What's on the workbench!

[scooter]

Don't even THINK about Chicago, or Boston, or New York, or (perish the thought) LA! 

Or Philly.  Can't stand going into Philly.  It also doesn't help that there are limited ways into that damned city.  At least traveling into New York, from NJ, you've got: the GWB, Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, multiple NJT bus routes and rail service, private carrier bus service, and ferry service.  Philly, you've got 2 bridges, NJT and private bus, and one train.

Coming in from the western part of the state?  One interstate highway and no one knows how to drive.

[McColm]

Tuesday 21st June 2022

Day one of the National Rail Strike, I sent Crosscountry an email to refund my ticket for today. Explaining the reason why I can't take the coach from Plymouth back to London Victoria Coach Station.
Crosscountry are running a few trains but not into the London Terminals.
I went for a walk with my mum into the local woods which end just behind Falmouth Town Football Club. I've definitely caught the sun. My walking has improved and my nephew has leant me a pair of 3Kg dumbbell weights to use.
The odd Merlin helicopter flies by with a Dassault Falcon (I know it goes by a different name in the Royal Navy). So it will be an interesting project. I think Mach2 do a kit, I will have to check. Another thing that is big down here is boats. I still have the R.N.L.I. Airfix kit that I intended to turn into a gun boat. The PBT will become a motor cruiser.
I know that Cornwall did have a motor industry but I can't find any information about it.

[McColm]

Thursday 23rd June 2022

With the high prices of the 3D printed 1/72 Breguet Br.765 Sahara and the rarity of the vacuum kit, it looks like I will build my own versions. Although the shape of the fuselage is sort of squarish. The only thing that looks close is the Fairchild C-119 or the Avro York. I did have a go with the Mach2 kit by cutting the wing junction and regluing it upside down. Aptly named the Avro Yorktown, it would of been fitted with the wings from a Lancaster before I had to move house. So I will have another go at building it.
As to the C-119 fuselage this will be lengthened and have the wings from a  DC-6 ,everything else will be raided from the spares boxes.
Boats will be next on the build list as well as my 00 gauge train layout. Racking can be used for storage and be the basis for my layout to run on. A top will be sought.
Some lights on my layout would be good in the buildings.
The weather is changing and getting cooler down here in Penmere Cornwall, I hope to return next Tuesday. Lots of ideas for my flat and whiffs in the pipeline.

[McColm]

Monday 27th June 2022

Ticket booked for tomorrow,, two weeks are nearly up.I  can recommend the beaches of Falmouth either a small cove or mainstream. Not overly commercialised. A car is essential to get around in but there's a bus service and the trains do run. Fuel is slightly cheaper and there's no rush, so just take your time.
I'm off into town to get a few items for my packed lunch and presents for my mum as a thank you for having me stay.

[McColm]

Wednesday 29th June 2022

I got back late last night and woke up with a runny tummy. So it's a stay in bed drinking ginger tea type of day. It was raining early this morning and seems to be improving, just reading through the pile of post.
The Shorts Merlin AEW.1 now has a V- tail, I did have a look at the B-24s "Assembly Aircraft " colour schemes. Something rather garish so it doesn't get shot down and sticks out like a sore thumb. A testbed that never made it into mass production.
As for the BAC Black Crow ER.1 the undercarriage will now be in the closed position and adorn a suitable stand ready for painting. I need to buy some brushes first plus rattle cans.
Whilst in Falmouth I bought a Wizarding World Activity Set, lots of stickers and two Quidditch colour-in pen holders. They are a bit big for my 3D model of the castle but I can use them as a guide. Colouring pens, stamps and ink are also included. Reduced in price from TheWorks.co.uk
The LCH GB seems to have increased the price of the model kits , fortunately I have a 1/72 Sword  BAC Lightning T.55 in the stash, just need to measure the width of the two seater to see if it will fit a F-111A fuselage.
I'm feeling a bit tired with all the walking from yesterday and Kit is correct those seats are very uncomfortable on the new GWR trains. I seemed to have more space whilst sitting at a table than a normal seat.
When my stomach settles a few hours of whiffery this evening should get me back into the grove.

[McColm]

Thursday 30th June 2022

I'm worn out already, I've been altering the 1/72 Shorts Stirling Merlin AEW.1 and now it has the V-tail as requested.
PSR work continues on the 1/72 H.P. Mystic MRA..3P , there's photos up for both builds on the Current and Finished Build topic page.
Time for brunch and a little food shopping, baked beans can be a little bit bland on their own.
I will be staying in for most of the day tomorrow as I have several phone appointments throughout the day.
Once again insomnia has taken over, Plan B to modify the die-cast Jaguar XJS with the new roof from the plastic 1/24 Jaguar kitbash. It almost fits.
A raid in the spares boxes has revealed the bodyshell of a Bentley S1 Coupe, I have the chassis, brightwork and wheels for the Minicraft Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud  so the parts might just need persuasion to fit.
I also discovered a complete 1/24 Austin FX4 London Taxi  with a few engines to choose from.

[McColm]

Friday 1st July 2022

Happy Canada Day to one and all.
I didn't get much sleep last night and I can see that the razor saw has hacked away the plastic 1/24 Jaguar XJS three door hatchback. Leaving just the upper infrastructure which just sits nicely on the die-cast Jag convertible. A hacksaw would be a beneficial investment, even the junior saw to correct the butchery. Leaving this aside the tail lights from the Jaguar XJ220 will be used to complete this build.
The Corgi Rover 3500 Police die-cast toy car is now looking like a three door coupe,  I was going to civilianise it but it will gain some new emergency services decals.

[McColm]

Saturday 2nd July 2022

I should have gone to the food bank in Welling Kent but I felt so exhausted and had a nap instead, when I woke up I had missed the session so I did some food shopping at the Stoneleigh Retail Park. I can get most items for my flat in B + M at discount prices.
Basically I wrote a list of all the items my mum has in her 'granny flat ' and compared them to what I have. The tick list is hanging up behind my bedroom door.
It feels a bit strange returning to my flat and not being able to go to the beach. I think back in the 1950s they did try and turn the River Thames into a beach with tons of sand but the tide kept washing it away. Charlton does have a lido, although it's not the same as Ruislip Lido, as they have a beach and a miniature steam railway. They don't run the smaller scale steam railway anymore due to health and safety reasons.
There's still a few kits in the stash and sorting out the model car parts has been put on hold at the moment. I need to find the instructions sheets or look them up on line hence the 1/24 Bentley S1 Coupe.



It's a kitbash using the Minicraft Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, Jaguar XJS TVR interior shell, Jaguar XJ220 wheels and seats. It's almost a perfect fit. I haven't decided on a colour scheme yet nor do I know if this type of car was used on the racing circuit. So a bit of research will be useful.
Once again I am running out of supplies, yes I know that I need to get this lot finished.
On the plus side my sleeping has improved, a whole night without waking up or wetting the bed and I have been signed off from the sleeping disorder programme.
It's a bit like that song 'don't worry be happy '.

[NARSES2]

I think back in the 1950s they did try and turn the River Thames into a beach with tons of sand but the tide kept washing

Earlier than that, it opened in the 30's and I can remember it in the 50's.  I can remember seeing kids climbing down onto it with their buckets and spades etc. The river was very much a working one back then so I doubt very much if they went for a paddle, but you never know. It actually featured in a couple of 40's/50's films.

My dad worked at London Bridge and I'd quite often meet him there lunchtime on a Sunday* and we'd go around the City and he'd point things of historical interest out to me  . Can you imagine letting a 7/8 year old travel up by train on their own nowadays ? 

Here's the Wiki link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Beach,_London

[scooter]

I think back in the 1950s they did try and turn the River Thames into a beach with tons of sand but the tide kept washing

Earlier than that, it opened in the 30's and I can remember it in the 50's.  I can remember seeing kids climbing down onto it with their buckets and spades etc. The river was very much a working one back then so I doubt very much if they went for a paddle, but you never know. It actually featured in a couple of 40's/50's films.

My dad worked at London Bridge and I'd quite often meet him there lunchtime on a Sunday* and we'd go around the City and he'd point things of historical interest out to me  . Can you imagine letting a 7/8 year old travel up by train on their own nowadays ? 

Here's the Wiki link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Beach,_London

And probably still had enough sand when they filmed Battle of Britain

[McColm]

Thanks Guys,
I might build a beach scene on my 00 gauge model railway layout. The Hogwarts Hotel Resort!

[McColm]

Monday 4th July 2022
It was a very humid night and I didn't get to sleep until 1am in the morning. Now someone has decided to dig up the road outside the kitchen.
I have some errands to run today so it might be a late night of kitbashing for the Group Build.

[McColm]

Tuesday 5th July 2022

I went to see the Mobility Doctor today,  she had good news for me.  The Weight Management Course starts in August and after that I will have access to a Royal Greenwich Gym plus a swimming pool and  facilities for three months free, then pay a discount fee after that.

[NARSES2]

Tuesday 5th July 2022

I went to see the Mobility Doctor today,  she had good news for me.  The Weight Management Course starts in August and after that I will have access to a Royal Greenwich Gym plus a swimming pool and  facilities for three months free, then pay a discount fee after that.

That's good news. The swimming in particular is a good idea 

[McColm]

Thursday 7th July 2022
After a walk this morning around the block, I found various parts to build the 1/25 Matchbox/AMT PK-4106 Ford Capri II. It's got quad headlamps instead of the single lens built in the UK and Germany. I also found a resin bodyshell of the Capri MkI and a V4 which looks as though I have started to convert into a convertible (inspired by Crayford).
I'll be looking to see if the V12 engine from the die-cast Jaguar XJS fits.
I'll have to order some more filler/putty to complete the E.E.lightning Bolt and a few rattle cans of paint plus brushes.