What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Sunday 1st November 2020

I sometimes surpass myself  in my creations,  take the Avro Starship. It started life as a 1/72 Frog Avro Shackleton MR.3 but now has a pair of turbofan engines from a A-10A,  the twin tail fins from a Be-12 Mail and the nose from the Combat Model  Avro Lancastrian which has been cut widthways to accommodate a pair of canards. The remains of the Convair Privateer can be seen at the rear. Yes there has been some PSR work carried out but it still looks impressive to me. I'm thinking of leaving those rivets alone. A landing gear will be added at a later date.
I've got to start painting,  possible time during lockdown that's if I am not working.
Stay safe and take care.

It looks like the 1/72 Avro Lincaster has changed shape,  hopefully this will be it's last variant. It now has the hull for a Playfix Be-6 Madge. I was able to find a pair of Frog Avro Shackleton MR.3 twin tail fins and the contra-rotating propellers also from the same kit. Which complement the Rolls-Royce Merlins. This now rules out the K.1 tanker and reverts back to an MPA or troop carrier. Although an AEW platform still could be whiffed using the Grumman E-1B radome.

[McColm]

Wednesday 4th November 2020

I should be going back to work on Friday,  although my instincts tell me it will be next week. For those of you that have access to Facebook you will have seen some photos on the 'Airfix and other models 'of my builds
The 1/72 Avro Lincaster flying boat has now been sanded and I have found the matching tail cone of the Avro Lancastrian. The rotodome from the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye does fit on top of the fuselage,  but as I have run out of superglue it is set to one side.
Likewise the Heller DC-6B 'Sea Serpent ' maritime surveillance aircraft. This looks great with the 3 Rolls-Royce Griffon engines,  did have 4 but one fell off. It's my version of the Southern Star. The Northern Star was a DC-4 fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlins and flown by the Canadians.
The Airfix Bristol Superfreighter Gunship has changed to four jet engines taken from the Mach2  B-45 Tornado,  so too has the cockpit canopy. This is from a clear vacform Avro Vulcan  kit.
The Mach2 A.W. Argosy in the black paint does look stealthy with the AEW radomes and air cushion landing gear.
The Mach2 Martin WB-57F does look a bit different with the twin turboprop engines.
The Avro Starship did turn a few heads, and the Revell/Monogram Convair RB-36H with the Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW.3 radomes.
I've also found a couple of rattle cans of primer, so the Celestial,  Mystic II and Majestic will get sprayed. Well there's a bush that needs pruning in the back yard.
It will be strange for me to actually finish something.

[McColm]

Friday 6th November 2020

Still no news on the whereabouts of my new uniform and my boss tells me that 'being furloughed ' is not an option at the moment. We shall see what happens next week.
It's PSR on the builds until my supplies run out and a bit of painting to relax my mind.
The fireworks in Woolwich Southeast London have been outstanding with one or two new sounds in the explosions even the emergency services got into the act down Nightingale Vale the blue and red lights certainly lit up my room and I'm at the top of a two storey house.
I'm not too sure what's happening on Sunday with the Cenotaph Parade up in Whitehall,  I know that the local sites have been sectioned off.
As to the 1/72 Handley Page-Martin Majestic MR.1 amphibious flying boat,  a decision has to be made about the colour scheme. Do I stick with the grey and green or copy the H.S. Nimrod MR.1 colours,  perhaps a combination and a goodwill tour thrown in.
As for the 1/72 Heller DC-6B the Americans designated them with the C-118 Liftmaster. Mine is based on the Canadair  Northern Star or in this case Southern Star. Although the Sea Serpent does have a better ring to it.
The 1/72 Avro-Breguet Mystic II AEW will keep its grey and green paint scheme from the Avro Vulcan B.2 with a barley grey or light grey under the wings and fuselage.
I just  need to see if I kept any of the parts from the Mach2 Martin SeaMaster beaching trolley. Looks like a kitbash trolley or scratch built landing gear.
The dark earth and light earth colour scheme would suit the Argosy AEW.
The 1/72 BAC Celestial has managed to dislodge it's tail fin rotodome reverting back to a C.1 or airliner if I can find the correct decals. I've found a suitable stand for it, so a K.1 tanker could be it's next variant.
PSR continues with the Airfix Bristol Superfreighter jet Gunship. The landing gear still needs to be sorted out.
I've come across two 1/200 Revell Boeing SST started builds. One has parts from a 1/144 BAC Concorde and the other did have twin tail fins,  these have snapped off at one point. I still have an unbuilt kit, maybe if it had the Aeroflot markings it could be entered into the Captured GB build.
Nothing has changed on the Mach2 Martin WB-57F; Canberra T.17 nose with a pair of turboprop engines .
A few back stories will be released over the weekend.
Take care and stay safe.

[McColm]

Saturday 7th November 2020

I'm down to using Tamiya extra thin cement and Bartoline ready to use instant filler,  which means that I will be concentrating on painting some of my builds.
The extra thin cement is a bit temperamental,  I've been using it on the Airfix RAF Recovery Set. Some parts adhere straight away and others have to have two or three coats before they stick together.
The filler was bought at my local D.I.Y. store, it sands down to a fine white powder, I've been using this on the Avro Lincaster flying boat. More propellers have snapped off,  so a raid in the spares boxes should provide the parts.
I'll probably go for a walk tomorrow,  just to clear my head. Not too far this time!

[McColm]

Monday 9th November 2020

I have 11 days left on my S.I.A. licence,  that's a security guard licence to work in the UK. Other countries have something very similar,  they check your background,  prison record,  police records and any other information. Depending on what type of security work you do ie CCTV or door supervisor will depend on what licence you are granted. You can buy your own licence or get your company to buy it for you and pay them back in instalments.
After six weeks and frantic phone calls this has been confirmed by the licensing authority.
'I shall return '.
I did go for that walk yesterday and found myself down on the waterfront by the river Thames. I fulfilled an ambition to walk through the Woolwich passenger tunnel although I only found out that the Woolwich Ferry is free when I returned home. The museum of Fire Power has gone,  leaving a few cannon and large guns behind. The Naval buildings have been gutted and turned into flats or houses. Some are now restaurants or pubs,  there's a farmer's market and a new community centre been built.
Down on the waterfront new flats are being built,  with water features including fountains that scare the unsuspecting  dog or curious child who ventured near it. As it goes dark the lights change colour. 
I never knew how close Woolwich was to the Thames Barrier and crosses the river towards the City Airport still in Woolwich. The Arsenal must have been huge when it was built,  I'll have to check and see if anything is left.
I have six possible paint projects until I can restock with model glue.

[McColm]

Tuesday 10th November 2020

I have started three new builds; the Airfix RAf Recovery Set, an Airfix Tornado F.3 with the wings from a Heller Mirage IVP  and a 1/144 Boeing PB-52A Stratofinder flying boat.
Looking back through some older topics there has been a few Tornado based deltas either built or proposed,  mine is from not being able to get to sleep last night. I've found if you change the brush on the Tamiya extra thin cement it goes on a bit thicker and gives a really good bond.
The delta winged Tornado looks more like a Eurofighter Typhoon prototype,  with a higher wing. All l did was to cut off the lower wing-glove on the Airfix Tornado F.3 and glue the wings to form the delta. The fit is almost snug,  although some filler/puty will be used to fill the gaps in.
The 1/144 PB-52A Stratofinder is looking a bit like the 'Old Dog ' apart from the pointed nose. It needs a bit more work done to it before the paint stage.
As for the RAF Recovery Set it's a case of studying real world photos as the build progresses as the Airfix instructions aren't that clear.
On a positive note,  I could be back to work next week. My new uniform is being delivered to my home address on Tuesday 17th November and my security licence is being processed so I will get an extension on my current licence to carry on working. The only drawback is I have to work two weeks before I get paid. Double time in December should put me back on track and the fact that I'm not buying any more kits this year will make a big difference in my finances. Stocks of sundries however should see me finishing more of my started builds.

[McColm]

Hi Guys,
Good news my security licence has been renewed for another three years and my new uniform arrives next Tuesday,  so with regret I can go back to work.
This morning I used Lifecolor acrylic paint UA 550/FS 34424 Royal Air Force Sky on the 1/72 ex Frog Avro Shackleton MR.3 kitbash Avro Skyline. The one with the twin nose canards,  twin turbofaned engines and Be-12 twin tail fins.
The raised rivets on the fuselage and wings are highlighted which gives a sort of worn look. Where I have used filler/puty this too highlights the fact that I need to sand down those areas to a smoother finish. I painted over the fuselage windows as I am going to add a few of my own either with a decal or stickers.
It's touch dry but will need another coat after sanding.

[Rheged]

Hi Guys,
Good news my security licence has been renewed for another three years and my new uniform arrives next Tuesday,  so with regret I can go back to work.

Congratulations on your being securely licenced once more !   Will we have a selfie posted so that we can all admire the uniform?

[NARSES2]

Good to hear the news re the Licence 

[McColm]

Thanks, I apologise for my haircut. I shaved my head myself 

[McColm]

Monday 16th November 2020
Well I have two weeks work up in Bow Church,  it's on the Nottingham Hill, Tower Hamlets,  Thomas Frye Drive , London E3 2ZG. It looks like a new housing project. I'll be working days Wednesday to Sunday. Well if it is a construction site then it will be something similar to what I was doing at the Southbank Centre,  Waterloo,  York Road.
Meanwhile the 1/144 PB-52A Stratofinder has a nickname Sea Slug (slow,  low,  ugly,  giant) and is turning a bit Martin SeaMasterish. I can't wait until my first payday for months to come so I can get some decent supplies.
I found a bag of goodies which contained a 1/72 Revell Douglas DC-4,  1/72 Airfix BAC TRS-2 with resin and metal parts, the Airfix Avro Lancaster B.II and the Revell 1/200 Boeing SST kits.
I think that I saw the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 fuselage somewhere,  so that with Lancaster parts. So is that a Lanckleton or Shacaster?
I shall continue with my painting.

[TheChronicOne]

Thanks, I apologise for my haircut. I shaved my head myself 

That's how I roll, too, brotha! lol   Not so much a shave as a buzz on lowest setting. World's easiest haircut and easily achievable by oneself. 

Good you are working during this mess that is 2020.

[McColm]

Monday 23 November 2020

Thanks for your kind messages,  now have a permanent site and the pay isn't bad either. I've meet up with some of my colleagues from the Southbank Centre construction site and we provide firewatch cover for three blocks of flats 24/7.
On Sunday the site was visited by a Fire Inspector and he was singing our praises-well impressed with the service better than the previous lot.
On the downside,  there's no drinking water and the portakabin provided by the security company hasn't got a generator powerful enough to run all the appliances at the same time. Why they couldn't have rigged an electric cable to the switch room or national grid as it is next door to a substation I don't know.
I most housing in the area,  the flat roof syndrome prevails and there's evidence of damp and neglect from repairs that should have been carried out but no one has gotten around to it.
I'm in the dry and get to watch the trains go by and unfortunately I get to watch the flats next door,  well I can't help it if the bedrooms are on that side and they don't draw the curtains!
No wifi connection,  it's a job and someone has to do it!.
I need about six model kits to use to complete the majority of spare parts in the stash which are:
Airfix HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1/MR.2
Revell Airbus A400M
Airfix or Revell Avro Shackleton
Heller Boeing E-3A/C AWACS
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
Martin B-57G
Plus a host of aftermarket resin conversion sets.
I now have to methodically sort out the stash into piles of aircraft and car parts. Then see what parts are damaged or missing,  then in the pile of leftover bits what parts I can use to complete the build. I know now not to use multipurpose household filler on my builds or Unibond  as an adhesive. Yes the 1/72 Avro Lincaster flying boat will need to be rebuilt. The plastic/resin parts will be salvaged  as I think that I have another Avro Lancaster fuselage in my stash,  the Blackbird or David J.Parkins Lincoln conversion set  will have to be bought at a later date maybe with the RedRoo Mk31 extension nose .This will be a whiff as I don't think Coastal Command flew them in the maritime surveillance roles.
Another build in the pipeline will be the Avro Shackleton MR.1, with a almost out of the box Avro York. Having bought a couple of the Mach2 kits in the past and been bitterly disappointed with them, I can turn the lower fuselage into a bomb bay.
Another crazy idea is to cut the front and rear sections off and rotate the middle so that the wing/landing gear is lower. Using the wing spar from the Airfix or Revell Avro Shackleton kits and their parts.  Similar to what Kit did but reversed. I think this will work but I will need another three models and the price does seem to be falling.
I still have the vacform fuselage of a 1/72 Vickers VC10 and I think using it with the Heller Boeing E-3A/C AWACS kit would certainly see people scratching their heads,  but that's all for next year.
There's a lot of kit painting to be done first.

[McColm]

Tuesday 7th December 2020

Yesterday I was feeling fluie so I have taken the decision of having the week as sick leave. No I don't have any of the symptoms for Covid. No fever,  no continued cough and I still love the taste of food.
I had a rummage through one of my storage boxes and found the 1/72 Mach2 Breguet Alize. I don't recommend this kit as I'm stuck at the moment  when it comes to the weapons bay doors,  the instructions are very vague but the kit isn't too bad. Everything up to this point fits with no major issues. I haven't decided whether or not to keep it as an ASW or change it into a reconnaissance aircraft with a camera pack in the weapons bay.
The acrylic paint arrived to transform the Triang Midland blue Pullman into a cream and brown paint scheme. I just wish someone came up with a paint masking set!
So it's a brown body with a white roof and cream around the passenger windows. I know where I can get the Pullman decals from but I will put a clear coat on first before adding the decals.
Well atleast I can finish off some of my builds whilst outside the temperature has dropped and it's raining. This gives me a chance to delete my emails and read your topics.
Stay safe and take care.

[McColm]

Thursday 12th December 2020

I knew that I had another Sutcliff vacuum Avro York in the stash and having found the Airfix Avro Lancaster B.II naturally the C.2 can be built. I'm thinking AEW instead of transporter. The remaining parts of the Lancaster will go to become an Lancastrian mixed with Shackleton bits.
I also found a few vacform parts for the Contrail Blackburn Beverley which I can use as templates for the interior.