What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Friday 22nd January 2021

The 1/72 Convair E-60 Peacehaven made it's last flight within the confines of my room,  this will be put into storage alongside the Argosy AEW,  Martin Marina,  Avro-Martin Mystic II, Handley Page-Martin Majestic,  de Haviland-Avro Celestial and the Northrop Stingray as they are far to big to fit in my plastic storage boxes. I still have a more sorting out to do.
I've kept a lot of parts and reduced my stash down to 12 plastic storage containers and one large cardboard box which has the Airfix BAC Concorde and the Airfix Rockwell B-1B.
Sunday will be a busy day,  it's strange I'm not panicking. Just taking my time. It's amazing how much paperwork you accumulate over four years and I still got the same clothes I had back then.
Time to move on...

[McColm]

Sunday 24th January 2021

I'd like to say thanks again for Nick who collected my stash today,  I didn't expect it all to fit in his car. Even the 1/72 Convair not the YB-60,  see I did manage to fit the wings and engines from a 1/72 B-52 to the fuselage of the Revell/Monogram RB-36H Peacemaker.
The cars have gone as well , apart from the Matchbox 1969 Triumph Stag. This has the Dinky stamp on the underside as well. It's white with red plastic seats,  a black plastic dashboard and steering wheel and a sticker with 1992 on the bonnet and boot. Must have been some anniversary. The registration plate is KJE 51.
If you are in the Woolwich area you can rummage through the carefully stacked pile of plastic draws by the large bins,  the bins don't get emptied until Thursday and there's another collection on Friday for the stuff that isn't taken.
I'm sorting through the paperwork and clothes.
Over the last few hours someone has had a good rummage through what I have chucked away,  looks like a late night for me.

[Nick]

Not a problem mate, I was actually amazed at how much fitted into my little Nissan. 11 plastic storage boxes in the back and a large cardboard box on the passenger seat 
It's all up in my loft now keeping one corner a bit warmer.

I took advantage of todays little road trip. I got to visit a Morrisons for Bramble Jelly, my favourite jam, which no other supermarket sells. I also got the car up to 70mph for a good engine workout and took a ride on the new Woolwich ferry.
 

[McColm]

Monday 25th January 2021

I found one kit,  the 1/72 BAe Mantis whilst packing up my clothes and my glue plus paint brushes.  I've had the idea of putting a pilot in the cockpit and finding a suitable clear canopy,  of course that can wait.
I found a hostel and  booked a bed for the week in the New Cross area of London,  so I'll be checking that out and the local area.
Brr it's turned really cold,  well that's winter for you in the UK.

[McColm]

Friday 29th January 2021

Feeling a bit under the weather,  too many hobnobs (sticky pudding flavour) bargain price for £1 at Sainsburys New Cross Southeast London and its raining outside. The weather people predict snow for London over the weekend,  fortunately for me I will be working on Saturday. Yes stuck inside a portakabin/welfare suite watching the buses pass by on the South Circular Road by Charlton Railway Station/ football stadium.
The portakabin is in the wrong place so you have to walk through the mud to get to it. I think the site was a former roadside cafe or shop as there's evidence of tiles. This bit is fenced off as a hole has appeared exposing the water pipes. The Stonelake retail Park is next door and on the other side Selco the builders yard.
All I have to do is keep our travelling friends off the land.  There's no internet connection so I usually download programs to watch or play off line games.  Read a book or magazine.
I usually slide a hot water bottle under my fleece to keep me warm when the generator isn't on,  I'm convinced that a bank of solar panels on the roof could top up a battery or two,  similar to that of a caravan or mobile home.
I have heard a rumour that Selco might rig up a cable to the mains for electricity and hire a water cooler. At least I can use the fridge.
I'm watching a lot of programmes on Prime and YouTube,  plus dreaming up possible Whiffs which will reduce my stash but I will still need to buy a few kits,  something in a smaller scale as the 1/72 Revell/Monogram Convair RB-36H Peacemaker is very large and now even longer with the Cammett BAe Nimrod  AEW.3 radomes fitted but I have to admit the wings & engines  from the Italeri B-52G do work well with the  B-36 fuselage , but I think that the cockpit is wonky although the canopy will hide this flaw. This is definitely a long term build,  the one that you put down and come back to in 30 minute segments.
Working out the landing gear is next on the list as the combined out rigger wheels from the B-52G and the B-36 original main legs.
Other thoughts have got me interested in my version of Diagon Alley in 00 gauge although other larger scales are available in kits or scratch builds. I've seen that they have their own travel agency in the World of Harry Potter. I wonder what Arthur Weasley would tinkered with if he was employed by them?
I can't wait until I get enough money to put down a deposit on a room of my own,  the hostel is good but I miss having my own space and being able to cook for myself. I know that I have to budget and reduce my spending to survive.
Take care and stay safe.

[McColm]

 Hi Guys,
February has started well for me as I am now doing Monday and Tuesday nights with the weekend on the day shift. I've also been moved into a different room and got to pick the bottom bunk this time. It's a bigger room but it overlooks the high street. No damp and a mixture of double glazing with the original metal framed windows.  There's a sink and a place to eat.
So it's my first night shift of the year,  I paid for two weeks and may be moving to floor 2 next week so I can use the kitchen facilities. A shower will be great as well,  it's top and tail at the moment due to the ten days quarantine. I've downloaded the Grand Tour season 1 and 2, with that new programme with Richard Hammond about being stranded on a desert island,  I think that the camera crew is helping them out. I managed to find two books; My part in Hilters downfall-Spike Milligan and The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling.  I also found Peco Ho and 00 gauge track plans and the Quibbler ( well at least it's not written in Latin unlike the Daily Prophet).

[McColm]

Thursday 4th February 2021

I have fully recovered from my two night shifts,  Wednesday was a total blurr spent sleeping. Today I watched the film Convoy and went through my photos of started builds which can be found on Facebook or here in my blog. When I finally get repatriated with my stash I think for the first few months it will be sorting out which parts fit the models and what to do with the spares.
I definitely need to think small,  yes I know that the 1/72 Convair RB-36H Peacemaker is big and my kitbash is slightly larger. Two trends cars and trains. Experimenting with resin moulds,  possibly my version of 'Dove Town' based on the Harry Potter films in 00/ho scale or Fortress MaCombe on a 3 foot by 6 foot baseboard that fits under the bed. 3 feet 6 inches would be better. Even a clockwork train set would be ideal.
But that can wait until I the summer/autumn.
So  many ideas floating around in my head, I just need some paper to jot them down and do a little research.

[McColm]

Saturday 13th February 2021
'It's a small world but I wouldn't like to paint it ', it's odd how a hostel brings people together.  I'm sharing a room with an ex squaddie and a Naval Reservist. All we need is a Marine and we've got the full set.
S+M Models sell the 1/144 AWACS rotodomes which I'm thinking would fit on a few of my 1/144 kits especially the broken C-5 Galaxy. I hope that I kept the 1/144 Boeing 747 and the 1/144 Boeing B-52G engines.  The aim for 2021 is to go smaller in the new builds.
I'm watching a lot of lorry videos and classic cars which has got me thinking about kitbashing the Viper with the Jaguar E-type and exploring what the modern equivalent is to the classic cars of yesterday.
The cravings for a 00gauge train set are still there,  even though Hornby keeps tempting me with their new four wheel or 6 wheeled carriages,  a short of compact Hogwarts Express with a tank engine. You can buy the name plates but not the decals.
Once I am settled in to my new place wherever that maybe,  another clear out will be needed to reduce the stash to just the four grey storage boxes.
The idea of using diecast aircraft restored or repainted is quite appealing as this could be a sideline for me to earn a few beer tokens or put towards my ' rainy day fund '.

[McColm]

Monday 1st March 2021

I'm now working at Edible Oils in Abbey Wood at the main gates. It's a busy site with a vegetable oil refinery that supplies the cooking oils all over the country and possibly Europe as well.  Yes it stinks if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.
Monday was taken up with training on the day shift,  I'm on nights tomorrow learning the night duties as I will be flying solo on Wednesday night and also at the weekend on the day shift.
It's a bit of a pain to get to by public transport,  two buses but it's a pleasant ride from Woolwich Southeast London. The next door neighbours are Conways. There's some building work on the industrial estate so security can use the portaloos.
No more listening to diesel generators for me,  the gatehouse is warm with a sink and kitchenette.
I did some plane spotting as it seems that Edible Oils is under the flight path for helicopters,  military and emergency services. The River Thames isn't that far away.
I've also been doing some life coaching for the roommates in the hostel.  This is starting to pay off as their spirits seem to be lifted.

[McColm]

Tuesday 2nd March 2021

Well I did my first night shift working at Edible Oils and gained an extra shift on Thursday. It's not rocket science but you still need your witts about you as the drivers tend to do trailer swaps without telling security.  The patrol of the site is interesting as I get to see the River Thames,  looks like they had a pier for taking delivery from tankers. It's right next to Conways the tarmac people.
I've been playing the Skyfox Special Free Missions the free online game, I played this before but they have added new tasks and upgraded the software so there's a bit of whiffery going on.
I have loads of ideas floating in my head for when I get back to doing some actual Whiffing or restoring my own current builds.
The British lockdown is supposed to end around the 21st June,  I get to see the hardships and begging in the streets. One of the roommates has registered with the local food bank and a few have managed to get the council to pay for their rent with a £500 a month pocket money. This is usually paid if you are on the critical list and under 25. You have to be a UK citizen to claim. Old gits like me are harder to rehouse and claim benefits but I have to wait and see what happens.

[McColm]

Thursday 18th March 2021

Hi Guys,  I have discovered another online car drag game CSR2 . In the customised section I have a Mini One which has been improved. I know what a woodie finish would look like which is ideal for 1/24 models.

[TheChronicOne]

Nice! Some of the funnest parts of video games is the design aspects. Customizing can be very satisfying.

[McColm]

Monday 29th March 2021

I'm catching up on the lost hour as the clocks went forward and British Summer Time began,  yes it's been a pleasant day up here in New Cross Southeast London.
In my mind I am visually building plastic scale model aircraft,  I haven't been able to find an online game that does this,  there's quite a few car games that come close including Lego but nothing I have found regarding aircraft.
I have now got a lower bunk, which is much better saves all that climbing although I have come up with an idea to put a clip-on rung/step on a round bunk bed ladder which makes it easier to get up and down,  and is kind to the feet. Yes you can get square rungs on some of the ladders but they cost more.

[McColm]

Tuesday 13th April 2021

It seems longer than three months that I moved into the New Cross Inn Hostel and so far I have changed rooms three times so far.
I miss my space and not being able to build anything thing is really getting to me. There have been a few falling out episodes with roommates,  fortunately it didn't concern me but as a mediator my skills were used to defuse the situation.
My Army buddy has moved into the room nextdoor,  clash of two Alpha males.
Sorry Nick but it looks like I will be here for the summer unless a few members of staff take some holiday leave or the security company wins a few new contracts.
On my things to do list,  getting registered with the NHS GP surgery is next. They will contact me for my Covid 19 vaccination.
If you do need to book a room please use the online service which gives you huge discounts and don't go to the reception desk to pay.
As I keep reminding people this isn't a hotel,  it's cheap for a reason!

[McColm]

Friday 30th April 2021

Yes folks I am back building kits. One is the 1/72 ESCI/ERTL Boeing PV-22A  Osprey and the other is an Airfix Westland Sea King AEW. Mk2/ASaC.Mk7.
The Airfix kit uses the old moulds taken from the HAS.3 with new pieces for the AEW lumps and bumps where as the PV-22A is based on the SV-22   Search and Rescue or USNavy proposal. As I have explained before some of the parts have been omitted from the building instructions.
Both builds need a bit of putty/filler.