I finally completed the FW 190 A-8 in a colour scheme circa May 1945 in Norway. I have to take the shine off it by applying a matt coat but I will attend to that after repairing some builds the smallest cat decided to remove so she could sit comfortably on a top shelf. 

Both FW 190's completed as well as the Heinkel He 177 and they are likely to be the first builds on the new shelf unit.

I have the last of the three builds ready for working on, the Beaufighter which as a very old and simple kit needs a lot of work. Currently the seams are filled and some have been sanded. 

I spent yesterday out and about visiting a friend and I was astonished at how bad the roads are with road works, terrible drivers with little patience and some downright dangerous driving. The clown in the camper van who tailgated me and then decided to overtake a long line of traffic waiting at temporary traffic lights and nearly causing a major accident is hopefully suffering from painful, itchy piles. I have no time for traffic morons. Some of the temporary lights are for the ever expanding new build estates on greenfield sites, formerly agricultural land. With names like "High Woods" and "May Meadows" which they removed to tarmac over and build little brick boxes on possibly shows some ironic humour. It's just  so unnecessary as there are still plenty of brownfield sites which with some consideration for incorporating parklands and trees could be used but I guess there is little profit in that for developers.

TTFN.

 A lovely quiet Sunday and I managed a lie in until 7 a.m. A cooked breakfast and straight into modelling after Sue chased me away from the garden and reminded me I have time to attend to it next week. I am afraid I have gone a little mad on the modelling front...

I have four builds on the go but there is a method to my madness as they are from left to right:

The Heinkel He 177 is awaiting a couple of decals, a light wash / weathering and is then completed.

The Focke Wulf Fw 190 D-9 is just awaiting a wash.

The Beaufighter on the stand has had filler and will need sanding next.

A Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 currently being built and a comparison to the other Fw 190. They are both late WW2 schemes with the A-8 based in Norway at wars end.

They will all likely be completed in the next week or so depending on the weather as I would like to spend some time sitting in the sunshine and soaking up the rays but a storm yesterday and showers again today. The media says summer is over but in the next article it will be so hot we will all melt! A bunch of charlatans and con artists.

I have been exploring the internet for local activities and over the next two weekends we have the https://www.lincswoldsandcoastchurches.org/ which I will pop out to. It clashes with the Viking weekend in Grimsby so I will have to be selective and possibly visit those churches that are rarely open to the public. I also have to visit my mum who has now finished another course of radiotherapy and is doing ok I'm pleased to say. I might opt for the Vikings only as a few days down in Essex the week after next involves a lot of driving and it is driving that causes me the most pain. We'll see how it pans out but I enjoyed the last Viking weekend and I am looking forward to this one. Hopefully good weather during September will allow me to visit a few places locally and I have been watching a couple of walks around Lincoln on you tube. I spent a lot of time in Lincoln but always working so a visit to the Cathedral and some of the more touristy bits including the ghost walk might be in order over the next couple of months.

Time for a cuppa, feet up and back to a good book.

TTFN.

 An unexpected start to the day as the bookshelves I ordered and expected next week arrived this morning. It saved me from pottering around the garden although I am under orders from Sue to chill out, do nothing and leave the chores until next week. A short while later and with the help of No.1 son we assembled one set of shelves.

Books dusted and moved in and a few models plonked on top although I forbore from dusting them as a soft brush is required. We'll assemble the second unit tomorrow and I will hoover and dust the room after moving some of the unwanted stuff out. I have filled two bags with books for the charity shop and the spare bed will also be removed at some point and an old armchair moved in. 

After clear coating the two current builds I made a start on another very old and cheap kit which I plan to build out of the box. 

Fuselage and wings glued. sanded and some filler applied to the wing roots. Left to set for tomorrow and sanding the filler. I will take my time with this because I can set it aside and come back to it at any time. It is finally beginning to dawn on me that I have lots of time and there is no hurry to do anything.

A short break and then a long break as a phone call interrupted me, then a thunderstorm and just now back to the blog. I certainly wasn’t expecting the thunderstorm. 

TTFN.

 Second day post retirement and I have to admit I feel exhausted. No surprise there and I guess a couple of weeks in a new more relaxed routine will do me the power of good. At the moment I feel like it's just my usual days off and I intend to relax for a few days, some modelling, some small jobs around the house and gentle walks only. I have to pop into work today to sign off my last mileage claim and that will be it. I have agreed to do some assessments from the end of October as a bank nurse but that will involve very little driving other than a commute to base. My plan is to do that as and when for the next year and then stop altogether. The important thing is do I feel happy having left? Bloody right I do! A huge relief to have stepped away and a few colleagues said they envied me escaping the nonsense although one pointed out I had done thirty eight years and I was due parole!

I received my new airbrush yesterday, a fine example of German engineering and I had ordered a new hose and appropriate hose connectors.

Naturally, up at 05.30 this morning and after breakfast I immediately made use of it. I have been in bed for 9 pm every night over the last couple of weeks hence the very early mornings.

I need more practice in using it but I am pleased with the result and it cleaned up very well after use. I do have to consider another compressor but that can wait.

I also finally completed the FW 190 with homemade stencils and a necessary clean up after my first effort was dreadful. The swastika is a decal but I am pleased with the stencil outcomes. I used sticky tape and cut it to size and shape. Although the colour scheme is not 100% correct I will leave it as is. I ordered a cheap kit from evil bay which had been started and the box looks like it was eaten by mice and sat upon by a large cat. All the parts are there and I am pleased as it was cheap as chips but I have a voucher as part of my leaving presents for these kits. I dry fitted the wings and engine nacelles and they are a good fit.

Again, another night fighter and one of my favourite aircraft which I might start on next.

Otherwise, the next few days over the bank holiday weekend will see me clearing the garden and a general house tidy up as I can take my time and apply myself to completing some overdue jobs. I am looking forward to doing things for us instead of for other people, to enjoying life and exploring this new chapter in my life.

TTFN.

 I have a sense of Deja vu...

Another cat arrived in our garden yesterday, howling his / her head off and with a noticeable limp. He made himself comfortable next to Maisie which surprised me as she doesn't tolerate other cats and she is usually very quick to chase them away. I have seen this cat before but he looks healthy, apart from the limp and he scarpered sharpish when I moved towards him. I posted it up on our local cats missing page as there are two missing black cats locally and perhaps this cat is one of them. After the Jerry saga I am reluctant to get involved in any more cat shenanigans.

A lovely day although overcast at times but when the sun appeared it was very hot...lovely. Popping in and out to avoid getting sunburn but a delightful day with so much light in the garden. In between I worked on both models on the table...

The decals for the old Focke Wulf 190 D-9 were past their best and crumbled as soon as they touched water. What you can see above is the metal stencil taped and then dabbed with paint. 

As can be seen they have not come out very well with some overspill and generally a mess. I have clear coated them and will tape the straight lines and apply thinned paint to cover where needed. I will also repaint part of the FW because I questioned the paint scheme in the instructions and after some research it is wrong. There should be another colour which was missing from the instructions. The photo below is of the original aircraft which crashed in Belgium in January 1945 following a bird strike.

Late war Luftwaffe aircraft often used a combination of three colours so the instructions stating two colours struck me as odd. I wish I'd listened to my gut instinct and researched before painting! Another lesson learned the hard way.

I have ordered a new airbrush plus some hose adaptors for it and it has two interchangeable needles with one set for fine airbrushing. I will use it to finish off the Heinkel He 177 when it arrives. I was tempted to also order a new compressor but I will do some more research before I commit to buying as the current one, although basic works quite well.

I think it has cooled down enough to sit out in the garden again.

TTFN.

 It's been an interesting day...

Firstly, progress on the Heinkel He 177 build with the final camouflage airbrushed on and several last parts attached. Despite my best effort the pale blue squiggles was just not thin enough but I quite like the effect I have. It looks ok from a distance but close up it looks spattered. I will be looking for a new airbrush, a very good one that allows me to apply thin as well as basic airbrush paint effects. Another clear coat to be applied tomorrow and the final decals to go on with some light weathering. A great kit, no real problems with the build and I am happy with the build overall. 

Now, the reason for my modelling is that the tree surgeons cancelled their visit this morning. We were not happy as this would be the second one to let us down. However, cue a phone call at 11 a.m. saying they can attend and are on their way if I want to go ahead. 

We have lots of lovely light and a clear space for whatever plans we make for the garden. Two hours work and all done and it allows me to work on the back fence. One of the gate posts fell over but no surprise there as the gate and both posts need replacing, probably the first garden job on my list. Smallest cat Mindy wandered out to see what the noise was and she very quickly shot back indoors! The two oldies will be in for a shock when they emerge from whichever garden they sleep in and find the tree gone.

Sherlock is recovering well and I discovered cat tooth resorption which was a new fact to me. Poor old fella now has only six teeth left but he will escape the fate of his brother Watson. They both had a bad start to life with benign neglect and it is only because we adopted Sherlock first that he is a stronger cat. I still regret that we didn't get both boys at the same time and Watson might still be with us. I will book both the ladies in for a check up and teeth cleaning because although Sherlock is worth it, it has been very expensive and pet insurance will be next on my list. 

Last but by no means least, my mum had her first radiotherapy treatment and she has a further five to go. More worryingly, she had another fall so my plan is to spend some time down there around her 82nd birthday without worrying about my need to return for work. My sister has now brought her a walking frame with a built in seat so that will help. My sister pops in most days and my brother when he can although he now has a new job which is taking up his time. Getting old is a bugger but it beats the alternative!

TTFN.

 It's been a stressful week so far with too few staff at work and people showing signs of fraying at the edges. Glad to have finished for this week and only three more working days left. I also had to drop Sherlock off at the vet this morning and unfortunately he saw the open cat box and a scene reminiscent of a Benny Hill short sans music and a tense thriller then ensued for the next ten minutes. Bless him, he was stressed and I was stressed but we got there in the end. This actually causes me more stress than work! Now to await the outcome and hopefully he will be home this evening. I have ordered a dental product to add to their water because I really don't want to go through this palaver with Maisie and Mindy.

I received the final model kits I had ordered and my evil bay is empty of any models but has a couple of shelf units marked for following. They have to have plenty of shelf space, be fairly local and cheap. Sue vetoed my suggestion of house bricks and planks for a Ye Olde Worlde rustic look! The Messerschmitt Bf 109 I ordered from a local supplier and although several pounds more expensive than other similar models on offer, I want to see this particular store survive. The Beaufighter was cheap as chips and will make for a simple quick build. It came with additional parts to convert to a night fighter which I intend to complete at a future date. To be honest, yesterday evening as a distraction from worrying about Sherlock I had already glued and sanded the wings for it and dry fitted other parts. So I now have three builds on the go. The large cutting mat is from Lidl courtesy of No.1 son who bought it for me.

But today will be spent ensuring the garden has space for the tree removal tomorrow, fretting about Sherlock and otherwise pottering around. I am tired after a very busy and stressful three days and I will also catch up with my mum this evening. More worry!

TTFN.

 I started on a quick out of the box build as the Heinkel He 177 has been clear coated again on the decals so far attached to it.

An old kit with very few parts and from research there is a lot that could be amended about the kit to truly reflect the real aircraft but I am happy to build it as is and focus on the paint scheme.  I just have to take my mind up as to which paint scheme as shown above or pick out one from research, use decals from the spares box and make up paint templates for the identifying marks. The decals with the kit are very frazzled given it is nearly thirty years old.

A Focke Wulf 190 D-9 circa late 1944 /early 1945 when there were plenty of new aircraft for the Luftwaffe but a shortage of fuel and experienced pilots. I have built a FW 190 before, a TA 152 high altitude fighter which was developed from the D-9. I will brush paint this model although I might airbrush a base colour and build up the colour scheme on that. I will continue with both builds during my next days off as the next three days at work will be extremely busy as staff on leave or off sick. There are plenty of psychological trainees who are very nice but so are Cocker Spaniels and they can't do much either.

Inevitably, the day has been cool, windy and we have just had a heavy shower of rain. I am hoping for an Indian summer for the last week of August and early September when I will be off and can enjoy the good weather. Ever optimistic but a trip to Essex is planned for my mothers 82nd birthday particularly since she informed me she has another course of radiotherapy starting this week. Jokes about glowing in the dark made but the last course knocked her for six and she recovered slowly from the treatment. A pertinent reminder to make the most of time with loved ones. Having said the above she is in good spirits and enjoying her daily glass of Guinness. I'll bring her a couple of bottles of stout down from Beers of Europe.

TTFN.

Some slow progress this morning mainly because Sherlock decided he needed my immediate attention and applying lots of tiny decals is time consuming. I ensured I had a couple of hours in the garden reading and enjoying another dry morning before the rain arrived which also adds to the slow progress.

I am also enjoying the last days with the tree and Sue is fully expecting me to hug it and say goodbye before it gets the chop. Sad to see it go but we will get so much of the garden back and I don't have to worry about the impact upon our immediate neighbour.

I made a quick trip to Lidl as No.1 son said there are lots of tools in the middle aisle. sadly, there wasn't anything I wanted as I hoped there might be a weed twist and remove tool since our one broke. But I bought some Belgian beers and Frikadelle which Sue really likes from her time living in Germany. I had planned on visiting some of the charity shops but I think I made the wise decision to avoid buying any more junk and bringing it home. The roads were surprisingly quiet although the shop was busy. I guess many people have gone away on holiday or are spending the day in Cleethorpes.

TTFN.

 An update on the current build, the Heinkel He 177 and I am annoyed with myself as I copied the colour scheme for one aircraft for the correct green camouflage scheme but discovered it was not correct for the aircraft I am modelling. Hence, some brush painting of water thinned acrylics required. It shouldn't detract because I still have some more airbrushing to do of the finished scheme.

Some sub-assemblies now attached and left aside to dry thoroughly away from prying cats. Sherlock decided to sit in the middle of it all this morning. I put everything away and fussed him and he is feeling much better. Booked in for his surgery next week poor little fella.

Tree surgeon also booked for next week and it will be a busy week. Work has a number of staff on leave and it's my busy week as well. Another major incident which I can't say much about although it has made the media. In good news I was asked by my manager to join the bank for the team and it was agreed that after a good break I will be offered occasional days for duty work and assessments both of which I do enjoy. Even if I do that for a year or so it won't be too onerous and it was good to have several staff including the consultants ask me to do duty work. It's nice to be appreciated but after next week I will glad to reach Saturday and rest as the veterinary surgery and the tree removal will very much unsettle the cats. 

Do you know, I am sitting here listening to Mott the Hoople and The Faces with multiple sirens via the open window. They have been on and off all morning which doesn't bode well. 

I must away as unusually it is dry and the sun is attempting to break through. Time to set the chairs up in the garden and enjoy it whilst it lasts.

TTFN. 

 Surprise surprise...it's raining and boy did it pour down overnight and has continued throughout the morning. But perfect for staying indoors and modelling.

The two tone dark green and black-green camouflage airbrushed on and I used a piece of card held in place to achieve the straight lines as I sprayed the paint on. I am taking my time with this build and enjoying the process and I'm hoping to do it justice.

There is another layer of camouflage to airbrush on but I will do that after I have attached various parts / sub-assemblies and clear coated the build. Another reason for taking my time is that I have run out of display space and I will be adding new shelving in a few weeks time. 

Much to my surprise an old friend posted the above picture from Israel in 1984, certainly a photo I hadn't seen before when I was 23 years old. A reminder of a different time and a very different world. It would be nice to catch up with old friends I haven't seen for a long time.

The tree surgeon called yesterday as he was on his way to another job. He had a good look at the tree, the garden, access for men and machinery and egress for the same plus the chopped up tree. I explained about the willow, how we had cut it down once but it had returned and he wasn't surprised, saying willow does that. Much as I will miss the tree it dominates the garden and takes up all the light. When it is removed I can plan for next year with the raised bed and what else we want to plant in the garden. I would like a shed but I will think about that. A place to store the tools, an old armchair and possibly room for a home brew kit. Run electricity to it and an ideal mens shed! 

Darts on the telly box and a cup of tea is calling me.

TTFN.

 A satisfying productive day with the car sorted and the tree surgeon visiting tomorrow to assess and quote for the tree removal. The car runs very nicely now and no shaking when I drive at sixty and above with the tracking fixed and the bald tyre replaced. On my return parking as ever is a nightmare around here between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. as the gym bunnies, fake tanned  bimbos / himbos (tanning shop up the road) and shop workers all take up space, sometimes the one person fulfils all three of those criteria. Once the youth centre is up and running parking will be nigh well impossible but  they haven't yet started the work on that yet. 

I airbrushed the underneath and lower half of the Heinkel 177 with a mix of sky blue and white ( 80 / 20 %) plus a few drops of thinner but the airbrush required a thorough clean before it sprayed properly. Afterwards I gave it a very thorough wash and brush through but I don't doubt when I use it tomorrow I will again encounter the same problems of a sticking needle or inadequate spray. 

However. it turned out alright in the end and I am pleased with the result. I'll leave it to cure and clear coat later, leaving me to finish the undercarriage and other parts that need attaching. I will then tape off preparatory to airbrushing the upper surface in the late war splinter camouflage, clear coat that and then airbrush further camouflage on top of that.

I'm finding the book below very useful for this especially as it has two photographs and a colour picture of the very aircraft I am modelling.

Keeping me happy despite the ferocious boiling* weather we are experiencing outside despite the forecast stating it would be dry and cloudy only. Tea and listening to Hawkwind to help me through a lovely relaxed afternoon.

TTFN.

*Wet.

 A flurry of activity these last two days with a trip to the vet for Sherlock and the poor auld fella howled all the way there and back. With the howling in stereo as he and another cat joined noisy forces in the waiting room. He is on pain relief and booked in for dental surgery in two weeks time. Bless him.  A trip then to the GP surgery for Sue and then a large shop completed. My car in for tracking today and I received a phone call saying they need to replace a tyre. Same duly ordered but unlikely to arrive until tomorrow so I have left the car with them. I wasn't surprised as one front tyre started to look in need of a comb over! One of the pleasant things about a week off from work is that I don't have to fill up with petrol and I don't have to travel anywhere unless I choose to. The appalling weather has helped as well as it remains wet and cooler than average for August. In fact, there are weather warnings for storms in southern England and the predictions from the Met office is for this weather to continue for the next three weeks. As always, there is the latest build on the desk to work on...

This was the progress yesterday with the wings assembled and dry fitted to ensure a good fit before any glue is used.

This is from this morning after the wings glued on and a black primer lightly sprayed on. The airbrush as usual needed a thorough cleaning despite it being done after the last time I used it. I might need to consider a better airbrush and compressor but this one works despite the need for frequent cleaning before, during and after use. This particular aircraft, the Heinkel He 177 was Germany's heavy bomber but it had a reputation for catching fire. Two very obvious propellors but it had four engines as pictured here with two engines crammed into each nacelle as a double motor powering the prop. There were problems with cooling hence the frequent fires and thankfully senior nazi mismanagement, bickering and stupidity saw this development take too long to cause any major issues for the allies. As ever, I am fascinated by this aspect of WW2 with night bombers and night fighters. I am working my way through a number of second hand books about bombing campaign, the experiences of those who took part and the developments from 1939 through to the end of the war. The build now put aside to dry and next step will be to airbrush the various paints on plus clear coats in between. Now for tea and more reading as the brief episode of dry weather has once again turned to rain.

TTFN.

n.b. Looking forward to the Viking weekend with the itinerary now on-line.