What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

I keep finding kits that I can't remember buying or why I bought them.

Something that afflicts a lot of us occasionally and it can be quite nice to find a kit you've completely forgotten about. Unless you've just gone out and bought a second (or third etc) copy of it 

Thanks Narses2

[McColm]

Sunday 25th March 2018

Been reading and following the conversion of the Airfix E-3 Sentry into the E-8C JSTARS using the FlightPath resin and metal set.
I have the DB set which comes without the etching and aerials, although I do have some leftover parts in the various spares boxes that I could use.
I have removed the side conformal cheek radomes. The ground clearance is the main issue when the JSTARS radar is fitted which is why I have opted to carry the pod above the fuselage in a pair of stands. Similar set up to the Eeryie antenna.

[McColm]

Saturday 31st March 2018

I think that I have created a flying boat version of the Convair B-36 bomber.. Eric the Viking received some damage by one of my roommates which means that I get to build another one using the Revell Blohm and Voss BV222A Wiking and the Airfix Avro Vulcan. The landing gear will be metal SAC B-36 set.
The Wiking fuselage almost fits lengthwise , I can stretch this with the Canadair CL415. The main landing gear will be moved to the lower fuselage.

[McColm]

Sunday 1st April 2018

The 1/72 P-45 Mk V Maverick based on the Revell/Frog Avro Shackleton MR.3 with the AlleyCat Avro Shackleton MR.1 nose; vacform floats, starboard searchlight and port wingtip fuel tank. Now has the engines and twin tail fins from a Matchbox A-10. I'm going to fit a pair of contra-rotating propellers from the Northrop
YB-35 kit after painting and applying the decals.

I've got another idea for the 1/72 Academy Minicraft Boeing B-29A , adding parts from the Revell/Airfix Shackleton. I'm going to change the wings and tail for those of the Shackleton and vise versa apart from the B-29 vertical tail fin as this is a bit big on the Shackleton. The fin from a Hasegawa Lockheed Neptune will be used instead.

[McColm]

Monday 2nd April 2018

The A-10 tail fins look a bit too small on the Maverick so I changed them for the tail fins from a V-22 Osprey.
Had a delivery of a  7 draw plastic storage unit which now houses the small pieces, clear glazing, decals and popular spare parts. Going to need another one but slimmer and taller for the rest of my spare parts. Plus labels so I know what's inside.

Whilst clearing out my spare parts boxes I came across some resin parts for the 1/72 Airfix BAC TSR-2 and white metal landing gear, further finds revealed the Airfix kit as well with photo-etched metal parts.
This has been put in the "What to build next" pile. Along with a vacform Vickers Varsity fuselage, I've got a Wellington that needs restoring but I think I have a couple of B-17's wings plus landing gear lurking around.
I also found the resin Sidetracker parts for the Sea Harrier AEW. Going to use them on my de Havilland Condor instead of the JSTARS radar pod.
If it stops raining I might take a few pictures of the current builds and " I never knew that I started this".

[McColm]

Tuesday 3rd  April 2018

Disaster has struck, the Armstrong C1 has crashed , the wings have been cut down and fit over the wing of the Majestic.
The AWACS platform goes back on to the de Havilland Condor.
I've still got the vacform B-36 and I will use the remaining parts on that build although the tail  and the engines will change.

[McColm]

Thursday 5th April 2018

I've started using parts from a 1/72 Hasegawa Lockheed Neptune on the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 donor kit. I still need to paint the interior, as you can see get a really good view through the hatch that I made.
The Majestic is now looking like a proper flying boat as the new wing extensions give that droop effect. I have been testing different thicknesses of clear plastic that will be used as the roof over the passenger seats.

[McColm]

Saturday 14th April 2018

I think that I might have solved the problem of the seating arrangement on the Northrop Y/XB-35 flying wing by using the tops of the solid air freshener holder. The lid/face is deep enough and is also perforated, which makes an excellent roof when trimmed down.
Just need to buy another two. I'll reglue the center seats as you can't see them in the Revell Blohm and Voss BV222 Viking.
The wings from the Revell/Matchbox HP Victor fit on the Wiking. I'm still not happy about the air engine intake so I will make a pair of FOD covers.

[McColm]

As I have found a Airfix 1/72 Avro Vulcan in need of restoration I shall be using this with the Revell Blohm and Voss BV222.
I painted the inside of the Wiking with Lifecolor UA 548 , FS 34102,  Royal Air Force light green. Yeah I know that you can't see much through the windows, but the paint picks out the detailing especially in the cockpit area.
Whilst that was drying, I fitted the wheels on the de Havilland Condor and my curiosity got the better of me, so it now has a cargo door. Which has served a purpose by letting me add nose weight. I've come up with a floor. Although the cargo doors from the AMT RC-135 fit the interior fittings don't. May need a bit of persuasion with the saw to fit.

[McColm]

Thursday 19th April 2018

Three parcels were delivered this morning; two Sud Caravelles and a BAe Nimrod.

The Pound Shop solid air fresheners containers lids come off which is good news as some are moulded solid. All three fit the Majestic, so it's a case of giving them a good clean and adding some clear plastic to make the roof. Best not glue the clear plastic in place of until I have worked out the colour scheme.

The wings from the Hasegawa Lockheed P-3C Orion fit amazingly well on the roof of the Revell Breguet Dassault Atlantic, which sits on top of the  Italeri C-27 Spartan. With a bit of cutting the two could merge as one.

[TheChronicOne]

 

I'm going to have to pay closer attention to the "smelly good" aisle at the dolla' sto' the next time I am there.   

[McColm]

Tuesday 24th April 2018

I have been cleaning up the 1/72 Mach2  SA 321 Super Frelon helicopter.
Thought I would make the Changhe Z-18Y
Black Bat AEW &C.
I've left out a lot of interior parts in order for the two fuselage halves to fit together, which has almost worked just a few small gaps and some sanding to be done before using the filler/puty.
I'll probably go with the NOTAR arrangement and replace the main rotor. I have the Freightdog AEW SeaKing resin parts in my stash so I'll use that as well.

[McColm]

Friday 27th April 2018

I received my 00 gauge Triang Midland blue Pullman dummy and power car. The previous owner has cleaned up both units and sprayed clear gloss over the blue plastic. There's white rim boogies and one of the couplings is missing. There's slight damage on one of the window corners. Overall they look good, I haven't tested them yet on any track yet.
This brings back memories of owning the Grey and blue set with a parlour coach.
The coaches are selling at silly prices, I can recall cutting two dummy power cars to make a carriage. That's if I can find two dummy power cars that don't cost the earth.
I've managed to find an observation carriage on line, just waiting for it to arrive.
Although the thought a bright red Pullman might have been a good idea at the time, something more suttle that includes the house colours of Hogwarts or the cream and brown colour scheme.

[PR19_Kit]

The original real world Blue Pullmans had white rimmed wheels, but I doubt they stayed that way for long! 

The current production Bachman Blue Pullman sets sell for over £800, so it's not surprising the older Tri-Ang ones are going up in price. A LOT of money for a six car set!

Which observation car have you bought, I didn't know there were any still models of them still around?

[McColm]

The original real world Blue Pullmans had white rimmed wheels, but I doubt they stayed that way for long! 

The current production Bachman Blue Pullman sets sell for over £800, so it's not surprising the older Tri-Ang ones are going up in price. A LOT of money for a six car set!

Which observation car have you bought, I didn't know there were any still models of them still around?

I'll let you know when it arrives next week.