What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Lexus LS480 F Sport with missing right side door mirror playworn in places

[McColm]

Friday 20th June 2025

Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun, I just popped into the local shops, posted a few letters and did a bit of food shopping. Came back almost soaked with sweat, bath time and pyjamas.
They wanted me to go to Northolt and I said no no no, my contract manager agreed that its too far for me, this was changed to Harlow so I sent them a photo shot of the tfl journey planner 3 hours 14 minutes by public transport as I don't have access to a car. Negotiations have led to three days training at Number 1 Canada Square next week up by Canary Wharf.

Back to the R/C cars, the Nissan NSX Japanese Police car. I can't get to the screws holding this together but I can change the stickers to the chequered pattern of the Metropolitan Police and then give it a clear coat of varnish. Sourcing the missing wing mirrors and maybe a little bit of touching up the paint work.

[McColm]

Saturday 21st June 2025

Today is the longest day and also over here in London the hottest which is why I'm managing a reception desk near Liverpool Street Station which has air conditioning.
I've been online and discovered Hawkeye Models based in Australia who provide decals and conversions for military aircraft in 1/144 and 1/72 scale. They are going to release decals of the US COASTGUARD for the Bristol Freighter. I wasn't aware that they used them, could be a whiff. They also provide a conversion set of the Lockheed EC-130V with US COASTGUARD decals in 1/72 scale and the Boeing TE-7 Wedgetail in 1/144 scale. I'm not too sure on the postage and packing prices to the UK but it's going to be very expensive.
I have an idea to use the Grumman Hawkeye rotodome and stand with a Lockheed C-130 without the stilts. Another C-130 will be purchased as I still intend to build the twin engined concept version .
The 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic Anniversary model is due next week with parts going on the 1/72 Lockheed Cormorant MR.1 and the Sea Hercules.
What's leftover could go towards an AEW version.

[McColm]

Tuesday 24th June 2025

If anyone needs me today I will be attending three training sessions on the 44th floor of Number 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf.
I have been highly recommended for this, which usually means either someone in my past has remembered me or it's a genuine request to the contracts manager for his or her best security officers subjected to availability.
As you know modern technology doesn't usually work when I try and use it. I have downloaded a QR scanner and there's the option of reporting to the main reception and getting a printed pass. I can ask if the lifts are working as 44 flights of stairs seems a bit daunting.
The highest building that I have worked at was Centre Point Tower and this has 36 floors,  I was the fire officer/courier desk .Well I delivered the post to all the floors after it was sorted out.
Canada Square is about 40 minutes from my doorstep allowing for walking time and 8 hour shifts, early and late.

[McColm]

Friday 27th June 2025

I have been training on the reception desk of the headquarters of the Spanish Bank BBVA, they used to have three banks that served the Spanish speaking community in London but they decided to close these down, there's branches in Spain,  Turkey, Indonesia and Istanbul. They have the main office up on the 44th floor of Number 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf but have recently rented space on other floors.
It's a busy reception split into early or lates with alternative weeks of 7 hours and 8 hours respectively. Security is tight and there's a lot of 'cut and paste ' for the transferring of emails to lists and Guest Logs. Four logs with a printed sheet or sheets if the WiFi connection goes down which is a regular occurrence being so high up. Canary Wharf does provide free WiFi on the ground level.
Tuesday was the late shift, loads of reading and practical experience.
Wednesday was the early shift, more reading and practical experience.
Thursday was also another early shift but flying solo and help provided by way of checking what I had done. Which went rather well as the supervisor wants me back to cover the holidays if their regular person isn't available.
 I'm was having problems using my bank card for contact less payments on the buses, it worked for the Underground. On the way home I had to walk from North Greenwich Underground Station to Charlton,  so I followed the bus route. A pleasant walk through the Millennium Village, I now know where the Imax cinema is,  B&Q and IKEA are.
Feeling tired,  just waiting for the delivery of the 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic Anniversary model kit to arrive. I might have the weekend off, a pleasant surprise since I have either worked the days or nights for the past two months.

[McColm]

Sunday 29th June 2025

I have been awake since 6am this morning and progress on the 1/72 Lockheed L-400 Sea Hercules MRA.1 is coming along nicely. I must admit that I have had problems uploading photos from imgur.com onto this site and written various backstories but due to changes to the build I have removed them until it's in the paint stage on the exterior.
 Whilst the Sea Hercules MRA.1 is drying out from the filler/putty I have been working on the 1/72 Revell Dassault Aviation-Breguet Atlantic 1 Anniversary model kit, this will become an AEW & C platform with the Grumman E-2C rotodome plus it's stand. This was a real world proposition by Breguet when the Atlantic 1 was launched and reviewed in 1971 by the British hoping that France would also place an order for either the FASS radar system with a pair of Rolls-Royce turbofans or a rotodome with a pair of Rolls-Royce Tynes. The M.A.D. boom and ECM vertical tail fin pod would be removed along with the maritime equipment.
Surplus Atlantic ATL1s would have been converted and export orders may have included India,,
Pakistan had ordered the Atlantic so naturally the AEW version might have persuaded them to buy a few more. Some of the illegal immigration and customs agencies may have been tempted to buy the Atlantic AEW as an alternative to the Lockheed P-3AEW.
 A rummage on the long-term restoration shelf has revealed a 1/144 C-130 that has seen better days. It's in the process of being converted into the Lockheed L-400A ( the twin engined C-130). I have removed the two outer engines and the inner engines only have two propellers each. This model has been painted in RAF colours with decals. A little bit of filler/putty has been applied.
Having read that Consolidation had considered the LB-22 a twin-engined version of the Model 32 which was to become the B-24 Liberator. I too have a badly damaged 1/144  RAF Costal Command Liberator which is undergoing conversion to the twin engined variant.
I have also been listening to episodes of Judge Judy, I know that USA law is different to British law, but I help laughing at some of the cases.
As to the Chinese Money plant, after a bit of pruning it seems to be growing with new leaves sprouting.

[McColm]

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Work continues with the 1/72 recently started builds. The Lockheed Cormorant MR.1 now has bomb rails/racks and the weapons bay doors taken from the Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic ATL1 Anniversary kit. I have also added the weapons bay struts to help keep the doors open. Yes the doors are a wee bit too long, I have no idea how this happened as the underside of the fuselage was cut to fit the weapons bay floor.
I'm out of filler/putty which will have to wait until August after my stint finishes with the jury service.
The Shorts Seal MR.1 has been sanded down and is awaiting the propellers to be attached after the painting has been done.
The Lockheed Sea Hercules MRA.1 has had the front of the engines superglued on, nosewheel  doors added but not following the instructions due to the new radome.
As for the SJMc Harlequin C.1 this now has the Searchwater radar fitted in the inflated radome at the rear of the aircraft. This may get the Royal Radar Establishment paint scheme as a trials aircraft.
Cockpit parts have been fitted to the BAC Atlantic AEW.1, a bit fiddly luckily I have a few spares.
PSR work on the 1994 six-wheeler Batmissile/Batmobile.
 Edging a bit closer to finishing reading my Lee Child  Make Me which is a bit ironic with the End of Life Bill that's just been approved by the Government.
 The cooler weather has allowed me to catch up with some sleep, so a lazy day.

[McColm]

Thursday 3rd July 2025

I have been trying to chase up the paperwork from my employer for the jury service which starts on Monday, if they have missed placed it I asked them to send me a letter with the shifts for the next two weeks.

On the workbench the ex-R/C Honda NSX Japanese Police tribute car is now looking like the standard NSX. The stickers have been removed, so has the red light bar on the roof and the rear spoiler lowered. I have managed to take the bodyshell off. The holes will be patched over with strips of plastic underneath and then finished off with filler. It did have flashing lights, headlights and tail lights, the bulbs have been kept but the wiring is in the bin.

[McColm]

Sunday 6th July 2025

It feels to me that I have ruffled a few feathers of the senior Whiffers in the Lunar vehicles/spacecraft GB by trying to keep the topic simple. In my head there has been many ideas for exploring the solar system and how to get there without using science fiction in the form of films, cartoons, fiction or fantasy.
Projects have been proposed and pondered over by the top professionals in their allocated fields, some have been successful whilst others filed away never to see the light of day, that's where you lot come in and create your whiffs.
 This reminds me of the Monty Python sketch 'The last supper '. One Christ, 12 disciples, no kangaroos, no trampolines, no waiters, no friends.. I know what I like.

Besides over the next few weeks I've got jury service  and everyone has their own opinions. This might mean that my Moderator status gets revoked or worse banned from this site but sometimes you have to stand up and fight for what you think is right or the best course of action. We all learn from making mistakes which makes us a better person, only time will tell if I'm still here next week 

[McColm]

Monday 7th July 2025

It was my first day of jury service, what a farce. I had to take my shoes off to get through the security checks, they didn't want to see my identity (birth certificate, utility bills) just my bank card, even the administration desk made the comment 'so you brought everything with you '.
After watching the introduction DVD and listening to the fire briefing, there was a very long wait. I brought a book to read and settled down, only to be told that I had been selected for the first case of the day. Not quite 12 angry men, six of each and 4 spares.
The TV series Crown Court, I don't know if I have watched it but it was the first thing that popped into my head.
They broke for lunch and resumed again, I can't talk about the case until it's over and what's said in the deliberating room stays in the deliberating room.
The only thing that is free is the chilled water, all meals have to be paid for and there's no overnight accommodation provided.
 The experience of travelling on a GWR train has paid off as if you think that they are uncomfortable then the ones provided by the court are just as bad!

[McColm]

Tuesday 8th July 2025

Day 2 of my jury service, supposed to start at 10am but was delayed until 11:15am.The prosecution carried on from where they had left it yesterday. Broke for lunch and then the defence team had their turn. A bit of a stop-start due to the barristers technical issues with the case.  Got to go home a bit earlier than yesterday.
Wednesday might be a half day due to one of the jurors having a hospital appointment.
On my way home I picked up a toy truck left by the bins, just needs a wash and there's a hole in one of the side panels that opens, comes with a handle. Just have to work out how easily it comes apart.

[Rheged]

Tuesday 8th July 2025

Day 2 of my jury service, supposed to start at 10am but was delayed until 11:15am.The prosecution carried on from where they had left it yesterday. Broke for lunch and then the defence team had their turn. A bit of a stop-start due to the barristers technical issues with the case.  Got to go home a bit earlier than yesterday.
Wednesday might be a half day due to one of the jurors having a hospital appointment.

I really do sympathise,  Steven.  Jury service can be very boring, with moments of entertainment.  Been there, done that, got the experience!

   I had a series of instances of "Arson and Malicious Damage to Merchant Shipping and Harbour Facilities"   to deal with in my jury service in1972...................in other words  three drunken Irishmen with a can of petrol and a box of matches trying to set fire to the Belfast ferry in Heysham harbour. They failed completely and one was allowed to sit in the courtroom dock as he had burns to his legs. the choicest line from his incoherent defence was  "Sure, and the coat was on fire when I put it on".  They ended up being given suspended sentences and it was made clear that their future appearance in Lancashire would be frowned upon.

[McColm]

Tuesday 8th July 2025

Day 2 of my jury service, supposed to start at 10am but was delayed until 11:15am.The prosecution carried on from where they had left it yesterday. Broke for lunch and then the defence team had their turn. A bit of a stop-start due to the barristers technical issues with the case.  Got to go home a bit earlier than yesterday.
Wednesday might be a half day due to one of the jurors having a hospital appointment.

I really do sympathise,  Steven.  Jury service can be very boring, with moments of entertainment.  Been there, done that, got the experience!

   I had a series of instances of "Arson and Malicious Damage to Merchant Shipping and Harbour Facilities"   to deal with in my jury service in1972...................in other words  three drunken Irishmen with a can of petrol and a box of matches trying to set fire to the Belfast ferry in Heysham harbour. They failed completely and one was allowed to sit in the courtroom dock as he had burns to his legs. the choicest line from his incoherent defence was  "Sure, and the coat was on fire when I put it on".  They ended up being given suspended sentences and it was made clear that their future appearance in Lancashire would be frowned upon.

Thanks 

[McColm]

Wednesday 9th July 2025

Day 3

Off to a good start and an insight on how the Police work behind the scenes in the London area from Borough to Borough. A few more witnesses from the prosecution and cross-examined which ended up being let out at lunchtime.
So I did a little bit of shopping for essentials around my flat at the Food Warehouse, Stoneleigh Retail Park. Went a little bit over budget, so it's a case of catching the bus and walking home Thursday and Friday. Payday is Tuesday so the case should be finished by then so it will be hanging around to see if I get selected for another trial or being dismissed altogether.

I've been looking online at the Warner Brothers London Studio Tour to book a ticket, seems as though the morning sessions are on hold until 2pm. Back to school starts in September followed by Halloween and then Hogwarts in the snow.
The model railway company Lionel are the first to offer the different house coloured carriages and rolling stock with the Harry Potter film based theme, just waiting for Hornby to follow this up or Bachmann. The Bradford Exchange still do the ho gauge train set package in four parts but from what I have seen the carriages don't look right to me, I wonder if they are interchangeable with the Hornby ones? No news if there's going to be a TT gauge set.

[McColm]

Thursday 10th July 2025

Day 4

The agreed evidence (both barristers agreed on the evidence given so far) before the accused took the stand to give their account. First questioned by the defence barristers and then after lunch the prosecution barrister.
The judge will give the summing up on Friday and then it's down to the jury to make a decision in the deliberation room, if we cannot agree then we will come back on Monday until we do. Got to come back on Monday for the sentencing or to find out what other cases that I'm needed for.