What's on the workbench!

[scooter]

Spaghetti bolognese can be cooked in the microwave,  just let anything with the Pyrex logo cool down before you wash it. The measuring jug exploded in the sink, I managed to clear up all the pieces of glass.

Also, if using plastic, wipe out the sauce/gravy (depends on what type of Italian you're talking to about it) with paper towels before washing.

I've got a Corningware roasting pan I acquired from my mother that's about as old as me.  And is perfect for standing rib roasts

[McColm]

Friday 23rd July 2021

Yes folks I have managed to get to see in my 55th birthday. I've made lots of mistakes and may have said the wrong thing at the wrong time,  probably  p*ssed off some people along the way. Recovery isn't what I was expecting,  I am still very weak in my legs and arms,  I try to stimulate my mind in puzzles and a bit of whiffery. Having to do this all on my own is the biggest challenge.
The British benefit system does work but there's a lot of pooh to wade through to get the doors to open in your favour or it's not what you say it's how you say it. Politeness and a soft voice helps.
Well after checking the post, I'll be searching for a post box. In my day they were on every street where I grew up,  not in Deptford Bridge. Another trek into the unknown.
Best make the most of today's good weather as thunderstorms are predicted over the weekend. More whiffery for me.

[Nick]

Friday 23rd July 2021

Yes folks I have managed to get to see in my 55th birthday. I've made lots of mistakes and may have said the wrong thing at the wrong time,  probably  p*ssed off some people along the way. Recovery isn't what I was expecting,  I am still very weak in my legs and arms,  I try to stimulate my mind in puzzles and a bit of whiffery. Having to do this all on my own is the biggest challenge.
The British benefit system does work but there's a lot of pooh to wade through to get the doors to open in your favour or it's not what you say it's how you say it. Politeness and a soft voice helps.
Well after checking the post, I'll be searching for a post box. In my day they were on every street where I grew up,  not in Deptford Bridge. Another trek into the unknown.
Best make the most of today's good weather as thunderstorms are predicted over the weekend. More whiffery for me.

Postbox finder on Royal Mail website.
Try this https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/results?postcode=SE14%206TL&latitude=51.474774&longitude=-0.026786&searchRadius=40&count=7&filters=&officeType=postboxes

[NARSES2]

Happy birthday 

[McColm]

Friday 23rd July 2021

Yes folks I have managed to get to see in my 55th birthday. I've made lots of mistakes and may have said the wrong thing at the wrong time,  probably  p*ssed off some people along the way. Recovery isn't what I was expecting,  I am still very weak in my legs and arms,  I try to stimulate my mind in puzzles and a bit of whiffery. Having to do this all on my own is the biggest challenge.
The British benefit system does work but there's a lot of pooh to wade through to get the doors to open in your favour or it's not what you say it's how you say it. Politeness and a soft voice helps.
Well after checking the post, I'll be searching for a post box. In my day they were on every street where I grew up,  not in Deptford Bridge. Another trek into the unknown.
Best make the most of today's good weather as thunderstorms are predicted over the weekend. More whiffery for me.

Postbox finder on Royal Mail website.
Try this https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/results?postcode=SE14%206TL&latitude=51.474774&longitude=-0.026786&searchRadius=40&count=7&filters=&officeType=postboxes

Thanks Nick👍

[McColm]

Happy birthday 

Thank you

[zenrat]

Happy birthday mate.  May you have many more.

[McColm]

Happy birthday mate.  May you have many more.

Thanks 

[McColm]

Saturday 24th July 2021

The day started very dark,  I had to leave the lights on until about 4pm. The  1/72 Revell Sikorsky HH-3E is now a gunship helicopter with the side floats deleted the lower side has a torpedo whilst the upper side has a multi-rocket launcher. Under the nose there's a trainable twin machine gun taken from the Ka-58 helicopter kit. It now has the Mk5 radome from the Sea King  along the spine of the helicopter. I'm not going to add the telescopic inflight refuelling probe to this build.
The Mk8 Commander ASW has four torpedoes added to the weapons pylons on the sponsors.
As for the 1/72 Boeing EV-22A Osprey,  the undercarriage legs are from the Airfix Harrier GR.3 with outrigger wheels from the Revell Kamov Ka-58 kit,  I'm going to need a longer crew ladder! Plus a name change for this build.
I have a few ideas for the 1/72 Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2, paint one in the green and brown scheme of a Lancaster bomber. Green and brown on the upper surfaces , black everywhere else.
Then my mad scheme of raising the wings to shoulder height similar to the Avro York layout or B-24 Liberator.

[McColm]

Saturday 31st July 2021

It started out looking a bit gloomy this morning,  I got caught up in a light shower of rain and now the sun has come out. After a bit of shopping,  four boxes were waiting for me at the reception desk.
One had my medication and Metatone tonic,  Zvezda 1/144 Beriev Be-200ES and a pack of Albion Alloys Mini Sanding  Sticks; assorted pack of 3 each grit, Brown 100, Zebra 180, Blue 240, Yellow 320 and Orange 400 grit.
Which is ideal for my builds,  the Be-200 is a lot smaller than I was expecting. I think that I can turn it into a ASW build.
PSR work has begun on the Westland Stork  programme whilst I am on the lookout for two 1/72 Sikorsky HH-3E kits; one of them will be turned into a AEW platform whilst the other is painted yellow for SAR.
It looks like I will be getting my SSP paid on a monthly basis through my new boss who has bought Trigion Security Services,  Kingdom.
Sleeping remains the biggest problem,  well atleast I can do some sanding when I am awake. My strength in my hands is returning. I can nearly crush a tin can with both hands but I still have problems opening packets with one hand. The twinges have returned around the upper arms and on my left leg. I will be needing a haircut soon so that must be a good sign for something. The bruise where I had my blood samples taken from has now gone,  just in time for some more. The healing process is slowly moving forward.
Yes the blame game has started, interdepartmental emails are flying around. All I need is a few hours of physiotherapy,  I can do most of the exercises where I am.
My goal is to visit RAF Hendon Museum before I return to work in the winter,  well atleast it's free upto a point. Hogwarts Castle will have to wait until next year,  although I do have a plan to build a few buildings in 00 gauge. I have my eye on a clockwork train set, just waiting for the price to come down a bit. A little bit of etching and some name plates are needed to improve the set.

[McColm]

Sunday 1st August 2021

It was my first night of sleeping straight through until 06;30am. The night was very muggy. Fortunately for me I had kept the dipping sonar from the Airfix Sea King AEW kit and have used it to prevent the Westland Stork from being a tail sitter. I removed all the Harrier landing gear,  it does sit very high,  which means I can add a nosewheel landing gear and some under the fuselage pylons.
Tuhe Airfix Westland Sea King now has the seats from the HC.4 installed.
Second instalment
The Stork has changed and the AEW/ASW V-22 Osprey now has the sponsors from the Airfix Sea King plus a rear wheel from one of the wings off the Harrier GR.3.
The sponsors from the Revell Sikorsky HH-3E kit have been glued on the sides of the Airfix Sea King , this does limit the rear sliding door access. The telescopic inflight refuelling probe has also been glued on to the right side of the fuselage.

[McColm]

Monday 2nd August 2021

A second night of sleeping straight through without waking up.
I'll probably do some painting today on three of the build s and PSR  on the Westland Stork MR.1.
It seems to me that my sick pay will be paid monthly which is good news at least I get something as the Universal Credit allowance doesn't last long,  after all my bills have been paid.
I'm going to need a bigger pantry as I'm stockpiling cans of soup which will come in handy for the winter months.
Things to get; an iron and a pair of jeans,  possibly a watch and a few jumpers. I'll have to see.

[McColm]

Saturday 7th August 2021

Sunshine and showers is the ten day forecast for Deptford Bridge Southeast London which means I have started painting two of the 1/72 Westland Commander helicopters .
The ex Airfix Sea King AEW has the sponsors from the Revell Sikorsky HH-3E and I have added a crew door to the right side of the fuselage. I used the folding tail rotor from the Airfix HC.4 kit as well.
The fuselage windows are painted matt black 33, landing gear and I have also painted the main rotor stack in the same colour. I have painted the fuselage in satin dark green 163. Both paints came from the Airfix BAe Harrier GR.3 kit.
As for the Revell Sikorsky HH-3E kit which now has the HC.4 landing gear, this has been painted in anthracite matt 09 in the Revell paint range. It makes it look like something sinister as it is a gunship.

I have an idea to turn the Saab 37 Viggen into a V/STOL aircraft,  it looks to me as if it would be at home on a aircraft carrier with an extended nose wheel leg or wearing the USNavy decals. A possible kitbash using the F-35B parts.

[TheChronicOne]

Oh hey, happy Belated Birthday, bruh! I'm like.... 3 weeks late but hey!

[McColm]

Oh hey, happy Belated Birthday, bruh! I'm like.... 3 weeks late but hey!

Thanks