What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Tuesday 1st April 2025

 The 1/24 Austin FX4 Fire Truck is now finished. I intend to build another one, this time painting it green for use by the British Army in a similar fashion to the Green Goddess Fire Engines. It could have been used for crew transport under the British V Bombers or the NAAFI. The Royal Navy could have used it as a comms shack.
Apparently the van conversions were known as the FL2.

I started building the 1/24 Revell Fixed Head Jaguar E-Type ,the engine is over engineered . So the hood/bonnet is in the closed position. The car is looking like the convertible with modern seats. It might not stay like this as I have an idea to change the appearance .

Work has started on the 1/72 Hasegawa Boeing B-47E which now has the FASS radar radomes taken from the Masterclass BAe Nimrod AEW.3. These have been used before but surprisingly fit the fuselage. Just had to glue the vertical tail fin back on. The main landing gear legs along with the bomb bay is in place but there's loads of gaps. As there's several different engines and engines layouts to choose from the concept drawings, getting hold of a cheap B-52 might be a better option.

[McColm]

Friday 4th April 2025

Spring is here in Charlton Southeast London and the cherry blossom is out, my throat glands are telling me that the hay-fever season is about to start but it's a glorious day top temperature 21°C with no breeze.
 On the workbench are the following:
The Revell 1/24 Jaguar E-Type and Ford Shelby Mustang 350 convertible
The 1/24 Batmissile, The Grey Lady- British unofficial landspeed record holder
1/24 Pink Panther track day car
1/24 Resin Batmobile station wagon
1/24 Triumph Broadsword convertible
1/24 Jaguar SR Coupe

1/72
Lockheed twin engined C-130 maritime patrol aircraft
Transall C-162 Warrior Gunship
Douglas turboprop Sea Dakota GRA.1
Kitbash using the Matchbox HP Victor wings and T-tail,  fuselage is from a desktop BAe.146
Lockheed Cardinal Heavy lift helicopter
Lockheed F-35BXL (I thought that I finished this)

Airfix Triumph TR-3B
Airfix/Dapol/Kitmaster Schools Class Streamliner waiting for some buffers
Six shelf queens
Resin 1/50 Two seater Eurofighter Typhoon with conformal tanks


When I need a break the Hornby 00 gauge Hogwarts Express train set gets used along with the grey Pullman and Northern Belle coach. The background has the Ravensburger Hogwarts Castle Hotel Complex.

[McColm]

Wednesday 9th April 2025

I was supposed to be working the day shift tomorrow at the Coca-Cola Group Limited Wimpole Street office but this has been changed to nights meaning five straight night shifts.

On the workbench the 1/72 Douglas Turbo Sea Dakota GRA.1 has been changed back to my original idea for an AEW aircraft, the seven-barrel gatling gun known as the GAU-8A has been fitted under the nose of the 1/72 Transall AC-162 Warrior Gunship which is undergoing fine sanding and masking in preparation for primer..
The Revell 67668 1/24 Jaguar E-Type is now a two seater hardtop Ute. I know that I made a mistake in the assembly of the engine but the running gear is good and I'm using the wheel hubs from the Jaguar D-Type as they look better than the wire wheels provided in the kit. The hardtop is from the playworn friction toy, just chopped the roof off.
As for the 1/72 Avro Shackleton MR.7 this is now the MRA.7,the backstory being as the Tornado GRA.1 can't fly low level attack missions and the Buccaneer was being phased out the RAF chose the Shackleton to undertake ground support/attack duties with ordinance carried internally or
externally as required. The weapons bay fitted with long-range fuel tanks.
The 1/72 Boeing Stratojet FASS AEW.1, I think should be designated the EB-56A. This was used before as the alternative to the B-47C when fitted with different engines and cockpit layout but was never built. I'm waiting for some two part fine filler to arrive and some period air-to-air missiles.

Dora the explorer which is one of my suggestions for the GB builds 2025/26 season of ideas will be based on circus caravans and RVs. I have the MPC Dayatona and intend to transform the trailer into a caravan, I would also like to be able to kitbash the 1/24 Austin FX4 model kit into a campervan as I have found a die-cast caravan which I think will fit the chassis. The roof of the taxi will need to be raised or just cut the front off the taxi and glue it to the front of the caravan with structural supports.

Ship in a bottle, another one of mine. I have always wanted to build a sailing ship kit but the rigging and sails have created a few problems. There are now aftermarket kits that are available to solve these problems. Using a large plastic bottle with the end cut off should prevent the dust as this will act as a display case.
The Cutty Sark is literally in my Borough so I can take plenty of photos for reference.

This is not natural the shelf queens are getting closer to been finished.

[McColm]

Wednesday 16th April 2025

I've booked six days leave for next week starting on the Tuesday and I hope to wander around Greenwich especially the indoor market, taking lots of photos. The buses are very frequent so no worries there.

This morning I have dismantled the 1/72 Hasegawa Boeing B-47E Stratojet, well some parts fell off and others had to be cut. I have ordered a replacement so  the 1955 Project LAMP LIGHT can be built as close to the line drawing. The rotating antenna will be slightly larger as it will either be from my spares box or the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye. The bomb bay will be changed to carry a operational pod similar to the RB-47H and the ERB-47H. The engines will be four pairs of TF33 turbofans under Project STREET LIGHT.

The Airfix Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 will get the FASS radar domes as these are a better fit and keep the PR cameras.

The 1/72 Hasegawa Kawanishi H8K2 flying boat will receive the Shorts Sandringham treatment and the Airfix Shorts Sunderland will undergo the Hythe conversion.
The C-46 will be placed in long-term storage for now but the four engined C-160 might get a maritime makeover.

The 1/24 Aoshima Austin FX4 London Black Cab will be placed in the 2025 stash pile along with the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 which will probably be raided for parts and decals.

Four shelf queens will be getting a coat of grey primer and the PSR treatment

After lunch

There was a large box delivered by FedEx containing the Airfix Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 and the Italeri C-119 Flying Box Car.
The Airfix kit has a problem if you fit the camera bay as there's loads of gaps along the sides of the fuselage. However dry testing the Masterclass BAe Nimrod AEW.3 resin radomes fit, even if they have been used before on other builds. Just waiting for the superglue to arrive. The cockpit has been assembled without the seats and the fuselage halves glued.

The C-119 wing spar (the middle part of the wings C25) has been glued onto a built C-130 minus it's wings. The twin-boom twin-fins are also glued in place and the rear of the C-130 cut down to size because of the new tail. I'm waiting for the two part filler to arrive. It appears that these two kits were made for each other when it comes to kitbashing.

[McColm]

Monday 21st April 2025

It's the small hours of Easter Monday, here in Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London. I've managed to complete the clocking patrol all by myself, although I only missed two points on my first patrol . All quiet on the western front although I have noticed that several buses are running on the superloop. I might try this instead of the docklands light railway from Deptford Bridge.
I'm pleased on how the Airfix Vickers Valiant has turned out with the pair of resin radomes taken from the MasterCaster BAe Nimrod AEW.3 conversion set, although used and abused on several other builds they still fit as they were meant for it.
As for the Hasegawa Boeing B-47E Stratojet, the older kit is also turning out well and should have the eight turbofans in place by next week.
Which will free up some space for the Avro Shackleton GR.2 and SJMc Harlequin C.1.
Next month no new kits as I'm off down to Falmouth Cornwall for a week, I wonder how many people booked a seat for the overnight service to save £12 on the fare?
I could also split up the journey travelling from Waterloo Station to Plymouth and then catching a train to Truro, then change again to Penryn.
Next year I will hire a car, is it true that the government are getting the car manufacturers to reduce the size of the fuel tank instead of going electric?

Back on track the Revell Ford Mustang 350GT convertible and the Jaguar E-Type Ute are progressing, so too is the Barris Batmobile station wagon and the Batmissile.
The Lockheed Sledge FRA-1 is in need of a new paint scheme the black paint keeps rubbing off on my hands every time I pick it up.

[PR19_Kit]

I could also split up the journey travelling from Waterloo Station to Plymouth and then catching a train to Truro, then change again to Penryn.
Next year I will hire a car, is it true that the government are getting the car manufacturers to reduce the size of the fuel tank instead of going electric?

If you take South West Railway to Exeter from Waterloo be aware that they have NO catering on board at all these days, not even a trolley service, and it's a long trip to Exeter!

I've not heard anything about smaller fuel tanks, it would make no sense at all, not in any engineering sense anyway. But who knows what that crazy woman we have for a Chancellor will do next. 

[McColm]

Tuesday 22nd April 2025

It's been a bit busy today, lots of sanding done on the 1/72 ERB-56B Vigilance-main landing gear and turbofans engines ×8 with the two fuel drop tanks glued on at the ends of the wings where the single jet engine usually goes.
1/72 Vickers Valiant FASS AEW.4, PSR.
Interrupted by the postman a book and a set of 1/72 propellers for a Lockheed C-130 E/H.
Lunch, caught up with the folks of the Chelsea set.
Two large boxes one containing a 1/72 part built C-160 with four Rolls-Royce Tyne engines, three sets of propellers, one set broken propeller-piece not included painted in Swedish colours with Swedish roundels. No loading ramps, structural damage but can be glued together.
Second box 1/72 C-46 Commando missing propellers and one main landing wheel. 1/72 Airfix Shorts Sunderland Mk.V propellers and guns broken.

A raid of the leftovers from the Italeri C-47 Skytrain model should have the wheel or wheels for the C-46,maybe a change of decals. I'm not too sure if the Royal Air Force flew these but it bit of research will be needed otherwise its a restoration.
The Sunderland becomes a Hythe or transport variant.
The C-160, although there was two proposals for a ASW version none were built so a maritime surveillance aircraft is possible.

After supper

So the Airfix Shorts Sunderland has a new nose and tail covers. The middle upper gun turret is no longer visible. I found a pair of floats that were missing from the build but I haven't added them on yet. The radial engines are undergoing a transformation into four turboprop engines. The bombs have been removed and will be used on another build.

The four engined C-160 is in the process of being stripped for parts .


The Curtis C-46 Commando, on the other hand after reading that three aircraft were used by the JASDF as electronic warfare training aircraft known as the EC-46D.
So what if the Commando had changed back from two engines to four. Solving the landing gear problem. Going to need to buy some more Avro Shackleton MR.3 kits!.

[McColm]

Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Apparently the Batmobile, the one that looks very similar to the Batmissile is up for sale with the paperwork stating that it was a movie car.
I found a page advertising the Marconi Avionics Skyguardian on line and decided that the 1/72 spares or repair C-160 would make an excellent conversion as I have another worn-out set of resin MasterCaster BAe Nimrod AEW.3 radomes. I must have bought four sets over the years
As there was some concept artwork for a twin jet C-160 naturally the Avro Shackleton MR.7 was stripped for parts, I never got around to finishing it
As to the Curtis C-46, it's getting new wings and new engines, going to need more filler which will wait until June.

Before I forget, this weekend or should I say Sunday is the London Marathon 2025.Good luck to all those taking part.

[McColm]

Friday 25th April 2025 part 1 of 2

Sitrep (situation report ) I'm running low on supplies so apart from sanding and the primer rattle cans it's time for the April 'what's on the workbench review '. The includes shelf queens and die-cast model cars that need restoration.
I might forget what name I have given these when I upload the photos but I will fill in the gaps over the weekend.

The cars.
The red Ford Cobra 427  is made by Maisto 1/24 scale. The wheels came from a 1950s Corvette.  The green  Ford Cobra is made by Revell. They are both die-cast models in need of windscreens and other parts.
I'm thinking along the lines of Hogwarts House themed cars, just need a blue one  and a yellow one. Otherwise I can buy the kits instead.




The 1979 Revell 1/24 Snapfix Jaguar XJ-S 'The Saint ' The engine needs detailing and the wing mirrors plus the door handles should be painted in chrome,  the front bumper needs to be glued. Could be Italian due to the clear rear tail light cluster but I think that I will just glue the bumper and not touch anything else.



One Jag is never enough so here's two more both claim to be 1/24 scale. The Revell Jaguar E-Type Ute  and the  Jaguar SR Coupe





Two Fords,  the Mustang 350GT convertible and the Caprise RS3100.





The Batmissile or the Batwagon!







Triumph Broadsword convertible and the track day car





I'm sure that I have a Rover SD1 Corgi  or is it a Dinky die-cast model that I have started to convert into a 3 door hatchback. Can't find it but I do have a Corgi Ford Zephyr which was the last British Ford design before merging with the Colone design team.
Dinky Toys Meccano Ltd Austin 1800.




Others
Triumph GT4 Dovetail and the Schools Class Streamliner





The Airfix 1/144 Hovercraft with a few extra parts,






There's the Range Rover Sport Ute and the LEVC Taxi/van.

[McColm]

Friday 25th April 2025 part 2 of 2

The aircraft

Space Command, two likely contenders.
The  1/72 Lockheed Sledge FRA-1 .
The 1/200 Boeing RB-2707 Super Clipper .





A pair of 1/72 Transall C-160s heavily modified.




1/72 Heavily modified flying boats. Martin Marina AEW.9 and the Shorts Turbo Hythe






If Handley Page had merged with Martin H.P.M. Magestic MR.3 and  my version of the Breguet Br.1250 amphibious flying boat. Shorts Swallow MR.1.






Shorts Sea Lion MR.2 and the BAe 148 Sky Fox AEW.3






The Lockheed Martin Cormorant MR.1 with the Douglas Turbo Sea Dakota.






The Curtis-Wright Condor IV and the resin 1/50 Eurofighter Sea Typhoon with conformal fuel tanks.






Vickers Valiant FASS AEW.4 with the Boeing ERB-56B Vigilance






Lockheed Martin F-35BXL Widow Cranky,  SJMc Harlequin C.1 and the Su-47B Electronic Buzzard. Nosewheel snapped off.






Most of the aircraft are 1/144 scale apart from the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star and the Italian fighter.

[McColm]

Saturday 26th April 2025

I have made three trips down to the recycling bins with cardboard and rubbish bags. Feeling a bit tired.
I have kept one of the larger boxes as it makes a great spray booth. I might have enough glue to finish the 1/24 Revell Jaguar XJ-S but I won't be painting it.
I have an idea for the 1/72 Shorts Sea Lion MR.2, the front end now has a Revell Br.1150 Atlantic face-lift.
A lazy weekend with the odd backstory or alternative history articles.

[McColm]

Sunday 27th April 2025

 Its the London Marathon today,  unlike previous Marathons Stoneleigh Retail Park roundabout was the waterbottle station for all those who were taking part but not this year. It would appear to me that there's more competitors this year, although I have only see two people give up running and started walking as they passed my kitchen window. The Charlton community is out in force cheering them on and you call that music blearing from a speaker. Should have something with a steady beat
 My sideboard clock has stopped working and I also need a new bed frame. The sofa will have to do or the mattress until payday. I have managed to glue the 1/24 Revell Jaguar XJ-S and paint the front indicators.
Work shirts for ironing in the afternoon.
 It's 1pm and the Marathon is over, the clean-up team has passed through although they haven't collected the plastic water bottles just hosed down parts of the South Circular road. I did notice that the pace car was the newish Ford Capri (only by name). Looks more like the Sierra than a Capri.

Got a call last night to cover a shift in Wimpole Street, London. Arrived at 10pm and had to stay until 10am on Monday morning. I have never had any training working the day shift at the Coca-Cola Group, busy or what.
Back in Monday night and Tuesday night. Must be a shortage of trained staff. Holiday season!