What's on the workbench!

[kitbasher]

Plenty there for the SQGB 2025 

Easy, Tiger!

I was looking at your long to do list and had a thought. Now this could apply to me and others as well. It's like getting rid of credit card dept. Start with the easiest one to pay off. In this case, finish off the one build that has the least amount of work involved. This will give you a boost of encouragement and confidence to tackle the next one. Of course, one would have to factor in the degree of mojo generated by a certain build.

Must admit I've used that trick myself a couple of times 

And that's my approach to the Inaugural SQGB.

[McColm]

Plenty there for the SQGB 2025 

Easy, Tiger!

I was looking at your long to do list and had a thought. Now this could apply to me and others as well. It's like getting rid of credit card dept. Start with the easiest one to pay off. In this case, finish off the one build that has the least amount of work involved. This will give you a boost of encouragement and confidence to tackle the next one. Of course, one would have to factor in the degree of mojo generated by a certain build.

Must admit I've used that trick myself a couple of times 

And that's my approach to the Inaugural SQGB.

Since being discharged from hospital my mind no longer works like that. I  do the most difficult one
 first, when I get bored with it, move on to the next one until my fingers start to ache through sanding. With 33 builds I'm spoilt for choice.
My mind has been wondering in the direction of my Hornby booking hall and country station buildings. I know that with brick paper or stone paper and paint that they can be improved. The country station building can be turned into a station café and the halt repainted. I'll have to do some research on what region I want to style them in.

[Pellson]

Plenty there for the SQGB 2025 

Easy, Tiger!

I was looking at your long to do list and had a thought. Now this could apply to me and others as well. It's like getting rid of credit card dept. Start with the easiest one to pay off. In this case, finish off the one build that has the least amount of work involved. This will give you a boost of encouragement and confidence to tackle the next one. Of course, one would have to factor in the degree of mojo generated by a certain build.

Must admit I've used that trick myself a couple of times 

And that's my approach to the Inaugural SQGB.

Me too. Until I get a new idea that I can't get out of my head, then having to start an entirely new project, adding to the list. 

[NARSES2]

Me too. Until I get a new idea that I can't get out of my head, then having to start an entirely new project, adding to the list. 

I know what you mean, but I find that just noting down the new idea in my "future projects" pad clears it from my mind. Out of sight, out of mind as the old saying goes 

[kerick]

Most of mine are stuck at the paint stage so I need to just grab one and do it. I have three that need to be painted white so getting that done would move things along.

[Rheged]

Me too. Until I get a new idea that I can't get out of my head, then having to start an entirely new project, adding to the list. 

I know what you mean, but I find that just noting down the new idea in my "future projects" pad clears it from my mind. Out of sight, out of mind as the old saying goes 

The "Future Projects" pad.  Another example of "If you didn't write it down it never happened"!

[NARSES2]

The "Future Projects" pad.  Another example of "If you didn't write it down it never happened"!

I'd never make a senior civil servant 

[kerick]

The "Future Projects" pad.  Another example of "If you didn't write it down it never happened"!

I'd never make a senior civil servant 

I have a field note book that I should write things in. I might fill it up!

[McColm]

Saturday 30th December 2023

The last weekend of 2023 has arrived,  I will need to buy another metal rod open wardrobe in the same style as my previous one. I can extend it and add more shelves. Or just buy a hacksaw and cut the remaining parts to size.
The Airfix kits, quick build LEVC Taxi and the Boeing Sea Knight arrived this morning. As I have run out of glue the quick build will keep me occupied tomorrow.
 I tried to make homemade chips but they turned out looking like potato wedges so I had them with one of the chicken wings in the air fryer, extra virgin olive oil makes them very crispy. For breakfast I had bacon toasted sandwiches. Yes you can also do toast in the air fryer.
I'll be popping out today for some munchies and ice cream, since eating what I call proper food my sleeping has improved. Still go to the bathroom when needed but longer breaks In-between.
Been watching the TV series Antique Road Trip and the celebrity version which has given me a few ideas for brown furniture. Changing the appearance, taking boring furniture and jazzing it up a bit. A overhead projector and a pencil that's all I need to get started.
With this free time browsing on the Internet has opened my eyes to possibilities in decorating my flat. Nothing OTT but the stark white walls definitely need a splash of colour.

[kerick]

Sounds like things are on an upswing for you. I hope it keeps going.
Just don't forget your vegetables!
Tons of YT videos about people taking yard sale furniture and repurposing and painting it into something very nice. As a woodworker along with plastic worker please keep an eye out for real quality antiques. Many times all they need is a little cleaning to make the finish pop again. The antique purist frown on that but I say that's the way it was meant to be seen, not dirty.
Nothing worse than staring at "apartment white" as I call it. Makes me want to grab a paint brush!

[McColm]

Sounds like things are on an upswing for you. I hope it keeps going.
Just don't forget your vegetables!
Tons of YT videos about people taking yard sale furniture and repurposing and painting it into something very nice. As a woodworker along with plastic worker please keep an eye out for real quality antiques. Many times all they need is a little cleaning to make the finish pop again. The antique purist frown on that but I say that's the way it was meant to be seen, not dirty.
Nothing worse than staring at "apartment white" as I call it. Makes me want to grab a paint brush!

I used to restore furniture or change the purpose of the item when I was a French Polisher living in Park Royal Northwest London. I had my own lock-up garage with all the tools. Dressing tables turned into writing desks, wardrobes turned into tub chairs that sort of thing.
I think that you need to live in a place for a few years before decorating. I started filling in some of the cracks in the ceiling, got a long way to go, using different muscles until they start hurting.

[kerick]

Yes I agree. Take your time and be careful!

[Pellson]

Happy new year, Stephen. I'm grateful being allowed to follow your life and progress on this blog. Take care! 

[McColm]

Monday 1st January 2024

Happy New Year to all,  Sunday was spent working on the BAe 146 Flybe desktop model. The turboprops have been replaced by a pair of turboprops. As I haven't got the correct tools, the turboprops are fitted upside down on the two inner pylons.
Although there was several proposals for a turboprop version and twin turbofans none made it into production.
I've also discovered that there was a Nightstar sleeper service on the Eurostar and several of the units were operated by other train companies. The Nightstar sleeper carriages were bought by a Canadian company, they never entered service in the UK whilst the Eurostar could have provided a service to Scotland and as far as Plymouth bypassing London.
The Hornby Eurostar 00 gauge sets are still a bit pricey even in the secondhand market for the Mark 1s, although Lima does have the Mk2s solid more in as a starter set.
 As for the 1/72 Boeing V-22 Osprey, I'm sure that a twin turbofan fixed wing version can be kitbashed using the parts from a 1/72 Lockheed S-3 Viking.
My ambitious project to switch the wings and propulsion with the Revell Rotodyne isn't going to work both ways.
Having had a closer look at the Airfix Boeing UH-46 kit, fuselage can be stretched. I thought of using parts from the Boeing CH-47 but they look a bit odd besides the AEW version is possible and a ground support/gunship. The backstory could be that the Royal Air Force wanted a replacement for the Beverley and chose the Sea Knight where as the Royal Navy went for the Sea King. The Sea  Knight being flown by the Army Air Corps and the Royal Marines eventually being replaced with the Merlin and Chinook in the 1990s.

The air fryer isn't a replacement for the oven or cooker, it's convenient for me with my mobility issues. The medium sized chicken has provided such as chicken stew and fried chicken with potato wedges. It does cut down the cooking time but is limited to the space in the pan. Plus I don't own an upright fridge freezer just a waist height one so I'm limited for space.
Stews and casseroles are just fine as they last week.

[McColm]

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

This morning I had a Universal Credit meeting with my work coach, she tried to upload my CV onto her computer. I'd put it in Google Documents but it wouldn't move despite several attempts and moving to different files.
On the way back I stopped off at the Stoneleigh Retail Park and did a bit of food shopping, fish fingers and crinkly chips,  a small chicken with vegetables plus ten eggs. However the wind has picked up and it hasn't stopped raining.
I managed to watch the London fireworks display 2023, New year's eve on YouTube. Very impressive must have cost a fortune maybe it's making up for the river of fire that didn't happen.
Sympathy goes out for those people who were caught up in the Japanese aircraft crash, I don't know the full details but from what I have seen it's very bad.

On a lighter note,  I found some parts for the 1/144 Mermaid Class hovercraft and I have started to sand down the interior of the Boeing UH-46 Sea Knight.
Greenwich Council are sending someone out to check the electrical sockets in my flat, I would have thought that it should have been checked after I had moved in back in December 2021.
I've tried to have a nap in the afternoon but this didn't happen, just checking my emails.
I ended up on assembling the fuselage, the larger sponsons and the flimsy landing gear which needs regluing or replacing. As this is an old kit there's gaps. I have added the doors in the closed position. It looks tiny compared to the Airfix Rotodyne but seems correct next to the Sea King. Another kit that I will have to buy in February when I get some supplies.