On the workbench....

A brief update with the models currently being worked on.

Spitfires x3 

The interest in the Red Arrows display models (see last post) got me thinking. One handy way of tackling the stash population would be to build several models at the same time and combine them onto a flying display stand.

So after some rummaging around - I found a Spitfire Mk1. (What aviation model-maker DOESN'T have one of these knocking around somewhere in the stash?) and a Spitfire MkV. That just left a late-model Spitfire to complete the set - so I found a PR XIX fairly cheaply in the local model shop.

Two weeks later - it was finished. 

Mig-21 PF

After a slight disaster with the nosecone of this thing - I had left this on the backburner for a few months. It sat there on the shelf, half-finished - looking very sorry for itself. 

In the end I had another go - fitted a spare nose from another Academy MiG-21 and decided to finish it in silver. Out came the Halfords Rattle Cans (Aluminium Silver) and on went some transfers from the spares box.

The result is one smart looking Cold-War jet. The decals just need sealing and this will be ready to go.

 

Other Stuff

I somehow ended up buying a Meng Char 2C in a impulsive Ebay auction purchase. It's utterly comical looking and could be an interesting build - pictures to follow. 

 

On the workbench...

A brief post this one - due to lots going on at the moment. Land Rovers are wonderful things and generally reliable - apart from those times when they aren't! My time has thus been taken up with an altogether bigger 'kit' that weighs two tonnes and delights in dripping oil all over the drive....

Red Arrows Old and New

This was an idea I had a while ago - a) to trim down the size of the stash and b) to do something interesting with a couple of the otherwise fairly common Airfix kits I have. So using the readily available Folland Gnat and BAE Hawk kits - I decided to create a stand showing the Yellowjacks (pre-Red Arrows), 1970s Red Arrows and Red Arrows as they are today.

The Hawk didn't have any locator holes for the stand arms - the under-body tank precluded drilling any holes in the underside as well. Instead a recycled part of sprue, combined with a meaty amount of adhesive and some modifications to the tailpipe were required. I am very pleased with the end result.

Black Friday (Lynx Kit no.3)

Due to a slight loss of fiscal discipline on Black Friday back in 2015 - I somehow ended up with three Westland Lynx AH-7s in 1:48 scale. The intention was to build one for my own collection and construct the other two for sale. That hasn't happened yet - other shiny kits have come along and distracted me. However this week I've cracked open the box and have dived in headfirst!

FAA Vought Corsair

A very old kit - this came out of a Heller boxing from a couple of decades ago. Occasionally I'll quickly cobble together one of these older kits in an evening or two to take my mind off things. With modern paints, decals and plenty of sanding/filling - the results are quite good.

Academy Mig-21 PF 

Not pictured at this time - however this is currently in the process of being cleaned up and prepped for assembly. I've built a few of these in 1/48 scale before and the final products have been snapped up. The plan this time is to do a Natural Metal Finish example (cue sucking of teeth from model-makers everywhere) - not an easy finish to pull off in any scale.

However I have a plan..... involving the local Halfords and some Nissan Silver.

On the Workbench - Stash Attack

Every model-maker, whether they do it as a hobby or as a line of work - will have a 'stash'. This consists of models which have been bought as-and-when (in a short-sighted spending spree after you accidentally-on-purpose got lost and wandered into a model shop) or particular projects which you buy and intend to 'eventually get round to them'. The makeup of said collection often is without rhyme or reason.

This phenomena led to yours truly having at least a dozen harrier jump jets in his possession at one point (now trimmed down to half a dozen at last count). I still can't remember buying that many; I can count on one hand how many commission jobs I've had for a jump-jet so it wasn't a business decision at any rate. Short of them breeding and multiplying by themselves in the cupboard - the reason for accruing so many will remain a mystery.

Now the stash is getting bigger again, due to a combination of a prolonged period of ill health and my other line of work being a higher priority over the Winter months. The new stash theme seems to be focused around big multi-engine aircraft including 1/72 Lancasters (3 of them), a Shackleton and a couple of Dakota DC-3s...... and a few B-17s in various scales.

This is supplemented by an EE Canberra and a Merlin helicopter kit in 1/48 scale - the former I bought a few years ago in Wales on holiday - no I don't know why either.

In a moment of madness on a certain online auction site I also acquired a Soviet Mil Mi-26 Halo Helicopter from Zvezda in 1/72 - many tins of Russian AF paint shall be required for that particular beast.

However the workbench is not quite ready for airliners / bombers / transport planes / big helicopters just yet.....

Airfix Fairey Battle (Old Classic Tool) - Part of the Victoria Cross gift-set. Went together very nicely and looked good when finished / sent to it's new owner.

Airfix Hurricane II (Classic Tool) - Currently a test-bed for different varnishes. I have 'lost' one or two otherwise perfect models thanks to varnish reacting to the paint coat underneath - so whenever using a new formula/product it pays to test it on a low-value, easily replaced model first. 

The 'Car Park' - This is where the models sit in the sunshine to dry and generally cure. 

Bristol Blenheim Mk I - Old and New - Recently I finished off the Blenheim from the VC set - despite being an older tooling it went together with some filler and modern paints/transfers applied. It took about four days from start to finish - out of professional interest I bought the new tool from Airfix to see how much easier/quicker the new one went together. Currently at the un-boxing stage.

Keep your eyes peeled for some of these appearing online soon (I need the space!).