What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

26 ? 

I find 3 is the norm on my bench. I've tried working on one at a time, but that left too much down time, so I went back to 3 again. Sometimes there are one or two more but rarely. I've also 5 or 6 started kits which have been on the "shelf of doom" for ages and if I'm honest are unlikely to come off it, but stranger things have happened at sea 

I don't have a clear vision of what the finished article will be on most of my creations. Once I get some 00gauge track and a clockwork locomotive I can focus on getting the buids finished. 

[McColm]

Saturday 9th April 2022

I have been playing the online racing game  Asphalt 9 Legends,  one of the games is called Hunted where you have to out run the various Police vehicles but I didn't know that the Scottish Police Force drove American Cop cars! Which has given me an idea of what to do with one of my Jaguar XJ220s. A pursuit Police car.
I've started painting the two locomotives and found out that the red paint is enamel,  I'm trying out an alternative Pullman Brighton Belle colour scheme for the other one.
The HP Victor AEW.3 using the Airfix kit is under way but I don't have the glazed pieces,  so the wingtips might be scratchbuilt from spare parts.
I'm now at the point where I do need to free up some space on the workbench, lots of PSR to be done in stages. Too much and my hands start aching.

[McColm]

Monday 11th April 2022

I have been filling in forms all day,my fingers are starting to ache.
Two ideas popped into my head Canada's replacement for it's F-18s and SAR fixed wing aircraft. With the Typhoon and Rafael ceasing production, the Grippen will need a lot of long-range fuel tanks even with air-to-air refuelling. Lockheed with it's F-35A or C in my opinion isn't cost-effective. Maybe something Russian but built in China or the F-15.In the whiffing world there's a whole host of whatifs waiting to be built. I have 6 likely candidates myself.
As for the fixed wing SAR the Buffalo and the C-130 are to be retired from service. Although the C-130 will continue in it's role until the new aircraft enters service next year. My Heliplane and the Celestial seem to be likely candidates Although the Rolls-Royce Tyne powered Neptune with the weapons bay refurbished to take stretchers. I have the stretchers leftover from the Jetstream kit which could work. The MAD boom would be removed but the searchlight kept. An alternative paint scheme with dayglo decals.
The MAD boom has been glued on the wide Lincoln which is now the MR.3
Whereas the Delta winged Tornado is receiving parts from a Revell Tornado GR.1,the Canadian Arrow is having a kitbash restoration using the engines from the Su-47 which are a good fit.

[McColm]

Wednesday 13th April 2022

The Lockheed Neptune Nightingale now has a stretcher hold where the weapons bay used to be. I just need to scratch build some doors. The  H.P. Victor AEW.3 now has a camera pod in  the bomb bay and a deeper bulge for the radar operators.
Further rummaging has revealed a battered  1/144 Lockheed C-5 Galaxy,  the wings of the VEB Tu-20 fit and I have found some resin turbofaned engines. I will use the Tu-20 landing gear as well.
I have started painting a few of the current builds, two coats with a brush seems to work.

[McColm]

Thursday 14th April 2022

I have had a lazy day,  with no whiffery. I tried catching up with my sleep but it's too warm. A few thoughts came to mind on creating a 1/24 European Ford Capri Ute but in the real world someone has beaten me to it, so I now have a few references.
Why Ford never built it's own Capri convertible or pick up truck like the P100 and P150. These are next on the to-do list .As I can sort out my car parts I think that I have the parts for a workshop or garage in 1/24 scale. I have also come across a couple of body shells the Austin FX4 and the RR Silver Cloud III.A customised Bentley of similar vintage kitbashed.
Definitely painting tomorrow, Good Friday and happy Easter to all.

[McColm]

Tuesday 19th April 2022

I had a Universal Credit meeting this morning in Woolwich Jobcentre Plus.  When I got back I dug out the 1/144 Ilyushin IL-78 Midas kit,  although some of the parts are missing I have added the rear guns to the front and put a couple of the in-flight refuelling pods on the wingtips. The 1/144 Beriev A-50 Mainstay will get the third pod.
I managed to source a weight for the HS Andover AEW Erieye, it's a metal ESM pod glued under the forward fuselage. PSR continues on the Convair EC-880.
Doesn't seem like much but it fills in the day.
Most of my builds do need a few rattle cans or at least primmer.

[McColm]

Wednesday 20th April 2022

I feel tired after yesterday,  this could be due to the fact that I didn't have a nap in the afternoon and I only got up once during the night.
The fleet is getting closer to the paint stage although I will have to buy some better quality brushes or invest in an airbrush which will come in handy for when I start building my 00 gauge layout I have an idea for two levels
I have been looking on Facebook Marketplace for bargains and furniture. I'm also thinking of an indoor herb garden on the window ledge and a fly screen as I have noticed that the flying insects want to invade my flat. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee is in June so I was thinking about getting another Airfix/Dapol locomotive kit and painting it purple.
My fingers are crossed as I wait for my PIP results, even if I just get the basic allowance which will still be paid even when I return to work next year.
I would have thought that my scars would have healed up by now or even started to fade but they are still there. May will bring a new set of challenges.

[McColm]

Saturday 23rd April 2022

After a lengthy assessment I now have a Sleeping Coach through Time to Talk plus homework to do in modules.
Whiffing wise, it's putting bits on the started builds before I was admitted to hospital last year. The Majestic II MR.1 flying boat has now got a searchlight borrowed from the Dassault Atlantic ALT1 kit which fits the left side fuel6 tank whilst on the right parts from the Airfix Victor along with a metal C-130 in-flight refuelling probe.
The 1/144 Beriev A-50 Mainstay AWACS is taking shape, the Zvezda kit is overengineered and a lot of details are hidden. I'm guessing that there's a Il-76 cargo version with an open rear loading ramp.
As for the 00 gauge Dapol Battle of Hogwarts Castle, there's an uncanny resemblance to the Hogwarts Express in the paint scheme.
As to finishing,  there's a delay until I know about my PIP claim has been accepted, so some builds will end up with unofficial paint schemes.
The wooden 1/72 BAe 146 travel agent model does look good with the Grumman  E-2 Hawkeye rotodome  but I don't think Flybe ever had it fitted. The British Airways model has had it's engines removed so an alternative set of engines will have to be sourced.
The  Airfix Victor AEW.3 now has a pair of back wheels to prevent a tail sitter, as I have run out of filler there's plenty of small parts to glue on.
There's lots of back stories to write.

[McColm]

Tuesday 26th April 2022

Well it's 11 months since I was admitted to hospital,  alot has changed. My body still aches and my strength is still weak. Sleeping is still a problem and I am now taking a course with Time to Talk to try to rectify the problem. I'm overwhelmed by the progress that I have made all on my own Despite the quantities of water that I drink during the day I still get thirsty during the night maybe a humidifier might help.
Since leaving Brexit the cost of living has shot up,I've started cooking one pot meals so I can save the the rest to last four days nothing like Captain Canada on his Facebook page.
I have to agree with some of the Whiffers , my kit builds have improved. Unless it's 90% out-of-the-box due to missing parts I still haven't got a clear indication on what the end product will look like.
The stash keeps revealing new treasures which is good as it will keep me busy for years to come, maybe I should stick with one box at a time.
The 428 piece Hogwarts Castle will need to go on a coffee table, whilst I scratchbuild the front or get hold of the slightly larger scale kit and chop it in half so it looks like the frontage. The Wrebbit isn't like Lego where you can interchange the pieces. Although the idea of a castle in ruins will be a better option.
I now have 30 builds that are in various stages, hopefully by June I should be able to display some of these or at least clear the floor.

[McColm]

Wednesday  27th  April 2022

I had a panic attack whilst I was doing some shopping at my local Sainsbury store, the symptoms  were shortness of breath and sweating. The shop assistant did the scanning and when I recovered I paid for the items.
This is the second time this month, why should I be a afraid of leaving my flat. The chances of having another Pulmonary embolism is slim although there have been cases of a repeat. I haven't had any dizzy spells so far.
The sleeping problems have one solution of concentrating on the muscles in the body and trying to relax them,  it's still early days but I still wake up feeling thirsty.
Everything that I ordered today should be arriving on Friday and Saturday maybe they can take my mind off the things that are bothering me.  No whiffery today.
Tomorrow I need to get some electricity for the meter and my doctor's appointment has been brought forward
I've decided to keep a 24 hour Army Ration Pack in reserve, they don't to the tins anymore and Pack 5 seems very popular ( the one without the curry and chilli).

[McColm]

Friday 29th April 2022

Whatever was playing on my mind has gone,  as I went out to the shops this afternoon and got some credit for the electric meter. I also managed to sleep through the whole night without waking up and I didn't wet the bed either.
I have been watching Craig Charles on the History Channel investigating UFO sightings, some of these are the same as Professor Simon who takes a different approach. I suppose until you see something in the sky which defies gravity or anything we have on this planet. That's not to say' it's one of ours 'but those 'tic-tacs' might have been staged.
I've got my primmer and filler so I should be able to crack on with one or two of the older started builds.

[McColm]

Saturday 30th April 2022

The Hornby Railways clockwork train set arrived this morning with several pieces of track missing so I can't complete a full circle, on the plus side it came with two keys and the locomotive works. I just need to buy some extra track and buffers.I managed to find another clockwork locomotive tender so the mechanism could work with a different body shell.
It's PSR on most of the started builds, teaching myself how to sand with my right hand is coming along. I'm left-hand, a couple of picnic or fold up tables will be next on the list just to clear the floor.

[McColm]

Saturday 7th May 2022

It's one year later, this is the date last year that I was admitted to King's College Hospital A & E. I spent the night there undergoing various tests. The last of which was at midnight. I can remember having breakfast and lunch before being taken up to the Catherine Brown ITCU. It went dark after that and four days later I was awoken from an induced coma. Those dreams were the closest I have ever got to tripping out on drugs.
So I have my voice back, I can walk a lot further before talking a breather, sleeping is still an issue and my handwriting has improved. My body still aches,  stretching is painful and so is bending down. I have my appetite back.
My whiffing has improved.
It's odd, birdsong seems much clearer and I am used to the trains going by.Being so close to Charlton Football Stadium I can hear the singing from the stands. I haven't watched a live football match or rugby game since I left Saint Dunstans's aka Blind Veterans UK charity back in 2008.
I have a  lot to be grateful for and for friends, family plus individuals who have helped me along my road to recovery.
If my body is fit and able then this time next year I shall return to work, if not then more work on my mobility and fitness
I've used up one pack of Milliput on my current builds, gone down the 'working with clay' route of wetting my fingers to shape the puty before it sets.
So slowly the started builds will get finished. Hopefully the rebates and benefits that I have applied for will be granted in the months to come.

[NARSES2]

Amazing how quickly time goes, doesn't seem a year ago at all.

Glad you're being optimistic 

[McColm]

Wednesday 11th May 2022

I did a bit of food shopping at my local Sainsbury store and the price of pasta has risen by 10p for the same 500g bag that I usually get. Is this due to the chicken feed price hike? Alternative products were purchased.
I'm finding that I need two 40 minute sanding sessions on the 1/72 Revell/Monogram Convair
RB-36H model kitbashed with the 1/72 wings from a B-52G and the resin Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW.3 radomes. The engines are the ones from the Trumpeter Tu-95 Bear H modified to fit the new wings.
Lots of PSR is needed to blend all the new parts into the fuselage so it looks as if they belong there from the start.
Having watched a video on YouTube about the  Australian XPT trains based on the Class 43 HST, I'm thinking about what if Amtrack did something similar in the USA.
I've noticed that the price for the 00/ho train sets are starting to rise and Hornby have raised prices for their coaches/carriages, so it's back to the Midland Blue Pullman ( two dummy power cars should do the trick).
And another thing why did Channel 4 not air  Season 23 Episode 7 on 4+ on Monday 9th,  this has thrown me out of my routine.
Well I needed that rain today to freshen the air, I might get a full night's sleep.