What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Monday 1st April 2024

I woke up at 2am this morning and haven't been able to get back to sleep. The moon looks back to normal, could have been one of the planets sneaked behind it on Sunday.
The 2022 film Wolf Pack, an attack by German U-boats on New York City during the last months of World War 2. Very convincing until I heard police sirens in the background and the furniture in the USNAVY operations room looks brand new.
 The moon is obscured by clouds, bird song and the traffic along the South Circular Road plus the ticking of my bedside clock. Beats working a night shift, I spent 14 years working nights so I should be entitled to some day shifts .
Dreams, so far it's started off as a road trip. Only problem is the car I'm driving isn't one that I have driven before nor is the country I have visited before,  the people look familiar. Is this my subconscious trying to tell me that I'm going on a journey?

Thoughts after lunch
I've been thinking about the 1/72 vacform Avro York conversion,  I have yet to build and finish one. My first thought was to use the part build Avro Lancaster but then the idea of converting this into the Avro Lincoln MR.3. I personally would extend the nose but have the cockpit shoved forward and the maritime reconnaissance part behind it which means getting hold of the Red Roo set and the Blackbird Model conversion set. Or simply add the wings and engines from the Avro Shackleton but then this wouldn't be a true Lincoln. Avro Lancaster MR.4.
As for the Avro York this could have the wings, landing gear,tail and engines from the Lockheed S-3 Viking. I haven't been able to find any information about  fitting turbofans on the Avro York.
Since the recent release of the classic Airfix Fairey Rotodyne , I was wondering if the vacform fuselage would cover the side meaning that the tail doors would be cut and a vertical tail fin fitted, this too could have the turbofans and  new wings.

[McColm]

Wednesday 3rd April 2024

I had a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach we discussed the Southwark SIA Door Supervisor Licence course and the lack of communication with no replies from the college. So another email of intent has been sent out for the course which starts on the 22nd.
 On my return home the postman handed me three parcels. The Airfix 1/72 Kamov Harmone B, 1/32 built with loose parts Triumph TR4.A and the Airfix 1/72 Avro Lancaster B.III part built with the started Avro York conversion set and a extra pair of wings.
My WHALE MR.1 was going nowhere so this has become the donor for my version of the Avro Lincoln short fuselage test aircraft.
As for the Avro York surprisingly the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne is the same width, this could form a 60 passenger Heliplane without the rear doors. Going to have to buy another Rotodyne kit.
Then there's the Ka-25 B, I'm thinking Westland Bumblebee HAS.1 the replacement for the Scout and the Wasp before the Lynx entered service.
This means that I have the basis for a new stash, yes I need to finish off the started ones first.

PSR continues on the Jaguar Mk2 two door, this will need a respray as the pair of large wheel arches do take up the flanks of the doors. As for the 1985 Shelby Charger the new and improved roof similar to the MGF in profile (it came from the 1/24 Austin FX-4 kit). This was found in the spares box marked 'don't throw this away as I might need it one day '.

[McColm]

Tuesday 9th April 2024

I missed the eclipse yesterday, instead I was watching Prince Edward at Buckingham Palace do his duty with the guests from France. I now know where Royal Mail park their vans to avoid the traffic wardens, well there was four of them parked on the parade ground in front of Buckingham Palace.

On the workbench.
I'm out of filler/puty just sanding down the Avro Lincoln MR1/AEW2, it's looking more like a late version of the Avro Lancaster from the front. Once my arm muscles started to get tired,I moved onto the Airfix Ka-25 Hormone B helicopter. I've managed to break one of the front landing legs, so it's now a three legged layout. Some of the leftovers from the Westland Lynx kit has been used plus spare parts so it has a westernized radome under the chin.

Next Sunday is the London Marathon, more roads closed off than last year, I also have been notified that the local free paper is going digital from June.I haven't had any feedback on my security course, well there's always May when the new batch starts.

[McColm]

Wednesday  10th April 2024

The London Marathon is on Sunday 21st April,  I've noticed that Revell liquid cement melts thin plastic parts and that most online games adverts don't have anything to do with the game.
As for the Avro Lincoln MR.1/AEW.2 build the sanding is improving my arm muscles whilst the Ka-25 B is compatible with the Airfix Westland Lynx this might be a contender for the 1960s GB if I can finish it in time as I'm running out of supplies I'm sure that not all rotor blades look black I might need to jazz them up a bit.
As for the Shelf  Queens, I'm sure that they were a good idea at the time. Most of them just need a coat of paint and decals.
Are the trains on strike again as its very quiet in Charlton Southeast London, all I can hear is the traffic noise from the South Circular Road?

The Airfix Ka-25 B has given some parts to the Mil-24 Hind AEW. Which is undergoing a revamp.

[McColm]

Friday 12th April 2024

An idea popped into my head whilst watching a rerun of the series Scrapheap Challenge, over in the USA it was called Junk Wars. The idea is to kitbash the Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic or the Revell equivalent with the wings from the Airfix Avro Shackleton.
I have in the past tried using the wings from the Hasegawa Lockheed P-3 Orion but next time I will see if the Atlantic fuselage slots over the middle section of the Orion at both ends, which should allow a twin engine P-3.
Feeling very sleepy today, concentration keeps wandering,time for a nap.

[McColm]

Saturday 13th April 2024

It's coming upto three years since I was admitted to hospital with four pulmonary embolisms and my body is still tired out from the simplest of tasks. Dressing myself is easier and bathing has improved although I get to see all my scars. You could do join all the scars on my arms from having needles for blood samples to make a picture. A few more varicose veins on my right leg but none on my left leg. The scars on my neck and chest have almost disappeared
I listen to Alpha waves, I find that it helps me sleep better and improves my gaming skills online. It's supposed to improve your health and concentration.

All I can do is sanding on the workbench, I've got to save up for the next few months but ideas for future whiffery and past projects keeps entering my mind. Even the craving for metalwork on a few of my die-cast cars. I have a dremel knock-off drill with accessories but it needs an adaptor, so I can drill out the rivets for the Corgi Toys Ford Zephyr motorway patrol car. The blue light is missing from the roof and it's playworn so a respray for the estate/station wagon can be achieved.
The Dinky Toys Meccano Austin 1800 is a slightly larger scale in metallic light blue, the hood/bonnet and the trunk/boot both open. This too needs a respray. It's a bit special as my stepfather owned a Wolseley 2200 and we went on many holidays with the family until the clutch went. My mum decided that the Leyland Princess was much cheaper to buy secondhand than a new clutch and I had just passed my driving test. So I became the nominated driver. I'll need to buy one of those as well.
Even bigger in scale is the Corgi Rover 3500 aka SD1. This was the police spec: the front doors, hatchback and the hood/bonnet  open. It did have a blue light on the roof which I removed. My plan is a three door version as I have used filler on the rear doors. So it could be a small panel van.
I'll probably start a collection from the Vanguards range of cars that I have bought and family cars that I have driven. Probably ending up with all the cars that I have driven.
I  still have a few road trips planned for next year and get out a bit more. Day trips on the train. We'll see how things go.

[McColm]

Monday 15th April 2024

Been doing some tidying up in the hobby room and came across the fuselage halves of the Airfix 1/72 Shorts Stirling so naturally I have been gluing the leftover parts from the Airfix 1/72 Lancaster B.III. I have some leftover parts from the Lancastrian Nene conversion set that will be used to lengthen the bomb bay doors. The wings, engines upper turret-the gun barrels broke, copilot floor cut to size, two fuselage halves glued and the rear turret removed.
The twin tail fins seem to fit, it might turn out as the transport version.
I also found 95% of the 1/72 An-2 Colt Japanese model kit another contender for the 1960s GB.
If it was parked alongside a de Havilland Beaver it wouldn't look too out of place in the colour scheme of the Army Air  Corps.
I've noticed that one of the plastic storage boxes has a hole in the side so now I have a spare box this can be thrown away or upcycled by someone else.

This will be my first attempt at building a biplane,. I've changed the engine to a Rolls-Royce Griffon. The parts seem to fit okay until the cockpit canopy where there's a gap, not too worry there's to clear parts to fill the gap.

[McColm]

Wednesday 17th April 2024

I didn't get much sleep last night so I ended up moping the floors and desprusing in my hobby room which revealed the fuselage halves of a 1/144 A-90 Orlyonok Ekranoplane. I think that I have enough spare parts to concoct something similar.
Back to the 1/72 An-2 Colt with it's Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, research has shown that there's a floatplane/seaplane version but I don't think that there's an amphibious variant as I've come across some floats that look suitable.
As to the 1/72 Airfix Shorts Stirling this is taking the maritime reconnaissance theme, I found decals suitable for the Avro Lincoln MRAEW.1 project so I should be able to finish this soon.
 I have a broken plastic storage box full of cardboard to take downstairs to the recycling bins and then a nap later on.

[McColm]

Thursday 18th April 2024

I had a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach and she told me that she has an email from Southwark College to say that I can attend a two day top-up course to renew my static security licence but I need to get first aid trained as well.
I discussed that I would prefer to get the Door Supervisor Licence as this opens the path to events plus other opportunities if I take the agency route.I await the confirmation email.
Whilst in Woolwich I noticed that work on the new leisure centre is progressing and the improvements to Parade Street have started.

Whiffery is amazing two people with two different approaches using the same basic model the 1/144 A-90 can come up with something completely different.
My spring cleaning has started, the hobby room looks empty ready for the new stash or more racking to be installed. That's it for now,got to get everything finished but I keep getting new ideas or old ideas that still could be built.

[McColm]

Friday 19th April 2024

Hi Guys,  I got a reply from Southwark College today regarding the SIA Door Supervisor Licence course. I have sent them an email back saying that I will attend on the 1st May at 1pm for the assessment.

On the workbench the 1/72 An-2 Colt (Gryphon) is getting the wing flappy bits added  and the 1/144 Shorts Seal MR.1 is taking shape. Where the front exhaust jet pipes used to be this has been plugged by both halves of a drop fuel tank.

[NARSES2]

Friday 19th April 2024

Hi Guys,  I got a reply from Southwark College today regarding the SIA Door Supervisor Licence course. I have sent them an email back saying that I will attend on the 1st May at 1pm for the assessment.

Best of luck with that    Just don't walk in whistling "The Red Flag"    I had an old boss who was particularly prone to being annoyed by that on the 1st    Mind you that was in the 70's 

[McColm]

Friday 19th April 2024

Hi Guys,  I got a reply from Southwark College today regarding the SIA Door Supervisor Licence course. I have sent them an email back saying that I will attend on the 1st May at 1pm for the assessment.

Best of luck with that    Just don't walk in whistling "The Red Flag"    I had an old boss who was particularly prone to being annoyed by that on the 1st    Mind you that was in the 70's 

Thanks but I can't whistle.

[McColm]

Sunday 21st April 2024

It's the TCS London Marathon, this year the organisers have placed a watering station the other side of the Stoneleigh roundabout so naturally there's plastic bottles all over the place. I'm currently being entertained by the PA system although the choice of music is an acquired taste.
I've run out of supplies so all I can do is sanding and research new whiffs or finish reading the two books I received whilst I was in hospital.

[McColm]

Monday 22nd April 2024

Today is World Earth Day, I know I didn't know what that meant until I looked it up. Apparently by the year 2040 there will be a 60% reduction of all plastics manufactured and sometime in the not too distant future a complete ban on all plastics, no wonder model kit prices are starting to rise.
On the other hand I've noticed that the South Circular Road around the Charlton area heading towards Woolwich will be closed as a few diversion signs went up this morning, whether this will be at night for road sign painting or it's time to resurface the road again!
What I do know is that the cycle lanes have been closed along this stretch.


Future builds.

The Curtiss-Wright C-46, I don't think that this aircraft has fulfilled it's whiffing potential. A tricky model to build in 1/72 scale. I've always thought it should have had four engines even Curtiss came up with their own concepts including an improved version with squared wingtips,  the turboprop and a gunship. I think Scalemates.com is the best place to check out the kits and accessories.


The 1/72 Me-321 Big Bertha  build has had the wings removed due to the plastic becoming very brittle, I'm leaning towards the wings from the Shorts Sunderland and tail parts.
The Sunderland was never built as a landplane or front loader but I feel that this could be doable with twin tail fins and a landing gear. Might have a go at lowering the wings whilst I'm at it.

[McColm]

Wednesday 24th April 2024

I've just had a meeting with my Universal Credit Work Coach and it seems that the first aid is included in the SIA Door Supervisor Licence course but I have been told to ask about that when I go for my assessment and the dates for when the course starts.
Apparently there's a two month waiting time for the Licence to be sent out, it might be a few weeks as I have been vetted before and I will let you know in due course. So mid June or early July.

On my return home I noticed that the seats have been covered with pvc on some of the buses, some of the passengers were wearing face masks which begs the question is Covid still a threat in the UK?

An idea came to me in the form of a vacform kitbash but this will be after I have finished my current builds, then there's a few online games which have given me more scope to change the livery/paint scheme on steam powered 00 gauge locomotives. An A4 bodyshell to begin with until I have the funds to buy some more rattle cans. I used to be good with an air-brush on an industrial scale, I haven't had much luck with the smaller ones.
So no new or secondhand kits until I get my first pay packet. Primer and filler plus masking tape are on the list and decals.