tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43676006704366342262024-02-07T05:46:59.214-08:00Odd's OracleOddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-32600236241592211792021-01-03T04:09:00.004-08:002021-01-03T04:09:50.725-08:00New year, but same ol'?...<p> Well, for those I didn't get round to beforehand, let me wish a Happy New Year to.</p><p>Of course it's only a date and there are plenty would tell us that those are quite arbitrary and unreliable. Who knows...who cares?</p><p>With the Plague still mightily upon us, I have not bothered to renew my membership of either the flying club or the BMFA for insurance as I'm most unlikely to be doing any flying for the foreseeable future. What happens to batteries in that time, Gawd knows, but I have a ceiling full of model aircraft that I really don't know if I even want to bother with any more. It was good to try model flying and I made one good friend in the first club who I still see (Plague permitting), but I didn't get the big buzz I expected from it. The best part was having an excuse to do something with my wife as she enjoyed coming to the field with me and watching and I don't want to stop that. But it was a bit of a trek for just a couple of flights and it is entirely dependent on whether the instructor is there, which he is unwilling to be during any chance of Plague being around.</p><p>So, I don't know, but I won't be going again until we're completely clear if at all.</p><p>Chris bought me a wood turning lathe for Christmas, on which I made a couple of pens. One for me, one for my granddaughter. I was pleased with them, but some foreign turd on a forum was rude about them and me, so I called him a shithead and left. Why DO I join these things. As usual the FB group is much better controlled, except they were all trying to flog their stuff and I didn't like their designs anyway, so I left those too. And that has all left a bad taste in the mouth for a while, so back to slot cars, I suppose. Attempts at a new hobby are always fraught with pitfalls. Mainly because they involve dealings with Earthlings! I sup of their limited usefulness to a sufficiency and leave. I am always better alone in my interests.</p><p>I have been having a break from other peoples' work for a while leading up to Christmas, but may return earlier than intended out of a form of boredom. Maybe "my" stuff is less absorbing than I'd hoped. I have a BMW 635 CSL to do for a friend and a whole load of stuff for another in the model railways field. I've also got on very well with Lantern Yard and have the water and railway bit of it to finish, then, for lack of space, it goes to said railway man as a travelling display for his exhibitions, if they ever return!</p><p>So that's me up to date. Living in the Age of Plague makes little difference to us as we were never ones for going out and living it up anyway. I sanitize and mask up for shopping trips and we're awaiting the call to the distant doctors' for the new jab. Our's can't do them for some reason. Otherwise all is as it always was.</p><p>Stay safe, all of you.</p>Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-25067406135816753852020-10-31T02:44:00.002-07:002020-10-31T02:44:28.148-07:00In search of a decent club...<p> Well, I got fed up with being treated like a piece of shit on Betts's foot for absolutely no reason and when he started spouting BMFA rules at me when I raised a point on the club's facebook page I lost it and, calling him a rule-loving arse licker publicly, sort of ensured I would not be welcome back at Station Meadow, Haha!</p><p>So, I went to Downham club, where I'd been going a few times a year for a look and a natter for, believe it or not, over 30 years, but had never joined as I was told they were very expensive. It actually turned out they're a few quid cheaper than Emneth. I was told there'd be no objection to my joining, especially as I was yet another refugee from Emneth (they had a few already, all quoting problems with Betts/Ball). But when I went back 3 days later, the geezer who runs the club (damned near owns it!), John Langridge told me he'd called the BMFA and they'd said not to allow new members till the new year. Now, that is not in their power to say and John wouldn't use his precious pennies to call the BMFA to save his life. In fact, he just didn't want me to join because he was jealous of my friendship with his co-founder. But Peter had developed dementia and I'd been asked not to visit as it might upset him. This ban has been like a death for me as Pete and I shared a passion for the hobby and I just wanted him to know I'd finally taken up the hobby. When I learned that John had been visiting I realised he was behind my ban. Unlike him I am not after all Peter's wonderful models. I'd have nowhere to put any of them anyway. They're all big ones.</p><p>However, while I sat chatting to other members of the Downham club, without Langridge, I was told of a small club in the Thetford Forest. I found the club online, 'phoned their Secretary and was given such a superb welcome I went over there, with my wife and our wee doggy and paid them a visit. Well, what a fantastic place and what a wonderful welcome from Secretary and Chairman. They made my wife just as welcome and if our dog were friendlier they'd have welcomed her too!</p><p>They have electric, I.C. fixed wing, helicopters and even FPV and drones. In fact the secretary is a licenced drone pilot for aerial photography (now so much used in TV). They even have a 4 foot concrete patch in middle of the field for helicopters to take off and land. The site is surrounded by huge trees on three sides, a river behind and a railway line in front, all topped off by a small chicken shit-powered power station to one side. Basically, if you can fly there you can fly anywhere. The club are in the process of buying the site, but they have to retain access to the public on the footpaths that run round it. But that's not really a problem. The public tend to stop and watch and ask questions. Naturally I joined immediately, paying their incredibly low subs sum, itself halved as I was joining over half the year through and I have now flown with the instructor three times on the club's Bixler trainer, even getting as far as looping and landing last time up, despite the cross wind. Then the weather broke and I've not been back for three weeks, but Sunday next is forecast as good weather. We must see whether Boris shoves us all back in lockdown for November, as is thought likely.</p><p>Here's what the site looks like...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6DBF4v8L2jEgLXss2kHbno6JDf2iZWLr2HgR98jodpBzLhgNQl5O3haPbpDo9HlKgwXd0IecPFiE-XcOx8RRHRCin-IEFpF7u0F3lmVhSQkYEVELoaQ5NmrLAqYiQo_WvdKOEIyhUurc/s960/118882310_10220030882221443_8081631253796906322_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6DBF4v8L2jEgLXss2kHbno6JDf2iZWLr2HgR98jodpBzLhgNQl5O3haPbpDo9HlKgwXd0IecPFiE-XcOx8RRHRCin-IEFpF7u0F3lmVhSQkYEVELoaQ5NmrLAqYiQo_WvdKOEIyhUurc/s320/118882310_10220030882221443_8081631253796906322_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1wp7EYHUI9kPHZfpT-LaEBPKNxUHxsH_ASLCtoUKa8vWbULAnyGj0VTHe1iGA5k3QT3cxVdJ5yUYftFcOM1zx3gKwTjFJHJuOInBIrXlxPUIPnfCxMieCr3Bv3XXOaHhlLW5tKoEBSPy/s960/118887358_10220030882461449_6879761427547684969_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1wp7EYHUI9kPHZfpT-LaEBPKNxUHxsH_ASLCtoUKa8vWbULAnyGj0VTHe1iGA5k3QT3cxVdJ5yUYftFcOM1zx3gKwTjFJHJuOInBIrXlxPUIPnfCxMieCr3Bv3XXOaHhlLW5tKoEBSPy/s320/118887358_10220030882461449_6879761427547684969_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, that's a tall chimney on the extreme right of the top photo. It's a good way off, but a chap hit it with his large stunt 'plane last time I was there and never found the front half of the model.<div>The lower picture is where we all park and behind that is the river. Fast flowing alas, but somebody did once get a floatplane off it! Couldn't get back on though!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-90311853041478599422020-07-26T07:26:00.003-07:002020-07-26T07:27:11.364-07:00A gingerish return?...Well, the plague is still with us to some extent, but things are a little more relaxed and training flights began again last week. I had to book in for a slot, but got one easily and another booked for this coming Tuesday. I flew as well as last October, so I haven't forgotten anything. I'd like to push things along some and start doing low passes and landings. I could try the playing fields in the village where the guy who runs things said he'd welcome me there with small electric 'planes as it would "make a change from bloody dog walkers"!! As long as there are no kids playing ball games I may well sneak some stick time in there. As long as I have his permission, I have insurance.<br />
<br />
I have had some plans for a Vulcan reduced to a more manageable size for me. I can't transport or store big models and frankly I have always been a four footer fan. They're what I grew up with and what I like to see. The huge things, which OK, may fly better, just strike me as willy waving. "Look at me, I can afford a huge £400 petrol engine in a £500 kit which someone built for me. I have Futaba RC costing £2400", even though the infinitely better AND beautiful Jeti Duplex is much cheaper. "I had to buy a special van to put it in and fit it out so I can only carry toy aeroplanes on racks". No, thanks, not for me. If it won't go in my Suzuki Swift, it don't happen. So, the Jetworksonline Vulcan plans were reduced at some cost by a fearsome Polish lady in a local print shop. Actually she was very pleasant and did a good job. It must be that missing indefinite article in her speech that makes me think she came hotfoot from a James Bond set!<br />
The Vulcan is now just over a metre wingspan, instead of the big 55" it started out at. It will still take a pair of 50mm EDFs and should sound fairly jetlike. My son, Mike, 3D printed a couple of components to check the drawings and they fit like a glove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4dWM6odmAv9jk-pqPA8lkioSHfXVZ_jE-B9sDVlA0INrhrPv3P8z4H6DvfIfcUTbA3ubhUl8qeUtKti-A6c0VGEho-FZbV7qS8YYU8GYkR-sv-gOgukmBdDQEOYG0MzAfswm4tC-AC7_/s1600/116045756_3209607312426255_8385731256185458890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4dWM6odmAv9jk-pqPA8lkioSHfXVZ_jE-B9sDVlA0INrhrPv3P8z4H6DvfIfcUTbA3ubhUl8qeUtKti-A6c0VGEho-FZbV7qS8YYU8GYkR-sv-gOgukmBdDQEOYG0MzAfswm4tC-AC7_/s320/116045756_3209607312426255_8385731256185458890_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
As it was my Birthday a couple of days ago he also bound the instructions into a booklet at work. Much easier to refer to.<br />
I shan't be building this one until I've flown some of the other aircraft I've built during the plague.<br />
I still have my wee Pietenpol, a kit from Flite Test in foamboard. Bernard at the club already flew this and loved it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQmtxp1ZtNfzKk7iQ9vVKoU9hLf0EJbfpdwJNV2GFeIP8OE54pss5epYmP_nXP2VYU6AlWOD9fqtjc0KghRg64T6Alj7twNVfjvQRMzkrI0RRnzWCK8bfCngtku_RQPOK3Zw7RX5mu8wY/s1600/DSCI0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="459" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQmtxp1ZtNfzKk7iQ9vVKoU9hLf0EJbfpdwJNV2GFeIP8OE54pss5epYmP_nXP2VYU6AlWOD9fqtjc0KghRg64T6Alj7twNVfjvQRMzkrI0RRnzWCK8bfCngtku_RQPOK3Zw7RX5mu8wY/s320/DSCI0204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And I managed at last to get a couple of Lidl's gliders a couple of weeks ago and converted one to power, using pitcherons, which is where the wings themselves pivot to act as control surfaces.<br />
I also have the trainer all finished and fitted out with an Enya 40, waiting for when I'm allowed to fly my own aircraft at my own risk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawPzFeEjnGTIHZGivwKLs9-mn-JW7ZdB2cKHSK1tY6CKOibC3iP3hyhd3k8DPWVQupAcX31Ms-x4FoN0yDvVuZBtal0Y-EC_OK506JK5Sxvw6mrTBVEC41COYH2g0-5WAmgCYOJ5-LthW/s1600/DSCI0537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="387" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawPzFeEjnGTIHZGivwKLs9-mn-JW7ZdB2cKHSK1tY6CKOibC3iP3hyhd3k8DPWVQupAcX31Ms-x4FoN0yDvVuZBtal0Y-EC_OK506JK5Sxvw6mrTBVEC41COYH2g0-5WAmgCYOJ5-LthW/s320/DSCI0537.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I also built a Flite Test Spitfire from free plans which I scaled off the PC screen as I'm too tight to print 30 odd A4 sheets with the price of ink. I finished it with some mods to make it a little more realistic looking and in First Flight zinc chromate and bare metal as I detest cowshit cammo. But you just gotta have that shape in the sky and the FliteTest version has undercambered wing tips so no nasty tip stall, which is normally the bugbear of Warbirds and Spitfires in particular, so it should fly in a beginner's hands.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6EqR7DieREygbDuLAqyZmk87P-kC29en9c9ofg7cX9OVyfrBVTulGicH0ivv1isEil8pKBVVedUAfU0Fk6DrmftzT5vQTh0I0HCFy91lnx1eZ-K08qIOihoZDKghZ7SFmO71MwU4S_-K/s1600/DSCI0230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="558" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6EqR7DieREygbDuLAqyZmk87P-kC29en9c9ofg7cX9OVyfrBVTulGicH0ivv1isEil8pKBVVedUAfU0Fk6DrmftzT5vQTh0I0HCFy91lnx1eZ-K08qIOihoZDKghZ7SFmO71MwU4S_-K/s320/DSCI0230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There are more, but they'll keep for next time. I'm fast running out of ceiling!<br />
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-42728781726767869622020-03-30T11:51:00.003-07:002020-03-30T11:51:40.606-07:00Did I say still flying?...Ha! Forget it. I see I haven't blogged since October last year. And, coincidentally, I haven't flown either. I managed to walk to the field when the track was boggy, but didn't get to fly as it was too windy. So I made a trolley to take stuff on foot, but then this virus shite hit and they closed the field anyway. So effectively I will have paid a year's subs for a couple of month's use and frankly I think the club should give us some free months next year. I may even chuck it all as, having got interested, keen even, bought gear, built aircraft and planned others, it's all fallen to bits. I'm back on the slot racers. I'm seriously considering pulling the yachts out again. There's a river up the road with nobody on it and nobody near me. Model boats...there won't be anyone else!<br />
<br />
But it struck me that one of the main reasons that so many people are having a hard time with staying in is because they have nothing in their lives that fulfills them. They've spent years poo-pooing hobbies, pretending that they're too busy and now, when a hobby is exactly what they should be able to easily fall back on, they have nothing. Going out, having friends round, travelling, sport? They are NOT hobbies. They may be interests in some small way, but a hobby is something that really absorbs you. Because I work from home and always have with few exceptions (which I hated!) having to stay in is no different to me. I have usually worked at my hobby and raised a family and paid a mortgage on it. But there are many aspects of that same way of earning a living that are purely hobby elements. I can switch between them. Model yachts (for me only), model scenery ( an artistic for me aspect), model railways (now client only), model cars (bit of each). Over the years I have also done static model aircraft, model furniture, even model firearms (which worked!). I can also turn to restoring an old Seagull outboard motor, repairing and rejuvenating ancient pond yachts and repairing all manner of stuff for others. I could do that Repair Shop programme standing on my head! They clearly have no idea how to paint anything for a start!<br />
<br />
If people had absorbing hobbies, they could do the chores then turn to the shed or the spare room and be in another world. The time flies. Why not buy a model kit (online if your local shop has shut, like mine) and build it. Really try to do it well, maybe if your kids are home do it with them. Buy what appeals to you both and make that. Never mind school stuff. That's all pointless crap, as this enforced absence will eventually prove. Use their time and yours to learn about and build something interesting. A plastic kit maybe or a balsa wood and tissue model you can actually fly with the child. Make a point of watching youtubes about it (and there WILL be a youtube about it) and make it something enjoyable and absorbing for both of you. And when it all goes back to normal, you will have something far more fulfilling to do than watching some bunch of overpaid pansies kicking a bladder about or going and sitting in a grossly overpriced caff of dubious cleanliness drinking coffee you can make better yourself.Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-44268114818266722872019-10-30T16:58:00.001-07:002019-10-30T17:01:05.310-07:00Still flying, or I was, when Winter did a-come in..Damn! I was getting lessons from the nice Brian (not the less than nice one) at the club on Tuesday and doing really well, when the weather broke. I hadn't flown for three weeks, then one of the chaps, Mark, who I regard as Clubman of the year, mailed me to say he would be down the field and was I going. So off I went, sans aeroplane as I thought it was just a social meet, but once we'd had our coffees, Mark offered me a flight with his own aircraft. Now this would be a kind and frankly risky offer at the best of times, but the aeroplane in question was a low winger and rather a racy one at that. But Mark took it up high, "3 mistakes high"and gave me his transmitter. I flew this apparently "unsuitable"'plane with ease. I found it more responsive than the club trainer, but in an encouraging way. Mark was both encouraging and informative. As he thought the engine was not up to mustard he took over and landed it. I was well pleased with my progress and so was he. Another good flight was also truncated by an iffy performance from the engine. Later mark stuffed the 'plane on take off as the engine suddenly died and said I'd flown his 'plane better than he had! Flattery will get me back every time<g> But not since thanks to rain making the track to the field impassable and it's too far to walk for me, especially lugging a flight box and aeroplanes.</g><br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I took on the build of a Wills Craftsman kit of a Southern Railway station building for a chap who couldn't get the hang of it. The instructions are complete crap, written by Iain Rice, something of a model railway has-been. Once everywhere in the model railway firmament, he's rarely heard from these days. Perhaps his whimsical sketches or his slightly belligerent writing style are against him. I don't know, but considering a Craftsman kit is really just a pile of Wills plastic building sheets with a few detailed mouldings thrown in, the instructions need to be a lot more explanatory and explain immediately what's in all the bags. As it turned out, the kit I'd been sent had no sash windows, so that's where building finished and I hope the guy can get some sash windows from Peco who market the kit.<br />
They've been pretty well slated on the forums, but as an attempt to get people actually making stuff rather than just opening a box they're as good as one can expect. However, poor instructions, barely readable photos and missing parts will ensure they win even fewer friends in future.<br />
Some silly old bat on youtube went to the extent of putting a slagging off video up saying how she was so disgusted by the kit, that she was going to bin it. Well bin it then, you dozy old cow. There is enough stuff on forums about these things that you have no excuse for buying something that isn't what you thought it was. What gets me is that every comment on the youtube was supporting her! So what we have here is a world where everybody is terminally stupid and can't read reviews, or is so physically incapable of manipulating simple tools that they can barely be entrusted to open a bloody box! Why don't these useless individuals go trainspotting? Laying on the rails looking up gives you a great view, I'm told. Albeit briefly...Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-91329194046766978562019-07-23T08:31:00.002-07:002019-07-23T08:31:37.562-07:00Up and away, at last...Them as knows me and readers of this blog who've somehow stayed the distance will know that not only have I mentioned the would-be hobby, but have several times actually tried to start in model flying, but been stymied somehow or other.<br />
Well, I finally went and dun it. I actually bit the bullet and joined a local model club because they'd moved their field to a location a few minutes away, compared with 40 minutes previously! Off I trots and gets a really warm welcome. Real "Man Shed" stuff. Joining half way through the year gets me membership for half price and even a reduced price for the rip-off merchants in the BMFA, who are now the only source of insurance. For decades every magazine in the old MAP publishing house had an advert. for a fiver a year insurance, but when MAP was flogged off to some faceless bunch with a toy town name they stopped with the insurance and now we have to pay £29 a year to this mob. They clearly never bothered to shop around. The BMFA are what "grew" out of the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, of blessed memory. I will only put an SMAE sticker on my aircraft. The BMFA crap logo only goes on the English oak of my field box to obscure stains, where it belongs.<br />
<br />
These costs endured, I can now go to the club field and be taught by any of three or four training flyers with a buddy box system and the club trainer. I have now done this 3 times and have no idea what next, so I have secured a field nearby where I can risk my skills and aeroplane alone for practice. I don't do rules, but with turn-outs way above the national average it would, I confess, be safer to fly elsewhere and so the club doesn't allow solo flying until an A certificate has been awarded or the instructor reckons you can be trusted with your own aircraft.<br />
<br />
I have built a Pietenpol parasol wing aircraft from a Flite Test foamboard kit and an old chap at the club flew it beautifully, so I know it will perform. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJaMr-PQwVS-7w6P5YnMP2DF4lnndhP9RQjepwNhQvWYbJzEcpMyHZCmkWX86-N9mmiX0d4VN-XlMMLnWa2jc7X7MhOtlTEW91SUoLpuf0umedj8wAPhtaYLnRteMvdxoUl-n6u_mkro_/s1600/DSCI0501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJaMr-PQwVS-7w6P5YnMP2DF4lnndhP9RQjepwNhQvWYbJzEcpMyHZCmkWX86-N9mmiX0d4VN-XlMMLnWa2jc7X7MhOtlTEW91SUoLpuf0umedj8wAPhtaYLnRteMvdxoUl-n6u_mkro_/s320/DSCI0501.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
I also have a cheap foam glider which I have converted to Radio control, as yet untested. My son made me a power pod to take all the radio gear and a pusher prop. on his 3 D printer, to power this floater. Seen without its wings plugged in as it's a four foot span aircraft.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASOUeDxESbmos0NBi7blpoWIt5ZGwcrFdye4mcgt05N1YuUV-j4TvXq7nFFdiRgTW9jYsBO4wHKSn9ClewFb2YPZYspPcUSOZ3FrLlJGMSCZmeUn_-pA-SCGDVSAMuhB0a2nzyrYgBvS9/s1600/DSCI0488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="516" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASOUeDxESbmos0NBi7blpoWIt5ZGwcrFdye4mcgt05N1YuUV-j4TvXq7nFFdiRgTW9jYsBO4wHKSn9ClewFb2YPZYspPcUSOZ3FrLlJGMSCZmeUn_-pA-SCGDVSAMuhB0a2nzyrYgBvS9/s320/DSCI0488.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And a friend has sent me an old kit from Germany that he will never build so I am building that. It's a great Planes Piper Cub. It's designed for electric power, but I fancy it with a small IC engine and I have an OS 10 which will power it just fine. Fuselage, tail feathers and one wing already built and I only got it last Tuesday!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MwW4M660yoFP_Jt3m8kAfrUSO7PeHkLiGhjTkMKkYZQaSUSZfmyqd4iA4xtHipOzEcAIHEdJRPdCF22wxzdhVYzVyeWx6EbBli4jtXfMIy8qFPoUsxtm3-exnuzq9XrL-0jUYowN_Opk/s1600/n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MwW4M660yoFP_Jt3m8kAfrUSO7PeHkLiGhjTkMKkYZQaSUSZfmyqd4iA4xtHipOzEcAIHEdJRPdCF22wxzdhVYzVyeWx6EbBli4jtXfMIy8qFPoUsxtm3-exnuzq9XrL-0jUYowN_Opk/s320/n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_f7jnETX8sYHje-hANI_1XDYuIapXzBKCYd4IVBCDwO27O8mSepY4p4lv4VQHdmQw5ePtjwz7L2zGDY_OIVkRA3OaCjiNCe1OuAewBSDOIqRcHcm4aqkNJNVBcWAZ9DJYNEqUm8pv5Mo/s1600/gpma0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="400" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_f7jnETX8sYHje-hANI_1XDYuIapXzBKCYd4IVBCDwO27O8mSepY4p4lv4VQHdmQw5ePtjwz7L2zGDY_OIVkRA3OaCjiNCe1OuAewBSDOIqRcHcm4aqkNJNVBcWAZ9DJYNEqUm8pv5Mo/s320/gpma0156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I also have a foam and balsa electric Skystreak 32, built from plans which is for when I'm a half decent pilot as it'll be quick and twitchy, but it's my favourite model aircraft shape, which I've known since I was a kid.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHylpdpTnUyltoKfOLYaedfLLfdBVnws2olwjWkXkK4DSn0LJeZaN7wLRvv9MNogwSFjxh3jsQoh_z5gOY6bG8jbg179KjqF6_BpjAfeMHdagntziHV068z_bD03vZPnoz8cHh6iOVpR6Q/s1600/DSCI0492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="677" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHylpdpTnUyltoKfOLYaedfLLfdBVnws2olwjWkXkK4DSn0LJeZaN7wLRvv9MNogwSFjxh3jsQoh_z5gOY6bG8jbg179KjqF6_BpjAfeMHdagntziHV068z_bD03vZPnoz8cHh6iOVpR6Q/s320/DSCI0492.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And, today I rescued a magazine from the club hut with a free plan of a Vulcan in it made of Depron foam, which I rather like and of which I have a supply. Designed to be flown by beginners, so that HAS to be made, as I saw the real aircraft on it's last year of flights.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More news as I progress.</div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-2496553757008487002019-06-19T06:51:00.002-07:002019-06-19T06:51:37.528-07:00HOW long ago???...Whilst looking for references to the KeilKraft Skystreak aeroplane model, of blessed memory, I came across a picture of one of my model aeroplanes and that particular entry in this blog, but it was this time 4 years ago!<br />
Ye Gods, where does it go?<br />
<br />
The point is I have decided to take up model flying after all, even after the previous false starts. The Wisbech club, who actually flew nearer Kings Lynn have all but disappeared up there own tail pipes, but the Kings Lynn Club, having been kicked off their common by the raving save-the-noot mob now fly (unknown to me) literally up the road and seem a reasonable price, so I have decided to go along and meet them. I went one Sunday morning and met with a very warm welcome from some excellent chaps.<br />
<br />
I gave my old chum his models back as I really thought it would never happen. I kind of wish I hadn't now, especially as he now has a sudden dementia and wouldn't even remember me. Quite where all his dozens of models will end up I dread to think. I will try to get as many of them as possible to members of my new club as the woman my old chum seems to trust is not, in my view, all she seems, but there's not much I can do.<br />
<br />
I have bought a foam glider costing a princely 8 quid and am converting it to R/C and a small electric brushless motor. My wife has also bought me two other convertible gliders for a huge 71p each! One of those will become a flying wing.<br />
<br />
Apart from that, the Skystreak 32 will now be done in foam as I really don't like balsa wood. Never have. Foam is the future, dependent upon which kind of foam you use. <br />
<br />
Finally looking forward to taking up my long overdue hobby, which I have wanted to do since I was a kid and KeilKraft were on every shelf.Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-33271551052870620942019-05-22T03:56:00.000-07:002019-05-22T03:56:18.070-07:00Right on track...In the last post (and apologies for the paucity of posts lately) I mentioned my scenic bits and bobs going on my slot track. Well, I tried to lay out a track in Airfix sections, but it wouldn't connect properly, so I tried with Scalextric, but that was rusty and the joints wouldn't make good contact, even after a clean, so I made the decision to rout a track in MDF and make my own.<br />
<br />
I bought a sheet of MDF and divided it into three boards that would run round my shed walls. Then I laid out a reasonably interesting track in pencil. The joints between the boards were strengthened by having a kind of tongue and groove affair built in the ends. Then the fearful job of routing begun. In fact, it went smoothly, using templates made from left over MDF and even some 5mm Foamex, so all the bends were progressive, rather than geometric. Nothing on a slot track is worse than a bunch of geometric Mickey Mousery on the corners. None of that here, thanks.<br />
<br />
Having routed the three boards, I dug out the emulsion paint tester pots and painted the slots, to seal them, then the main track areas, blending the cream colour with the still wet grey for a bit of visual texture and finally detailed round the edges with a broken white line, grassy areas and a bit of good ol' mud. This is Britain and a race track. There has to be mud! A few asphalt repair patches were put on in black. The idea is to recreate one of the sprint courses that we have in England, where there are no pits or fancy facilities, no grandstands, just a control caravan and a few marshals' posts, a toilet/wash block and maybe a cafe hut. The odd hedgerow and maybe even a tree or two, but few people. An old breakdown truck just off the track in case of a slow speed crash. Nuttn' happens wildly fast on a sprint track.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ5Qity-9e8DTvi_bFsbtQbmUtjp4iaN3xE9wnoZt9h-aJsAsQ96kG36sa8C5k3s-YnpWfZFbQi2oiwac9eYZPhhUVhoPazKm1UbJFWRNomFLzPAsaH_pgqOoWnj1nWC9U-B9DX14mjxv/s1600/DSCI0387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="489" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ5Qity-9e8DTvi_bFsbtQbmUtjp4iaN3xE9wnoZt9h-aJsAsQ96kG36sa8C5k3s-YnpWfZFbQi2oiwac9eYZPhhUVhoPazKm1UbJFWRNomFLzPAsaH_pgqOoWnj1nWC9U-B9DX14mjxv/s320/DSCI0387.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Somebody saw the photo and said it looked like the club circuit at Brands Hatch. I never realised, but any track going round three walls of a shed will tend to look like that.<br />
<br />
I have all the electrical bits ready, but no idea how to connect them all! Somebody will set me straight.<br />
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-46168258743554788912019-04-06T05:46:00.003-07:002019-04-07T14:38:41.744-07:00Go where you're welcome...I can't help it. I tried to be nice to them, honest, but model railway people...Jeez. Fussy farts, kit snobs, Mummy's boys. That's what I found on the whole with just a few exceptions and so, finally, I gave up on them. My scenic bits will be done just for me when it's raining. The rest will go on my slotcar track. Caffs, marshalls' huts etc. I have a lot of slot cars to build and the people involved are so much friendlier. And let's face it a blast round a track is so much fun. Then there's the developmental side. Trying to design and build a chassis that works better than another. I spend a lot of my time making stuff for friends and myself, to be cast by friends, so it makes sense to just stick to the one Winter hobby and maybe keep a few boats for the Summer.<br />
<br />
I currently have all sorts under way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU54NRPDzIUF0m9P-ZK7G7UDd3f7FnggToGc-dGdPXo3VqgC36KrH4s9kHX6efkRzHAlAVZX5MBcoCjPtwQ0tdNaQ3ILW2FMRnxXaWHSipgAsoXazassfuYZF-UR1p8WYz4_pXnmD5yrR/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="446" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU54NRPDzIUF0m9P-ZK7G7UDd3f7FnggToGc-dGdPXo3VqgC36KrH4s9kHX6efkRzHAlAVZX5MBcoCjPtwQ0tdNaQ3ILW2FMRnxXaWHSipgAsoXazassfuYZF-UR1p8WYz4_pXnmD5yrR/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The wee Peugeot 206CC, the real one of which we have just swapped for a more practical Suzuki Swift. A Lloyd Lewis re-pop from a diecast.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQeKbBQhDx6Y53BXR4XvsyYLc1-L_DxtOuarwS6MfYt0XB4n6fm_V6G35u67K07QaEt0ZTPJsRMnGQfs-RSr1UIDxdP7SMU6uJEKhGBTHvYYOcPMUUv7VTHVF0s6TaJVXChxHrY_y7zez/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="461" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQeKbBQhDx6Y53BXR4XvsyYLc1-L_DxtOuarwS6MfYt0XB4n6fm_V6G35u67K07QaEt0ZTPJsRMnGQfs-RSr1UIDxdP7SMU6uJEKhGBTHvYYOcPMUUv7VTHVF0s6TaJVXChxHrY_y7zez/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lola Mk 1 by AA Bodies after I'd remastered it for him</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqn40RibPdJv5n4UODuav0e3D5C3I0w_xNmq9HPWMSk8l5fvoBVSMrvABX7aSUFwVFq7PpfYJwSMF9c7QYfh-MYkSQqkmyimnnmdxHJnIasY2IAXHY8XZA2TVImdTxRRUVrBjRENwMtYc/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="434" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqn40RibPdJv5n4UODuav0e3D5C3I0w_xNmq9HPWMSk8l5fvoBVSMrvABX7aSUFwVFq7PpfYJwSMF9c7QYfh-MYkSQqkmyimnnmdxHJnIasY2IAXHY8XZA2TVImdTxRRUVrBjRENwMtYc/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was asked to turn an old but very excellent Jaguar XK 120 kit into a FHC, so I made a new "lid" for it and my son, Bazz (Monster Racing) cast some in resin.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And so it goes. LOTS and lots of slot cars to build. Every time I do a pattern I get at least one copy which has to be done as a slot car. Fortunately I've made space in the shed for a small track so I can test them all.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More anon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-46762237191402932972019-02-17T09:54:00.001-08:002019-02-17T09:54:44.100-08:00A day or so away...As the Sun comes up, early morn, over a mirror still, mist shrouded Deben estuary, one has to wonder just how many less than attractive, dark blonde, pony-tailed, thirty something, fat-arsed females can be mustered to action in a small Suffolk town better known for its boutiques and coffee shops. Hordes of these almost clonelike, sometimes reluctant looking, sometimes just plain knackered looking victims of fitness fashion came by at around 7 in the morning. Bright, but chilly was the day. They, almost all in tip to toe black relieved by trendy shades of grey on the leggings, hauled over lumpy shapes were universally unsmiling. Some with heads back so far they must at some point bump in to things. Arms studiously cranked into their sides. But some appeared to have legs which had no need of knees, so stiff were the strides. Some must have watched old films with matrons yelling "high knees rising" as they dashed along like dressage horses on acid. All of them, sporty-looking, reluctant-looking or just plain bloody laughable were, it seems, engaged in laps of some unknown circuit of pain and discomfort. Maybe they go out so early, so that can still get out to Sainsburys in their BMW Bird Boxes later, while their spawn are at dance/Judo/horsey/Rugby lessons. Maybe their (obviously forlorn) hope is that they will improve their appearance to keep hubby away from secretaries. No chance. Does that backside come with running or is it the main reason FOR the running? They all have one. Large and lardy, it really should be hidden from view, not squeezed into unflatteringly tight black (why, always, damnable black?) gym clobber. Oddly they will also then be seen with David Beckham-style gold trainers or whatever the latest term for their footwear is. I notice ancient cyclists wear shoes so odd they appear to be plaster casts of someone else's feet!<br />
<br />
In Tesco's, where there is, horror of horrors, a gym, a 24 hour gym (can it get any worse?), while decent folk shop, a steady stream of fat, ugly, sweaty women clutching a bottle of water in one hand and mobile 'phone in the other, slop through the shop, leaving a foul mistral of unnecessary effort in their wake as they don't shower till they get home, so their Bird boxes must be rank by now. Why, if you are that podgy and that well, just simply ugly are you wasting money joining a gym? Nobody's looking, love. Get showered, get changed and get out so that ordinary unshowy folks can fill the pantry. Unnoticed, not in anyone's way and not, above all, waving some slab of envy around with a selfy of their fat backsides installed as the latest wallpaper. How I wish some jester would have injected their precious water bottle with a powerful laxative or nemetic, just to teach them a lesson. Something to smear on the leather seats of their Beemer Bird Box, efficiently spread about by two large cheeks of flesh, barely constricted by acres of Lycra.<br />
If you want to shop, woman, SHOWER in the gym first! Don't push your way between nice folks with your Klevafone waving before you. NOBODY WANTS TO KNOW!!!Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-23664888574584617602019-02-08T05:59:00.000-08:002019-02-08T05:59:02.939-08:00Or, alternatively...You could make it in brass!<br />
A while back, I made the 1/6th scale master pattern for the Vincent Black Shadow. I decided because of its "sculpted nature I would make the engine cases in Ureol, a plastic modelling board now beloved of pattern makers. As it's plastic of a sort, it would need to be put in low temperature silicon moulds with no pressure.<br />
What I eventually got back from Griffin Moulds in Birmingham was a bag of Ureol dust with some bits of brass and photo-etching. No e-mail, no apologetic phone call, no letter of explanation. Instead they actually sent me an invoice!!! I told them, naturally, to go to Hell. Whether the client paid them I don't know. But I have had to remake the model. And in brass, so there is no crap about which moulds to use. All I asked for was that they used a deeper than usual silicon mould for the Ureol parts. This they clearly never did, but just stupidly banged the plastic into a high temperature, high pressure, vulcanising black rubber mould. And never found the guts to admit it. They instead got their female apologist to contact me for money. <br />
Now I am very anti violence to women, but if a woman agrees to do a man's job, I'll treat them as a man, so don't get all defensive on me love. If your stupid company fuck up and you defend them, I will treat you as a stupid man. I've heard nothing since!<br />
<br />
It turns out that with little exception I could approach the model in brass, as essentially plates and wrappers with some detailing parts.<br />
And so, 15 hours later we are here and all is doing well. With luck we should meet the launch date of April as planned, no thanks to the incompetence of Griffin Moulds. It's a shame, as Griffin had done some good work for Slot Rally GB, for whom I did all their masters, but suddenly they screwed us badly.<br />
Here's the right hand side replacement, prior to clean up:-<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6vL9MdAQYZjz8VeO96EZHWSwwvZVpB3JJZd29iTWnp3mOK9fp_3k7-T2DjCT1AAElGVHLTJzf3PpFd6GSetwVnTnNMwMvnvXdzouBZEEzBoA0HXnuBMnpBz3xlDOGFPOVj1TN-rXPJmH/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="438" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6vL9MdAQYZjz8VeO96EZHWSwwvZVpB3JJZd29iTWnp3mOK9fp_3k7-T2DjCT1AAElGVHLTJzf3PpFd6GSetwVnTnNMwMvnvXdzouBZEEzBoA0HXnuBMnpBz3xlDOGFPOVj1TN-rXPJmH/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-76164698572702333322019-02-04T02:36:00.000-08:002019-02-04T02:36:15.499-08:00You can go your own way...Sang Fleetwood Mac. Well sometimes you just can't get your customers to agree with you on what needs to be made, so you have to just do 'em anyways and then send them off to be cast as "freebie" masters as long as you get 3 or 4 back for nuttn'. That's the deal I worked with some of my favourite cars.<br />
It started with the achingly sweet little Amilcar CG6. I'd always loved this tiny racer since I first saw the drawings in Model Cars magazine in the 60s. 1100cc, twin cam, supercharged straight six, I mean, come on, what's not to like!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4L9KH6BEfnJj5JkpjA-1nk9SYc0dNAEyzP2_awLM9bJeAbdabirrc_j35kdPKeWWq-9ogC03M3Vlex3Z4plTBFAOfZ3vT7jEn9_umb7BaoNfT-ERluoyG72ecaWdklrV-yCrlnivmnsJ/s1600/b200c2b3abdaec5152429bfdd84fb936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="500" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4L9KH6BEfnJj5JkpjA-1nk9SYc0dNAEyzP2_awLM9bJeAbdabirrc_j35kdPKeWWq-9ogC03M3Vlex3Z4plTBFAOfZ3vT7jEn9_umb7BaoNfT-ERluoyG72ecaWdklrV-yCrlnivmnsJ/s320/b200c2b3abdaec5152429bfdd84fb936.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then there was the too gorgeous Morgan SLR. That's away on the to do pile already.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7q0VcYW-noTyn3UY7BTwk7eOQEG6smJCXwylTJaB74qS-BsQvzjqAWpQDfAJiruZbj_fAyBQ48cARHk45tUxIfU53_GQj5UFGhMGLiw_QAIWfDnrnbqsiiR6sKFvNKGGRRxOSsXeDkA4d/s1600/morgan-plus-4-slr-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="591" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7q0VcYW-noTyn3UY7BTwk7eOQEG6smJCXwylTJaB74qS-BsQvzjqAWpQDfAJiruZbj_fAyBQ48cARHk45tUxIfU53_GQj5UFGhMGLiw_QAIWfDnrnbqsiiR6sKFvNKGGRRxOSsXeDkA4d/s320/morgan-plus-4-slr-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And recently I sent off to the same chum, for resin casting, the following, which I'd had kicking around for years and finally decided to finish.<br />
The Piper GTT and the Trident Venturer. I had the real ones, so I had to have a model of each, didn't I?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYk2DpYswVq54Qz3-H688iVhtabfcl4d5ATSaXQXwW1ezgcYwD0EWJzdsw3E2nlztICUSv2jExnpyiCY-2sQXrKj62Fy54f22K0QeiGLBdQkHVKVZ6yULCXFaFMFHMb2FUZadwXtpyDi7/s1600/31031036_1859006720818364_149930766_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYk2DpYswVq54Qz3-H688iVhtabfcl4d5ATSaXQXwW1ezgcYwD0EWJzdsw3E2nlztICUSv2jExnpyiCY-2sQXrKj62Fy54f22K0QeiGLBdQkHVKVZ6yULCXFaFMFHMb2FUZadwXtpyDi7/s320/31031036_1859006720818364_149930766_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeTeBTHZ5DpUMOfWzeTHDo5T95nLZBTGl3jcFSzSf_-VXcwoyeFpER_enCDtOvGe6b6nXfnibgOcDSskGbdapzCVW_44puueJdg6fsSp4f4FzqU56LmEvXbXA269vMMjWdbyaJFOYvaAB/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="1023" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeTeBTHZ5DpUMOfWzeTHDo5T95nLZBTGl3jcFSzSf_-VXcwoyeFpER_enCDtOvGe6b6nXfnibgOcDSskGbdapzCVW_44puueJdg6fsSp4f4FzqU56LmEvXbXA269vMMjWdbyaJFOYvaAB/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, I suppose that'll keep him busy for a while and might even earn him a few bob towards resin costs, if other people show the same great good taste as me. Meanwhile, I'll be getting some freebies to turn into various versions of "Cars I have owned".<br />
<br />
Just as I started sending these last bits off, my younger son decided he was going to have a bash at resin casting, by moulding some old bits of mine he found, which I thought had got chucked out! These included yet another I did because I happened to like them, a Mallock U2 Mk 18 Clubmans racer. So now I have one of these arriving from him soon. And he has taken to this lark like a duck to the village pond.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lb5KX9cDxmMSzCqOtMuySlMEXN74R4sSDCgzJukZmaJ8y6IKilqDv5cyC_wegjQPe_zz3WMSaBzKxBrgFHfL_EfCNMNmJRmDJoPYCfJFYpW5rvZ4Xs8JyWQYPEuCJxP7KRK9cRi_6glB/s1600/51185565_303417507191049_3366710939326873600_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lb5KX9cDxmMSzCqOtMuySlMEXN74R4sSDCgzJukZmaJ8y6IKilqDv5cyC_wegjQPe_zz3WMSaBzKxBrgFHfL_EfCNMNmJRmDJoPYCfJFYpW5rvZ4Xs8JyWQYPEuCJxP7KRK9cRi_6glB/s320/51185565_303417507191049_3366710939326873600_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>The mould is damaged, but he's offered to re-mould it once I've cleaned the moulding into a nice new master. What a good lad!</div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-65631824803179646942019-01-29T08:03:00.002-08:002019-02-01T03:52:12.010-08:00All for me...Although I still make some patterns for people to keep my hand in and top up the Rainy Day Tin, try as I may, I can't persuade them to commission the kinds of models I like. So, I have just made them anyway and as long I get, say, 4 freebies, they get to use the master for nothing AND put the model in their own range. Now I can't say fairer than that, can I?<br />
So, a while back, I made the Morgan SLR and sent it to Colin at RS Slotracing and it's on his "to do" pile. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDyA7lx_ROUyWh-BciReLDoVC6d-_tESwgToneiJpIUrNmihqpXPpO6GXzaNuDMDanIsgZgjijvU_Zmm7tIMrGu13Syr_aloN3mZ2bEnyUenMx4lZ21nMnx2SX97IE_Dwv95pyNJUm9ry/s1600/SLRs2010b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="798" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDyA7lx_ROUyWh-BciReLDoVC6d-_tESwgToneiJpIUrNmihqpXPpO6GXzaNuDMDanIsgZgjijvU_Zmm7tIMrGu13Syr_aloN3mZ2bEnyUenMx4lZ21nMnx2SX97IE_Dwv95pyNJUm9ry/s320/SLRs2010b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Now I've finished the Trident and Piper GTT too. I've had these two kicking around for years and nobody has shown interest in either despite the Trident being released as a TVR Prototype originally as "The Most Beautiful Car in the World" in the centre spread of the Daily Mail. I decided then that I wanted one and eventually I sort of got one, albeit a Trident Cars version, a Venturer, not the TVR as that company had had one of its many financial shakedowns in the interim and a flyboy from Ipswich had somehow (to this day nobody really knows) got hold hold of the TVR Trident project and started knocking them out as his own with GRP bodies on initially Healey and later, lengthened and plated TR6 chassis. The Venturer had a 3 Litre Ford Essex V6, the Clipper had the 4.7 litre Ford V8 and the very rare Tycoon had the 150 bhp Triumph straight 6 from the TR6, because Ford were on strike and only the Triumph engine could be had new.<br />
<br />
The Piper I had was one of the first three made and was all A-series running gear, hence it was called either a GT or a GTA. The bulk of the cars had Ford running gear and were called GTTs. Later a longer version with the ghastly 2 litre Pinto engine was called the P2. They also did a couple of LM cars, the later one, the GTR LM '69 I have also done in 1/43rd scale and 1/32nd.<br />
<br />
Here's the Trident, waiting for paint. The Piper is in the background as is a rather sweet Peugeot 206CC that my friend Lloyd Lewis re-popped in resin from a 1/43rd scale diecast. As that is the car I now drive every day it gets to be done under the "cars I have owned" theme as will the Piper (DOO 695G) and the Trident (ERP 129K)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqgSvdSd2hILOI8q4bM1PCTz_kLlPLTxgJD8uFkyHiQSaWNjbMQMCI7YEs7AZrQ8NWqrAu1xDzVkj1UQTdJ-8syMjXtq0o_NC3DN38QlyAkWMykVcY7QfUzL0s1XcETNtwMTwf48bD5cB/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqgSvdSd2hILOI8q4bM1PCTz_kLlPLTxgJD8uFkyHiQSaWNjbMQMCI7YEs7AZrQ8NWqrAu1xDzVkj1UQTdJ-8syMjXtq0o_NC3DN38QlyAkWMykVcY7QfUzL0s1XcETNtwMTwf48bD5cB/s1600/002.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Next, in this indulgence will be the Rejo Mk VI, as pretty a front engined sports racing car as ever was.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9D-EzR6Y28QgPkDqH9dLgZfcPxEbzs-vbMMX1Y3iHACTUmsrY6jhJjypGcv3-oaasmaj9j74p10UXcvAD1vY5SfJkOUl-erLzJ58Ue2wsq94XGuRhoPAdgfs4b3wHNS24tYhIzFrw_w4/s1600/rejo-mkiv-0798380001295609415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="400" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9D-EzR6Y28QgPkDqH9dLgZfcPxEbzs-vbMMX1Y3iHACTUmsrY6jhJjypGcv3-oaasmaj9j74p10UXcvAD1vY5SfJkOUl-erLzJ58Ue2wsq94XGuRhoPAdgfs4b3wHNS24tYhIzFrw_w4/s320/rejo-mkiv-0798380001295609415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-64020263672374006432018-12-31T06:01:00.001-08:002018-12-31T06:01:41.264-08:00All life is here...We now shop at Tesco's. Mainly because Morrisons had started going low on stock which is just laziness.<br />
So, much as I despise Tesco as an organisation, it is the only place that has all we want, although we still check out the very well priced Lidl's every so often.<br />
<br />
One thing that Tesco have here, which nobody else does (thank Christ) is a 24 hour gym up one end. This means that having ridden up either the travelator thingy or, as increasingly, the lift, because OTIS can't make a reliable travelator, you end up only feet away from the gym's entrance, where (usually) brutally ugly women stand around as if mesmerised by the light or noise or something, invariably staring at a mobile 'phone, having shoehorned their lumpy limbs into the most unsuitable, but equally ugly hosiery and wearing the kind of tops that leave their cellulite ridden flabby stomachs exposed to the vomit that I always wish I could project onto them.<br />
I suppose there is some achievement in carting around the exercise machines the extra weight of eyelashes that would propel a small boat across the Atlantic if the rower lost his oars. Make up so heavily and insensibly caked on that they appear to be mutated dolls from a singularly incompetent workshop. Eyebrows that Graucho Marx would have been proud of and lipstick that looks like they've just eaten a Ferrari.<br />
With all the exercise, they still have backsides like picnic tables and knock knees, bottomed off with pigeon toed feet that must catch on each other as they walk. Why do these stupid females spend their precious time and money trying to look better when they are ALL hideous!?<br />
<br />
Their shopping list will, of course, be on their mobile 'phone, so that they can stumble round the rest of the store staring at it, in the unlikely event that anyone will have sent them a message of any import whatsoever. But they live in hope and so stare at the stupid contraption in case some misguided fool thinks them at all important or worthy of attention., thereby bumping into displays and people who are sufficiently well organised to have a small piece of paper between two fingers of the hand that pushes the trolley, containing all their needs for the expedition.<br />
<br />
Fitness women...UGH!!!<br />
<br />
The younger men all wanna-be hipsters. struggle round in jeans so tight, their balls have all but withered away, but their knees will be free to open air being stylishly cut at the factory by Chinese children who are paid specially for that particular and peculiar skill.<br />
They will have visited the barber's shop which is squeezed incongruously along the vestibule of anger where we jostle twixt non working Otis travelator and lifts. In there, grown men have the kinds of hairdos that as small boys I and my friends were already grown up enough to fight against. The short back and sides which was all the carve up merchant at Austin's barbers could ever do. Now...it's considered a special skill. It's what my Grandfather called a "tuppeny all-off" "All ponsed up like a pox doctor's clerk" he would smirk at the merest whiff of hair oil or male grooming. It's what I laugh at and call a Tesco's hairdo. They're like droids in a row, as are the snip joint wallers doing it to them. Clones, sheep...Baaaaahhh!<br />
<br />
With very few exceptions I hate people!!<br />
<br />
Happy New Year<g></g><br />
<br />
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-19406811687893757132018-12-21T17:34:00.001-08:002018-12-21T17:34:22.296-08:00What am I up to?...Well, I have now finished the Vanwall Transporter master. Just have the glazing bar masters to do in brass for a white metal casting. Trouble is, Eileen's Emporium have been super tardy in their deliveries so I was forced to soften and hammer 1/16th" rod into flat strip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW2OkMi-GIBof4bOqYHeVAjpu5D_TK8BU3maOVPSoKJWQ29jA-uaF2g6UwmEEZ3b_NZ5pSg5Put0PjYsRf58iHAPvA7a-pyOxVd9zj-saJvlynqO_KvkUxete3xp8DPgOflMwqKAs1A8U/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="683" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW2OkMi-GIBof4bOqYHeVAjpu5D_TK8BU3maOVPSoKJWQ29jA-uaF2g6UwmEEZ3b_NZ5pSg5Put0PjYsRf58iHAPvA7a-pyOxVd9zj-saJvlynqO_KvkUxete3xp8DPgOflMwqKAs1A8U/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For some reason the guy wanted it to be motorisable for slot tracks rather than just scenery, so I had to make a chassis pattern to take the inevitable Slotit pod. All this does is weakens the chassis which I could so easily have designed to be strong without having to use the silly, over-rated, overpriced pod.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then we have the 1915 Triumph Model H in 1/43rd scale as model railway scenery. All in brass and fiddly as Hell to do. I'm now doing the riders for it. One, standing in uniform and one seated on it as a civvy chap with his cap back to front.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXzR_vC0wOuYVmDc3JmN7FNgFLVBmicmV2IFJ97JudLR7kRdwWRsdjWDGHo0xIPKmqMcEV96hk49v5Jlilb-4RLVjGitX0yB5w5fr-u6jPN9iaccCQSgTkrxCIfQRIUgoIZwLrhZmenEo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="676" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXzR_vC0wOuYVmDc3JmN7FNgFLVBmicmV2IFJ97JudLR7kRdwWRsdjWDGHo0xIPKmqMcEV96hk49v5Jlilb-4RLVjGitX0yB5w5fr-u6jPN9iaccCQSgTkrxCIfQRIUgoIZwLrhZmenEo/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And the Vincent, subject of other posts? Well, I sent the deeper parts that our normal caster couldn't mould to a company in Birmingham called Griffin Moulds who assured me it was all just normal work. After longer than they promised they sent me, without any communication of any kind, a bag of dust that had been the engine casings! They had utterly destroyed the masters and made a shit job of casting the other bits. The wheel rims they claimed were a "perfectly normal casting job" weren't even round and half the spoke bumps were missing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, after Christmas now, I will have to remake the engine casings in brass this time to get a caster with the right moulds to do the work.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That's it for now, folks. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-82031093339603117782018-11-07T02:12:00.002-08:002018-11-07T02:12:42.586-08:00The Vincent is into production at last...The long running Vincent Black Shadow master for a 1/6th scale kit has reached the end and the parts are now with casters, moulders, decal producers, etc.<br />
It won't be cheap, but regular updates with pictures I have sent Richard over the last year of master making are all going on his new Facebook page. You need to "do" FB to see the page. Just click on<br />
www.facebook.com/groups/260314371337243/ and you should get there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqTTt6cFCSpyB50zooB_bKi4U026XK0nTlVfD9bLnkCggLD3yRXJt7uBqWtuayj0a_r8Tydt3UTCVwH0dCK1awBtPe7Nrb7amJh861RJhj0d5Tbp2RcTc7Te9yGlDw9ZKxh4EhMZHSPSd/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="413" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqTTt6cFCSpyB50zooB_bKi4U026XK0nTlVfD9bLnkCggLD3yRXJt7uBqWtuayj0a_r8Tydt3UTCVwH0dCK1awBtPe7Nrb7amJh861RJhj0d5Tbp2RcTc7Te9yGlDw9ZKxh4EhMZHSPSd/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The very first parts from the very first mould. Many, many more yet to come. This is the first master I have made where it took two people to carry the boxes of parts safely to the caster!"Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-43945391656828950122018-10-24T10:23:00.001-07:002018-10-24T10:25:23.736-07:00Nuts'n'bolts... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwdtiZOxQET1ZIaCxL5Fm91gTwDQlOQkPhDc9HZH0MMoW_0Dgpk1kJJxt127iOtS8q5SJvxUMsZ85PvLClDdQlPO0G10pelpb6WI94p8tEKG2ICY4_CgAahh1rfH0ktzQiYp0FM2DgoEh/s1600/54d0e9a60eeb7_-_rusty_bolt_04_0510-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwdtiZOxQET1ZIaCxL5Fm91gTwDQlOQkPhDc9HZH0MMoW_0Dgpk1kJJxt127iOtS8q5SJvxUMsZ85PvLClDdQlPO0G10pelpb6WI94p8tEKG2ICY4_CgAahh1rfH0ktzQiYp0FM2DgoEh/s320/54d0e9a60eeb7_-_rusty_bolt_04_0510-lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After a year I am nearing the end of the Vincent Black Shadow master. Obviously it doesn't actually TAKE a year. Other stuff has been done, other things have to be waited for, reference material gathered, visits arranged and made to sketch and measure real ones, etc. Having made the components there is then, with such a big and complete model, a period of checking. Checking that things fit in place, checking clearances and fits generally, checking that I haven't forgotten anything, and most of all....checking all the nuts and bolts. Yes, nuts and bolts. Whilst they are not actually threaded, they are obvious in their presence and most actually do keep things in place. They HAVE to be there and they are so easy to miss while you make bigger, more obvious , perhaps more challenging parts. It's perfectly natural top miss a tiny bolt when you've just sculpted a magneto cover or one of those ludicrously abstract cylinder heads.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TrWXlSp401dNfAN89vLWvKsbO1fUF5gh4H93Fu_DuQhdToCv9HnI-Hrp6LzuQMdo7A9HqLXFfjqcQQsdqWoKheiVmizl4BoRcvRGC4Gz7amiRZZBEIJc0ouK12X9B0sg7EorZ9ZxbaXC/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TrWXlSp401dNfAN89vLWvKsbO1fUF5gh4H93Fu_DuQhdToCv9HnI-Hrp6LzuQMdo7A9HqLXFfjqcQQsdqWoKheiVmizl4BoRcvRGC4Gz7amiRZZBEIJc0ouK12X9B0sg7EorZ9ZxbaXC/s1600/001.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are relevant to the wheels and front suspension.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe9bfHWUw46RZ29UcgiuS1Ucwii-Fnd3CgYEk2JLWd6iQPQVuOR81wGgzO7ZZv1rRzajQfwJPDmwcn-CtCYg5pVvPZUK_QMM5HKga32q3AAwAGAOlUvZc-59vRC-JAlPEmLZA-OAkKcRi/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="350" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe9bfHWUw46RZ29UcgiuS1Ucwii-Fnd3CgYEk2JLWd6iQPQVuOR81wGgzO7ZZv1rRzajQfwJPDmwcn-CtCYg5pVvPZUK_QMM5HKga32q3AAwAGAOlUvZc-59vRC-JAlPEmLZA-OAkKcRi/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The essence of the front suspension, the legs, bristling with dummy nuts and bolts, but if the legs are shiny black the polished faces of the chrome look nuts and bolts will contrast beautifully.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm hoping one more day should see it done, then all off to the white metal caster, resin moulder and tyre maker. And I can take a break. I have some boats to restore.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh and a 1/43rd scale 'bike and N gauge locos and a Gypsy Moth aeroplane and, and, and...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-55064933723170743822018-10-14T04:03:00.001-07:002018-10-14T04:06:33.613-07:00Make do and mend...At the weekend I've decided to leave the big stuff behind and just do jobs for me. Of course that usually morphs into Kanyerjustas. You know...Kanyerjust sort that door out, Kanyerjust top up the pond, etc. Today the light seems to have run out after all that lovely summer and Indian summer and it's pissing down with rain.<br />
I did get a bit done yesterday. I finished the carrying case for the Crash Tender and painted some bits on the wee Star SY 3 yacht restoration. I'm really getting a taste for this restoration lark. It has more challenges than making new. And making do and mending has always been my main interest. I know I can make new. I've nothing to prove there, but restoring is always something new to think about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixStJ6j5Vx6YxHQn4U-ZF7AkwP3kGZBmllYct9eeWUQz8jDO9nE7_IYRlclfUGffmRVJDpQG_B6K_6lYq-o1z-TPHjTBQYg1I6bj03m4FH2rdAeR81Gz3FRw07b2OIjdHSAMTKsgS_4LCh/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixStJ6j5Vx6YxHQn4U-ZF7AkwP3kGZBmllYct9eeWUQz8jDO9nE7_IYRlclfUGffmRVJDpQG_B6K_6lYq-o1z-TPHjTBQYg1I6bj03m4FH2rdAeR81Gz3FRw07b2OIjdHSAMTKsgS_4LCh/s320/001.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Star yacht with the first coat of enamel on the lower hull.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWC610DGnvT-E7b0qClQa7NjM9dCzVnKuIq85DWncwfM-qcPp8_mpQea93FIBiEzhjxCxlGh6Za3zQ8M9X8275veVBRcb3LgzxksroRVLXpOgkM7mjLQBCO3KT6OWnvW13okrLdDJmiAG/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="773" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWC610DGnvT-E7b0qClQa7NjM9dCzVnKuIq85DWncwfM-qcPp8_mpQea93FIBiEzhjxCxlGh6Za3zQ8M9X8275veVBRcb3LgzxksroRVLXpOgkM7mjLQBCO3KT6OWnvW13okrLdDJmiAG/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tinplate fittings scraped free of rust and mast repaired from 2 broken halves.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIxUepkCkTWjlWCA-8H06pQKsxI-tnSvIMbRd_DJo5zXf7F2d98g9snuY-zfjeLKimFRFvrUULj_ADP-kS-rq6JHlbGI5X5X29dtUs49ue5hqTK_AF3ujntoOPa3DMfCrSnM2UOjlB8yY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="385" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIxUepkCkTWjlWCA-8H06pQKsxI-tnSvIMbRd_DJo5zXf7F2d98g9snuY-zfjeLKimFRFvrUULj_ADP-kS-rq6JHlbGI5X5X29dtUs49ue5hqTK_AF3ujntoOPa3DMfCrSnM2UOjlB8yY/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmxtBgmu0sSHFvlZcHi0q27dXfRINy3QvCNr3aR0_OM2S6sb3XRkiv1jRuiierrUsUOaHRrufIGAYjESmYQFKSBWBmrNhjw2tTG5GjUJ3fS1JKLpU5hwJQsTwTc7rPR_6DcNuD_XJonij/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="509" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmxtBgmu0sSHFvlZcHi0q27dXfRINy3QvCNr3aR0_OM2S6sb3XRkiv1jRuiierrUsUOaHRrufIGAYjESmYQFKSBWBmrNhjw2tTG5GjUJ3fS1JKLpU5hwJQsTwTc7rPR_6DcNuD_XJonij/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The front slides down hammered aluminium angles. The case will eventually have stands to keep the boat's prop and rudder off the floor. Now I have to make similar for the Vanity yacht,Chris Craft, the Darby One Design and the Greavette. Then where do they all go?!Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-70566020813476221472018-10-05T13:19:00.002-07:002018-10-05T13:19:25.696-07:00Give me strength!!...Tonight I watched less than half of a new TV series called the Great Model Railway Challenge. It had been advertised for weeks and I'd had time to ponder how awful it would almost certainly be. But, Ye Gods I hadn't bargained for the disaster that met me at 8 o'clock on Friday evening. To think my dear wife had foregone Gardeners' World for this drivel.<br />
<br />
Three teams of baggy arsed, pot bellied old farts, recently ( or otherwise) pensioned off from, no doubt, well pensioned jobs got together to be given completely predictably stupid and irrelevant tasks to acheive with an 8x4 roundy roundy train set. I do NOT consider any part of their magnifying headsets, overpriced Noch electro static grass applicators or round ring desk lamps to be anything whatever to do with model railways.No amount of airbrushery where a paint brush would do will make a bodger into a modelmaker. The one encouraging scene was where one old boy on being shown the scratchbuilding challenge, declared with some disgust that he was a modelmaker, not a clown.<br />
That challenge had to be explained by the producer/presenter so that people knew what was scratchbuilding. It too had nothing to do with modelmaking being the insistence on the use of a high heeled shoe and a lipstick! An ugly ginger denim wearing token female, more at home on Big Brother, I would have thought, warned she would be looking for creativity. God forbid!<br />
<br />
I have to confess, at that point, I too was missing Monty Don and told my wife to switch back to something realistic and interesting.<br />
<br />
This debacle follows another model series that was bloody rubbish, where a team of British (always has to be a team doesn't it?) model flyers challenged a team of German model flyers to relive the Battle of Britain with models. For the most part the models, all built to one standard...low, were appallingly badly flown to the point that one could not discern what was happening, except for one pilot and SHE (HE...IT) was a transgender! How thoroughly Media of them. Apparently, on that occasion "we" beat the Jerries. How would we know. I have not watched that again, either.<br />
<br />
There seems to be a kind of terminal unwritten statement in the Media that modelmaking must be pilloried and ridiculed out of existence and since the screen is everybody's modern bible they will do it by TV.<br />
<br />
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-18085467040372423302018-09-23T04:18:00.001-07:002018-09-23T04:18:48.160-07:00Sudden loss...I learned suddenly the other day of the death of an old friend. I had known this gentleman since the first week of my internet presence, on my old Mac, back in the late '90s. We met over his superb set of web pages called Model Boat Wizards. Rich loved many things, but woodies and models of them (mahogany classic speedboats), motorbikes and the Islands were his passions.<br />
7 years ago he had to have a lung removed. He never really found out why and that, I imagine, as much as its removal and subsequent disabilities annoyed him. He was not a smoker. Maybe it's true what they say about wood dust, for his models were all wood. He could make a Liberty aero engine in a boat that you would swear was made of metal.<br />
<br />
Attitudes to hand made models changed recently and he lost his interest, especially when aol summarily removed all the websites they hosted and we lost Model Boat Wizards. Rich never really knew what to do after that. He passed on to me two lovely jobs I'm sure he would have done himself previously, a Miss America X and a Baby Horace III, which are now in a restaurant in Fairfax, Virginia, called Artie's. He sent me books on woodies which I treasure, but when he found little or no interest in all the hundreds of drawings he'd amassed over the years he made a huge bonfire in his garden and they were gone. That, is the fault of the model world. No club or museum could be arsed to answer him. It was out of disgust and despair for the hobby that he burned them. For all I know he might have done the same with the kits and books he had remaining, because they would have been too expensive for him to send or me to receive, thanks to sudden huge increases in postal charges.<br />
<br />
I'm lucky to have some CDs he recorded, telling the story of an old Allard J2X that his chum once owned, which seemed to be jinxed. His rumbling voice is both restful and amusing. He went under the handle of Chatham on my followers list. He could rarely leave a comment due to blogger being difficult, but he'd always mail me instead.<br />
<br />
Sock it to 'em up there, old chum. Give 'em Hell.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-fSGz5OvEm8f5M6GduybNN1vGzAZyq3nkAINKVIUGxoTpG1HLQZK2lpzZNaQN9PNdZGh1SWYRb1-y7qELM3HsKyt21nKxPuk_X44gLh4YCYIG5VRxLdTtUW2VzuAb3ehG-jn_B2Ls-qe/s1600/28238-Redfern-Richard-e1537459678798-827x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="827" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-fSGz5OvEm8f5M6GduybNN1vGzAZyq3nkAINKVIUGxoTpG1HLQZK2lpzZNaQN9PNdZGh1SWYRb1-y7qELM3HsKyt21nKxPuk_X44gLh4YCYIG5VRxLdTtUW2VzuAb3ehG-jn_B2Ls-qe/s320/28238-Redfern-Richard-e1537459678798-827x1024.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-22137553737994352882018-09-13T03:13:00.002-07:002018-09-13T03:13:26.853-07:00Touchy, touchy...Recently I have come off various enthusiast sites/pages/forums because I make a reasonable comment or give an opinion to which I am perfectly entitled and some picky, touchy bastard gets totally snotted out with the comment. There's no point in wasting time with these turds, so I fire back a snotty comment and leave the site/page/forum. I therefore find that I am now on so few pages on Fartbook and no forums at all, that I wonder of the point in remaining on Fartbook at all. If it weren't for my son's page about Triumph Renown restoration and a couple of pages my chum runs on 1/43rd scale slot cars, I could easily leave the time wasting crap altogether.<br />
I can't believe how touchy people are. I got a load of Belgian abuse from some goofy turd this morning who put up a load of heavy crap about car enthusiasm and then showed a picture of a modern Ford Focus or some such arse liquid. I just said "But...it's just a Ford" And whoa, off he goes, calling me all the things under the sun! So, I don't know how he became a friend in the first place, clearly an oversight, but he sure ain't any more, especially after what I called him just now!<br />
And as for Yanks who can't take any form of criticism whatever, the less said the better. I reckon if somebody shows a video on FB of a row of filthy, rusty, hideous so-called rat rods, I have a public right, nay duty to comment upon them, but the response was pure personal vitriol. Sad gits. Don't offend me in a public place and expect me to make no comment and rat rods offend anyone with aesthetic tendencies. Same thing on a woody boat page. Silly dog's paw exhausts on an otherwise beautiful boat, yuch. I said so and I was pounced on by some Yank who couldn't take criticism.<br />
<br />
Suck it up Bubba and blow it out yer arse.Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-53741282724643960532018-09-11T14:33:00.000-07:002018-09-11T14:33:00.124-07:00Almost there...Well, after a year, the Vincent Black Shadow 1/6th scale master is almost finished. I finally got the etchings from France, via Portugal and glued them on. They were too fragile for solder. I finally got enough pictures to make an operable front stand. Almost as abstract as the cylinder heads which I've done, but which need some cleaning up. I made the exhaust today until the delivery of brass rod turned out to be 4mm diameter steel in 5" lengths. I'm expecting the right stuff tomorrow. Even just 2 apparently simple curved pipes are actually far more complex in shape and relationship than you'd first think.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbROgUTFRnjcc5u1zOADVKJBYkyoQt7jTytP1ElhHub-oe1WdxZtREWzCYAfhnUFuWpK7oSIQ9_6CO6s3ykYuaQbwrIseKDEP0pe5TLBLizIQ6d6ekRQL4NYipEJl1B7UmcK2PxubypRlo/s1600/thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1136" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbROgUTFRnjcc5u1zOADVKJBYkyoQt7jTytP1ElhHub-oe1WdxZtREWzCYAfhnUFuWpK7oSIQ9_6CO6s3ykYuaQbwrIseKDEP0pe5TLBLizIQ6d6ekRQL4NYipEJl1B7UmcK2PxubypRlo/s320/thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We have had the wheel rims done by a process called SLA. Some call it 3D printing, but it isn't. A laser hardens a microscopic layer of resin in a bath of the stuff and then it pops up one layer. There is also a complex support system which is very brittle, but he results were superb. Right down to the bumps from which the spokes issue. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOipw40R0fvW1UwNadvfz1f1ROUFOBWeTOUSz6OHDxdPTejsJD4SP07fGCOvsWoIXyKgwDscu8pf4P7GBwwvY7W2GMGZGm38pZWeIcb6jOG-I1xymJgyaV2zmjJ30DhKOhhBeio6WYEaLu/s1600/20180816_123946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="630" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOipw40R0fvW1UwNadvfz1f1ROUFOBWeTOUSz6OHDxdPTejsJD4SP07fGCOvsWoIXyKgwDscu8pf4P7GBwwvY7W2GMGZGm38pZWeIcb6jOG-I1xymJgyaV2zmjJ30DhKOhhBeio6WYEaLu/s320/20180816_123946.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
He is currently making tyre masters INCLUDING the writing on the tyre wall, Avon for the front and Dunlop on the slightly different rear. Because all this stuff now has to be done from computer files, he is also doing the transfers artwork, equally beautifully. Where, once, I did it all, my job these days tends to be one of not merely pattermaker, but "facilitator", harvesting work from the best in their fields. It annoys me that they can all charge much more than I, even though I consider what I do to be beyond most of them and what they do something I could quickly learn if I didn't have to pay through the nose to do so (£500 a day plus accommodation!) But these days it's the only way to get these things done.<br />
<br />
I made the pattern for the hub recently. I was dreading it, but as ever with a feared job, it went swimmingly. The caster is currently making 4 of them for me to modify into a set of parts. The front hubs have 5 bolts holding the spoke flange to the main hub flange and the rear has 10. I will get the 4 castings back and make one set with another 5 bolts. The one side, front and rear has to be just the flange and the other, front and rear is the flange and hub cylinder, to be joined at one side. Here's the brass pattern for the 5 bolt original. The ten slots round the etch take 2 spokes each and were done by drilling the hole centrally and then sawing out either side with a piercing saw. It went very easily. I was surprised and relieved!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6gs38b4MlD2XU6QsQ7CTa25p8WjnXH58osLoIlUYHQTftwITtRpb_VcCZXCO4nq8Bkg4oxmt6e0AoprkCly7-FdHoVNaDVdEj7g9uxnxTaCwDpzQXTgGi5AkIizdgfP_keDc7t6hK0l1/s1600/20180905_173110_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6gs38b4MlD2XU6QsQ7CTa25p8WjnXH58osLoIlUYHQTftwITtRpb_VcCZXCO4nq8Bkg4oxmt6e0AoprkCly7-FdHoVNaDVdEj7g9uxnxTaCwDpzQXTgGi5AkIizdgfP_keDc7t6hK0l1/s1600/20180905_173110_resized.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AgBVz4TI7EUlhX19hY_ysPEF6ZxpxVZp45GB9o6Yhotrp-QNugGoEanBo71jWgLFe2GMmeSXurJGUyC8LbHCJll2zxq3b0d5fhqomR8kn2ijo-lgpxztEDGNAU_wxWMeFx0iD0yJHCIe/s1600/20180905_173118_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AgBVz4TI7EUlhX19hY_ysPEF6ZxpxVZp45GB9o6Yhotrp-QNugGoEanBo71jWgLFe2GMmeSXurJGUyC8LbHCJll2zxq3b0d5fhqomR8kn2ijo-lgpxztEDGNAU_wxWMeFx0iD0yJHCIe/s1600/20180905_173118_resized.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also made the chain guard. That was going to be two sides with a central piece sandwiched betwixt, but it turned out to be far more domed than that would allow, so the only way to make it was to beat two sides over at the top to get the curvature, then be filed straight and soldered together and filed to one curve. Then tiny fixings had to be made and soldered to it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZShTjUmZUBbuPOiv1sJTBOJq765Xz_WhzioPuLeWdDKKZfkc_9lteXtwrddb2jGT0FbFsYvJSc1_twygyJFG2YzfPWkemLGkHFntBfjuKK-KJHKaeud5OKU4Vx1dUmp1DT9pgERFeZR_/s1600/20180830_130346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZShTjUmZUBbuPOiv1sJTBOJq765Xz_WhzioPuLeWdDKKZfkc_9lteXtwrddb2jGT0FbFsYvJSc1_twygyJFG2YzfPWkemLGkHFntBfjuKK-KJHKaeud5OKU4Vx1dUmp1DT9pgERFeZR_/s320/20180830_130346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrWgAQGLfrXLTR4tKIWOm0bwRW8XWhO58TgipFujN_uwcMSx0YL8C2Bk6MTyM5a1MCTWERrFCL5fH_L8KrFyAEWw4etHz_DDoSys_ruUabJWridivzrQpasNmDVtqPB7ycr1FR_bcT2h0/s1600/20180830_125222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="589" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrWgAQGLfrXLTR4tKIWOm0bwRW8XWhO58TgipFujN_uwcMSx0YL8C2Bk6MTyM5a1MCTWERrFCL5fH_L8KrFyAEWw4etHz_DDoSys_ruUabJWridivzrQpasNmDVtqPB7ycr1FR_bcT2h0/s320/20180830_125222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Why do photos taken with a mobile 'phone end up in a different orientation to that at which they were taken?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, with just a few final parts to be made and a final check that everything fits, we should be done. Then, I have to make all the little changes that make it a Black Lightning and then a Series D.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And if that ain't enough, the next whole bike will be a BSA Gold Star with a Rocket Gold Star Twin to follow that!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-22041743723935486352018-08-20T08:42:00.001-07:002018-08-20T08:42:16.603-07:00Arf a sixpence...Well, half a litre, anyway. I went to my local paint supplier today, Kett's Autopaints (much recommended, no complaints) to get, I'd hoped, a 1/4 Litre of enamel paint in a nice off white for a model boat.<br />
Unfortunately as they had to mix it, they could only do half a litre. Fair enough, but whereas a litre is 21 quid, HALF as much is over 16! How is that right? Not their fault, that's what the makers charge. It is good stuff mind you, so OK I paid it because I had no choice, but I'd have been happier with something around 12 quid as half of 21?<br />
<br />
I wanted it for my latest Aerokits hull restoration. I bought this on ebay for 99 p. Yes, really! Must have been wrongly listed, I can't now recall. I am not a huge fan of the Sea Hornet as designed. Too busy, too much intended to go on, on the upper works, so I decided to do a Chris Craft on it. I started thinking 2 cockpits, but even that was a bit fussy, so I found the Special Racer or sometimes called the Custom Runabout. A heavily tumblehomed stern, but not quite as rolled as the Barrel Back. Then I thought it would look good painted, for a change, instead of varnished mahogany. Then I found this...perfect....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-eBT_EExVTCa-1fz4HySP82vAP9H7Zs-whpiX2Q_bG-HMdQrC5xmXmeiIEAcJxQjxqh0qTPUmn82gyqJHpi9_z9f4xUXtHzDrJhqFXitm8l892dNaUExhRDl4-l6MIsfDwjDNlc8PoR/s1600/b%2526w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-eBT_EExVTCa-1fz4HySP82vAP9H7Zs-whpiX2Q_bG-HMdQrC5xmXmeiIEAcJxQjxqh0qTPUmn82gyqJHpi9_z9f4xUXtHzDrJhqFXitm8l892dNaUExhRDl4-l6MIsfDwjDNlc8PoR/s320/b%2526w.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Of course, the model is a looky likey, rather than a spot on job, but nobody would know as nobody in this benighted land could give a shit about classic speedboats. And fewer still know one from a canal barge. Whereas, Moi? I detest tugs, tankers, traders, warships, torpedo boats, coasters, ocean tugs, footy yachts and springer tugs, prate galleons, clipper ships and square riggers of any kind, IOM yachts, modern yachts of any kind in fact, generic offshore power boats and silly overpowered Zenoah weed whacker powered stuff (although I do like the excellent finishes usually applied to the latter. I am, in short, a fussy sod. I like vintage yachts and classic speedboats and although I lived on an historic canal boat, I can think of nothing duller than a model of it on the water!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am a fan of the mahogany hotrod. And very little else.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's my 99p Sea Hornet with its new deck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfMXdfTKMWAZajiIe07bIZGJoUGvYm-hVh9dE_MMKlvgkgXi0_0cKvM3otJx0GbOQ0camVNQynVRysOc-xra6ceMkZRGJaDS7pxJ8slze3HtLUIvmzh0opcc8zPXEHO2iOeMh1q3c2ZiF/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfMXdfTKMWAZajiIe07bIZGJoUGvYm-hVh9dE_MMKlvgkgXi0_0cKvM3otJx0GbOQ0camVNQynVRysOc-xra6ceMkZRGJaDS7pxJ8slze3HtLUIvmzh0opcc8zPXEHO2iOeMh1q3c2ZiF/s320/002.JPG" width="177" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzjXIzyV1lxzgDigB3dkWWq0GNY-oU7n6mca5xqZfCqXdbICLq4SvW0A7UCR12ftN-2h7qoGuvaU2gRxCttgFTK4maGB2X5-4pRPYEPkTIFhfMH2laZZ67ngrMpSxBZr6uBZ9DKa0glgo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzjXIzyV1lxzgDigB3dkWWq0GNY-oU7n6mca5xqZfCqXdbICLq4SvW0A7UCR12ftN-2h7qoGuvaU2gRxCttgFTK4maGB2X5-4pRPYEPkTIFhfMH2laZZ67ngrMpSxBZr6uBZ9DKa0glgo/s320/003.JPG" width="182" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The long engine hatch will have to be made to its own frame to maintain the crown of the deck. I have the smaller hatches for access to steering servo (side) and tiller (aft). The transom should be slightly curved but you gotta stop somewhere when modifying a standard product.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The deck will have to be slightly engraved to represent the planking, before painting. But painting it all will save me hours which need to be spent on the Spitfire kneeler outboard, Greavette Gent's Racer and Darby One Design in the shed, not to mention the finishing (after 55 years) of my Crash Tender. Oh and the Vanity Victorian Cutter model, which is very close to finishing. Something tells me I'll be carrying this lot into Winter rather than the usual diet of slot cars and scenery.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-31582612073788488842018-07-23T07:08:00.001-07:002018-07-23T07:08:26.788-07:00And den I got diss and diss and den dat and...Another birthday, another haul of goodies.<br />
I got a Hobgoblin T-shirt to add to my other one, yet I have never drunk a pint of that beer. A bottle of Southern Comfort, most useful. A nice coffee cream cake and an Indian takeaway...Chicken Achar. Yum, my favourite Indian meal on a stuffed paratha.<br />
Chris bought me a set of ancient Yeoman white metal fittings for the Crash Tender, a bag of Modelling Timbers very final glazed hand turned portholes and a set of new RC gear.<br />
<br />
There, happy with that lot. I'm just finishing cleaning up the white metal fittings. Nothing too much required. Just a coat of primer before final colours. AND, the portholes are perfect for the wheelhouse too. Saves me the hassle. The RC gear, ludicrously inexpensive, works perfectly too and will go in it as 2.4Gg frequency doesn't suffer from early sparky electric motors. And my Crash Tender has a Taycol Supermarine of considerable vintage. Not the fastest, but then this type of Crash Tender would have spent very little time flat out anyway. It just didn't have the fuel capacity at 65 gallons per hour PER ENGINE! Of which it had 2.<br />
So, my finishing off of the CT is nearly there. Filling, sanding down, a bit more filling, then final paint. The window frames are made with windows and the gutters added over the cabins. Mast made of brass.<br />
<br />
Time for another Southern Comfort, methinks...Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-86483841695516356672018-06-30T10:01:00.001-07:002018-06-30T10:22:31.877-07:00Annual leave...When one is used to working for oneself, long hours and all the rest, one rarely gets a chance for an annual holiday. <br />
And it occurred to me that now I am retired I don't have to think that way any more, so I decided to push my me time on weekends rule to a full week, maybe even more.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, <i> </i>I have got the 54 year old Aerokits Crash Tender out of my son's loft and determined to finish it, once and for all. Yes, I had a 54 year old model which I had never actually finished! I'd used it, often as a kid, but just never put all the final bits on it. In fact, somehow, it had lost odd bits of itself. <br />
There has had to be an element of restoration as time has had its usual effects on even good quality plywood and a few areas needed gluing to correct small bits of delamination, but generally it just needed finishing, rather than re-finishing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95W61-ihluo_qcemWuwNzXuP_CsefqrBHWQgpJsDLK23XAmckaMh8CO6NcyZ5WRLEVKgLJ-XCtOfsohe3heIsEHCWDSJ0Vp8F8OpCGqITm4_lZT29a4h2lt2uC2ZxR9_6RY-T071cPVuT/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95W61-ihluo_qcemWuwNzXuP_CsefqrBHWQgpJsDLK23XAmckaMh8CO6NcyZ5WRLEVKgLJ-XCtOfsohe3heIsEHCWDSJ0Vp8F8OpCGqITm4_lZT29a4h2lt2uC2ZxR9_6RY-T071cPVuT/s320/001.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkIJH0JoXTnKmNd4MS25Uii-odBfBOqFaMbqPgcCYgKOitsBOqMFiG14wybatyRdNRInmdAbq6mOPMCsPwyYRnEV6ggIIitxxxuayEjUFbBLjU2SypAYUcxv0fExPX8pk_vDg5eRucGwQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkIJH0JoXTnKmNd4MS25Uii-odBfBOqFaMbqPgcCYgKOitsBOqMFiG14wybatyRdNRInmdAbq6mOPMCsPwyYRnEV6ggIIitxxxuayEjUFbBLjU2SypAYUcxv0fExPX8pk_vDg5eRucGwQ/s320/002.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
I first had to clean the muck of ages out of it with a pointy stick, a stiff brush and a Hoover with a clever micro tubes attachment on it. Then an all over go with epoxy resin which behaved itself beautifully despite its age. This would have strengthened it up internally and helped waterproof externally. The epoxy was filed and scraped down and then painted several coats with a thick cellulose primer and rubbed back. That is now ready for a spray coat to get a nice finish. I had noticed that round the bottom of the cabin sides there was a batten to aid waterproofing on the real boat so that was added, as was the toe rail on the deck, the dummy door framing and the rubbing strake round the hull were also put on with another hatch and runners on the middle of the wheelhouse roof.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Pjob7s5bIRnQbcCFh1fk34ba72YQLxJWtEuUfUNaM2k5LEbrZaJ3IDqqasCpBay54EtB-yZPXffQF5m9Y59ROwVsi1R0XuXvgKRieEZeYjIOM5XnMbZ_uNDCbJ5vLQMGI8p1yVCJQMV/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="682" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Pjob7s5bIRnQbcCFh1fk34ba72YQLxJWtEuUfUNaM2k5LEbrZaJ3IDqqasCpBay54EtB-yZPXffQF5m9Y59ROwVsi1R0XuXvgKRieEZeYjIOM5XnMbZ_uNDCbJ5vLQMGI8p1yVCJQMV/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdsu4cPK4TsgPACvJI7AihxaYSxly3FMc03PvxUWoE_LN0aQ4QDsWC1QXNn6sx49qTdavYVTOpB8GaOZf_gOXcGdynptPhL_kLMj3QzMZFnAF5ZGzG2nFzsJ2QpMMiRthiP_QQqsY6jW5/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdsu4cPK4TsgPACvJI7AihxaYSxly3FMc03PvxUWoE_LN0aQ4QDsWC1QXNn6sx49qTdavYVTOpB8GaOZf_gOXcGdynptPhL_kLMj3QzMZFnAF5ZGzG2nFzsJ2QpMMiRthiP_QQqsY6jW5/s320/001.JPG" width="189" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I am currently making the window frames and gutters for the windows. The mast has been made from brass.<br />
<br />
I will be using the original Taycol Supermarine motor, because it is only right and proper. I would have insisted on using the original REP radio gear, but some bastard stole it years ago, so I will use a modern one that doesn't risk being interfered with by the radio frequency "dirtyness" of the old motor. I'd hate to lose this old girl. <br />
<br />
For annual leave, this has proved well worth the effort.<br />
<br />
<br />Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.com0