We have snow!

It started Monday night as can be seen in the above photo and was gone yesterday but again this morning, quite heavy for an hour or so. temperatures are low and in the minus at night and yet it is still autumn. We are all suitably wrapped up, hatches battened down and the cats are in their selected warm spots. Given the inclement weather I tackled the current build and I did an oil wash on the Fairey Gannet.

The various blues and white oils looks patchy but once blended in with a little black paint it should be ok. The only downside is having to leave it well alone for several days. I can then add some of the smaller parts, clear coat and then the decals.

I have the next two possible builds on the desk and it might be that I tackle the OV 10A firstly as a relatively modern aircraft from the Vietnam war. I will look at an out of the box build although I might have to buy some more paints. The kittens are causing mayhem with us having to ensure the house is 'kitten proof / friendly'. Water bowls, litter trays and a variety of objects spilled or helpfully distributed around floors various. The oldies are gradually becoming accustomed to their presence although it involves growling and much swatting with paws. We are having to be very careful with the outer doors as the little blighters are fast and can squeeze through very small gaps. They are delightful but we are giving the oldies lots of attention and reassurance plus treats. 

Keep warm and safe folks.

TTFN.

 A week of feline chaos. I had forgotten how energetic small kittens can be and their curiosity and desire to get into everything.

The top photo is Wilf and the second photo is of Winnie, brother and sister. It is like having two little panthers in the house but sounds like a herd of elephants when they are racing around and chasing each other. There are toys, pens, pieces of paper and a variety of other objects scattered throughout the house; they have broken two models and scratched out part of the wooden wainscotting. They follow our three cats everywhere much to the annoyance of the oldies who want a quiet settled life. Sherlock is tolerating them now but Maisie and Mindy hiss at them, It is still early days yet so things will eventually settle down.They are confined to the house as they are young and haven't been outside and only Wilf has been neutered. No.1 son plans on neutering Winnie fairly soon. He doesn't want them to go outside but as we pointed out, next Spring the backdoor is open and our cats come and go as they have always done so he will have to find a way to manage their safety. Luckily it is very cold and the oldies prefer the comforts of home. However, Maisie did disappear for a full day which caused a lot of concern as we thought she had upped and left. 

I managed to start a new build, a post WW2 aircraft which caught my eye as a new 1/48 scale Airfix kit came out but I opted to buy a smaller scale Revell kit which was cheaper. However, fit issues especially around the clear parts has caused a few problems.

I brush painted the upper grey parts and airbrushed the lower sky parts. I held off airbrushing because the kittens kept popping in and oftentimes I am only aware they are present when they land in the middle of whatever I am doing.

This was the model yesterday before Wilf knocked it over but it is now repaired and I will address the grey paint issues as it looks very patchy and with noticeable brush marks. I think another coat of thinned acrylic paint, a clear coat and then perhaps oil paints but I will see. 

We are seeing predictions for snow, sleet and cold temperatures this week and there was a frost this morning. I am hoping for another couple of nights of frost to break down the compost in the raised bed and I can finally plant some bulbs in there. I don't mind this weather but it is earlier than usual this year and it is generally milder here on the east coast. It will be interesting to see how long this lasts before we return to the mild and wet default UK weather. In other news, a new bricks and mortar model shop has opened thirty miles away in Scunthorpe so I am planning a trip there soon. Sue wants to buy me Xmas present and she has suggested a book. She won't accompany me to the model shop because I will spend hours in there chatting models with the owner and the customers and she finds it boring. She is happy I have this hobby and she takes notice of some of my builds and she has made requests for a build ( Memphis Belle and sci fi builds). I will build a B17 sometime, perhaps not the Memphis Belle as there is a lot more to choose from.

I am currently reading The Frighteners by Peter Laws, a Baptist Minister who also has a you tube channel. Coming up to FOTCR (copyright BW) I found an interesting quote in there by some monks he spent some time with... 

'That's the big lie of rampant consumerism: that it brings you freedom. So many people think they own their things - except they don't. Their things own them.'

An interesting thought to consider as we approach Xmas although I am guilty as I consider visiting and shopping at a new model shop in Scunthorpe! But once again our Xmas will be low key, mainly around the meal and day itself and I will enjoy the usual Dickensian movies and stories leading up to the day. Last year my mum died two days before Xmas and I didn't really enjoy any aspect of it. Almost a year on and life continues but those words from the monk really does strike a chord. I have perhaps fifteen years left if I am lucky and I feel increasingly drawn to considerations of life beyond this realm. That partially underlies my interest in the paranormal but also the questions around what happens next? This time of year, dull overcast days and early dark evenings possibly reinforce that but again, I don't mind that. It makes the expectation of Spring and longer, brighter days of sunshine, flowers and birdsong all the more anticipated. I'm not too sure where I am wandering with this so I shall stop there. I hope all is well with you and that you are warm and safe wherever you are. The kittens have flaked out in No.1's bedroom and the oldies are fast asleep in their respective spots enjoying the peace and quiet.

TTFN.

 A busy weekend with a change in home circumstances as No.1 son has returned home plus his two small kittens, Winnie and Wilf. No choice but to return home and the addition of two small kittens plus fireworks has caused some upset to the feline equilibrium of the household. Sherlock and Mindy are the two most upset, Maisie isn't bothered and goes about her business as usual.The kittens are exploring the first floor of the house but haven't really ventured downstairs but it is only their third day. Fun and shenanigans ahead...

I received some new kits in the post including the above, a 1/72 scale Sopwith Dolphin and that is the instructions, written only with a line drawing of the finished aircraft. I also bought a 1/48 scale Sopwith Dolphin from the same company which has a bit more information about building the aircraft.

Both were very cheap as they are old kits and are difficult to build, just up my alley! I have a lot of German WW1 aircraft so I thought I should add some Allied kits. This aircraft was also used by the Poles in their war with Soviet Russia 1919 - 20. Finally, I bought a kit I have had on my list for a few years and again, this was at a bargain price so I leapt at it.

A Vickers Vincent from the late thirties but used in the first few years of WW2 and there was a Torpedo version called the Vildebeest. Sadly, these aircraft proved no match for the Japanese at Singapore in December 1941.

With these additions I have tidied up the stash and I am having a couple of days away from modelling to sort the cats out, finish a few bits in the garden including the cat hole in the gate and sort the house out. We have to ensure the back door is closed as the kittens are fast and very agile when previously, if it was warm or mild we could leave it open for our cats. It's a good job we hadn't emptied No.1's room. I just hope we have seen the last of the fireworks for a few weeks as the less drama and noise, the better.

TTFN.

Mild, dry and cloudy weather has allowed me to do a further tidy up in the garden and all the plastic and metal rubbish has been cleared, the raised bed cleared and compost broken down further. There is still some bricks, plaster and old stones to clear and I might make a corner rockery as I can't readily dispose of it all. There is also a lot of wood to dispose of and I might take that to the tip rather than burn it. I could wait for a still drizzly day and burn it then so we will see. I will buy some more compost for the pots where I plan to have tomatoes, chillies and cucumber next year. I finally feel like I am making slow but steady progress with the garden. The forecast for the latter part of next week suggests colder weather and I would like some cold frosts to further break up the raised bed compost. 

The Romanian tank R2, originally a LT vz 35 is now complete although as per usual the photo shows areas where paint is required. I also have a 1/72 scale Westland Lysander aircraft on the desk which is nearly finished. I have been looking for a large box file shelf unit similar to the one I have as it accommodates many completed aircraft builds, a proper space saver and display unit. I can't find any on the usual on-line markets but I will keep searching. I might have to think outside the box (groan!) and look at office suppliers instead. 

Meanwhile, we have been ensuring the cats are safe as they have been freaked out by the fireworks, especially the morons who are letting them off in the streets and gardens. Even Maisie is frightened by it all and she isn't usually bothered. Sherlock is very clingy, needing to be on or beside us and jumps at any and every noise. Hopefully it will all die down after this weekend. Now that halloween and Nov. 5th gone the Xmas adverts have avalanched into the various media and they are the usual saccharine bullshit. Mind you, Sue has been watching the Xmas films TV channel since the late summer and I am banned from commenting on them. Happily I have enough to occupy my time and I don't watch daytime TV if I can help it. 

Now to continue my search for that elusive large box file or two.

TTFN.

 Into a new month and Sue's birthday celebrated two days ago albeit in a low key fashion. She has a big birthday next year and I have asked what she wants to do for it but she isn't considering anything that far ahead. No.1 son joined us and we put the world to rights particularly about the so called green revolution (con to extract cash and control the peons). With various aches, ailments and a general lassitude which has descended on our household this past year she wasn't celebrating being a year older but an enjoyable day all the same. It beats the alternative...

I have nearly completed the Pfalz D.IIIa but I just noticed in the photograph one of the support struts has collapsed. I shall attend to that later as it requires CA glue and will need repainting.

I have started on another tank model and that should keep me occupied for the next week, a Romanian R2, formerly a Czech manufactured LT.vz 35 which the Romanians bought prior to the Germans invading the Czech republic. I have also been tidying up the modelling desk, clearing out rubbish and trying to ensure plenty of space to work on which includes accommodating Sherlock who has taken up residence on it. Speaking of the cats, they are very nervous and jumpy because of the fireworks but for a few years now they have been anxious about something in the house. We joke it could be the ghost cat but the other evening I noticed the bathroom light had switched on despite me switching it off earlier. Very odd and something to monitor...

I have also discovered this channel on you tube which is fascinating, a reasonable counterpoint to a lot of the paranormal stuff I watch. I do prefer scientific explanations for phenomena and although I have an open mind for many of the unexplained phenomena, there is often a scientific reason for what is happening and if there isn't one yet, perhaps there will be in the future. Science and the spiritual dimension...who knows. I have seen strange things although Sue has seen a UFO and orbs, neither of which I have seen and she has little interest in pursuing explanations for the phenomena. Being curious, I am fascinated and always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary but I am wary of meddling in something we do not fully comprehend. I am also very wary of those who state they have definitive proof and knowledge about these phenomena. It usually involves peddling bullshit to make money (Ed Miliband take note), attempts to gain fame, influence and fortune. 

I will enjoy the rest of this peaceful and quiet Sunday ensuring the cats are settled because I don't doubt that once the hours of darkness descend upon us, the idiots will be letting off fireworks again. I hope you are all having a similarly peaceful Sunday.

TTFN.