What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Sunday 31st August 2025

I spent the day PSR on my builds,  napping and playing a submarine game online through silvergames.com. I found this whilst working on the reception desk at 15  Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf.

The old Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland which is undergoing the transformation into the turboprop Hythe amphibious flying boat, now has four Rolls-Royce Tyne engines.

As for the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 this has one of the wings fitted with a pair of Napier Eland turboprop engines. One from the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne and the outer one has come from the Revell kit.

The Airfix Avro Lancaster B.2 is on the back-burner, I've read the instructions and put the box on the 'new stash pile ' for now.

The tale of the two Fairey Rotodynes are now NOTAR helicopters, the Airfix one has the Sikorsky HH-3C engines and the Revell one has the Boeing MH-47E Chinook engines with the seats from the Revell model.

PSR continues with the Space Shuttle C concept, launch platform and rocket boosters.

The SJMc Space Ferry now has a red and blue colour scheme. The Shuttle has a UN blue 💙 all over and the Space Ferry is red. Finishing touches will be applied during next week.

More filler has been applied to the 1/72 Handley Page-Martin Magestic R.4  flying boat .

Damage to the Boeing ERB-56B Vigilance so another 1/72 Hasegawa Boeing B-47E Stratojet kit will be needed at a later date.

[McColm]

Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Another rest day and the 1/144 Space Shuttle C concept has now ground to a halt as I wait for funds to buy a few rattle cans of paint.
The SJMc Doncaster GRA.1 (kitbash of the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 with the wings from the Airfix Lancaster B.2 and a pair of T-56 turboprop engines). I have gone for the flat nose. PSR continues.
 The 1/72 Transall Skyguardian AEW.1 now has a pair of TF33 turbofans taken from a B-52H, filler has been applied, just needs sanding.
PSR continues with the Shorts Turbo Hythe and the Batwagon, whilst tinker time has been spent on the four 1/72 helicopters.
 A couple of parcels were supposed to be delivered but I received an email saying that they will be delivered tomorrow.
 The wet sanding technique really helps keeping the dust down.

[McColm]

Thursday 4th September 2025

The Revell 1/72 Boeing MH-47E/Chinook HC.3 is a copy of the Italeri MH-47E SOA with a few extra decals and darker coloured plastic. There's the extra parts for the British version but even the instructions are more or less the same. This model will become the Royal Navy's Sea Chinook.

As for the 1/24 Ford Mustang 350 ,its in good condition apart from the lack of wheels. It has a boot/trunk hinge but I can't open it. The bonnet/hood opens to reveal the plastic engine bay. I will be using this for reference on my Revell Ford Mustang 350GT convertible RHD.

As I was at a loose end the spare Academy Ford Capri RS3100 bodyshell has the headlights from the Revell Ford '66 Mustang. This will have the grill and rear tail lights of the Mustang.

Sanding continues on the rest of the builds until my arms begin to ache, a tidying-up has begun with a few trips to the recycling bins. There seems to be a few tenants having their flats refurbished, plenty of drilling and hammering.

[McColm]

Sunday 7th September 2025

More PSR using the two pack Milliput; Deep Bay Space Shuttle C and the 1/72 Revell Boeing HC.3 Chinook.
The Chinook has the same problem as the Italeri 1/72 MH-47E there's a gap towards the front of the underside and the clear cockpit canopy doesn't fit snuggly. Well at least this one doesn't a hole in it, top right side.
I have made a few changes and I'm turning it into the naval Chinook, it now has a radome and weapons pylons for missiles.
 The SJMc Harlequin looks as though it has a skimmed coating of filler on one of its wings. The wing has been glued on several times, just needed a bit of support.
 Everything else is waiting for either primer or a rattle can(s) and then decals plus a clear coat of varnish.

[McColm]

Thursday 11th September 2025

I finally got some shifts for September, all of the remaining weekends on nights. I have given up on the 1/72 Revell MH-47E/HC.3 Chinook, so it's been stripped for spare parts. The machine guns will likely end up on the 1/72 SJMc Doncaster GRA.1 and the ex-Fairey Rotodyne .One of them will have a contra-rotating propeller rotor blades.
Supplies are running low.
Time to buy a few more racks to put some of the started builds 'that need to be finished '.
Another sort out of parts, paints and hairy brushes plus finish off the GB before the end of October.

[McColm]

Friday 12th September 2025

I'm not too sure what's going on with the Hataka paint but I keep getting air bubbles in it. I know that the paint works as I have used it before on the Space Ferry and Super Sea Lion without any problems.
Luckily it's not on anything important just the Tale of two Rotodynes. 320 grade wet and dry papers will remove the paint.
I don't have to go to work until 10pm tomorrow so it's a case of sorting the bench. I'd like to get the 1/24 cars finished for the winter along with the Vickers Valiant FASS AEW.4, Handley Page-Martin Magestic R.4, Transall AC-162 Warrior Gunship,  Transall Skyguardian AEW.2 and the Shorts Turbo Hythe but I'll probably end up respraying the BAC Sledge FRA-1 and Shorts Swallow MR.1 along with the SJMc Doncaster GRA.1 and Harlequin C.1.
Until I get regular work, the stash 1/24 Land Rover Fire Truck and the Austin FX4 will remain in their boxes.

[NARSES2]

Friday 12th September 2025

I'm not too sure what's going on with the Hataka paint but I keep getting air bubbles in it. I know that the paint works as I have used it before on the Space Ferry and Super Sea Lion without any problems.

Other than RAF builds where I have enough Xtracrylic to last into the next millenium I mainly use Hataka and what I find is that you will get some air bubbles in it once you are half way through a bottle. I simply push a sewing needle down through the spout and problem solved.

[McColm]

Friday 12th September 2025

I'm not too sure what's going on with the Hataka paint but I keep getting air bubbles in it. I know that the paint works as I have used it before on the Space Ferry and Super Sea Lion without any problems.

Other than RAF builds where I have enough Xtracrylic to last into the next millenium I mainly use Hataka and what I find is that you will get some air bubbles in it once you are half way through a bottle. I simply push a sewing needle down through the spout and problem solved.

Thanks 

[McColm]

Sunday night Monday morning.

I worked the last shift for United Insurance Brokers, Mansell Street, Tower Hill. They have moved close to Landen Hall Market. The new customer has intentions to turn the building into flats or even a hotel, so it was very strange for me to go home at 10am in the morning. So I did a bit of food shopping and have made my version of chicken stew which got me thinking about the Revell Fairey Rotodyne. The kit that I have didn't come with all of its parts so I have scratch built the cockpit canopy. A crazy idea is to adjust it so that it resembles the Boeing CH-46A Sea Knight. . The fuselage will probably be a little bit longer.
As for the 1/50 twin seater resin Eurofighter Typhoon, I have read a few of the kit reviews and the Revell 1/48 model will provide the necessary parts.
A twin-engined F-16 isn't my idea, but I'm trying to think when I first saw the proposed artwork .

[NARSES2]

and have made my version of chicken stew which got me thinking about the Revell Fairey Rotodyne. T

Now I know inspiration can come from a variety of sources, and that our brains can sometimes be triggered by the most obscure connections, but that one ??     

[McColm]

and have made my version of chicken stew which got me thinking about the Revell Fairey Rotodyne. T

Now I know inspiration can come from a variety of sources, and that our brains can sometimes be triggered by the most obscure connections, but that one ??     

That's because I didn't brown off the chicken in a flying pan before adding it to the pot before boiling it for two minutes then simmering for 40 minutes adding two stock cubes and some button mushrooms. The onions and garlic had been already fried before they were put in the pot. The leeks and potatoes were cooked separately.

[PR19_Kit]

But how does all that connect to a Rotodyne?

Unless it all made SO much noise that you couldn't hear yourself think?

[McColm]

But how does all that connect to a Rotodyne?

Unless it all made SO much noise that you couldn't hear yourself think?

I have no idea how that happened or how its related. Means I have to build it and see if it's feasible. I might have a go with a couple of Airfix kits.

[McColm]

Tuesday 16th September 2025

I'm not too sure what's going on with work, one minute I'm asking for more shifts and they say nothing is available. Next I'm working Wednesday and Thursday at Great Malborough Street/ Carnaby Street.
I remember my younger years buying two-tone trousers, not a Rude Boy or Mod but I enjoyed the music, Stay-Press and Parkers!

The Space Shuttle C is on the back-burner but I'm trying to get the Space Ferry finished, the two colour paint scheme has been inspired by a fellow whiffer.

[McColm]

Saturday 20th September 2025

If I haven't of woken up to go to the bathroom I wouldn't have checked the rota for the rest of the month. Night shifts changed to days and a new start time as well.
Popped into Tesco next to Liverpool Street Station on the way to work.
 I have a few ideas for the released Airfix Classic Fairey Rotodyne, fixed wing either from the Lockheed S-3 Viking or Grumman E-2C Hawkeye which could use most of the parts apart from the stand as I can use the rotor stack instead.

As HBO is making the Harry Potter TV series they have changed the uniforms amongst other things.. The only Ho train set is provided by The Bradford Exchange underlicence through Bachmann. The carriages in my opinion look toyish but contain sound. Lionel has the larger gauge.
I'm thinking of signing up for the Hogwarts Express monthly installments and if possible change the carriages with those from Hornby. I know that they supply the tat that comes with each box in odd sizes.

The Space Shuttle C concept might not be finished in time for the GB, however it could be fitted with a landing gear whilst the boosters are used on the 1/72 BAC Sledge FRA-1. The launch pad will be used something completely different.