I finally got the opportunity to use the new compressor as the back door is open and the cats are all outside  with no curious paws or noses getting covered in paint. It works very well although I had a problem with spraying the earth brown paint until I realised I had the air pressure at the highest mark. Once amended to the correct setting it went on like a dream, great coverage and the compressor is so quiet. I used one of my better airbrushes rather than the kit supplied one, the Neo iwata and it worked very well. Set aside to dry now and I shall use an even older airbrush to experiment with spraying a gloss coat on before decals and weathering. This is a model of the Tomahawk flown by Neville Duke in 1941 in North Africa  and who became a test pilot after the war. 

In other news, I have been having bad back problems for the last two weeks and the past 48 hours have been very uncomfortable. Pain killers, Tens machine and gentle movement should hopefully help so I will see how that pans out. It’s a bugger because gardening and going out is severely limited until this clears up. I might need to buy some cocodamol from the pharmacy if this doesn’t get sorted. However, a sunny day and I can at least sit out in the garden.

TTFN.

 Good grief! I just realised I have been blogging for nineteen years…writing rubbish since April 2006. Where have the years gone? Looking back as the rain pours down outside, sat in the warmth surrounded by cats and having imbibed of a beer…very little changes although the world has certainly changed.

I had been building this rather attractive lemon coloured F-104 aircraft until I discovered the decals disintegrate. Usually not a problem as I can clear coat and rescue them, raid the spares box or buy new ones.But, it’s a specific colour scheme and despite searching the internet there are none of these specific decals for sale. I will attempt to rescue the decals again by trying another method which worked today on another kit I am building.

A Sd.kfz 10 Demag half track which also has dodgy disintegrating decals. Another old kit which has been in the stash for a few years but it was a quick and easy OOB build and I paired with a trailer built a couple of years back. Brush painted because the kittens went nuts when I used the airbrush last week which has a very noisy cheap old air compressor. I finally bit the bullet and bought a new compressor which comes with an airbrush.

It is a much quieter compressor and I can use my current airbrushes with it although it is nice to have the new albeit not the best airbrush supplied with it. I pulled out the Airfix Tomahawk from the stash, one of the Xmas presents I received. It should be a simple and easy build but it makes for a good subject for the new compressor. That will be revealed in my next post as one of the cats Maisie is currently sleeping on the table and I have no wish to disturb her. Hopefully when the kittens are in the garden tomorrow morning I can make a start on it. Wilf is generally ok as he sits and watches for a few minutes before grabbing things. Winnie is like a tiny bull in a china shop as she doesn’t stop and goes for everything. The net curtains are down again, a variety of things are scattered around the floors of various rooms and she has removed the beading from parts of the double glazing. She has two speeds: sleep and sixth gear! Both cats now have collars and trackers on so No.1 son can find them if they wander too far but they seem happy now with the garden and the gardens of our immediate neighbours. 

Talking of the garden, I planted out some spuds and a test planting with an onion in between the rain showers yesterday. The Spirea is thriving and should be ready to plant out during our next dry spell once I have prepared the right spot for it. I also have wild flower seeds to go out and hopefully encourage more bees and butterflies.

TTFN.

Two nights with very little sleep and another missing cat although I finally found Wilf in the garden at 1 a.m. this morning. He was very frightened, very hungry and took some time to settle. No.1 son has now ordered a tracker collar for him as the one on Winnie works very well and gives us peace of mind.

Both are now grounded today although both after two days running around the garden and in Wilfs case, the neighbourhood, are very tired and sleeping a lot today. Wilf slept in my arms this morning as he seeks a lot of reassurance.

Two lovely days, lots of sunshine and warm enough to sit out in the garden soaking up the sunshine. Sue bought a Spiraea for the garden from the Pound Shop and I have that in water ready to plant out. I will use the opportunity when the cats are indoors to prepare the ground and plant that in. The grass will need trimming and weeding is certainly required as they have run rampant in this sunshine. It is still cold at night and today is a much cooler and blustery day with predicted rain showers. No modelling today as I am too tired to concentrate and I need to focus on the latest package I received yesterday from one of the two pensions schemes I still have. This is the one I hadn't realised I had and I will cash it in this year. The other larger one I will let run for now but I am also likely to cash that in too. The money will keep us going until I receive my state pension in 2027 if this government allows it. Pulling the plug on pensioners after paying into the ponzi scheme for forty or fifty years beggars belief. As a friend said "Why bother. It sends the message out that work, saving and being financially prudent doesn't pay". Never mind, the Roman Empire took some time to finally collapse so perhaps we'll see this out! 

Paints this week for the fence and gate, that area to be tidied up and what I will do with the plastic compost bin I don't know. I might place it next to the raised bed and see if the body and base will fit securely. I had wanted to place a bird table in the garden but having seen the kittens leaping and climbing skills, perhaps not. It's nice to see one of the lads in the HMO* two doors up clearing their garden and planting with evident enjoyment. Unfortunately, the noisy BBQ a few doors down balanced that out and having been informed by our neighbour of a fence jumper the other night, no doubt on the rob, it might be time to put some security lights in. Given the police inability to deal with real crimes, bear traps and razor wire might be better but not safe for cats. Bless him, Wilf now stretched out fast asleep near my feet.

TTFN.

* Housing of Multiple Occupancy, usually rental properties.

 

This little bugger decided to go missing for twenty one hours earlier this week entailing much searching, internet appeals and poking our noses into various gardens. At 2 in the morning No.1 son heard a cat howling in the back garden and he popped down to investigate. Winnie was returned home by the large black cat that often noisily visits our garden. I’m unsure how, whether she latched onto him or he showed her the way back. No.1 son has grounded both kittens and he is looking at buying tracking collars for them. Bless ‘em, the little buglers.

The two current works in progress and they are almost done. The Hannover has lozenge decals on the wings, upper and lower surfaces but I had to hand paint the fuselage. The templates I made didn’t last long so free hand painting ensued. I will add a wash to blend it all together. Rigging will be interesting as I might have to use white or wood glue to avoid damaging the decals. 

I completed the first grass cut of the year as we have had bright sunshine for the past six days, wonderful sunny weather. I also cleared space along the fence so that we can paint or seal it. A nice Sage Green is my preferred choice, not too showy and blends in well. Once that is done I can consider what to plant in that corner. I would like a small tree but a bush might be better. It’s a corner that receives a lot of sunshine so I shall consult the RHS plant book my sister gave me. She loves gardening and is very knowledgeable as is one of my friends on fb. No.1 son suggested we put a frame up and climbers planted in which is a good idea. I would love Jasmine or another scented climber perhaps. Part of the fun is researching and deciding what plants should go in, the anticipation of it. I’ll have to make sure any plants are cat friendly especially since Winnie has a habit of chewing things.

TTFN.