What's on the workbench!

[Captain Canada]

Christmas Eve is the only time for men to shop lol. Used to love going to the mall and it was all men, usually a few pints in and happy with themselves for getting it done.

[McColm]

Christmas Eve is the only time for men to shop lol. Used to love going to the mall and it was all men, usually a few pints in and happy with themselves for getting it done.

I used to do the same thing before I was admitted to hospital back in May 2021.

[McColm]

The 1/72 BAC Sledge FR.1 has undergone some sanding in preparation for painting. The 1/144 A-90 Orlyonok ekranoplan has had some filler applied and so has the 1/72 Avro Shackleton ASR.3 prototype.
The yearly tidy up of the hobby room is overdue, going to have to take photos so I can remember where I put the parts.

[McColm]

Monday 22nd December 2025

A return to the 1/24 Polslil Zakspeed Ford Capri 2000 made in Italy die-cast model with added spare parts turning the Zakspeed turbo into a road car. The sort of car you can drive to work and at the weekend put in a few laps on track day. Ford Capri RS2000 headlights and tail lights with  twin exhaust pipes. Left-hand drive. Black with yellow wheels. Doors that open and playworn.
There's a garage called 'Punishment ' who kitbash the Ford Capri with the Ford Mustang, some of their real world designs are similar to what I'm trying to create in 1/24 scale!
Sanding the 1/50 Resin twin seater Eurofighter Typhoon RF-5. More PSR on the 1/144 A-90 Orlyonok ekranoplan.
 Cooked the gammon today as the best before date is the 23rd and not the 25th as I thought it was. I'll have the TV dinner roast chicken, potatoes and stuffing on Christmas day.

I might be able to add some more spare parts to my other die-cast cars.I need to buy a few more Ford Mustang kits. One used for spare parts.

I have been informed by Universal Credit that they are making a payment and want me to attend a meeting on Monday 5th January 2026. I didn't believe in miracles until now. I'll find out on the 23rd as I used to get my allowance on the 27th of each month when I was on sick leave, this year its earlier due to the Christmas Holidays.

[McColm]

Friday 26th December 2025

It's boxing day in the UK or The Feast of Saint Stephen, I've been having a go at the 3D wooden laser cut puzzle of London's skyline with moving parts and lighting. I've got up to the lighting stage, doesn't make any sense to me but I'm following the instructions and so far there's a lot of spare parts.
The base has a moving tube/metro train, a staircase and what appears to be a station. I'll need to watch the YouTube video of how to build this several times.
 Health wise I thought I was over the period of feeling tired, I wake up, have a cuppa check the rota and watch something online.  Usually ending up asleep.
I think a good walk tomorrow to one of the bigger retail parks, that's not too far for a few supplies.

[McColm]

Before we had the Black Friday sales over here in the UK we looked forward to the Boxing Day sales and if we missed them the January sales at a well known department store in the Borough of Chelsea.
With the Covid 19 virus, most people now buy online so some of the shopping traditions are fading away.
Whilst I was shopping locally I did notice that certain shelves were being readied for the sales, some and not all of the stores along Regent Street have upto 50% off,a trend no doubt Oxford Street will follow during January.

I wish you all love, peace and happiness for 2026

[McColm]

Saturday 27th December 2025

I'll be going to work tonight at the New Day site up by York Way, King's Cross, I might be working tomorrow but that has to be confirmed. Just have to read through my notes as it's been ages since I did a night shift.
Chalton Athletic Football Club has left the stadium's lights on during the evenings and has lit up the nearby tower block with a red glow. I think most of my neighbours were away for Christmas as the close is very quiet.

[McColm]

Monday 29th December 2025

I received a package containing the 1/24 Revell Shelby Mustang GT350H, so some of the parts have been fitted to the Shelby Mustang GT350H convertible RHD, which now includes repeat indicators on the front wings. The bodywork has been hand painted a glossy red with a black interior .The wheels are now on, I have removed the hood/bonnet and added a few detailing pieces like the windscreen washer bottle and the radiator fan,both painted in the off-yellowing colour. The manual gear stick and steering wheel have been glued in place along with the bumpers and rear taillight cluster. The nearside cluster lens painted amber/orange to denote the European/UK indicators. The rear fuel cap has also been glued on.
Slow and steady wins the race.

For a few hours I couldn't get access to this forum, so I left a message with the secretprojects, I have a bit of catching up to do as in the past I couldn't remember my password..

Got part of my TEMU order, so the large bath towels weren't the colour that I ordered but bubble gum pink does go well with the grey bathroom set of mats, a hall runner, a table lamp which doesn't have the traditional bulb but a filament that lights up when it's switched on, a few wall decorations and a metal roasting tray. A pin drill will drill bits,  a modellers hand saw and counter sunk drill bits for my hammer drill. I think the door mat makes my flat a bit more homely. It's getting there.

I was asked to go in a bit earlier than expected on Saturday evening which turned out to be eventful. Couriers and delivery drivers kept asking me for directions even though there's a street map outside the main reception, plus they had GPS on their phones.
Along the corridor and up the stairs!
The building is a railway shed Grade II listed so the architect could only do the minimum on the cosmetics so it makes noises during the night due to the heating system.
Caught the 63 and 177 bus home on Sunday morning. Slept through Sunday and caught Denzel Washington as The Equaliser II on Amazon Prime.

[McColm]

Tuesday 30th December 2025

More work has been done to the 1/24 Revell Shelby Mustang GT350H convertible, radiator added, indicators and a bit of chrome added.
The bodyshell from the kit has had its roof removed, I have found another engine that I can use plus some wheels, so a T-top is the likely option.
Thoughts now turn to the Revell 1/24 Jaguar Ute.

I'm working new year's eve at Coca-Cola Whimple Street, if I get the timings right when I do the second patrol I can watch the fireworks, let's hope that the other security officers haven't eaten up all of the chocolate!

[McColm]

Wednesday 31st December 2025

This is my last shift at the Coca-Cola site in Whimple Street as the new security company takes over at 7am on the 1st January 2026.
Most of the roads and bridges along the River Thames have been closed for traffic, some of the underground stations that are open will allow access but you still need to tap out at the other end, the gates will remain open from 10pm until 6am. Not too sure if it's free travel on the buses after midnight.
The temperature outside is 1°C feeling like-6°C, snow is forecast for next week but it will probably rain instead if the wind changes direction.
Before leaving my flat I was setting up my new Chinese 10 inch tablet, I'm going to use it for playing online games. It came with a keyboard, mouse and wallet/stand but it's a bit flimsy. I hope that it lasts longer than the previous one of 3 months. I'm unable to download Real Racing 3,but the Naval Battle and Asphalt 8 seems to be okay for now. I've also managed to login to this forum. It had a 90% charge. It won't let me add my outlook account but that's okay as it accepts Google Mail.

[McColm]

Friday 2nd January 2026

The God's in the scheduling office at the Kingdom Services Group headquarters have given me 10 shifts for January at the New Day site up by the old coaling yard formerly King's Cross Station. The pay rate is higher than most of the other sites that I cover, it's weekends and the occasional week day. The food is free and so are the beverages. They don't go in for kettles but those taps that have the cold water and boiling water options. The toaster is the one that rotates which doesn't set off the smoke alarm. The site overlooks the huge Waitrose supermarket next door and there's a playground nearby for the children in the flats to use. Quite a few pubs and bars in the area with a market in the coal yard.
I'm still wondering what that huge building on the left side as you walk up York Way, looks like offices but most of them are empty 🤔. At different angles I get to see King's Cross Station, I haven't seen the Hogwarts Express leave from there yet but I have seen the Tornado steam locomotive.
 The Chinese knock-off tablet is becoming a bit of a pain as it won't allow me to download certain online games, it's a case of diving into the settings it must be set up for the American specifications and not the UK. Still early days so some tweaking is required.
The world's most difficult 3D lazer printed wooden puzzle is taking shape. The lights will definitely be in different places than what the instructors say they should be. Getting onto one of the driving wheels, there's three of them.
Yesterday I was dry testing the wings from the 1/72 Lockheed S-3A Viking on the Grumman E-2CJ Hawkeye (the wings and engines have been set aside for the Falcon Triple Conversion set Grumman Greyhound which I will need to buy another one). The Viking wings do fit what's left of the vacuform fuselage of the Greyhound. Cut too much off for another build.
I'm pleased with the progress on the 1/24 Revell Shelby Mustang GT350H convertible: windscreen, side quarter windows,  hood/bonnet, door mirrors, door handles and rear view mirror need to be fitted and the steering wheel painted. This is the European/UK import spec through SJMcColm Engineering Ltd which has changed the steering wheel over to the right side of the car
Along with the pedals, the windscreen wipers haven't been changed for the UK. They will be if the customer asks for them to be changed.
The Ford Caprice T-top needs a bit of attention. I have removed the roof from the bodyshell of the Shelby Mustang GT350,this will end up with a few alternative options from the spares box.

I've managed to download the Asphalt 8 racing game and altered a few of the settings. My previous racing experience has come in handy although I do have to watch loads of adverts when I'm upgrading my cars.
The postman has delivered the Contrail 1/72 vacuum formed conversion kit of the Avro York, I will be using parts from the Grumman E-2CJ on this to spice things up.

The Pluckbrit 101 is back racing again on Asphalt 8, the graphics and sound has been improved. Loads of adverts but they are needed to boost the credit needed for upgrading your cars.

As to the 1/72 Avro York, let's just say that it will need a lot of PSR, the wings from the Grumman E-2CJ Hawkeye do fit but they a little bit of help blending to the fuselage fortunately the wing parts on the vacuform Avro Shackleton MR.1 can be used for strengthening this join.

[McColm]

Monday 5th January 2026

I had a meeting with Universal Credit it was about my commitments,  I didn't know that I could claim the low wages allowance if my wages dipped below £952 per month . Universal Credit will pay my rent from the allowance and what's leftover I get paid on the 27th, this will vary if it falls on a weekend or public holiday.
It seems to me that if you were claiming Universal Credit they still want to keep in touch until you are earning over the threshold set by the current government.
If I were to win a five figure sum of money over £16,000 I wouldn't be to claim any benefits and my file would be closed.
Woolwich town centre is in the process of being modernised and there's a lot of roadworks on the A206 around that area. The outdoor market is still there ,the indoor market closed ages ago, not too sure what's happening to it.

My little sister gave me a wooden 3D printed puzzle to assemble it depicts the London skyline but its very complicated and I have managed to break a few of the parts. Yes I have glued them back together and other parts don't seem to line up or fit in the required slots like Tower Bridge. I'm now working on the London Eye,it's got quite a few cogs and an electric motor to run it if I can get them aligned it should be a miracle that it works/rotates, well at least it lights up!!

[McColm]

Yesterday we had some snow in Charlton Southeast London and I'm waiting for some supplies so I can crack on with the current GB build, so I was working on the wooden 3D puzzle. I've started breaking pieces, apparently a metal ball bearing can run around the puzzle on a continuous loop. This might not work but at least the lights and the London Eye will work (well the gearing seems to work).
Fortunately I did a bit of carpentry at school and will be able to bodge this build using the leftover parts and scrap wood.
I also have been watching episodes of Midsomer Murders with John Nettles,a middle aged Bergerac. I met him once in an antiques shop in Camden. I was restoring a few pieces of furniture for them and he walked in and had a look around the shop.The actor who replaced him shops in West Ealing or he used to when I lived there.

[McColm]

Thursday 8th January 2026

I'm not quite sure if you would call this a whiff, it's supposed to be the ROKR Marble Travel-London- but the marbles don't travel and the London Eye (ferris wheel ) doesn't rotate.
The lights are steady and then flash for a few minutes. I know that the buildings aren't supposed to lean but it's not too bad.
I have taken out a few pieces as it looked a bit cluttered to me.


https://flic.kr/p/2rQQqZh

There's a double decker bus,which can move left to right
https://flic.kr/p/2rQRrXV

The London Eye on the embankment.
https://flic.kr/p/2rQRPpi

I'm not quite sure which mainline station this is, but Blackfriars has a similar arch.
https://flic.kr/p/2rQQwbp


The leftovers will be used on my 1/24 Austin FX4 Taxi/Woodie  FL2.

I am using a sanding hand tool that I bought from TEMU on the 1/72 Avro Turbo York, engines have been fitted, landing gear and rear tail fins all from the Fujimi Grumman E-2CJ model kit. A little bit of filler is drying.
The SJMc Harlequin C.1 is undergoing a transformation into the W.2 DERA Meteorological Office Weather aircraft using the Combat Conversions 
CC72-003.

North Greenwich Underground station will be closed this weekend for the Monster Hot Wheels at the O2 Arena and the home match between Charlton Athletic versus Chelsea for the third round of the F.A. Cup. A replacement bus service will be provided, check press and Transport For London website for further details.

[McColm]

Saturday 10th January 2026

Mum's back from her winter mini-cruise, arrived at home down in Falmouth Cornwall last night.
I've been doing some PSR on the Avro Turbo York and added a new nose radome taken from the Grumman E-2CJ Hawkeye kit.
The SJMc Harlequin C.1 is back to a freighter and a bit of PSR has been applied to the Shorts Sea Lion MR.2 amphibious flying boat.
The 1/72 Lockheed L-400 project has started a twin turboprop C-130. I have removed the two outer cowlings from underneath the wings and filled in the gaps with thin pieces of plastic card,  then glued the two halves together. The turboprop engines from the C-27J will be used on this build..

Another site lost at Newday, Handy Street,  London N1C, I was informed by the day security officer that this was the last weekend for me. I was due to cover his holiday leave for the rest of January. Good job I put in for five days leave this month.
I have been playing the online game Asphalt 8 on my new Chinese tablet, all of the other games load but it won't allow me to play them. I didn't know that the Rockwell B-1B Lancer was a cargo plane with a rear loading ramp. I used to have the Airfix 1/72 model kit but the unless it's converted into 1/144 scale the rear loading ramp would be extremely small.
I used to be able to use the credits accumulated to buy cars but they are limited to what is available, fusion credits allow you to modify your cars and its the blue credits that you need, these can be bought online or I have to watch loads of adverts 15 each session to get 20. I'm having problems drifting with the V8 powered cars, but I'm enjoying smashing into other cars.