What's on the workbench!

[NARSES2]

No problem, just don't spend it before you are sure in your own mind. Otherwise you'll just worry.

[McColm]

No problem, just don't spend it before you are sure in your own mind. Otherwise you'll just worry.

Wise words

[McColm]

The postman delivered 2 X Revell Contacta Professional liquid glue, 1/72 Laci Convair CV-580 Allison 501 turboprop conversion set and a 00/ho gauge Lima Class 55 locomotive. Which then broke but fortunately I have the Dapol/Kitmaster C009 Deltic Diesel locomotive plastic kit, so I can use the running gear and the clear plastic parts as the body pieces from the kit don't match up with the the Lima bodyshell.

[McColm]

Monday 23rd February 2026

The Lima Class 55 isn't the same size as the Dapol/Kitmaster Deltic fortunately I have the running gear and boogie from a TriAng Midland Blue Pulman which is a better fit. This time the pieces fitted a lot better but there is room for a little filler/putty to be applied after the glue has set.
On the BAC Retaliator side the cockpit assembly using the Tornado F.3 and the original model, the wings have been glued on and rear engine exhaust pipes. Just waiting for the super glue to arrive so I can put a patch piece of plastic card to plug the gap. This will be layered and then skimmed with filler/putty to fill in any gaps.
 The Heller 1/72 DC-6B Super Cloudmaster arrived this afternoon, I've added it to the stash pile.

[PR19_Kit]

As Lima were an Italian firm it may be that their Class 55 is actually HO scale.

[McColm]

As Lima were an Italian firm it may be that their Class 55 is actually HO scale.

Thanks Kit, I'm now searching for a Hornby locomotive it doesn't need to be a runner as I have a motor that will fit.

[McColm]

Wednesday 25th February 2026

I had my eyes examined at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill and I have 20 20 vision when I'm wearing my glasses. However I have been prescribed Ocurfresh Lubricating Eye Gel due to the build up of wax left behind by my eyelashes when I blink and I'm to carry on taking Hylo-Forte for my dry eyes syndrome .

Kit was correct, I bought a Hornby R30049/08 Class 55 Deltic Chassis Frame and it almost fits the Dapol/Kitmaster Deltic 001 bodyshell. One end of the locomotive can have the cabin interior details due to the motor at the other end. A bit of fetling needs to be done to get a better fit for the tabs to fit the slots on either side and the lumps filed down.

[McColm]

Thursday 26th February 2026

It's been a bit uneventful,  I started sanding down the filler on the 1/72 BAC Retaliator FRA.1 with a sanding block. This will need PSR. I also removed the seats that came with the RA-5C Vigilante kit as the Italeri Tornado F.3 cockpit canopy doesn't close properly.
Afterwards work continues on the Dapol/Kitmaster Deltic DP1 in the sanding on the inside. A break for a cup of coffee and I read a chapter from the book American Secret Projects Fighters and Interceptors 1941 to 1978.
I had a bit of a nap and watched a video on the R101 airship and how it exploded and then the Princess Flying Boat.  Then tackled the washing up, finishing with mopping the kitchen floor. Feeling tired and chilling out.

[McColm]

For reasons unknown to me the Asphalt 8 online racing game is not functioning properly even when I delete it and reboot/reload so it remains uninstalled.  However I have managed to install and play Warships World War II, Warplanes WWII and Warplanes Task Force. This might lead me to build some of the aircraft that I am flying and warships which I am getting sunk more times than I am sinking the enemy apart from the Black Swan which seems to soak up a lot of punishment whilst flying the British ensign.
Today will be getting ready to return to work next week and collecting the parcel from my local newsagents.

[McColm]

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Feeling knackered and I have been sent the wrong window glazing for the Class 55 Deltic. I slept until 2pm in the afternoon and started on the 1/72 Hasegawa Boeing B-47E model, this time around gluing the wheel wells to one side of the fuselage before the final assembly of gluing both fuselages together. I kept the Airfix Vickers Valiant alternative cockpit canopy glazing and the resin nose cone from the Flightpath conversion set. One of the wings has been glued together with no major issues so far for my version of the MIT Project LAMP LIGHT. This time it will have the Grumman E-2A rotodome and stand although the Revell rotor stack from the Fairey Rotodyne kit could be used if I can find the parts.
I  returned to the lounge to catch up on episodes of the TV series Hornblower on YouTube and periodically checking my emails, sleep eventually took over at midnight.

[McColm]

Wednesday 4th March 2026

I went out to pick up my parcel delivered by DHL at a collection point in Charlton Village,  up the hill and then back down only to discover that there's no blazer/jacket to go with the navy blue trousers. The tie looks impressive but the shirts have the Kingdom Services Group embroidered on them other security officers buy their shirts from Marks & Spencer. The authorities have been informed.

Back on the workbench and the grade 80 wet 'n' dry sandpaper has been put to use,  the Mach2 Martin SeaMaster is looking good especially the T-tail where I had to sculpt a rear piece. The mini-Argosy AEW has had the Rolls-Royce Tyne engines removed. Sanding has taken place,  as a four-engined version will be created..
At this point my fingers were hurting, tried sanding with my right hand, not quite the same as I'm lefthanded.
Teabreak time.
Research has pointed me in the direction of 100 Squadron, the specialists in electronic warfare during World War II.

[Charlie_c67]

With regards to the Deltic, have you looked at replacing the original motor with a CD player one? There are plenty of guides on-line and those that have done it say it's both smoother and quieter. Be aware that the wheels may be the wrong diameter as they are on Lima's class 50 so alterations to them or the chassis may affect the ride height and give you issues with coupling things up.

There are guides to tarting them up out there, but as with a lot of the older models it's a case of finding one that actually shows what's been done as a step by step and isn't just yet another weathering tutorial 

[McColm]

With regards to the Deltic, have you looked at replacing the original motor with a CD player one? There are plenty of guides on-line and those that have done it say it's both smoother and quieter. Be aware that the wheels may be the wrong diameter as they are on Lima's class 50 so alterations to them or the chassis may affect the ride height and give you issues with coupling things up.

There are guides to tarting them up out there, but as with a lot of the older models it's a case of finding one that actually shows what's been done as a step by step and isn't just yet another weathering tutorial 

Thanks Charlie, I'm just happy at the moment for the locomotive to trundle around an oval circuit once my layout gets a baseboard then I will consider making changes to noise levels.

[Charlie_c67]

Fair enough  Just please please please don't have the track on carpet. That's the way to muchos pain and heartache.

[McColm]

Fair enough  Just please please please don't have the track on carpet. That's the way to muchos pain and heartache.

I don't have any carpets, just concrete floors at the moment.