What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Wednesday 20th May 2026

I thought that I had taken the wrong bus N1, but it turned out that one of the stops is at the Elephant and Castle roundabout, so I caught the number 453 to the bus stop outside the toy store Hamleys arriving at 6am. The cleaner was very surprised to see me as the regular security officer usually gets in at 06:40.
Tuesday was uneventful but I did overhear two conversations with regards to the member of staff that was admitted to Saint Thomas's Hospital. Making good progress and is going to have another operation on his heart. Whilst the regular security officer's wife has also been having heart problems hence the time off work.
Although one of the tenants has moved out of the premises I'm still receiving post and even lunch for them. Unfortunately I was told to tell the delivery driver to take the lunch to their new address, which is literally around the corner!

Back at home the Revell Avro Shackleton AEW2 was delivered and it seems that I won another Falcon Triple conversion set for the Grumman C-2 Greyhound. I think that I have the necessary parts but it's going in the stash pile for now. The Postman is going to be busy this weekend with all the redirected parcels. Reminds me I must dig out those dividers to check the widths. I'm sure that I still have the remaining parts for the Lockheed Constellation upgrade set.
Might get the primer down for the GB builds over the public holiday weekend,although white and black was the paint schemes for the RAF bombers taking part in Operation Downfall I know that I'm going to run out of rattle cans. 'Operation use up the remaining paint pots ' will be implemented. Snow Drops (white roof or helmets/ berets) I think I have enough masking tape, if not I it's free-hand.

Waiting on the doorstep was the 1/72 Academy Boeing KB-29P which has all the parts still in sealed bags and the 1/72 Revell Douglas DC-4 which is over engineered in my opinion. This could be beneficial as the wings have groves in them to align with the fuselage which is handy for the Avro Shackleton's wings to slot in place. A few minor changes and it should be okay for the Avro Tauton build attempt number 4. The DC-4 wings won't be wasted as I will use them for the Canadair DC-4M.
The Falcon Triple conversion kit IX also arrived: North American FJ-3 Furry, Grumman C-3A Greyhound and Douglas AD-5W Skyraider can be built.

[McColm]

Thursday 21st May 2026

The Academy Martin PBM-5A Mariner has arrived along with the Transport Wings SLAR pod for the Vickers Viscount RAE plus the four Rolls-Royce Dart engines. I never knew that they were that small, dwarfed by the LACI Allison turboprops. Time to cast some moulds for future projects. I also received the 1/72 Eurofighter Battle of Britain decals and the 1/25 Revell Dodge Viper GTS model kit. It will be interesting comparing the two kits.
 I think most people have started the May Public Holiday earlier due the heatwave, lots of WAYMOs driving about.

[PR19_Kit]

The Academy Martin PBM-5A Mariner has arrived....

That's a REALLY nice kit, fits very well indeed, but those wing spars inside the engine nacelles/bomb bays take some fiddling to fit.

I really must finish mine off................ 

[McColm]

The Academy Martin PBM-5A Mariner has arrived....

That's a REALLY nice kit, fits very well indeed, but those wing spars inside the engine nacelles/bomb bays take some fiddling to fit.

I really must finish mine off................ 

Got to finish the Mach2 model, thanks for the reminder 

[McColm]

Friday 22nd May 2026

There are a few days that feel surreal and today was one of them. The Westend of London felt like a Sunday.
At work the alcohol deliveries for the tenants came in thick and fast, it was wear denim day and I didn't get the memo.
I definitely need to get out more, yes the temperature did rise past 26°C but the air conditioner was working and I stayed cool, just watching the world go by.
I now know why I'm covering reception as the usual security officer gave me the heads-up, his wife has passed away due to heart problems. Friends and family are rallying round to help. He's the type of person who puts everyone first and isn't used to being fussed over. Complications on his own health due to the stress of losing his soulmate means that he is on sick leave with a few hospital appointments booked over the next few weeks.
I have given him my deepest condolences and sympathies for his loss. Telling him to take his time, as there's no rush to get back to work.
Of course the staff do know that something isn't quite right as this guy never takes time off work,  the official line is ' your regular security officer is on leave '.I have told him that if he needs to talk, I'm a good listener.
I only had one days training with him but we clicked with a good understanding that the site is in good hands.I keep him updated on what's been going on, with the maintenance contractors.
 On the way home Trafalgar Square had lots of England supporters plus someone had set a red flare or smoke bomb of, smoke everywhere.. Now I know most busses have air conditioning but why do the passengers insist on opening the windows when it's on, doesn't make any sense to me as it goes straight out of the window. Keep them closed so the air can circulate.
I was still awake at 1am on Saturday morning so naturally I did the laundry.

[McColm]

Wednesday 27th May 2026

If you are in need to hire a bicycle then pop down to Great Marlborough Street,as there's loads of them to choose from. Half way up the street, never seen as many of them all in one place.
The weather is a bit cooler but it looks like it's going to be hotter tomorrow, then cool down. Not too sure what's happening with work next week, whether I will be watching the World Cup at home or in an air conditioned office between my duties.

On the ideas front, using the Mach2 DH Comet 4C and convert it into the Maritime Comet or the BAe Nimrod. Another idea is to alter the appearance of one of the 1/25 Dodge Viper car model kits and turn it into something similar to the Bristol Fighter front & rear ends.

[McColm]

Friday 29th May 2026

It's been confirmed that I'm working another two weeks at Freshwater, Great Marlborough Street and will be providing counseling for the regular security officer for a few days on his return.
It's a quirky office building as there's no rear or side fire escape and if someone puts the heating on, on the 4th floor the fire alarm activates. Which is what happened yesterday. The fire alarm panel isn't user friendly. It should be replaced but with everything else in the building, make do and mend. I had to ring the guy that I'm covering for instructions.

In the 'let's build that again ' pile the Boeing EL/M-2075 Phalcon or EB-707 Condor.

[McColm]

Monday 1st June 2026

It's not true you can teach an old dog new tricks, I learnt how to program access fobs, do the meter readings and put up the lag protection in the passenger lift. As every site I cover is slightly different I can't apply the standard practice. Got another tenant moving out, okay it's only three buildings down the street next to a Chinese restaurant.
I still don't understand when the fire system is tested,signs put up that staff still ask should they leave the building? Nothing has changed since the days of working at the BBC World Service, they even announced that they were testing the fire alarms and yet the switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree and yet when there was a real fire with lots of smoke they stayed inside. The fire fighters had to physically remove them from the building.

[McColm]

It's Friday 5th June 2026, woke up to a sore throat. Gargled with half a teaspoon of salt mixed with some warm water, although not a cure it eased the irritation.
The London Underground are going to be working on the track between Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street between the 20th to 22nd June.from 23:00pm to 03:00am. A few of the roads will have parking restrictions imposed.
Picked up a days overtime on the 13th, not too sure what's happening for the rest of the month but at least I can finish the builds.
 I never knew that Lockheed had a proposal for the Connie to get a pair of swept wings and turbofan engines ' Excalibur III' although I do have plans for my Excalibur II to have turboprops after the GB.