Thorvics'Blog

[Thorvic]

Hmm This is going to be harder than I thought, to stop things getting out of hand I shall have to ensure I use Paint stands and desk tidy's to keep my use of tools and paints in check so they don't overrun the workspace. A paintstand has been ordered as well as a couple of tool boxes for bits and pieces. next up is a cutlery tidy for the drawers to keep my tools organised and yet still at hand. I may need to review the spray booth the location of the compressor to make both accessible. Going to need protect the wooden desk top to stop it getting ruined so may need to address that before I get too carried away.

I think I shall have to spend some time this week getting models I want at hand into the workshop and deciding where to put them, I also need to see where I can put my accessible references so I can access them at need, so that's certain warship and aircraft books that I use as working copies. Going to have a fun time bringing the decal stash under control, bring them together and group them by subject so that I know where to find them again.

I think I may move over my tools and organise them after I get in the workshop as I think I need to do a bit modelling to see how it goes, get a feel for the ergonomics and then decide on what I need to do next. Doesn't get the bedroom any clearer but does mean I can fine tune the layout whilst I have the clear space to do so. May crack on with the WG11 or may just do an OOB build to get back upto speed and to keep it simple

[NARSES2]

Geoff a couple of years ago I got one of these http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Organiser-Cabinet/Pr406980000 from Clas Ohlson. Sits on my work bench, up against the wall, an dis ideal for your ready use stuff. It's so useful I got another in which I keep my spare parts all sorted into categories.

Recommended.

[Thorvic]

Geoff a couple of years ago I got one of these http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Organiser-Cabinet/Pr406980000 from Clas Ohlson. Sits on my work bench, up against the wall, an dis ideal for your ready use stuff. It's so useful I got another in which I keep my spare parts all sorted into categories.

Recommended.

Cheers Chris, I got a couple of smaller Draper ones off Amazon, and today I should have an expandable cutlery drawer to put in my drawers for my tools 

[Thorvic]

Got the cutlery tray in the drawer and put my tools in last night, so just need to ensure I put them back in the right section now when I use them 
Got a stand to put the spray booth on so hopefully I can store item s below it to make double use of the desk space.

Good news, I actually dug out a kit and did some assembly of parts last night just to get back in the groove, and yes it will be a subtle whif, no mods just decals  , only problem is however is that I haven't sorted out the paints yet so can start painting what's done so far and I need to replace the filters on my spray booth so no spraying either. So will have to continue with the clear out, sort out and migration before I can really carry on with the build  .

Making use of one of the many Fujimi Phantom FG1 kits I have as I will be using the new Airfix kit due out by the end of the year to do real aircraft and units, so I can now use these Fujimi kits for more whif/PC purposes 

[Gondor]

Got the cutlery tray in the drawer and put my tools in last night, so just need to ensure I put them back in the right section now when I use them 
Got a stand to put the spray booth on so hopefully I can store item s below it to make double use of the desk space.

Good news, I actually dug out a kit and did some assembly of parts last night just to get back in the groove, and yes it will be a subtle whif, no mods just decals  , only problem is however is that I haven't sorted out the paints yet so can start painting what's done so far and I need to replace the filters on my spray booth so no spraying either. So will have to continue with the clear out, sort out and migration before I can really carry on with the build  .

Making use of one of the many Fujimi Phantom FG1 kits I have as I will be using the new Airfix kit due out by the end of the year to do real aircraft and units, so I can now use these Fujimi kits for more whif/PC purposes 

I use a similar idea with the old cutlery tray, however the tools invariably decide to stay outside of it. I also aim to do the same with my Fujimi UK Phantoms and the same with the Airfix Kit too.

Gondor

[Thorvic]

I use a similar idea with the old cutlery tray, however the tools invariably decide to stay outside of it. I also aim to do the same with my Fujimi UK Phantoms and the same with the Airfix Kit too.

Gondor

Well I can always start with good intentions  . Yes I have enough real RN Phantom wants to do half a dozen Airfix Phantoms to highlight the units and the features Airfix have included - Launch, standard taxiable, folded, maintenance etc. 

I may do some PC stuff with the Airfix kit later, but I might as well put some of the Fujimi ones to good use. I will probably do a HL as my original one was a conversion tutorial for Martin many years ago and I never got round to completing my own. Can't see me doing another VG, whilst it's and interesting model, I don't fancy that level of work on just yet as would prefer to focus efforts elsewhere.

The one I've started is supposed to be a quick subtle build to test out the new workshop and its ergonomics. kit bashing won't kick in till later in the year unfortunately as I need to get other things done before getting absorbed in a major project !

Anyway a weekend off to get on with sorting out stuff and I have most of next week off so aim to crack on if I can.

[Gondor]

It's quite interesting seeing quite a few Fujimi UK Phantoms appearing on ebay these days at a somewhat more sensible price than previously as people try to shift them prior to getting the Airfix kit.

Gondor

[Thorvic]

Well been somewhat flattened by a cold I picked up at work, an annoying energy zapping one that seems to hang around on the throat and chest without blooming into a full head cold or burning out the system. Rather annoying as I was off on leave most of last week to spend with my sister and the Bank Holiday was a none event so chores and the full on migration have come to a grinding halt 

On the plus side I have been able to do a bit of modelling in the new workshop and so far it seems to work OK. I haven't cracked on with the Phantom but have instead got a few helicopters on the go to help push or rather pull along the WG11. Some are real and almost out the box such as the Airfix Whirlwind HAS22, which will be finished as a Suez aircraft rather than a Green Parrot, a Revell Sea King MK41 being done as proper RN HAS5 mid 80s post Falklands in the RAF Blue Grey colours rather than Medium Sea Grey.

I have also cleaned up the rear rotor housing for the WG11, so that will be fitted soon and I can crack on with the engine housings and bulking up the forward rotor housing. Then the next structural mod will be the new undercarriage sponsons for both sets of wheels so will try and push this along to be ready for SMW.

Decided to put the ships on hold until spring 2018, focus on the SMW builds in the run up period including checking over and cleaning/repair of existing models !!. Then by November (ish) we should have the new Airfix RN Phantom so that will jump to the top of the build queue into the Christmas Period  .

(Plus I still need to continue with the migration and purge so I can't fill the workshop just yet and will need it easy to clear up so will need to remain restrained)

Another control factor is that I have finally started to watch Game of Thrones as I have the box set for the first 6 series so that will act as an hour out each evening to relax.

[NARSES2]

Another control factor is that I have finally started to watch Game of Thrones as I have the box set for the first 6 series so that will act as an hour out each evening to relax.

Ah. I may well look into that and see what the fuss is about and if all the hype is worth it ? Ta 

[Thorvic]

Another control factor is that I have finally started to watch Game of Thrones as I have the box set for the first 6 series so that will act as an hour out each evening to relax.

Ah. I may well look into that and see what the fuss is about and if all the hype is worth it ? Ta 

Oh it is good and I've only seen the first two episodes so far, the only reason some haven't seen it is because its been limited by Sky to their Atlantic Channel so its not been flooded across other channels like most TV series.

[Thorvic]

Didn't manage to get anything done last night, a bity of socialising with the neighbours, tea, a bit of telly and a bit of web surfing. Just don't have the energy to get too involved these days as that damned cold slowly clears up. See if I can get a few chores done that I couldn't get done last couple of weeks if the weathers OK. I might even get into the workshop to carry on with a few builds if I'm lucky.

Need to focus on the SMW builds as basically only a couple of months to get those builds finished, and the WG11 is going to need the milliput and PSR treatment which will take time as it has to cure.

OK that settles it must crack on with the prep work for the WG11 to build up the areas ready for putty at the weekend so I can do the PSR during next week after its cured. otherwise it will drag on and I may end up rushing it in October.

The other builds are nearly there and I can use the drying time to finish their details and masking so they can be primed up.

Plus I have another potential conversion that I will need to blitz through if I get the parts from TSRJoe next week. I have most of the stuff so I can get started as soon as the building work is done on the WG11.

Nice to have a plan, now I need to try and stick to it if I can and hopefully I'll be ready for SMW.

[Thorvic]

Well this week has been a dead loss so far, gave myself a sour stomach on Tuesday which has stopped most activity in the last few evenings which is both a shame and a blessing. Why well I managed to make some progress on the WG11, I created a port side sponson and fitted the post side engine which were both blended in with Milliput last weekend. The enforced hiatus has allowed the Milliput to cure as it was still a bit soft on Monday. The problem is I need to repeat the process for the starboard side this weekend  . However once done and cleaned up the structural mods are basically complete and I can press on with the detailing 

The other aspect is that I now have the Midnight Blue and the Decals to finish the Whirlwind, although its basically its real.

Whilst the WG11 is curing I can press ahead with the details on the Sea King HAS5 (real) and Super Frelon (PC) which will mean an epic paint session and then decaling and finishing ahead of SMW !.

[Thorvic]

Oh well the sour stomach may well have been the return of the Cold as it eased my throat got rather tickly on Friday and blew up into a full on cold again with thick head, coughing, runny nose and sore eyes so the modelling went out the window mostly.

I did manage to get the other sponson done and the Milliput added to the WG11, so it's starting to look the right shape, although lots of PSR will be needed to clean it up. At least the cold curtailed my working so I the Milliput will be cured to work this week when I feel better. I did get my bits from Joe so managed to make a start on the basics for that kit but with the cold I couldn't do much and spraying was a no no. Hopefully as I get better this week I will be able to plug away and keep projects moving on track.

Bad news for some, after seeing Airfix plugging the new Mitchell kit and noticing that the release date was November and had its box art, so I decided to look up the new Phantom FG1 on their website, still no box artwork and the release date has switched from October, past November and into December  - I know they had a couple of shape discrepancies and may well have encountered fit issues with the test shot that requires rectification but that means we may get hit in December to pay for them in a Christmas Month, the chances of slipping into QTR1 2018 are very high now and it means we probably won't be building them till 2018 at best  .

[Thorvic]

Tried to do a stint in the model room but the head was a little to wooly and my eyes didn't like the brightness, but managed to do a bit of PSR to keep the process going. Lots of PSR needed to bring the WG-11 into line, but it does have its basic shape now and I do like it 

The new project should be pretty straight forward once I can get spraying, I have the parts I just need to assemble the cockpit, fit the ASW gear and paint it all before assembly and then do the engine mods.

So I know my projects that I need to do, I just need to be well enough to be able to focus on getting the work done and getting them finished by November, but it should be a nice little collection if I can get them all done.

If we can get more data then I may be able to do a few more projects depending on what info Hood digs up for the PSP. I already have a few ideas I had to postpone to focus on these builds.

Of course after November I should have the 1/700 HMS Ark Royal and come December (hopefully) the new Airfix RN Phantom to build, then of course there is stuff that is found or released at SMW such as Colin's project, new reference material or simple brain storming with the rest of the gang may inspire something different so that build plans will be somewhat fluid post SWM as they usually are. The Phantom however is a must build !!!!.

[Thorvic]

Playing catch up after the 2nd cold hit, so have been back on operation purge most weekends, last week I managed to fill the full sized paper recycling bin with shredded bills and post collated over the last 12 months and still got stuff to finish shredding after the bins are emptied tomorrow. keeping me from focusing on the modelling but needed doing and on the plus side when I needed a break I went up and did a bit of modelling until something needed to dry which prompted a fresh paper sort session.

Slowly making progress on the WG-11, have been rescribing, a case of two steps forward and one back as every time it slips I have to sand down and fill before carrying on. Still a bit more to do but also looking at detailing the cockpit so I can add the modified canopy and get that blended in.

Focus for the rest of the week and into the weekend is to get the airframe completed, canopy fitted and blended in and the associated detail parts prepped ready for painting next week.