What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Friday 5th August 2022

I woke up early this morning and finished off the other two shops in the Diagon Alley Set, very fiddly so I used a bit of glue for reinforcement. Some of the pieces had been jumbled up.  Well its my interpretation so not all of the parts have been used.  I managed to find some pieces of course sandpaper so a spate of sanding before my fingers started to lock up.
I got the results of my Personal Independence Payment claim, didn't qualify for the standard payment. The assessors deemed me 'normal ' undertaking routine tasks on a daily basis. My Welfare Officer wants to lodge an appeal. So next week will be busy. I also received the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening pack.
Did a bit of housework, knackered after moping the floor and cleaning the bathroom sink after the floor was dry.
Off to the food bank tomorrow, the bus ride to Welling is really relaxing but can be a little bit tricky with two packed shopping bags.

[NARSES2]

I also received the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening pack.

That'll be fun  , but believe me from my own personal experience well worth it 

[McColm]

Monday 8th August 2022

Another night of insomnia, more kits ruined. The 1/24 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III which once was a two door pick-up is now a three door Doormobile .Using the rear of the AMT 1959 Cadilac Ambulance from the film Ghosterbusters II plus the pop-up top from the Revell VW T3 Campervan. It's an odd combination but it seems to work
The VW T3 definitely needs a bigger engine and the parts of what looks like the Dodge Derora concept truck which reminds me of the Tonka truck of my youth. I don't have any instructions for this model but I shall refer to photos.
Once more London is going through a heatwave and every where is parched. My body just feels as if it is drained of all it's energy but I will soldier on regardless.

[PR19_Kit]

I've got a Deora kit in The Loft, and I could copy the instructions for you when I get back some time the week after next of that's of any use?

[McColm]

I've got a Deora kit in The Loft, and I could copy the instructions for you when I get back some time the week after next of that's of any use?

Yes please

[PR19_Kit]

OK, I'll write myself an email so I don't forget. 

[McColm]

Friday 12th August 2022

I'm having problems due to the hot summer we are experiencing in New Charlton Southeast London, England. Its very hard for me to concentrate on one build. PSR is creating a blanket of dust to which I have tried to control with water, dustpan & brush. Buying a hoover is on my list of items to get.
Another problem is cutting clear plastic, I find the razor hard going as the friction of the blade welds the cut back together. However I have found the remains of one of the largest 1/144 Airfix Hovercraft kits. So it's a whiff, landing craft and support. The roof is cut in a U-shape.  There's quite a few panel gaps and I haven't agreed on a paint scheme.
Not a question of where did that part go? But will I be able to find it again!

[McColm]

Wednesday 17th August 2022

Good news I start the Healthwise Programme down at the Waterfront  Leisure Centre in Woolwich in September as a Cardiac Client. On completion of the programme I will be booking regular refocus sessions with the Better Health and Fitness Team. The rates are really cheap for the first two years.
On the whiffing side, PSR continues with the 1/72 BAC Lightning Bolt and the 1/144 jet powered hovercraft which uses parts from a 1/200 scale B-2 Stealth Bomber. It's a bodge. Sanding continues with all my current builds including the 00/ho Dapol Kitmaster DP1A Deltic.
I have found that Disney Plus has episodes of NCIS and Car SOS which is a great help with my car builds as a point of reference.
The cooler weather makes getting to sleep easier although I'm having a nap in the afternoons whilst listening to binary brain frequency music. It's thought to repair the body. I have found that my concentration has improved since I have been listening. My fingers still hurt after sanding and I am seeing muscles forming on my arms. So it's all good.
I'll be going back to King's College Hospital for an eye check up next Wednesday.

[McColm]

Tuesday 23rd August 2022

My concentration keeps wondering away from my current builds, yes I should be working on the GB LHC but I haven't decided on a colour scheme. PSR until the fine putty ran out.
Work on the 00/ho Dapol Kitmaster Deltic, the boggies have been painted matt acrylic black. The interior slightly different from the original prototype and the roof has been attached.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace Dormobile is coming along nicely and I've started the Revell 1/24 VW T3 camper,once again there's parts missing. It's standard stock at the moment but it will get a few mods.
Oddly enough the Sutcliffe 1/72 Avro York conversion set does cover the Revell Fairey Rotodyne, just waiting for some superglue and putty.
Sanding sessions continue on the rest apart from the Jaguar XJ-S which has had a paint job on the bumpers.
I might have to invest in a starter airbrush kit.
An idea that I have been deliberating is my version of the An-124, I have the fuselage section of what looks like a 1/144 scale Lockheed C-5. I was thinking about using parts from a 1/144 Boeing 747 as I have seen a few 'spares or repairs 'kits for sale.

[McColm]

Monday 29th August 2022

For some of us, this is the last bank holiday before the Christmas break. Up until 2020, I would have gone down to my mum's place in Penmere Cornwall to spend my last week of holiday leave. Catching the overnight Express Coach from Victoria Coach Station at 11:15 pm and ending up in The Moor  Falmouth Cornwall (it's the old Argos Store). This journey is out of the question now due to my pulmonary embolism, so is flying long distances. Got to go by train or boat. Although my passport has expired, just need to update my driving licence details.
Back when my stepfather used to take us down to Exeter Devon it always used to rain on the August bank holiday. We'd be parked up in a pub carpark with a bottle of coke and square crisps sitting in the back of the Wolsey Six until the clutch went, then the driving was passed to me. I  would usually hire a Ford Mondeo hatchback or take my Ford Granada/Scorpio just like driving an armchair  it was so comfortable.
 I'm just waiting for some acrylic paint and putty.  The 1/72 Rockwell-Concorde needs beefing up with a tube of superglue,  the Avro Mystic III (old Airfix Avro Vulcan wings with the Trumpeter fuselage Tu-95 Bear H), this too needs putty and will get the Concorde landing gear. Lots of sanding still to do.
 September brings the path to fitness, so by December I should be able to do a few D.I.Y. jobs in my flat

[Nick]

Good to hear you're getting better and on the path to fitness.

[McColm]

Thursday 8th September 2022

PSR continues amongst the fleet until both arms start aching after two hours. With the sad news of the Queen for most of us living in the UK and the Commonwealth we get a new King. This means new post boxes, stamps and cash in bank notes plus coinage. A lot of changes taking place.
I've met Charles on ceremonial occasions plus his visit to Age UK headquarters in Russell Square, London. I also met him whilst driving for Veterans UK on several Armed Forces weekends. Yes you'll never guess who I had in the back of my taxi? I dined on months on that.
And now we have a new prime minister, my first impression 'Maggies back in town '.

[Pellson]

And now we have a new prime minister, my first impression 'Maggies back in town '.

I think you'll find that Liz is more a Maggie wannabe than a Maggie II. Whether that's good or bad is outside the scope of this comment.. 

[McColm]

Tuesday 13th September 2022

 Sanding in humid conditions isn't ideal, I need more papers. The 1/72 kitbash of two Airfix kits the BAC Concorde and the Rockwell B-1B. I have named this the DH Excalibur although there's a resemblance to the Boeing SST. Big project using loads of putty.
In-between this work on the 1/24 Revell T3 campervan is almost completed. I need to buy some better brushes and acrylic paint
I'm using muscles that haven't been stretched since being admitted to hospital, two fitness sessions a week over a 12 week period.

[McColm]

Saturday 17th September 2022

Sanding is taking up most of my time, I think that I still have 3-4 months of it until I can reach the painting stage at least this is tiring me out so I don't wake up during the night and wreck any more of my current builds. Yes what started out as the Revell C-160 did have four T-56 engines which are now on the Boeing Waddington C.2. The Airfix HP Victor AEW.4 has also been destroyed but the idea still lives on, so another attempt next year.
As for the Dapol Kitmaster Deltic the nose has lost the single lamp, filed flat at each end.
 It's been an odd week watching the Queen's coffin,  I didn't recognise RAF Northolt a lot has changed since I left the unit back in 1997. Then Monday the funeral.
One of my shopping bags broke on the way back from the food bank in Welling Kent. The handle went. Knackered but grateful for the food