What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Next Friday the nation remembers the D Day Landings, for some it will be their last visit to Gold Beach whilstothers retread the footsteps of dads, uncles and grandfathers.
I was fortunate to go on a War Tour of Pegasus Bridge and the surrounding district, its hard to believe that these young men flew the gliders in darkness to land as close to the bridge as possible. The landing sites are clearly marked out.
My step father told me that Saving Private Ryan , the first ten minutes was the closest to reality and yet against all odds he got his troops clear and over the ridge. The longest day shows the chaos, of troops and equipment in the wrong places.
Almost fifty years on and history repeating itself.

[McColm]

Well the World Cup is nearly upon us and yet I feel the British Nation will be let down once again, sorry I don't feel excited.
If they got the Army or Royal Marines to train them and put some pride back in the squad. They seem to me too pampered.
I'm sure all those non football fans will be catered for. But hey there is the Tour de France in London on Monday 7th July ending in the Mall.
If they could arrange an Air Race along the Thames using World War I or WWII aircraft or replicas with modern engines but styled on WWII fighters that would be worth watching.
That would be a good dream seeing a B-52 being thrown about on those tight turns dipping it's wing in the Thames. Didn't someone do a barrel roll in a Boeing 707 or was it a 747. Did a loop the loop in a simulator at Heathrow Airport BA pilot training. Ah well the start of three weeks of non whiffing. Got withdrawal symptoms already.
Sorting out what kits to sell is too hard, as they aren't the type that can be found "off the rack". Bite the bullet and start again at a later date.
Keep the heavies, cars and started builds, sci-fi.

[PR19_Kit]

What 'World Cup' is that then?

[McColm]

Ron Manager, jumpers for goal posts . Oh the heat!

[McColm]

I've always thought HM Customs should have its own fighters or helicopter gunships. Similar to the US Coast Guard, but that's just me.
Its good to see the Airfix A05701 D-Day gun emplacement is back in 1/72 scale £11.90, now all they have to do is release an Avro Lincoln to compete the Tiger Force.
Been finding all sorts of kits on my tidy up. Didn't know I had so many. Got to do some of those car builds as I've found a large shoe box which will make an ideal show room. The weather is changing one minute glorious sunshine and the next showers.
Going to pay RAF Hendon a visit, apart from the model show I haven't been back for years.

[McColm]

 One week to go then I can start Whiffing again. Mostly painting and interiors. It's amazing that you can see so much detail in the cockpit of a C-97 compared to that of a C-130.
Prices for the 1/72 Lockheed Neptune seem to be going through the roof, must get a couple more as I've had a few inquiries about building replicas of my model.
Loads of kitbashing ideas, to reduce the stash.
Last two weeks in August booked as leave. One week down in Falmouth Cornwall. Should have a few more builds for the Hendon Show next year.

[McColm]

Easying back into Whiffing, picked up my craft knife. Felt like an old friend. Still lots of sanding to do to get to the painting stage.
Daft weather reports one minute they say rain, still muggy at night. The next sunshine, were did all these flying insects come from. Been an explosion of moths down Kent.
Good job that I will miss the Nottingham Carnival this year, down in Falmouth. Great model shop in Truro to check out. The one in Falmouth closed down.
Still finding kits that I have no idea why I bought them. Put them in a pile.
Checked out eBay, two 1/72 Vacformed C-141 kits and a Bristol Brittaina up for grabs, pricey.
Back to boxing up kits on Tuesday, should be finished Tuesday week.
There is some footage of this years RAF Hendon model show on YouTube unfortunately the Whatif stand wasn't shown.

[McColm]

Well I finally found a place to sell my stash at a decent prices and the ads are free.
Sent lists to KitKrazy and Kingkit. Disappointed in KitKrazy offer, so I'll wait until I hear from Kingkit and see.Meanwhile I have put two ads up on the preloved site. At least you can put a bid on and I've set a minium price.
You can still message me if you want to view the stash-cash only for any sales.
Tomorrow I'll sort the stash into kit names eg  Airfix, Revell...
Thanks Jester for your advice.

[Gondor]

Don't forget that any retailer you sell to has to make a profit on what they buy or it's not worth their while. Also the condition alters things quite a bit. Unopened bags or sealed boxed will get you a higher price than those that have had parts removed from their sprue's/runners to check for fit etc.
Selling them yourself means you only have to cover your overheads and gives you a chance to recoup your initial outlay which you will probably not manage unless you are very lucky.

Gondor

[McColm]

Thanks Gondor.

[McColm]

I've found a buyer for 50 model kits from my stash and he has offered a good price, which I have accepted. The only thing is he is exhibiting at two large shows, so I'm to hold on a bit longer.

The rest are a mixture of part kits that have been picked for bits , vacformed-KC-97, HS Nimrod MR and Avro Shackleton. The two Revell Br1150 German Navy anniversary, Canadair water bomber, Playfix Tu-20 and VC10 look-a-like, Eastern Bristol 1/96 ,12 1/24 cars, Zvezda 1/144 Boeing 747-8(got a big tear in the box lid), AMT B-52G and RC-135V, TB-52A (1/72). About 20 kits.
Should be enough to finish off the started builds and the Whiffs to come. Will buy a cheap smart phone so I can put a few kits on eBay. Kept the Boeing 1/200 SST, I know the built kits go for over a hundred pounds.

[McColm]

I've always thought that the Br1150 Atlantic is underrated. Sure the two engines are no match for the P-3 Orion or the Nimrod (when it was in service). The dipping radar is in a league of its own. Reminds me of the Lockheed Neptune.
Still got one 1/72 Revell Atlantic and some spares from another kit. I'm supposed to be on an economy drive so the Falcon EP-3 Orion conversion kit will be put on hold for now.
I did start a Whiff AEW version of the DC-6 Super Cloudmaster using Heller EC-121 Warning Star radome parts. This hasn't turned out too well, as I can't recall where the rest of the DC-6 has ended up. However the Atlantic would be an ideal substitute. If the largest radome doesn't fit underneath the fuselage, I could make a stand for it to be carried in a dorsal fashion above the fuselage similar to the Grumman E-1. Forerunner to the E-2 Hawkeye.

Found that Falcon do a vacformed Neptune canopy and there is a detailing set in resin for the cockpit. They also do the AP-2 lumps & bumps. My Neptune will look different next time it goes to Hendon.

Must get round to finish the Connie Francis. A new cockpit mounted above the fuselage. Try to lose the mat black paint. Cammo finish.

That leaves three to tinker with.

[McColm]

Been going through my mid-life crisis. July was terrible faced eviction and couldn't find a place to stay. Tried to sell my stash but kept being messed around. Finally got someone coming this Saturday, too late but at least it is money in my hand, changed to a bank that caters for poor credit and CCJs. As the one at present keeps telling me my user name doesn't exist in their system. I fill in the on line form and ping it gives me the same spelling as what I put in the system. I can never get through to the helpline desk either.
Sometimes I don't want to go to work but I must as I don't have any savings.
Can't wait until October, my pay goes upto £6.50 per hour the same rate of pay when I started in Security back in 1995.
Only another week, then two weeks holiday.
Sorry to moan, but at least I can be creative and Whiff away.

[McColm]

School is out and my niece that lives down in Falmouth Cornwall wants me to build her Professor Snapes' Potions classroom, the Gryffindor common room and the boys bedroom. Whilst her two younger brothers want me to build them a Quidditch pitch. They are fans and have the model figures. Got to get some myself to work out the scale.
This fits in with my Potter World train set layout in 00/Ho scale. Although Dove Town is mentioned in the films and in the books, there is no drawings or physical reference to it. Hogsmeade station can be built out of Horny kits or Metcalf card kits. Diagon Alley scratch built or adapted SuperQuick card kits and decorative plastic accessories.
I've seen card scratch built Hogwarts Castle, still no plastic kit on the market although there are other plastic castle kits available and card building castle kits. I've built the Airfix 1/76 Sherwood Forest Castle. Three walls, entrance with drawbridge and castlekeep. I painted this in a stone affect. I'll use the SuperQuick range and adapt the buildings as and when needed.
I know the boys will keep changing their minds as they have just discovered Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.
In between finishing off started builds, I'll work on the layout, I could add the static maglev set on an upper level, so it looks like its just pulled into a station. Peco has similar layouts.

[McColm]

 Whoops, came across some vital parts that should be in the 60 kits I've just sold this evening- the fuselage section of the Revell 1/144 C-17.
There are nine started builds in different stages, one 1/144 Sea Shadow Hovercraft , 1/96 DH Comet 4D, the others are in 1/72: EC-97 AEW, Short Super Stirling, Short Warrior, Fairchild Phoenix, Trivulrod (Trident, Vulcan and Nimrod kitbash).
These have made it on the bench. The two others are the Connie Francis and the Orion jet AEW either Dormin or Noiro.