its all going well so far,
primary assemblage and painting of small items. I Forgot how fiddly these little kits can be.
But what is amazing is how quick you can see what your building, not like the fleetscale Tirpitz which I helped build with a friend. We spent over 40 hours just converting and fitting the portholes.

At least I don't mind the smell of ethanol, the resin we used to use was an awful smell, but it did work... 30 years on and Tirpitz is still sound but in need of a refurbishment.... OH well another job to add to the list!!!🤣

Hi Doug and Bob,
thanks for the best wishes, bit more than Bronchitis though unfortunately, I had Quad Bypass surgery 3 years ago and my heart/lung function crashes every so often, especially when I work at Clearing a Dusty workshop, so its self inflicted.
Next time I'll wear a mask, always wise after the event
Steve

Hi Fred,
many thanks that would be great, I'm currently working with some B & W photos
regards
Steve

Hi all,
as promised the build blog for my new project which I will be building over the next couple of weeks while on 'bed rest'
( code name for the project is 'pleasetellmeitsnotaplane')
As with all my models i Believe that getting it factually correct adds to the overall effect of the model.
The 2 models involved in the Diorama will be a Mk. II Supermarine Walrus from RAF Squadron 277 based at RAF Shoreham in Sussex and a Mk.5 Spitfire from US Navy VOS-7 based at HMS Daedulus, RNAS Lee on Solent, Hants.
I came across an article about US navy pilots using Spitfires as air observers and spotters for the battleships and cruisers during the D.Day landing when they directed the 'big guns'. onto specific targets.
There were 17 pilots and they were all trained observer/spotters from American warships and all trained on the spitfire/seafire as there was a pool of these types available (these were all Mk5's which had been superseded by newer aircraft) meaning if a plane was lost then providing the Pilot was OK he could get back into the air quickly.
In just 26 days they flew 209 missions for the loss of only 1 life, 8 air craft where lost but all pilots where rescued 3 by a walrus.
This was the only US Navy Squadron to fly spitfires but It is not often talked about, the Americans have this thing called NIH when referring to other allies equipment, it stands for 'Not Invented Here' so if they didn't build it they didn't use it.
The diorama will show a Walrus on the Water effecting a rescue of a downed Spitfire Pilot who is out of his sinking aircraft and in a liferaft being pulled towards the Walrus.
The diorama was planned out using roughly assembled (Loads of Blutak) models laid out to get a feel for the size and drawn 1:1.
And now the big moment ....drum roll..
my first Airfix kit in over 40 years (if you don't count the Flower class Corvettes (but they were big)
Attached some photo's From day 1

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Hi All,
Just when things where going right and I hoped to get back to 'Real Modelling'.
I've been banned from the workshop because of a chest infection and have been put on 'Bed Rest'.
Not to be outdone, a friend of mine while trawling through the various Stalls at Ford Car boot and Market
( Can highly recommend a visit its just 2 miles south of Arundel in Sussex on the old RNAS Ford runways) While trawling my Friend came across a box of assorted airfix kits, some boat some plane.
What caught my eye was a mk II Supermarine Walrus, which I propose to build into a diorama, carrying out an ASR during the D.Day landings with the Models sitting on a sea base..I Know its a plane and this is a Marine Modelling Site but at least it floats unlike the poor spitfire that is being rescued.
Will be starting a build blog as I get going.
P.S. There will be some real boat building, I've got to make a Type H liferaft, all of 26mm long and 18mm wide LOL

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Sound Familiar!!!, often wake up in the middle of the night, now I keep a note pad in my bedside drawer.
Trouble is the older you get the harder it is to remember things the next morning!!

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Second attempt to upload my boats as descibed earlier

Hi all,
Just posted my photos to my harbour, but I seem to have acquired a set of photo's from someone else. All of the photos showing the build in progress are not mine , how do I delete them?
Steve

Hi Everybody,
Having decided to finally officially retire, I have been inundated with an assortment of wrecks, part builds, kits etc.
As you can see from the attached photos I've divided them into 3 Groups, Military Leisure Craft and Sailing.
The Military group consists of a 1:128 Scharnhorst, 2 x 1:24 E.Boats, an unidentified V & W Hull, 1:36 Perkasa, and a 1:144 wooden hull of HMS Victory.
The Leisure Craft group consists 1:8 Fairey Huntsman, a 1:36 Billings Sampson II, 1:35 Billings Calypso, 1:24 Clyde Puffer / Tug, Narrow Boat.
And the Sailing Boats Group consists of 2 x Unidentified R/C Yachts.
Finally there is a concrete Narrow Boat Planter to paint...definitely will not float, it weighs 15kgs!!!
So having been forced to give up gainful employment😂 , (I was management so I could delegate), I now find myself back as general dogsbody, chief cook and bottle-washer.
I'm setting up the Workshop, got a computer design area, a general workbench and a painting/ moulding table outside, the rest will be a 3D printer and scanner when funds permit and the wife wont miss a few bob from the holiday fund.
So no quiet life for me!!!
Can I go back to work please?????
Steve

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Hi, having just been forced to retire I am in the process of setting up my workshop to start building large scale boats.
I've been building statics of WWI and WWII aircraft from No1 Fighter Squadron, my late fathers old outfit.
( they are all small kits and I could build them on a Tea Tray) and quite enjoyed doing the diorama's to add realism.
I would love to get into building small boats with a diorama, will keep watching this site but please count me in !
best wishes
Steve

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further to my previous guestbook entry, my wife now fully understands a love a man has for his precious objects like lathe and a tower Drill and custom made workbench, and while I can't bring them back into the bedroom she will arrange for my bed to go to the workshop!!! hope summer come soon....🙄
Steve

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Hi Stuart,
Have been following your blog with interest.
Some months ago i acquired at an auction a 46" huntsman Fairey hull, It is in a very poor state with no superstructure of any kind.
Can you point me in the right direction for a set of plans?
Also what type of Fairey do you recommend, as without any existing deck / superstructure I seem to have a blank canvas.
This will be my first boat in over 10 years, i'm now remarried, retired and have just built the model dockyard in the Garden (18 ft workshop as a wedding present... I think she wants to get rid of me already🤓.
keep up the good work, some photos of the test run would be great/
Steve

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