Thorvics'Blog

[PR19_Kit]

Another potential sideline for Colin. 

[Thorvic]

Modelling wise not so great on that front the last couple of nights, got sidetracked with the neighbours and going shopping so only got chance to fit canopies in place and then calling it a night as they needed to cure. the night before I had a severe case of the dropsies in that anything I seemed to work on seemed to slip out my fingers on to the bench but mostly onto the floor, so had to give it up as a bad job before I lost or damaged something important.

So will have to crack on tonight to get back on schedule to be done at weekend  , no distractions or chores so should be able to crack on with it, weathers OK so I can set up the spray booth so that means I can get components prepped and primed and possibly sprayed whilst I continue with the structural work. All being well I may get the structural work done these next two nights with an eye for priming the model ready to spray on Saturday  (I certainly hope so !).

[Thorvic]

Phew managed to finish the last SMW build today FFFT !!!

[Thorvic]

Well that seemed a long week I was pushing to get my latest build finished for SMW as I spent somewhat longer on the WG11 than I hoped for.  I also manged to revise the squadorn of my sea puma as I realised they clashed and we're not really suitable  so was able to do that as well. Photos and a build thread will follow as I took photos on my phone but will have to download and send them to images shack when I get chance.
That thankfully gives me the next four nights to sort out and pack the models I'm taking for Project Cancelled. Repair damages, dust and clean, sort out refernces (as projects we  like to have proof of project, as can be handy to respond to queries and possibly hook those expressing an interest.). Also need to prep the car and pack a bag, however I was only able to book the Friday afternoon off so working the morning so will have to load up Thursday night. Will be a long day and a very long weekend but should be worth it.
Will have to do what Chris is doing and review the floor plans to work out what to see and what I want as lots of tempting goodies  but try to stay within my subject area so I don't get stuff I won't build.

[Thorvic]

Well that is a relief sorted and packed the models on a Monday night rather than the usual Thursday or even Friday, was about to congratulate myself when I remembered the aerials to add to the WG11 so that ones currently out to be repacked tonight. Whilst at it I managed to repair the RN Swift I did that was damaged in the table collapse at Glasgow. I have decided not to take any for What-If so it may allow the rest of the guys a little more room to add more of their own as I'm pretty well involved in the Project Cancelled display so have four boxes of models already to Transport.

Even had an early night and was up early as needed to do the barbers and fuel up the car as easier to do first thing before the roads get busy and not rushing in the evening where you again fight the traffic. I think I may even do unknown things like pack my overnight bag, prep the cameras and sort outs some reference material tonight so that I can be ready for the off on Friday lunchtime straight from work.

Makes for a much less stressful week, I remember booking time off in the week before SMW and ended using that time to finish stuff which left us drained for the week after, so like others, set the weekend before as the deadline and ease into the week as its a long weekend coming up. Monday is also booked off giving a day to unpack, store stuff and relax after what is always a tiring weekend.

With the pressure off I think I will get a couple of builds completed that are still on the bench and didn't make SMW, spend time catching up on TV boxed sets as always felt guilty in the run up watching more than an episode when I had stuff to finish. After that its probably going top be a proper clean and tidy up in the run up for Christmas and possibly line up a build for over the Christmas Period (maybe the Airfix RN Phantom if its released by then) with an eye for Bolton Show at the end of Jan.

[Thorvic]

Ah well last night was a mixed bag I managed to finish off the tweaks to the WG11 and get it repacked so those models are ready to go, but failed to get any further packing done as was hoping to start getting the rest of my stuff together. I did get confirmation on the room which was good so that's all sorted now but the folding trolley I ordered off Amazon failed to get delivered so may have to wait till tonight. With the distance to the halls from the car park I thought I might give a trolley a try as the sturdy boxes I use can get heavy when stacked together.
Now hoping it gets left with a neighbour today or arrives after I get back from work as don't have the time to chase it up now.

Must do like Chris and study the plans online as want to see specific traders to see their wares, I already have a pre-order arranged with Whirlybird and I dealt with Coastal Kits at Glasgow, but we have Colin's new stuff on the Freightdog stand, chat to Airfix on if they are fixing the issues identified on the Phantom. See what interesting new stuff there is from S and M, AZ, and various specialist guys who come up with surprises for the show.

[NARSES2]

AZ and RS don't have their own stands as far as I can see from the IPMS website. However they didn't last year either but shared with other companies. Somewhere I've read who they are with this year, at least AZ anyway, but can I remember ? 

Just need to keep eyes open and ear to the ground.

[Thorvic]

Ok so I have been building RN  Naval Helicopter projects for the last few months got the last of em finished at the weekend using a mix of stock decals, old and current Model Decal sheets and then I discover this is out this weekend !!!

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MA7268



Would have been fantastic about 6 weeks ago !!!!!.

However I mustn't complain its an ideal sheet and yes I will be getting it in numbers for real and project builds 

Of course it also helps that I suggested it to JP at Model Art a couple of years ago so rather chuffed that he eventually ran with the suggestion 

[PR19_Kit]

Of course THEY waited till you finished yours to release the decal sheet! All manufacturers have spies on every modelling forum to determine release dates for stuff. 

[Thorvic]

P1000681 by Geoff Baker, on Flickr

That shows off the work done in the run up to SMW, as well as the Sea Puma from earlier in the year and the WG11 I had ready for Glasgow, I did a Royal Navy Super Frelon as put forward to AST358and I did the original Gnome Powered Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook ASW version also put forward for AST358.

The Chinook is the Trumpeter CH-47A using resin engine pods shaped by Joe Cherrie, its got the ASW hardware in the Cabin from a Cyberhobby SH-3, unfortunately I hadn't spotted that the Trumpeter kit didn't allow for the cabin door to be mounted open so I had to close it loosing some of the access to see the interior ! 

Markings for both and like the WG11, come from the Model Decal sets for the Se King and RN Wessex plus generic decals for roundels and lettering.... and of course at the show I got copies of the new Model Art Decals for the Sea King HAS 1 with all the schemes I needed !!! - Sods Law  .

Day off to recharge today before back to work, and rather than being drained after the weeks of modelling for the show, the finishing the previous weekend followed by a good show weekend and lots of chat had me back at the work bench today starting some new builds and carrying on with others that I had to put to one side. 

[Thorvic]

Will have to put the completed models I took to SMW, back into their storage location in the office tonight and find spaces for the Stash acquisitions I picked up at Telford and put the books into their relevant book case. A bitter sweet moment, sweet in that the show was a success and happy the builds were appreciated and help illustrate the Project Cancelled concept, bitter in that after months of prep work it all gets put away and back into storage now for a couple of months.

On the plus side once the stuffs put away I can clear down the workbench, box up the left overs and get on with the next build. Thankfully have plenty of ideas and the kits in stock to do them so aiming to carry on with the momentum built up for SMW and try and keep the builds going if I can at least into next year as would like to have something new ready for Bolton at the end of Jan.

I have already started a new build based on some of the stuff I got from Telford, coupled with a failed build I used for parts, just need to wait for a kit I ordered off kingkit and I can crack on with doing the interior. It's a cancelled project and in the Helicopter trend and did fly successfully but never got the orders its should have.

I'm building the EHI-Westland Merlin Heliliner, a couple of the pre-production machines were built as Heliliners and tested successfully but never got the orders for the North Sea operators. I'm using the Italeri VH-71 US101 kit coupled with a rear fuselage from a Merlin HM1. I will need to add an interior as the seats are visible from the cabin windows so have ordered an F-27 to do the seating. It will probably be completed in a Civil Scheme to reflect its intended use as a project cancelled. (yes I was tempted by VIP transport or Admirals barge but that's into the Whiff realm and Martin H may do something along those lines as it's am idea I discussed with him.

Next up will possibly be a 2nd Sea Puma but based on the drawing we have for the SA330D , scheme will be decided later as focus will be the Heliliner to begin with

[kitnut617]

I'm building the EHI-Westland Merlin Heliliner, a couple of the pre-production machines were built as Heliliners and tested successfully but never got the orders for the North Sea operators. I'm using the Italeri VH-71 US101 kit coupled with a rear fuselage from a Merlin HM1. I will need to add an interior as the seats are visible from the cabin windows so have ordered an F-27 to do the seating. It will probably be completed in a Civil Scheme to reflect its intended use as a project cancelled.

What about something from here Geoff

http://www.contrailsmodels.com/Interior_s.html

[Thorvic]

interesting Robert, hadn't realised they now did interiors but a bit pricey and will be a while for delivery for this build, where as I already have the F27 on-route and should get it by weekend. I can then do the F27 closed up or as a freight version.

Put my models away last night to clear the hallway and stashed the buys away in the workroom, just need to sort out the books and decals and put them away in their relevant places. I think I may want to put away the left overs from the previous builds and clear down the bench before I get too far into the next build but I do intend to get the model room ship shape by the end of the month. December & January are good build months and I intend to make use of them if I can firstly with the Heliliner.

Speaking of decals I had notification that the pre-order I placed with Hannant's for the Model Art Sea King HAS1 decals is ready so that will be five sets of those in stock now. Think I may have to do some more Helicopters to try out the sets although I should probably do a straight HAS1 for comparison with the other projects. Perhaps Admiralty and the Helicopter now due out next year will offer yet more proposals.

However I may do another WG-11 now I know how to do it, but as the Assault version with the Ramp down and rotors folded and trying a different source of Ch-46 kit, this time the Fujimi kit

[PR19_Kit]

What about something from here Geoff

http://www.contrailsmodels.com/Interior_s.html

All sorts of useful there Robert, thanks for posting. 

[The Wooksta!]

Worth having a think about the Westland Westminster?