Thorvics'Blog

[NARSES2]

Well at least it's progress 

[Thorvic]

Well at least it's progress 

Yeap I am making progress, started on clearing out under the stairs as now got room to store items and junk till I can dispose of it. Now that was enlightening as found the Christmas Decorations that have been missing for years along with some other bits and pieces. Once that's fully cleared out I can then use it for storing the correct items in there such as Vacuum Cleaner, Mop & Bucket and similar items. Next up will be the kitchen followed by the back room so all downstairs rooms are clutter free and tidy. The big one will be my own bedroom but that will be a job for the Bank Holiday weekend when I can get the time to box up, clear away or junk and be able to factor in the 'Oh look what I found' element that always slows you down.

Need to have this done by June as got house guests for a couple of weekend and then ready for when my sister does her annual summer visit 

The bad news is that the modelling is going nowhere as I should really be finishing off builds to allow the workshop to get a clean up of sorts. I did however pick up a few more kits for the stash yesterday so its not all bad.

Will be down in Dorset in June so intend to visit Yeovilton FAA Museum, Bovington Tank Museum and hopefully the Helicopter Museum at Weston Super mare along with a visit to Plastic Pastimes so should get plenty of inspiration and will be taking tools to allow for a little model building too so you can see why I need to get stuff sorted now as some serious distractions there to really get the Mojo moving again 

[Thorvic]

Well still on with the spring cleaning, got the stair space and backroom cleared away and sorted out so chuffed with that, however have now started on my bedroom which is lethal as its mostly modelling related stuff (lots of it) so its murder deciding what can be binned, stored, or to be kept at hand for use. This is made even worse by of course being a modeller to make that choice it generally means having a check of the kit to see what its like, the same for conversion set, decals etc, and then remembering why I got it, what I had planned to use it on, what I could do with it and where it should be placed accordingly. Therefore is an interesting exercise but rather slow progress and one I really must really push forward a bit.

Oh well onwards and upwards 

[kitnut617]

I know what you mean there Geoff, I had decided to do an inventory of my stash since after my house move, it's increased and also the Excel spread sheet I had made up somehow got all mixed up onetime I was going through it. It took ages because I was looking in each box and fascinated by what I had put into the box to remind me of what the plan was. Well, didn't work --- some of it I have no idea what I had in mind and some of it I had completely forgotten I had bought it ---- only to find I had bought the same stuff again later -- 

[NARSES2]

--- some of it I have no idea what I had in mind and some of it I had completely forgotten I had bought it ---- only to find I had bought the same stuff again later -- 

Been there more then a few times  I find trying to tidy up either my models or my library absolutely lethal, and don't get me started on old family photos 

[Rheged]

don't get me started on old family photos 

These are the biggest time consumers in the known universe.  Both my dad and both grandfathers were keen photographers, and (loud hurrah) they were very good about labelling prints so we know who, what, where and when............but that just wastes even more time!!

[NARSES2]

, and (loud hurrah) they were very good about labelling prints so we know who, what, where and when............but that just wastes even more time!!

True, I've spent many an hour trying to figure out who someone is/was, often to know avail  On one infamous occaision the mystery person turned out to be me, but in my defence it was at my Christening and my christening robe looked like an extremely long girls dress 

[Thorvic]

Well sort of getting there, managed to get most of the models boxed up and away, but now stuck with the dearth of old boxes with the remaining bits and part used decals from about a dozen completed builds. Awkward as some bits can still be handy spares and with the decal choices rarely being the standard kit schemes there tends to be additional after market sheets part used as well. Think for time and efficiency I may decamp them into one larger box and sort out at my leisure as I don't have the time of space to hold them all separately. Dismantled my desk last night as I don't need it in the bedroom anymore so it may get reassembled in the garage when I get chance.

So concerted effort tonight to sort out all the boxes and clear the various surfaces of stuff and give it all a onceover, then I can look to rearrange the furniture and give me some space to give me a bedroom again and no longer a live in workshop. Still got plenty of books in there and most of my ship kits are still in the bedroom, but it will be where I can do my research and prep for build which will be done in the workshop. Still a mess but will be a lot tidier and should be possible to redecorate and refurbish the room later in the year.

Can't help thinking how nice it would be to get to sit down and do a bit of building and painting, plenty to finish, loads of ideas and quite a few recent kits to get stuck into but having to force myself to remain in control and stay focused. Keep having to remind myself to 'Stay on Target'  !!!!

[Thorvic]

And Relax.....

Well finished the final build for SMW 2018 last night for the Project Cancelled SIG. Now all I need do is arrange and sort out the models for the display and repack them, which will be done in the next few days.
Yes like most I do have stalled projects and a few OOB builds that I could try to finish off, and yes they would be nice to have but I feel that they may end up being rushed or hit issues that would stall them again so rather than put myself under undue pressure and frustration again I have decided to leave well alone and relax in the run up to the show, may even catch up on some TV or reading (but avoiding reference material incase it triggers any ideas!  )

I managed to get hold of the Resin Supermarine Seagull ASR1 yesterday, so that's the rare kit I was on the look out for at SMW already sorted, and the wish list so far is the Whirlybird Westland Whirlwind HAS7 ASW, a restock on tools and materials and then seeing what's new and of interest, plus a looksee at the offers and 2nd hand traders to see what may tempt me.

Only blot on this chilled out picture is that the car has started with a Service Soon warning and is booked in on Tuesday so probably a wise move not to be overcommitted for SMW purchases until that's resolved. 

[NARSES2]

Only blot on this chilled out picture is that the car has started with a Service Soon warning and is booked in on Tuesday so probably a wise move not to be overcommitted for SMW purchases until that's resolved. 

I can remember when that was signaled by black smoke coming out the exhaust or a strange sound from the engine  Hope it goes ok Tuesday

[Thorvic]

Well its post SMW now, had a great show, met up with lots of great people, answered questions to those asking about builds and spent probably a little too much, but hell its once a year and acts as treating myself for Christmas. Extremely chuffed at getting some original data for projects I have a real interest in and stuff that I will be building once I finish my current helicopters

I did my good deed for the day in true Evil Kit Finder General model when someone was asking about my CVA01 airgroup Buccaneer and mentioned he was on 800 sqdn on Eagle in 67 and was looking to do a model of one - much to Martins mirth I got up said follow me and went to the end of the block where Kits for Cash were based and found him a recent Airfix 72nd Buccaneer, I then sent him back to the stand whilst I went the Paul Davies stand and dug out the last Modeldecal set 057 with the 800 sqdn Buccaneer markings and brought it back to him at our stand he was rather chuffed and his wife was happy that we had found what he really wanted. So not always Evil  sometimes it can be used for good causes 

Now in the post SMW period in the run up to the Christmas break so aiming to finish a few builds off, some a carry over from the SMW display that will be used next year that should fill in the odd gap. Then it's a clean up and tidy of the model room as lots of detritus from various builds from the last 6 months and kits picked up that should really be stored away for now so I can clear down and prepare to start on some new projects based on the data I picked up at SMW 

[Thorvic]

Oh dear well I had an interesting and different Whiff build planned for 2016 and stocked up on various references and kits over the Christmas Period ready to kick off and then Airfix their 2019 kit releases which included a new tool Royal Navy Buccaneer S2 and that was my plans out of the window !!!.

Why, come September or more likely October I will be building Royal Navy Buccaneers both real and projected. The new kit offers folded wings and folded tail, opened bomb bay and all the tail bumper and arrestor hook bits that were moulded closed on the old kit. The new kit doesn't appear to have the folded nose cone option as yet but we wont know that till the test shots appear  but if its not I'm pretty sure the aftermarket boys will oblige.

In the meantime I have been building other Fleet Air Arm types to accompany the Buccaneers some real, some PC, and some whiff and will probably continue to do so as back into my favourite subject matter now and you can't fight the mojo when it strikes  .

One thing i have noticed however is that apart from the Buccaneer, nothing else has really grabbed my fancy this year, I'll pick up additional FAA types if low on stock of them, restock decals and materials, pick up reference material and even possible kit donors for FAA projected types. I will be getting Colin's Hawker P1101 conversion when it comes out of course as well as the more specific FAA version when they appear later in the year.

I actually cancelled the AIM Canadair Argus conversion set I had on pre-order, it should look the part but as the less comprehensive DC-7 conversion came in at £63 that would put the Argos conversion up into the £80+ bracket excluding the donor kit and I just felt I couldn't justify it now - plus I can buy and build 3-4 Buccaneers for that  (must be the Mountbatten influence)

I have even found myself looking at the odd interesting  kit that's appeared that I would have probably picked up immediately in the past and found myself deciding not to indulge at this time, not sure what the frugal attitude is from but it can't help but the beneficial in the short term and in the meantime I get to build kits from the stash for a change rather than adding to it 

Of course come the Autum it goes to pot as will be buying Buccaneers and then its SMW in November so will be indulging then too  (although hopefully still within the overall RN theme)

Geoff