My stash just grew again 2018.

[PR19_Kit]

I am often amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere in the UK.  Downunder, we regularly drive over 300 km for lunch.  I used to drive from Canberra to Adelaide for a weekend when I lived in Canberra - that is ~1200 km.   

It's down to traffic density, winding roads, stupid speed limits and moronic drivers.

It's 20 miles from here to Gloucester, the nearest large size city to me, and it regularly takes well over half an hour.

Most of the road is limited to 50 mph, and there are three 30 mph limits through villages, and only a short section of dual carriageway. En route there are maybe four areas where it's safe to overtake the aforementioned moronic drivers and they are of very short duration and only work if you drive a powerful car and know HOW to drive it.......

[rickshaw]

I am often amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere in the UK.  Downunder, we regularly drive over 300 km for lunch.  I used to drive from Canberra to Adelaide for a weekend when I lived in Canberra - that is ~1200 km.   

It's down to traffic density, winding roads, stupid speed limits and moronic drivers.

It's 20 miles from here to Gloucester, the nearest large size city to me, and it regularly takes well over half an hour.

Most of the road is limited to 50 mph, and there are three 30 mph limits through villages, and only a short section of dual carriageway. En route there are maybe four areas where it's safe to overtake the aforementioned moronic drivers and they are of very short duration and only work if you drive a powerful car and know HOW to drive it.......

I've been passed by Police cars on the Hay Plain - a very, very, large flat piece of ground in the middle of New South Wales doing 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.   They didn't care what speed I was doing - they were just as bored as I was with a three hour journey across the Plain!   

Luckily, we normally have dual carriageways virtually everywhere and most of our major roads are now separated or four lane highways.   Plus we tend to have powerful cars, and well, only the strong survive downunder, so you learn to drive hard and fast.   

[Weaver]

I am often amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere in the UK.  Downunder, we regularly drive over 300 km for lunch.  I used to drive from Canberra to Adelaide for a weekend when I lived in Canberra - that is ~1200 km.   

It's down to traffic density, winding roads, stupid speed limits and moronic drivers.

It's 20 miles from here to Gloucester, the nearest large size city to me, and it regularly takes well over half an hour.

Most of the road is limited to 50 mph, and there are three 30 mph limits through villages, and only a short section of dual carriageway. En route there are maybe four areas where it's safe to overtake the aforementioned moronic drivers and they are of very short duration and only work if you drive a powerful car and know HOW to drive it.......

My work is 5 miles away from home and my shift starts at 3:15pm (at my bench, ready to go). My normal procedure is to get out of the house at 2:30pm. That doesn't mean that it normally actually takes 45 mins to cover 5 miles, what it means is that I have to allow 45 mins to make sure that I'm not late....

[zenrat]

Mrs z would point out that if you had an Iron Man suit you could cut your time spent travelling radically.
Her car pool group are very keen on them as a solution to traffic congestion.

[NARSES2]

Off E-Bay another Airfix Whirlwind. Means I now have two, plus three SH ones. I think one of the Airfix ones will get the Merlin's from a Tamiya Mosquito which is slated to get the two stage Merlin's (paragon ?) I have in the stash. Maybe a rocket armed one with Invasion stripes ?

Anyway it will be a project for next year.

[Snowtrooper]

- A(nother) Matchbox Siskin IIIA, could not resist the opportunity

While after their demise it became the norm to ridicule Matchbox, kits like this are a good reminder that back in the day, they actually did have quite a few less known and unique subjects, especially interwar and civilian planes. Also, the kits were affordable and easy enough to assemble for a beginning modeller. Their later kits even had alternative parts for different subtypes and less commonly seen secondary decal options, gently pushing youngsters towards outright whiffery.

[Rheged]

Local toy/model shop in Leominster has a bargain box.   4 elderly but pristine, complete, unstarted kits

Airfix Hurricane Mk I/II  which may become a Sea Hurricane of some sort
Hasegawa  P47D that may eventually belong to a Middle Eastern arab air force...or it might be Israeli
Hasegawa P47D razorback that could end up from  somewhere in the Balkans
Hasegawa Kawasaki Ki61 "Tony" that will almost certainly  be an RAF prise de guerre

Not a bad haul for £8

[Weaver]

Mrs z would point out that if you had an Iron Man suit you could cut your time spent travelling radically.
Her car pool group are very keen on them as a solution to traffic congestion.

Hmm - and if I had an Iron man suit, I could work twice as hard when I get there too.

Please don't tell the boss....

[TheChronicOne]

Picked up some old school cool recently:

[zenrat]

- A(nother) Matchbox Siskin IIIA, could not resist the opportunity

While after their demise it became the norm to ridicule Matchbox, kits like this are a good reminder that back in the day, they actually did have quite a few less known and unique subjects, especially interwar and civilian planes. Also, the kits were affordable and easy enough to assemble for a beginning modeller. Their later kits even had alternative parts for different subtypes and less commonly seen secondary decal options, gently pushing youngsters towards outright whiffery.

Indeed.  Who else kitted a Norseman, Privateer, Seafox...

[NARSES2]

While after their demise it became the norm to ridicule Matchbox, kits like this are a good reminder that back in the day, they actually did have quite a few less known and unique subjects, especially interwar and civilian planes. Also, the kits were affordable and easy enough to assemble for a beginning modeller. Their later kits even had alternative parts for different subtypes and less commonly seen secondary decal options, gently pushing youngsters towards outright whiffery.

Very true. They also did a nice armour collection complete with mini scenic bases. Built a few of those whilst I was convalescing back in the day.

Local toy/model shop in Leominster has a bargain box.   4 elderly but pristine, complete, unstarted kits

Airfix Hurricane Mk I/II  which may become a Sea Hurricane of some sort
Hasegawa  P47D that may eventually belong to a Middle Eastern arab air force...or it might be Israeli
Hasegawa P47D razorback that could end up from  somewhere in the Balkans
Hasegawa Kawasaki Ki61 "Tony" that will almost certainly  be an RAF prise de guerre

Not a bad haul for £8

Nice haul  The Razorback might look good in either post- war Greek markings or as a Yugoslav partisan flown one ? Pilot had to crash land in Yugoslavia during an escort mission to bomb Trieste say and then both him and the aircraft was rescued by said partisans. He then flew with them ?

I think I've just written the outline for a 60's US T.V. series there ? Just got to think of the comic sub-plot which will probably feature either an English aristocrat or a Cockney 

[Rick Lowe]

Nice haul  The Razorback might look good in either post- war Greek markings or as a Yugoslav partisan flown one ? Pilot had to crash land in Yugoslavia during an escort mission to bomb Trieste say and then both him and the aircraft was rescued by said partisans. He then flew with them ?

I think I've just written the outline for a 60's US T.V. series there ? Just got to think of the comic sub-plot which will probably feature either an English aristocrat or a Cockney 

Don't forget the Glamorous "How does She find all that makeup and Styling gel in a Warzone" Love Interest...

[NARSES2]

Nice haul  The Razorback might look good in either post- war Greek markings or as a Yugoslav partisan flown one ? Pilot had to crash land in Yugoslavia during an escort mission to bomb Trieste say and then both him and the aircraft was rescued by said partisans. He then flew with them ?

I think I've just written the outline for a 60's US T.V. series there ? Just got to think of the comic sub-plot which will probably feature either an English aristocrat or a Cockney 

Don't forget the Glamorous "How does She find all that makeup and Styling gel in a Warzone" Love Interest...

True, I forgot that part. Especially written for the directors/producers/writers girl friend ?

[Rick Lowe]

Nice haul  The Razorback might look good in either post- war Greek markings or as a Yugoslav partisan flown one ? Pilot had to crash land in Yugoslavia during an escort mission to bomb Trieste say and then both him and the aircraft was rescued by said partisans. He then flew with them ?

I think I've just written the outline for a 60's US T.V. series there ? Just got to think of the comic sub-plot which will probably feature either an English aristocrat or a Cockney 

Don't forget the Glamorous "How does She find all that makeup and Styling gel in a Warzone" Love Interest...

True, I forgot that part. Especially written for the directors/producers/writers girl friend ?

Correct - so she'd probably be changing fairly frequently, then... 

[Rheged]

Nice haul  The Razorback might look good in either post- war Greek markings or as a Yugoslav partisan flown one ? Pilot had to crash land in Yugoslavia during an escort mission to bomb Trieste say and then both him and the aircraft was rescued by said partisans. He then flew with them ?

I think I've just written the outline for a 60's US T.V. series there ? Just got to think of the comic sub-plot which will probably feature either an English aristocrat or a Cockney 

Don't forget the Glamorous "How does She find all that makeup and Styling gel in a Warzone" Love Interest...

True, I forgot that part. Especially written for the directors/producers/writers girl friend ?

OK, that's the backstory sorted, now I just have to build the thing.