What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Wednesday 24th May 2023

Work continues with the 1/72 Shorts Sea Lion MR.2 build,  floats have been glued on.
Around this time two years ago I had come off oxygen and was breathing on my own. After a trip down to the X-ray department and a chest scan I was told that the clots in my heart & lungs had cleared, oh goody the taste of hospital food! It was the weekend and the matron gave me my first wet shave, I also got a hospital tablet to watch BBC Top Gear episodes, the news that I was being moved onto the recovery ward went down like a lead balloon. That night I was moved into an empty room in the ITU. I remained on my own until around 11pm when another patient was wheeled in. I awoke on the Sunday to find a nurse holding my hand. I had a relapse of 5 minutes.
It's strange that I can recall these events but not know what I had to eat last week. The warm sunshine reminded me that it was hot back then. Two years later and I still haven't made a full recovery. Does the feeling of being so tired ever fade, even if I have a kip in the afternoon?
So life goes on, new challenges await.

[kerick]

Perpetual fatigue can be caused by many things. Many  medications can due it. I'm convinced some situations can really knock a guy down. Get out and about as best you can and socialize when ever possible even if it's a website. I'm sure you've told your docs about this.

[McColm]

Perpetual fatigue can be caused by many things. Many  medications can due it. I'm convinced some situations can really knock a guy down. Get out and about as best you can and socialize when ever possible even if it's a website. I'm sure you've told your docs about this.

My doctor says it's to do with having four pulmonary embolisms all at once draining my body of it's strength and stamina. Its also to do with the state of my mental health. On a good day I can go out and about without too much trouble, on a bad day even taking the rubbish/trash out leaves me feeling knackered.
My sleep disorder is under control but due to the hot weather I'm getting up more than usual. A walk around the kitchen then back to bed.

[McColm]

Friday 26th May 2023

The Shorts Sea Lion MR.2 has had a lot of sanding around the engines,  I have removed the propellers and strengthened the underwing weapons pylons. There's a few gaps to be filled in.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace has undergone another transformation and is back to being a panel van of sorts. The Austin FX-4 Camper is no longer and a pickup/Ute as the pop-up top makes for a great panel compartment that fits the Menace at the rear.,there's a slight overhang.

My left leg where I scolded myself is now heald so a bus trip to the very large retail park is planned for the weekend. IKEA being one of the shops to get some ideas from, the Hobby Store is another one.

[McColm]

Monday 29th May 2023

I tried out my magnetic door fly screen and found that it doesn't suit a single door that opens outwards, the door won't close either. The sticky pads aren't really meant for PVC door frames. I have an idea to use double-sided tape and I have removed the magnets down the centres of both nets. My plan will be to tape one side to the inner door frame and the other to the door. The surplus netting will be doubled over and eventually sown by me, needle & white thread.
As for the Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace,  another idea based around a Woodie using lollipop sticks. For the Ford Capri Mk1, I have found the resin bodyshell. The headlights and grill have been fitted to the Triumph Broadsword but I have another set that I can use.
The Austin FX-4 London Taxi has gone back to being a pick-up truck/Ute.
Alistair from Lonewulf has the resin 1/72 BAe Sea Harrier AEW conversion set back in stock, I will be buying quite a few of these to finish some of my current builds.

[McColm]

Thursday 1st June 2023

I now know why the Eastern Express 1/72 Avro Shackleton MR.3 is so cheap to buy, its wrapped on the left side fuselage. The lower wings have the same problem. I was only after the propellers and engines but I can use the leftovers for my other builds. Two sheets of decals for 206 Squadron. The instructions are crisp so I will be keeping them.
My Quckboost QB 72 273 packs of E-2C Hawkeye propellers with tool also arrived this morning, so I'm just waiting for a piece of 00 gauge track to arrive.
The PSR is going well so at least three builds are on their way to the primer stage at the end of the month that's if I don't get distracted.
I couldn't upload a online game Asphalt 9 the latest version but I still have Real Racing 3.
I've switched to a lightweight duvet and I get a much better sleep although it has been really warm over the last few nights, my battery powered lights are up, one in the airing cupboard and the other in the cloakroom. Not as bright as I was expecting but they will do for now.
I may be able to get a new kitchen and bathroom refurbishment through the council. I have a problem with one of the kitchen cupboard doors, it just won't stay on even when adjusted by the Council's highly qualified maintenance team who said that they would be back to fix the radiators. Still waiting.

[McColm]

Monday 5th June 2023

That's it,  I've run out of supplies. The last pieces of reused masking are now on the Bristol Olympus FSR.1 build. Forward swept wing although this reminds me of the Switchblade. I think that I saw the blue prints of this aircraft and there's some concept artwork of an aircraft that has VG winds that can move from rear swept wing to the front. The stress on the wing would have effected the performance figures. The Russians came up with a similar idea instead of using one wing have a pair. Four wings,  the rear pair to be swept for the high speed dash,  and the front pair for the interceptor role.
Two kits left the 1/24 Tamiya Jaguar XJ220 and the Airfix 1/72 RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat. I've always thought that the Severn Class Lifeboat would make a good RAF Launch with a gun at the front. As for the XJ220 either a T-top or convertible .

[McColm]

Wednesday 7th June 2023

I thought that I would do a catch up with all my current builds that are on the benches.

1) Martin Marina MR.7
Just waiting for the primer

2) Northrop YF-23B
Landing gear or stand, primer

3) Boeing Super Mystic
Paint and a stand

4) H.P. Electronic Jetstream E.10/ AEW.1
Decals, tail fin damage

5) Su-47 UB (S-37 T)
Nose cone and canards to be fitted, paint and decals

6) Boeing Sphinx C.2
Detailing and primer

7) BAe Sea Typhoon
PSR

Vickers Wellington Boot MR.MK1
PSR, and detailing

9) Boeing EV-22 AEW.1
PSR

10) Grumman EA-10 Howler
Requires painting

11) Austin Healy Sprite
Windscreen and steering wheel to be sought, painting.

11)  H.P. Victor AEW.5
Awaiting primer

12) BAe Vulcan MRA.4
Primer and paint

13) H.P. Majestic MR.3P amphibious flying boat
Primer and paint

14) Avro Magestic AEW.2 amphibious flying boat A.C.L.G.
PSR and then primer

15) Avro-Grumman P-45 Charlton
Detailing

16) Shorts Merlin AEW.1
Painting

17) SJMc Big Bertha  Car-Ferry
PSR and primer

18) Avro Super- Lincoln AEW.1
PSR and primer

19) H.S. Andover AEW. 3
Primer, paint and decals

20) BAC TSR. Panther
Detailing, paint and decals

21) Welsh Harp Sea Monster V
PSR

22) Convair EB-61 Peacehaven AEW.1
PSR

23) SJMc Heliplane Cardinal CH.1
PSR

24) BAC Lightning Thunderbolt FGR.1
Detailing

25) Shorts Nightwatchman AEW.1 Floatplane
Painting and decals

26) Lockheed Neptune/ Nene MR.1
Landing gear needed, PSR

27) BAe-158 Sky Fox AEW.1
PSR and primer/paint

28) Boeing Mysterious B-1
PSR and paint.

29) Grumman YF-111X
Tidy-up and decals

30) Shorts Mermaid MR.2
Primer

31) Bristol Olympus FSR.1
PSR,  detailing

32) BAe Ravernclaw CH.1
Paint and decals

33) Avro Golden Arrow F.2
Paint and decals

That's all the aircraft done, work continues with the Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace and the Austin FX-4 Ute,, the Airfix Aircraft Recovery Set and the 1/144 Hovercraft project. As for the three Dapol Kitmaster 00 gauge plastic locomotive kits, one can be salvaged whilst the other two a kitbash could be possible. Almost forgot to mention the Barris Ute.

[kerick]

Seems like you get stuck at or near the paint stage just like I do. Pick one nearest to completion and focus on that until done. Just my $0.02 worth.

[McColm]

Seems like you get stuck at or near the paint stage just like I do. Pick one nearest to completion and focus on that until done. Just my $0.02 worth.

Will do

[Pellson]

If I do such a list, I will inevitably crumble under the sheer mass of projects and never get anything done at all. hence, I just carry on where my lust points me, equally inevitably adding not quite finished projects to the list as I go along.. 

[McColm]

Two 11s, didn't notice that before, I'm suffering from hay-fever just staying indoors and playing with my train set. It's the basic oval.A pair of points and some straight lengths is next. I'll have a double oval. Then some carriages to work out how long the platforms will be.

[McColm]

Monday 12th June 2023

I was still feeling tired after a visit to the food bank in Welling Kent on Saturday,  although I thought that I had applied plenty of suntan lotion parts of my face and neck felt a bit tender when the Aftersun was used before bedtime.
I have turned to tinkering and I'm thinking of turning the Airfix RNLI Lifeboat into a hydrofoil, as for the 1/24 Jaguar XJ220 that can be entered into the GB Re-engine as I intend to keep the body shell off. The engine was a V6 twin-turbo, someone did put a V-12 into a RW car.I think that I might have a pair of V8s or at least two different V8 engines. When it comes to detailing an engine,  I shall refer to photos.
Why it's going to have two different V8 engines, racing springs to mind or they haven't decided whether to have a front,  mid, or rear mounted engine.
Still early days,  got to find the engines first.
  I have been experimenting with the cordial/squash. Filling up the ice tray with it, letting it set then putting a few of the ice cubes in a glass of water. I haven't quite perfected it yet but it makes a cool drink for a hot day.
As for the two plants that I saved,  the Chinese Money plant also known by other names is growing like the clappers,  three new leaves as for the geranium the flowers have come to the end but I can't see any new shoots.
Been catching up on my reading and the afternoon nap really does work,  been sleeping almost right through the night. Getting back to sleep is a lot quicker now.
I caught the ADHD on Channel 4 about Sam Thompson from Made in Chelsea fame.  Some of his symptoms made a lot of sense. I don't have a problem with paying attention to people, my way of thinking has definitely changed since leaving hospital back in June 2021.I  think spending four days in an induced coma has changed me, I don't show any signs of duress is this normal behaviour?

[McColm]

Thursday 15th June 2023

My medication has arrived which was very quick and I have started on the 1/25 AMT scale Ford Capri Mk2  Ghia the V8. The engine that I found just abouts fits in the engine bay. I had to remove the air cleaner to get it to fit after gluing the V8 in place. The engine was already built by someone else. I don't know which kit it came from.
Photo of the instructions.


Front view,  the tyres aren't glued nor is the bodyshell glued to the chassis.


Overhead view


As you can see the front end is sitting a bit high


The Ford Capri V4 has a new steering wheel


Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace has a new tailgate and wire wheels


Taxi! The Austin FX-4 Ute 4x4


Vickers Whale MR.MK1,  she's got cannon and an ECM Orange Harvest aerial.

[McColm]

Friday 16th June 2023

The Tamiya 1/24 Jaguar XJ220 engine fits snuggly into the engine bay of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Menace. I was dry testing and I couldn't get it back out again so it's glued in place. I can't get the hood/bonnet to close so I have glued the two halves together.
I have found a resin bodyshell of a 1/24 Ford Capri Mk1 and the glazing, the tub that I knocked up fits as well.
I'm suffering from the high pollen, I took a tablet but my eyes are still puffy.
 Part 2
After lunch I removed serval parts from the engine bay of the Capri V8 and glued the front headlight valance/front piece to square things up. Later on I glued the chassis to the bodyshell. I have a cunning plan to install the glazing once I have decided on a colour. This is now drying.