expensive even for a wagon ,now they are going to launch the Deltic DP1 with lights and sound.
For me,  this will be a secondhand Class 55 with the Dapol kit and my trusty razor saw, files and filler.

Glad your making progress 

Wednesday 11th January 2023

I assembled one part of the racking, so it is a three tier shelf unit. The connection piece to extend into a five tier shelving unit has me baffled but the pack did come with some shelving stiffeners so in theory it could form the base of my model train layout but for now it has seven almost finished builds and two finished builds.
Another rack will provide an extra shelf,  it's the boltless shelving. I have seen something else that will probably be a better option.
The sweat was pouring out of me and left me knackered for the rest of the afternoon.
 'The why did I ever start this build and what's this supposed to be?' Followed by ' I never knew I built this ', has got me thinking that 2023 will be a fruitful year for me.
A few incomplete kits will be bought as my spares become depleted  or the heap of "I wonder what that part is for?"
I also intend to experiment with a few moulds, I know I have said this before but now is the right time and after a tidy up I will have the space once the racking and shelving is in place.

Saturday 14th January 2023

I felt really tired today must have been from my second cardiac gym session of the week, so no whiffery. Wow the Logistics Group Build has been extended to the 14th February,  looks like the Draytona Transporter might be finished on time.
I have been watching the X-Files I'm on series 10, with naps in-between.
I'll start tidying up my hobby room tomorrow as the council are coming next week to fix the radiators. I think it's just the thermal controller that needs replacing.
Seems strange having my own place, the traffic from the A206 in the kitchen and the quietness of the close/cul-de-sac apart from when Charlton Athletic are playing at home or when the trains go by. Dreams do come true, so I will be writing out my list of things that I want to achieve in 2023.
Stay safe and take care.

Quote from: McColm on January 14, 2023, 01:03:58 PMSeems strange having my own place, the traffic from the A206 in the kitchen and the quietness of the close/cul-de-sac apart from when Charlton Athletic are playing at home or when the trains go by. Dreams do come true, so I will be writing out my list of things that I want to achieve in 2023.
Stay safe and take care.

And you sir