Sunday 29th January 2023

The Austin-Healey Sprite kit went well,  yes the steering wheel is missing and there's no glazing for the windscreen. I'm thinking racing car, semi-circluar windscreen for the driver.
As to the resin Lincoln Barris, the lumps and bumps behind the seats have been sanded flat.I have found some fake wooden card. Not a flatbed but a Ute/van. A wooden stirrer or lollipop stick would make the tailgate.
This garage doesn't have all the parts, but I have found a shoebox which I can use.
It's odd that Dapol Kitmaster doesn't do the 00/ho model kit of the Class A1/A4, as it's the centenary of the Flying Scotsman,  the Battle of Britain Class could be a substitute as it's also the 80th year of 617 Squadron and I'm also thinking of building the Evening Star kit as well.

Quote from: McColm on January 29, 2023, 01:56:20 PMIt's odd that Dapol Kitmaster doesn't do the 00/ho model kit of the Class A1/A4, as it's the centenary of the Flying Scotsman,  the Battle of Britain Class could be a substitute as it's also the 80th year of 617 Squadron and I'm also thinking of building the Evening Star kit as well.

Kitmaster themselves never did do any of the Gresley Pacifics, although they did plan an A3 as 'Flying Scotsman' herself. When Airfix bought the whole company all those plans were scrapped and Airfix didn't add to the range at all, and indeed shrank it. When Airfix sold that range to Dapol exactly the same thing happened, no additions to the range were made, so they only have what they've already got.

See here for much more info on the whole Kitmaster story.

http://kitmaster.org.uk/

Dapol are far more interested in powered OO and N gauge models now as they're more profitable than 'mere plastic kits'.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on January 29, 2023, 03:11:24 PM

Quote from: McColm on January 29, 2023, 01:56:20 PMIt's odd that Dapol Kitmaster doesn't do the 00/ho model kit of the Class A1/A4, as it's the centenary of the Flying Scotsman,  the Battle of Britain Class could be a substitute as it's also the 80th year of 617 Squadron and I'm also thinking of building the Evening Star kit as well.

Kitmaster themselves never did do any of the Gresley Pacifics, although they did plan an A3 as 'Flying Scotsman' herself. When Airfix bought the whole company all those plans were scrapped and Airfix didn't add to the range at all, and indeed shrank it. When Airfix sold that range to Dapol exactly the same thing happened, no additions to the range were made, so they only have what they've already got.

See here for much more info on the whole Kitmaster story.

http://kitmaster.org.uk/

Dapol are far more interested in powered OO and N gauge models now as they're more profitable than 'mere plastic kits'.

Thanks Kit,  the Pullman and Pullman kitchen coach would have been great to build. The  plastic locos are great for rusty projects on any model railway layout.

Quote from: McColm on January 29, 2023, 04:11:35 PMThanks Kit,  the Pullman and Pullman kitchen coach would have been great to build. The  plastic locos are great for rusty projects on any model railway layout.

The 00 modellers at my club do just that, their 'scrap yard' is wall to wall old Kitmasters. 

I've motorised a few of them in my time, but back in the Kitmaster days rather than Airfix moulded ones. They really need new chassis frames much of the time as the plastic ones aren't really stiff enough, but are OK on the smaller locos. The first one I did was the Italian 0-6-0 tank and that worked a treat.

I've still got a large number of the kits in The Loft, and I'd LOVE to motorise the Garratt one day!

Tuesday 31st January 2023

It's been a very productive day. I managed to construct four tier rack unit, so all those gym sessions have paid off. I know where I went wrong on the previous unit but with the leftover parts I can add another shelf to one of the other racks.

After a wash from all the exertion, sanding and puty. I have found two stands for the YF-111X and Avro Golden Arrow which now has a new canopy making it a single seater with a few lumps and bumps. The Shorts Merlin AEW.1 has also been sanded whilst the Westland Ravernclaw CH.1  (former Heliplane) received three new windows .

If my winning bid on eBay is successful I will use the vacform Lockheed Electra on the Constellation, if not it's a Boeing B--29A and it's guns plus weapons bays.

Thursday 2nd February 2023

I have come up with a plan for 2023, not to buy any new kits but parts or broken models. The aim is to finish off my current builds. The exception will be Group Builds or if I win the Reader's Digest lottery other lotteries are available.
I know that I am improving on my upper body strength and hope to be able to up some shelves running along the longest wall in my lounge by the Autumn. The shelving units aren't heavy duty but I will be replacing the shelves with plywood at a later date.
My plans for a 00/ho model railway are on hold, until I have sorted out my hobby room. It must be an optical illusion as the stash doesn't seem to be going down as fast as I thought 🤔.  Another raid I think.

Quote from: McColm on February 02, 2023, 02:24:03 AMThe aim is to finish off my current builds.

How many of us have said that in the past, and how often   

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 02, 2023, 05:27:52 AM

Quote from: McColm on February 02, 2023, 02:24:03 AMThe aim is to finish off my current builds.

How many of us have said that in the past, and how often   

I'm determined to do it,  I need to clear the work bench and create some space for the 'I'd  love to build one of those and previous attempts but were scrapped '.
I still need to have a rummage to find what I have leftover and I don't have the space for this yet.

Thursday 9th February 2023

I hate having insomnia,  another build ruined beyond salvage the next day. Well that's the end of the Sea Stratofortress project for now Build something in a smaller scale.
Using a rattle can at 3am in the morning is proving to be a better option,  the BAC Lightning Thunderbolt and the Avro-Grumman P-45 Charlton have been coated with grey primer. They will get a second coat in the places that I missed.
I'm hoping that I have enough primer for the HS Andover AEW and HP Jetstream AEW.

Sunday 13th February 2023

I've just realised that I will be 57 years old this year,  I'll have to rewrite my bucket list as I have achieved most of my goals that I set myself. Being in the right place at the right time and the ability to blag has served me well. So it's  the  small or the little things in life for now .
The primer is going on well and showing up the imperfections that I have overlooked. I need to invest a beginners air brush.

Monday 14th February 2023

Happy valentines day to all the whifferters,  I feel knackered from going to the food bank in Welling on Saturday. . All those tin cans, two large shopping bags full has worn me out. Besides I didn't sleep too well over the weekend. I know 'take it easy '.
I will be doing some research on the 1950s Group Build, got to use a smaller scale than 1/72 for this as nearly all my favourite aircraft are covered in this era. With a little bit of help from the book American Secret Projects 1945-1974 Bombers, Attack and Anti-submarine Aircraft.
A lot of these subjects have been built before, so it's a challenge to come up with something fresh.

Quote from: McColm on February 13, 2023, 02:50:04 AMMonday 14th February 2023

Erm, the 14th is tomorrow......................

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 13, 2023, 03:09:37 AM

Quote from: McColm on February 13, 2023, 02:50:04 AMMonday 14th February 2023

Erm, the 14th is tomorrow......................

Not necessarily in Whifworld 😂

Quote from: kitbasher on February 13, 2023, 05:39:45 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 13, 2023, 03:09:37 AM

Quote from: McColm on February 13, 2023, 02:50:04 AMMonday 14th February 2023

Erm, the 14th is tomorrow......................

Not necessarily in Whifworld 😂

I must be very tired, if I can get the date wrong.

So it's Tuesday 14th February 2023

After all that sleep I would have thought I'd have enough energy to last the day but I still feel knackered. I've run out of primer so the 1/24 Lincoln Barris Ute can be worked on when it's dried out,  the 1/144 Shorts Nightwatchman AEW.1, 1/72 BAC Lightning Thunderbolt and the underneath of the Avro Golden Arrow.
I  found two complete kits that haven't been opened; 1/72  Academy Grumman F-14A Tomcat and the Airfix 1/76 RAF Recovery Set plus part of the Airfix BAC TSR.2.  In what looks like 1/50 scale a resin Eurofighter with conformal fuel tanks,  I'm not too sure if all the parts are correct as there's no landing gear but most of the key parts fit snug apart from the engine air intake. Could be a desktop display model.