Global Scale Modeller

Morning all you lovers of plastic.
So, another slow build is to commence from home of Donkeywalloper. I have come to the realization I’m not the fastest builder in the world. I like the slow race more than the sprint. Probably as I’m still Full Time in work. The Mrs Walloper needs attention (so she says), and life just catches up with you. I work from home, but it’s still full on and the chances of sneaking out to Man-Cave is few and far between. I have been working from home now for two months. For you that already work from home, how do you find it?
Firstly, I find it incredibly lonely. Once Mrs Walloper goes to work at 08:30, I don’t see anyone. I may see colleagues on Teams if a meeting is scheduled, but it’s not the same. I really see nobody at all until Mrs Walloper comes through door at 18:00. She reckons I talk to her like a Jack Rabbit, according to her of course. I suppose it’s true through.
I do go for a walk at Lunchtime and come whatever the weather, I try to do a circuit of the block just to get some fresh air and get out of house. I find that I do more work than the allotted hours, which you would have thought at “Home” wasn’t possible. I tend to start work at 07:30 (my hours are (08:30 – 16:30), and even then, that can be earlier. “My Office”, the table top in the Dining Room next to the Lounge, and therefore the Sofa that I “Sleep” sitting upright in, has minimal Commuting time now. Three or four steps and I’m at work. I do stop around 18:00 when Mrs Walloper gets in, but am well known to be picking up the work schedule again, when either Pain, no sleep or invariably a combination of the two hits home. I have spoken to M/H practitioners who say this is all wrong. No Sh!& Sherlock. Course it’s wrong. It’s all over the place. Habit and Pain through breeds these systems.

Shall we talk about Modelling, and to cheer the mood? I think this would be a great idea and let’s be honest, if you get me started, I can’t stop as who else can I talk to.
So, this build is nothing to do with the current Political and Military standing. I have keen interest in what is going on but that does not influence this build. I do though find the IDF use of vehicles and Armour extremely interesting. The development and history of the IDF’s uses of military vehicles has shaped and is being shaped currently. I suppose, only real / live warfare is a way of finding out if Vehicles, Armour, Equipment and planning really does work. This is where the IDF are developing constantly through experience of warfare, both urban and open country warfare. Currently, the IDF are seriously working on their FIBUA (or is it now OBUA), it was FIBUA in my days. You would think in Urban Warfare, Armour has no place, but the IDF dose seem to use Nagmachon, Nakpadon, Achzarit and Namer.
I was drawn to this particular Armour subject by its relevance to ongoing events. Its use of British Centurion running gear and its sheer weirdness. It’s such an unholy beast in appearance. So, shall we begin. This is my first Hobbyboss build so I was interested in how the quality and build instructions stacked up. I got this particular model for under £50 (hasn’t decent models shot up in price recently.

I had been buying and making Mr Postman cuss me lately.
These were bought for the Airfix 1/35 Ferret i bought.


Some Tiger decals.







Just bits and bobs.
Bit of damage incurred to box but no damage inside.
I have about 70 unbuilt models on shelves but I wanted this so much, I started on it straight away. I was originally going to build the Dragon 1/35 Conqueror, but after reading a lot of criticism on web regarding measurements and shape of Turret being all wrong, I deferred. I had though bought the following in anticipation and therefore have gone in the stash draw. By the way this was back in early December 2023. Yup you read right, this is from December 2023. Thats how long ago this post goes back.
A lots happened, and if your prepared or even a**ed to carry on, stand by for a bumpy ride
More to come and this is gonna be looooooooooooooooooooong.
DW (John)

Long & bumpy rides are welcome - keep it coming DW. The IDF is an interesting subject, both in vehicles and air raft, but one rarely seen so thats going to be interesting too.

Working from home - rarely a good idea mate!! Few times Ford tried getting me to do it they were told to stuff it!! People who did found, like you, that the work load slowly expanded. A friend who's hours were 08:00 - 16:00 (and thats all he was paid for) found those hours stretching from 06:00 till 19:00.
A phone call at 20:30 was the straw that broke the camels back, wound up with a full-on union confrontation with the company insisting he'd agreed to it and both he and the union insisting he hadn't. Union won. Probably teaching a grandparent to extract nutriment from an ovoid object but - you need to exert mental discipline and stop working outside normal hours. Company won't reward you for it and your health, physical and mental, will sufer long term. Better to spend those hours with Mrs DW or, in her absence at the modelling bench. Much more therapeutic.

Nice to see a post from you !
Nice vehicle ! never saw it before but I'm no expert at all on idf or armor.
As for your question about working from home, I've been doing it since the beginning of the pandemic. I saw "sent" home 2 weeks prior to everything being shut down where I live because I just had came back from a trip to the US and the situation there had already started. So the head office decided that everyone coming back from a trip had to work from home right now. After it was everyone during the pandemic and they decided to let it like that since then. So it's been quite a while already
I have a love and hate relationship with it. Less stress about time with trafic, getting home not late for my son to have time to relax and do his homework, etc. Getting up later in morning, relaxing more in the morning, being able to do a few chores at the same time.
On the other end, you don't see as much your coworkers (a few of mine are real good friends outside work) and you become more close on yourself...Even if I'm happy to see everyone when I have to go to the office for a reunion, it now bugs me to have to drive there ! go figure !
But the solution, on my side it to go outside everyday as you said. Get up from the desk every hour for 5 minutes. Even work outside on the terrasse when possible. And what I started last year, just before winter, is to call coworkers that I'm close too, out of the blue, for no reason at all just to talk a few minutes. And the last thing ! that made a real difference for me with the winters we have, and my schedule (I start at 6:30 and finish at 4:30, so no sunlight at the start and end of the day during winter) is that I bought a lamp to help the energy. Not sure the English word for it !

Will follow the build for sure !
take care !

WELCOME BACK
I was only wondering on Sunday how you where and would we ever see your posts again. So glad that you made it back.
Look forward to see what you do with this subject.

Cant beat a bit of donkey walloping!

Looking forward to an interesting build and thread

RangerNeil wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2024 4:32 pm Long & bumpy rides are welcome - keep it coming DW. The IDF is an interesting subject, both in vehicles and air raft, but one rarely seen so thats going to be interesting too.

Working from home - rarely a good idea mate!! Few times Ford tried getting me to do it they were told to stuff it!! People who did found, like you, that the work load slowly expanded. A friend who's hours were 08:00 - 16:00 (and thats all he was paid for) found those hours stretching from 06:00 till 19:00.
A phone call at 20:30 was the straw that broke the camels back, wound up with a full-on union confrontation with the company insisting he'd agreed to it and both he and the union insisting he hadn't. Union won. Probably teaching a grandparent to extract nutriment from an ovoid object but - you need to exert mental discipline and stop working outside normal hours. Company won't reward you for it and your health, physical and mental, will sufer long term. Better to spend those hours with Mrs DW or, in her absence at the modelling bench. Much more therapeutic.

Morning Neil

Great to hear from you again, its been to long. Last time i heard from you, had you recently moved?
Your so right, the main problem with working from home, is making sure you do the work, but don't go all in. Unless you have experienced it, its difficult to describe. I'm getting more of a balance now, and its starting to level out somewhat.
So good to hear from you and always makes me smile with your replies.
John

Stokesy44 wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2024 6:51 am Cant beat a bit of donkey walloping!

Looking forward to an interesting build and thread

Love it, this is a Walloping story / build.
Take care chap
John

Garion77 wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2024 5:37 pm Nice to see a post from you !
Nice vehicle ! never saw it before but I'm no expert at all on idf or armor.
As for your question about working from home, I've been doing it since the beginning of the pandemic. I saw "sent" home 2 weeks prior to everything being shut down where I live because I just had came back from a trip to the US and the situation there had already started. So the head office decided that everyone coming back from a trip had to work from home right now. After it was everyone during the pandemic and they decided to let it like that since then. So it's been quite a while already
I have a love and hate relationship with it. Less stress about time with trafic, getting home not late for my son to have time to relax and do his homework, etc. Getting up later in morning, relaxing more in the morning, being able to do a few chores at the same time.
On the other end, you don't see as much your coworkers (a few of mine are real good friends outside work) and you become more close on yourself...Even if I'm happy to see everyone when I have to go to the office for a reunion, it now bugs me to have to drive there ! go figure !
But the solution, on my side it to go outside everyday as you said. Get up from the desk every hour for 5 minutes. Even work outside on the terrasse when possible. And what I started last year, just before winter, is to call coworkers that I'm close too, out of the blue, for no reason at all just to talk a few minutes. And the last thing ! that made a real difference for me with the winters we have, and my schedule (I start at 6:30 and finish at 4:30, so no sunlight at the start and end of the day during winter) is that I bought a lamp to help the energy. Not sure the English word for it !

Will follow the build for sure !
take care !

Hi Francis

Lovely to hear from you after all these months. You get the life balance and certainly know how it works.
Stay watching, as its gonna be a bumpy ride
John

digger303 wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2024 12:45 am WELCOME BACK
I was only wondering on Sunday how you where and would we ever see your posts again. So glad that you made it back.
Look forward to see what you do with this subject.

Thank you Digger.
Just cause I have been away I haven't topped thinking about you rouges of modelling. Hows the family?
Good to be back and hang on to your chair for some ups and downs.
John

Hey up, her comes more drivel

So I told you I first wrote this in December 2023. Hence image of bought real Christmas Tree

So, this is what The Postman bought. Boy, our Postman works hard (I do tip him every year )
Accurate Armour Ariel Bases / Post War.

Accurate Armour / Carbon Fibre Ariel

Voyager Model / British Conqueror MK.2 Heavy Tank Track Covers (Skirts)

Aber / Super Conqueror / British 120mm L1A1 / MK 1 (Mistake as the Dragon is MK2)


Nothing to do with Conqueror but just impulsive buys. Star Decals / 1/35 / Tigers of Gross Deutschland


Plus, additional decals for the Airfix Ferret in the shape of again Star Decals Ferrets in Cyprus.


I then started to buy Aftermarket for this kit.







On to the box contents. First the A4 Instructions from Hobbyboss.

Paint options (not many options at all, but in a way that’s quite refreshing).

Parts / Sprues breakdown

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

Stage 10

Stage 11

Stage 12

Stage 13

Stage 14

Stage 15

Stage 16

Stage 17

Stage 18

So, like all AFV builds, it’s the wheels that need sorting. After removal from sprues n a bit of sanding to remove nubs (technical term), placed in Cockle Pots (Yummy), till later.


Nice Rubber Tyre Rims, that were nicked, damaged and roughed up.

So the build is in swing and the only tools needed and i love this simple stage. A jar of TET, Files, Sanders, Nippers plus Cockle Pots
Till the next time all.
Love you all
DW (John)

Lovely batch of the needed and the impulse driven.
I'm a slow learner , but I've cracked and am going to try to be more careful with parts and actually put them in something instead of the safe spot on the desk where they always go missing from.
Got this kit hidden away and keen to see what you make of it.

Thats a goodly haul of parts etc there - hope you gave your posty a nice Xmas box.
When are you going to build the Conqueror? I'd love to see that build progress....

I wonder sometimes if the IDF adopted the philosophy of the Berlin Brigade - paint every vehicle type the same so the enemy has to guesstimate how many you've got. Its one way of explaining the limited paint options.....

Oohhh - cockles - yummy!!! Used to love going down to Leigh on sea and walking past all the cockle sheds. Getting a pint of cockles, soused in vinegar and pepper with a buttered roll for a couple of bob then walking on to the pub, getting a pint of ale and sitting on the seawall sipping beer and munching cockles. Went there a while ago and theres only one cockle "stall" left - Osbornes if memory serves and it was over a tenner for a pint!!!

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:27 pm Thats a goodly haul of parts etc there - hope you gave your posty a nice Xmas box.
When are you going to build the Conqueror? I'd love to see that build progress....

I wonder sometimes if the IDF adopted the philosophy of the Berlin Brigade - paint every vehicle type the same so the enemy has to guesstimate how many you've got. Its one way of explaining the limited paint options.....

Oohhh - cockles - yummy!!! Used to love going down to Leigh on sea and walking past all the cockle sheds. Getting a pint of cockles, soused in vinegar and pepper with a buttered roll for a couple of bob then walking on to the pub, getting a pint of ale and sitting on the seawall sipping beer and munching cockles. Went there a while ago and theres only one cockle "stall" left - Osbornes if memory serves and it was over a tenner for a pint!!!

A tenner doesn't buy what it used to. One bag of groceries can be up to 80 bucks......scary. I used to think a million was a lot of money now it's everyday, houses are unaffordable for the young. What have we done to the world to leave a legacy like that to our children and grand kids.

digger303 wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:24 pm Lovely batch of the needed and the impulse driven.
I'm a slow learner , but I've cracked and am going to try to be more careful with parts and actually put them in something instead of the safe spot on the desk where they always go missing from.
Got this kit hidden away and keen to see what you make of it.

I have started to put bought kit for future builds in storage boxes bought from you know who. Course this is where it gets all jolly anal, i have started a spreadsheet of items bought for each model. I now know what i have so dont buy duplicates, and i have done before.
DW

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:27 pm Thats a goodly haul of parts etc there - hope you gave your posty a nice Xmas box.
When are you going to build the Conqueror? I'd love to see that build progress....

I wonder sometimes if the IDF adopted the philosophy of the Berlin Brigade - paint every vehicle type the same so the enemy has to guesstimate how many you've got. Its one way of explaining the limited paint options.....

Oohhh - cockles - yummy!!! Used to love going down to Leigh on sea and walking past all the cockle sheds. Getting a pint of cockles, soused in vinegar and pepper with a buttered roll for a couple of bob then walking on to the pub, getting a pint of ale and sitting on the seawall sipping beer and munching cockles. Went there a while ago and theres only one cockle "stall" left - Osbornes if memory serves and it was over a tenner for a pint!!!

Hi Neil

The Conqueror is a absolute balls up by al accounts. neither a Mark 1 or 2. Its got fauts running all the way thrugh. Should i build OTB, or go for a proper Mark. I followed a chap on web who had done a complete construction f this kit and had to remodel the whole of the Turret.
I do like a Cockle. I especially like the handy glass bowl they come in for keeping parts in during builds
DW

Donkeywalloper wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2024 8:50 am

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:27 pm Thats a goodly haul of parts etc there - hope you gave your posty a nice Xmas box.
When are you going to build the Conqueror? I'd love to see that build progress....

I wonder sometimes if the IDF adopted the philosophy of the Berlin Brigade - paint every vehicle type the same so the enemy has to guesstimate how many you've got. Its one way of explaining the limited paint options.....

Oohhh - cockles - yummy!!! Used to love going down to Leigh on sea and walking past all the cockle sheds. Getting a pint of cockles, soused in vinegar and pepper with a buttered roll for a couple of bob then walking on to the pub, getting a pint of ale and sitting on the seawall sipping beer and munching cockles. Went there a while ago and theres only one cockle "stall" left - Osbornes if memory serves and it was over a tenner for a pint!!!

Hi Neil

The Conqueror is a absolute balls up by al accounts. neither a Mark 1 or 2. Its got fauts running all the way thrugh. Should i build OTB, or go for a proper Mark. I followed a chap on web who had done a complete construction f this kit and had to remodel the whole of the Turret.
I do like a Cockle. I especially like the handy glass bowl they come in for keeping parts in during builds
DW

I believe the amusing hobby version is a better representation of the Conqueror, like you I have heard and read reviews where there is a lot wrong with the deck and turret.
No idea what a cockle is, but sounds a bit rude

Some idlers carefully removed from sprues ensuring the shape of horns not lost.

Parts ticked off as cut off sprues and glued.

The kit comes with separate rubber shoes for wheels. These were removed and a few were roughed up and nicks cut in with Craft Knife and a very rough Ultimate Sander to show wear and tear.


To clean off the Rubber shoe dust you need to brush the Sander periodically.


To get rid of the dust from Bench, use this, once used on Mrs DW cheeks .

Next the Rear Hull Plate is detailed.

Then we move on to the suspension and running gear, this is all Centurian and if you have built one, you’ll recognise the parts.

Lower Hull Tub





Holes to be made in Lower Hull

More parts added to Lower Hull


Front Lower Hull Plate added.

Lower Hull taking shape.




Fiddly four-part Tow Hooks

Drive Housings fitted.



Rear Plate attached. Rear Tow unit built up. More fiddly Hooks







Front Plate

So, this concludes the Lower Hull build that was carried out over the New Year 2023 / 24.
Wishing you all a wonderful day and may you and families remain safe and loved
DW (John)

Yep looks like a Centurion and the details look good.

Running gear looks suitably busy

digger303 wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2024 3:32 pm Yep looks like a Centurion and the details look good.

Its comforting to see the Centurion components.

DW

Stokesy44 wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:12 pm Running gear looks suitably busy

The fit was good and no real problems except for the Bazooka Plate posts. They just would not affix in place without a lot of glue.

DW

Afternoon all

Now I'm going to apologies straight away for the next part. Choose to read or not. Its very light on Modelling, but heavy on life.

So, Christmas came and went. For the first time in our 24 years married and 27 years together, we spent all of the Christmas period together, Mrs DW was off and of course so was I. I dislike Christmas intensely. I was brought up a Roman Catholic, so Christmas as a young chap was good, and dare I say quite exciting. As a teenager and young unattached, it was a time of getting drunk and parties. But, once I aged and matured, I became tired of the commercialism and as I had lost faith in anything some years ago, not even the meaning of Christmas grips me. I love when people call me Scrooge and utter “Bah Humbug”. Idiots! Christmas is wonderful when you have small children and it is special and can be made special with no Religion or any Commercialism. But we don’t have Children, so what do I know. Anyway, back to Christmas. Mrs DW bought me tickets to The Book of Mormon in London, she even booked a hotel for us for one night at The Fox and Goose in Hanger Lane (Fullers Brewery, and very highly recommended both by me and the half).

We arrived after a long journey down from The Midlands. Checked in, and as the Hotel was picked as close to Central Line, we found ourselves on Tube heading to Oxford Circus with the idea of getting a Taxi at other end, something to eat and drink and a 14:30 performance. All was going swimmingly………….
I lived in London for 25 years; I traveled the Tubes for 25 years without incident. Can you see where this is going? We sat on Tube, trundling along towards Central London. I now walk with a stick and I am doddering and poor in mobility. We made it to Oxford Circus and hopped off and made our way towards the Escalators. The first negotiation was to make my way up a flight of steps. Then you reach a large Concourse with five or six Escalators that travel up to the Station. Some go up, some come down. Obviously, we needed to go up. This is where it becomes convoluted. Normally, Mrs DW always stands behind me. Supporting me. It’s a joke really as I’m 6’6” tall and 19 stone. It’s not easy to support a lump. Yet that’s how we do it. This is though what happened. The Tube was not particularly busy, Lunchtime, Mid-Term between Christmas and New Year. At the rate I walk, most passengers alighting had gone up Escalator by the time I got to bottom of Escalator. For some reason, Mrs DW went up first. As I bisected the concourse, I notice a patch of what I presume was Sawdust or some other absorbent material thrown down at the bottom of Escalator, which I think covered a patch of Vomit that had been cleared up. I shouted to Mrs DW (wearing new shoes), “Mind the sick”, she by then was a 1/3 of the was up Escalator. She had her back to the direction of travel. I was by then on Escalator and maybe twenty steps behind. She called to me, “What?”. I said, “The Puke at the bottom of the Escalator, you just walked through it” and at this point, I must have turned slightly to indicate the Puke. As I turned slightly, my stick, which is heavy, Irish and referred to as a Shillelagh. It has a rubber tip on the toe to stop it slipping. I think, this caught the metal sides and as the momentum was moving forwards and upwards, this through my Right Hand off the Escalator Hand-Rail. This allowed my stick head to come in contact with Escalator moving wall. The combination was, I found myself not traveling forward but actually falling backwards. It felt almost dream like or nightmare like, in all honesty. I have seen this action mimicked in Films and such but it truly the same in real life. Time slows and seems to be almost surreal. The sensation of falling back stared as panic, gotta grab on to something, anything, then was overtook by the realization, that gravity had taken over and I had nothing to do other than fall and take it all with a pinch of salt.
Curious feeling, falling backwards. It is slow motion and for a few seconds a feeling of serenity or is that helplessness? Think it’s a combination of both. I know that my right hand was grasping for the handrail in a very unpromising way. Least to say, I fell, and fell. Luckily, this was very lucky, nobody was immediately behind me. Imagine the carnage as a 19 stone / 6’ 5” chap falling backwards would do to Human flesh. Not good. I do remember briefly thinking, “God, this is going to hurt bad”.
I was told by witnesses, and after the accident, CCTV footage, I fell backwards approximately 25 feet. That and the magic of Gravity x Body Mass was quite a feat I suspect. I don’t remember the fall but I do remember me landing on my left-side, and my head impacted the moving steps as they trundled up and onward. I definitely lost consciousness for a period. Minutes, I don’t know, but definitely I don’t remember a period lost in time. I came to with people seeming to wrestle with me, and I saw Mrs DW face that was above me on the steps above.
What I didn’t know, was Mrs DW pitched herself down the Escalators to reach me, but fell on her knees badly. She didn’t recall this till sometime after. I lay on my left-side for some time, then felt the Escalator came to a halt. I heard many people shouting for someone to stop the Escalator. After the event a lady informed us that she had been punching the Emergency Stop button and nothing happened. I was aware by then of my face very much jammed against the left-side of the Escalator and my head firmly grating against the metal foot grills, and for some reason, both of my Trainers had come off. People were trying to sit me up, but due to body mass and being at a 45-degree angle on Escalator, this was near impossible.
Eventually, I managed to get back on my socked feet and I was reunited with my Trainers. I could feel blood trickling down my head and my head and left side was throbbing mightily. By now three London Transport employees were with us and I was guided gingerly up the final stairs to the concourse. I was given a seat and the female employee, started to carry out First-Aid on me, meanwhile lots of Commuters spent time staring at the wounded bugger on a chair. On my jacket I was wearing (Baerskin) was a badge with the words 3 RRF (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers). The female carrying out a mop up on my scalp was very eager to tell me that she was a L/Cpl in the 5th Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (TA), she had noticed my badge and we got into an animated conversation. She did a marvelous job on me. She was a Medic in the 5th. All of the London Transport Staff were fantastic and looked after me superbly.
Of course, we both knew, by then that the time we had allotted for Lunch and a Pre-Theater drink, we were running close to the time of needing to be at Theater. It was 14:00 and the performance was at 14:30. We got out of Station and managed to flag a Taxi down and off we went to the Theater. Whilst in the back of Black Cab and by now the Adrenalin was wearing off, I started to feel rough. Pain was emanating from my right thigh and I could feel my leg swelling. Mrs DW wanted to cancel everything and go back to hotel, but I knew how much she had spent on this present. Press on we did.
We got to the Theater and Mrs DW, spoke to a member of staff who arranged for us to sit at the rear of theater as I would never have been able occupy the seats we had. The show was amazing, rude, irreverent, so far down the line, the line can’t be seen. If you have seen it, you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t then you will be shocked.
All through the show I was feeling pain in my parts that had hit solid objects. My Head, Left Shoulder, Left Buttock, Left Thigh. It was though the Left Thigh I was starting to worry about. I could feel a lump swelling under the material of my trousers like a Melon. Can you break a Femur and still walk? I hadn’t a clue but though it was very rare. We made it to the end of performance.
I’m going to shorten this bit as Mrs DW wanted to call an ambulance but I would not even consider. We managed to get a Taxi from Central London back to Hanger Lane, and I stumbled out of Taxi and up to room, and collapsed on bed. Having managed to get clothes off, it was apparent how many wounds I had on my body. Mrs DW photographed all wounds and my leg was swollen badly. We both had been through it, and felt glad to be back in hotel. I had ruined the day and felt awful, but stoically and with typical DW verve, we also realized that neither of had eaten all day. We ordered a Deliveroo and had Burger King delivered to room and enjoyed a very weird and expensive tea in room.
The next day, Mrs DW drove home from London to house and I sat in passenger seat, in absolute agony. My leg was and more importantly, my left thigh was like a solid Rugby Ball. The pain was unbelievable and I sat wracking my brain whether you can walk on a broken Femur? I didn’t know, but the pain and swelling were alarming. We got home and Mrs DW had to “Crowbar” me from the Passenger seat and into the house. I collapsed on to the Sofa and dosed with enough Painkillers to kill a Buffalo. A couple of days later and significantly to many, it was New Years eve. I was in such pain, so much that I could not walk. I felt awful. Bruises were starting to appear and swelling that I have never felt in 59 years.



Mrs DW wanted to take me to the hospital. Stubbornness did not make me a party with this. Unbeknownst to me, Mrs DW had snuck upstairs and rang 111 (it’s a UK General Medical Line but non-emergency). They did not like sound of 58-year-old chap falling down Escalator backwards 20 foot and hitting head. They called for an Ambulance to the house. I think due to pain and discomfort, I could not be bothered by then. I was all in. funny how the belligerent and pride caves in after too much pain and discomfort, and so the two Paramedics arrived in the house. I was checked over and in plain language, I was told, I’m going to hospital. So off we trot in a Blue-Light Ambulance to the Derby General Hospital on New Years Eve. Oh, how the Blue Lights looked so pretty flickering in the back of the Ambulance as I was strapped on a Gurney. I arrived in the nick of time before the rush of New Year drunk and disorderly arrived in A/E.

I was prodded and probed and MRI’d and generally checked over by tired and overworked Doctors. The end decision was, I was very, very lucky. Bruised, not broken.
Home, I went, with more Painkillers (Tramadol, as if I’m not on enough high-end Opiates).
New Years Eve 2023, was by now a complete shamble. Mrs DW and I though, as we have always, stumbled and smiled and gritted our teeth and marched on. Happy New Year all.
Isn’t this a Modelling site?
It is, but its part of the life this Modeler lives.
If you read and you got this far, well done.
Stand by for more Plastic in next post.
Love to all
DW

Remind me NOT to go out on the lash with you DW!
Seriously though - glad you were OK after all that. Hopefully by now the worst of that little lot will have healed - same for Mrs DW?
Don't worry about long & personal - better that we know one of the family here is OK rather than silence and be left wondering.

What a nightmare, amazing you didnt break anything!

Heck of a story and experience and not very nice. I'm glad you came through it ok and please listen to the missus when she wants to look after you.

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 5:10 pm Remind me NOT to go out on the lash with you DW!
Seriously though - glad you were OK after all that. Hopefully by now the worst of that little lot will have healed - same for Mrs DW?
Don't worry about long & personal - better that we know one of the family here is OK rather than silence and be left wondering.

I am a accident walking. I am fun on the lash though chap
I'm getting there, that depth of bruising in a 59 year old body sure does not shake off as well when i was 18.
DW

digger303 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 6:40 am Heck of a story and experience and not very nice. I'm glad you came through it ok and please listen to the missus when she wants to look after you.

No, totality, she was right, I was wrong. I'm not as Bulletproof as I thought.
DW

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 6:04 pm What a nightmare, amazing you didnt break anything!

I was questioning all the time that "Can you walk in shock with a broken Femur"? I dont think you can or could, but i'm a very lucky boyDW

Hello people and lovers of the one and only true hobby.

Let’s leave me alone. Forget about the personal stuff, let’s talk plastic and glue. New Year 24 and let’s get back to some modelling.

Were still on the Lower Hull and the next parts are the Idler wheels. Very poor location points. I widened the holes in wheels to improve location.

I then glued on the upper two plates, so Front Glacis Plate and Engine Deck. No gaps and nice tight joins. Masking tape used to hold parts overnight.




Next came the Front Mudguards.


This sprue is unique as Hobbyboss has protected this with additional protection.

Quite right to. Lots of delicate pieces. Mostly Bar Armour for the Doghouse.


Anyway, back to Fenders.

Lots of additions to be made to these Fenders, quite heavy on “Stuff” associated with these Fenders. Boxes and Water-Cans Locations for Armour Protection, Smoke Dischargers, Light Units.

I decided to buy some A/M in the shape of light units to replace the kit supplied, which were okay, but made up of multiple PE, Clear Plastic and Parts. Way to fiddly for my Sausage Fingers. I bought them from Super Hobby and they were FC Model Trend (part 37035) Nagmachon Front Light units. They are produced in Clear plastic and it’s a case of snipping all the Resin Supporting Struts away with Nippers. Be careful! You only then need to Maskol the Lense and it’s that simple. I did bust a piece of the cage that surrounds the Lights, its very, very brittle plastic, but I repaired with a piece of spare PE.






Shall we leave it there, nice short one with no physical accidents or bumps and falls.
Take care all.
DW

Nice fix and good modeling so far, keep it up....

Lovely.
Good to hear all the nice things about this kit. Mainly cause I've got one to build sometime and interesting about the fc lights I've heard a lot of not so good things about them and their products....very mixed.

Hey up, more work ahead.

More work on Fenders.


Then work on the very visible Doghouse begins.



Four MGs in mounts, all movable.

Nice Regimental Patch arrived for my Baerskin Fleece.

More Doghouse build and really very enjoyable and simple to construct.

I say simple, sausage fingers fumbled a couple of handles so no problem, constructed from Brass Wire, actually they do look more in scale as always.



Another AM arrives in the shape of Resin FC Model Trend Nagmachon Side Skirt Chains. I hummed and ahhed over using real chain, but went with these.


Image below is the lower Doghouse Casement.


The casement for the Doghouse is made up of two halves. A little warped and needed some “Manipulation” to get it square.



Of course, being wrapped up in the current affairs and World affairs, watching what was going on in the Middle East, and whatever your affiliation and mine is straight forward, do not invade countries and expect no response. I love Israeli Armour. They have over time, used 2nd hand / gifted Armour. And through war and its subsequent development have produced some amazing Armour variant’s. With that in mind, I sort out some models that piqued my interest. This was bought from Scale Model Shop. Amusing Hobbies, 1/35, IDF Shot Kal “Gimel” with Battering Ram (35A032).

I also purchased the following. AK, FJ43 SUV, with Soft Top, IDF or LAF (AK35004)

Make a great Dio?
Anyway, back to the complicated Doghouse. I say complicated, it needs to be square and it requires holes being drilled / bored for the addition of soooooo much Bar Armour. The MG’s were added along with handles and Cupolas.




Do you ever think when you’re concentrating hard on Glue and instructions, someone or something is watching you?

So from me and Sergey, adieu and love and best wishes,
DW

Nice cat.

Its coming on well DW, very well!!! Those side skirt chains will look the dogs dangly bits once finished. Some else I know just finished a Merkava and he used a similar product. Probably one of the most identifiable features of Israeli armour.
Commiseration with the warped pieces - thats been the bane of my life recently but I have been building some very old kits so...

With regards Israeli design - they have a neat way of thinking outside the box and re-using kit for different applications. In the 90's Ford had a contract with an Israeli firm called Tecnomatix for the design of Virtual Manufacturing software and they drove Central IT up the wall by tweaking and twisting systems to make them work.

As for current events - in the 70's my mob had some members of what was then known as Unit 269, the IDF equivalent of us, attached for a year and we got to be good friends. I kept in touch with one over the years. He retired from the IDF some 20+ years ago and was killed on Oct 7th last year. Only consolation, if one can call it that - was security cam footage showed 6 <censoreds> breaking into his home and 1 walking out. Left me with a very polarised view of events in that part of the world.

RangerNeil wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 5:08 pm Its coming on well DW, very well!!! Those side skirt chains will look the dogs dangly bits once finished. Some else I know just finished a Merkava and he used a similar product. Probably one of the most identifiable features of Israeli armour.
Commiseration with the warped pieces - thats been the bane of my life recently but I have been building some very old kits so...

With regards Israeli design - they have a neat way of thinking outside the box and re-using kit for different applications. In the 90's Ford had a contract with an Israeli firm called Tecnomatix for the design of Virtual Manufacturing software and they drove Central IT up the wall by tweaking and twisting systems to make them work.

As for current events - in the 70's my mob had some members of what was then known as Unit 269, the IDF equivalent of us, attached for a year and we got to be good friends. I kept in touch with one over the years. He retired from the IDF some 20+ years ago and was killed on Oct 7th last year. Only consolation, if one can call it that - was security cam footage showed 6 <censoreds> breaking into his home and 1 walking out. Left me with a very polarised view of events in that part of the world.

Hi Neil

Hope you and family are well and great to hear from you. You'll hear a little later my views on these Chains as they are brittle as hell and the amount of supports needing to be cut away about pushed me into binning them, but did persevere.
I have no Jewish connections, no blood ties, nothing at all but something in my make up is incredibly proud of them. their history, their tenacity and the ate that is meted against them, just makes them stronger.
The IDF have always fascinated me taking other countries cast offs and using them, developing them and generally utilizing equipment to terrain, conflicts and coming up with fantastic designs.
Thank you for sharing your last paragraph. I do not apologies that
I am firmly on the Israeli side. Those who talk about Freeing Palestine, are not reading history and certainly are taking a very one sided view. What happened on 7.10 did not need to happen and was a cause of suffering that could have been avoided. Those who throw the word Genocide around, need to have a look at the description of Genocide and think again Trouble is, those who hide behind masks and wear the Keffiyeh are young, dumb and mostly idiots. Sorry, I believe in sovereignty of countries and the right to defend if attacked. I am forever the Soldier
I shall go and have a beer
John

digger303 wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:03 pm Nice cat.

Cheers Digger. He hates me and avoids me. He is Mrs DW favorite.
John

Nice fixes on the warped parts. The Dog House definitely looks the part. I have an unbuilt Mercava thats been calling my name. I like that they added the anti-skid surface on top of the dog house too. I can only imagine the chaos in it during operation with the vehicle noise, multi-gun noises, crew members, and pings of ricochets from the outside.

Now if those weapons just had terrain stabilization, automatic range finding, thermal and IR sights that would be perfect (just kidding).

Ben

DRUMS01 wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 9:18 pm Nice fixes on the warped parts. The Dog House definitely looks the part. I have an unbuilt Mercava thats been calling my name. I like that they added the anti-skid surface on top of the dog house too. I can only imagine the chaos in it during operation with the vehicle noise, multi-gun noises, crew members, and pings of ricochets from the outside.

Now if those weapons just had terrain stabilization, automatic range finding, thermal and IR sights that would be perfect (just kidding).

Ben

Its the most intriguing vehicle I have ever seen. Its almost Sci-Fi. As you mention, it must be bloody hell in the box, Guns, Smoke, Noise, Sound................Wow
Glad your enjoying,
DW

Good morning all

Firstly, I'm a very lost Modeler currently. The greatest influence on my life and my Friend and Rock died on the 18.8.24.
My Dad.
The family are devastated but I am feeling the loss singularly in total bewilderment. He was 87. Fit and then suddenly, and i mean in three weeks he fell, broke a Collar-Bone. Ends up in hospital and then we get the prognosis that he has Lung Cancer, Bone Cancer, and Brain Cancer. he must have knew and he kept quiet. No idea how, but he didn't let on at all, but we think he knew a while ago.
I went to view my Dad in the Chapel of Rest in Leamington Spa where he lived. The last time i had seen him was in the hospital in Warwick and he looked awful, this was the day before he died.
He looked amazing. He was dressed in his best suit as per a senior Freemason. He was shaved and looked so peaceful. I broke down and my Mum and Mrs DW were holding me. But, after I left, I felt like a heavy weight lifted off my heart.
I will always miss him. He got me into Modelling and so much more. I love him for every beat of my heart.
See you one day Dad x

Sorry this is taking so long, i'mm getting there

Some more AM but not sure that this will be fitted as I can’t find any Nagmachon with one fitted. Ah well, it will get used. “These aren’t the Droids you’re looking for”


Anyway, back to the Doghouse. The Bar Armour needs lots of struts and they need to be square and true to fit Bar Armour. Of course, the Carpet Monster opened its huge, fat jaws and swallowed a piece. Kerping! Off it sails, a tiny length of plastic, gone forever. No probs, replace with a nice piece of Brass Bar from AK.




So, these are the instructions for the internal Bar Armour.


Of course, still Mr Postman appears with boxes containing the following from Japan, T Rex, TR35051, 1/35 Antenna Mounts. Various looking units to add a bit of interest.





So, on we go (this is a slow build), with the Doghouse.


Then as the instructions denote, we add the inner level of Bar Armour.




With T Rex Antennae added


The next step was to construct the delicate Anti-IED Antennae. This is part plastic and PE.


I then constructed the two-part Side Skirts.

These parts below are parts that attach to the Side Skirts (the parts are where the Side Skirts attach to the side of the Hull, they have location holes where the Chains that locate into sit. The kit does not come with parts that represent Chains, hence the AM. Also in the Pot is parts for the bar Armour.

So, taking a break from Modelling, and you’ll get the idea how long this post goes on. This is 16.2.24 and were off to, get this, London again. Are you crazy after the stuff at the tail end of 23 Yup!
Thats it for today.
Thank you and as always be soft on a busted up Modeler
Take care all
DW

Ah it looks like whether busted or not you've got a good handle on this.

digger303 wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:08 pm Ah it looks like whether busted or not you've got a good handle on this.

Thanks Digger
DW

Hi all

So, this is the present that I bought at Christmas for Mrs DW. Tickets to a showing of Moulin Rouge at the Shaftsbury Theater.
So back to Hanger Lane and the same hotel, Fox and Hound. Does this seem like Deja and or a Nightmare? Here we are back at Hanger Lane Tube for another trip down to Oxford Circus. How do you think Mrs DW feels?


Well, lightning does not strike twice.

We got off at Marble Arch and caught a bus down Park Lane. I sat in my seat at the bus slowly, and I mean slowly wound its way down Park Lane. This is a Saturday. Well of course its busy I Central London. Well, its busier than normal? Nope. We are corralled even on a bus, because on the side of Park Lane that would normally be heading towards Marble Arch, is a parade (?) of humans chanting against Israel and calling for boycotts and some calling for peace. Mrs DW is holding on to my jacket / hand and gripping me, as she knows that I’m exploding in my seat. Sorry, this is not a political site and were all entitled to our views, as this is what many, many Men and Women laid their lives down for. Freedom of Speech. Yup, Freedom of Speech, gosh, what an amazing perk. Some don’t get how lucky we are. Anyway, you get my drift, you get that I’m definitely on one side.
We dropped off into Holborn and sat in a Pub and drank a well-deserved beer.

Soon, we saw this.


Well, we both enjoyed (maybe Mrs DW more), the show, and the two days spent in my favourite London, were restful and richly deserved.
Let’s go back to plastic, here is a bit more work on Side Skirts.

I had also bought more AM in the shape of AK IDF Accessories. Lovely little bit of stuff to festoon a IDF kit. I bought this through www.scalemodelshop.co.uk


These are the kit supplied tracks. They aren’t very good. They lack detail and the moulding is a bit “Mushy”. Actually, wasted a day, separating and cleaning up the tracks from the sprues and separating them into each side.



I even glued some lengths together. Mr Postman again arrived with the following from Plusmodel in the shape of IDF Ration Boxes. Bit of actual Origami. Also received an issue of Eureka Model Accessories in the form of Centurian Tow Cables. This kit box image shows a cable. Guess what, no, not supplied. Looking on reference images on web, they do seem to utilise a cable or two.




Next job was to spray the clear part Armored Glass units with Tamiya Clear Green.


In between this, work had pulled in naturally enough Occupational Health. Now anyone who has gone through OH will have varied and different views on these interviews, so this is only my view. This is arranged to be carried out via Microsoft Teams and would involve a video interview. The day comes and the interview is carried out by a Dr who I have never met and has an overview provided by works not me. So, the interview comes and lasts 15 minutes. The outcome? I’m fine to return to work (Fit), but the commute to work that is carried out in my personal vehicle. It’s a 45 – 50-minute journey one way. So, the Dr says I can return to work, but to drive to work and to use any company vehicles, I have to notify the DVLA (UK Driver Licencing). Okay.
If you have ever tried to contact the DVLA, you know the pain. You cannot ring them. You can. Of course, you can pick up phone and ring, but you’ll never speak to anyone. Email. I sent two emails and each received an Automated Email with a number that gives you some indication of your case number and somebody from the DVLA would be in touch. Let me tell you that to date (6.3.24 - June 2024, nobody has ever been in touch via email). There is a Chat facility. You guessed, that does not work. So, I went for the old-fashioned Snail-Trail version. I sent a letter. Isn’t that old school.

So, the company starts paying for me to use Train to work. Does anybody remember the Train advert, Let the Train take the strain. Well, anybody who uses the train, it doesn’t take the strain at all. Do you know what’s ironic. I was driving to the Station. Paying for the Car-Park at station. Then via one change, it would still take 50 minutes by train. When it works, it was quite nice and relaxing. This though was punctuated at a time when the UK Rail is going through a lot of Industrial Strikes for more pay. On these days, I worked from home. Not great.

On the 15.3.24, received an acknowledgement that DVLA had received my letter and what would happen next.
Mr Postman appears again burdened by my forays into the Web for some “Bits & Bobs”.


The Nagmachon Hull is now starting to take shape and build up into a ½ Centurion and ½ IDF unit.

So this will do for now, a lot more to come.
DW

Ripper post. Glad to catch up with what's going on and good to hear your healing up.
Are you still going to use the kit tracks ?

The IDF box on tracks is looking good DW - thats a goodly selection of add-ons you're accumulating. I'm really looking forwards to seeing the finished Nagmachon.

Sorry to hear the issues with OH. They can be a misetable bunch at the best of times. I have unfond memories of the big A's version - initially went the same as you with an unkown MO via video - with the same result as you. I was lucky though - the area manager demanded an MO actually come look at the fried feet. I hope you get the issue resolved - same with DVLA. If you can actually get a name to deal with they can be quite helpful. Its getting that name thats a pain in the proverbial.
As for trains - dom't get me started on that topic. If I want to go to the Cenotaph on Remebrance Sunday by train I have to leave home by mid-day Saturday. If I go by car to outer London I can stay overnight in a comfy travel lodge, go in by underground and then back reverse the trip back after the parade to home for about half the train fare....

Looks like quite the outing!

RangerNeil wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:12 pm The IDF box on tracks is looking good DW - thats a goodly selection of add-ons you're accumulating. I'm really looking forwards to seeing the finished Nagmachon.

Sorry to hear the issues with OH. They can be a misetable bunch at the best of times. I have unfond memories of the big A's version - initially went the same as you with an unkown MO via video - with the same result as you. I was lucky though - the area manager demanded an MO actually come look at the fried feet. I hope you get the issue resolved - same with DVLA. If you can actually get a name to deal with they can be quite helpful. Its getting that name thats a pain in the proverbial.
As for trains - dom't get me started on that topic. If I want to go to the Cenotaph on Remebrance Sunday by train I have to leave home by mid-day Saturday. If I go by car to outer London I can stay overnight in a comfy travel lodge, go in by underground and then back reverse the trip back after the parade to home for about half the train fare....

Cheers Neil
HR are a absolute ball ache to deal with now and frankly ruining working conditions not making them better.
I have never been to a annual Cenotaph parade and its one of my bug tick lists.
Take care as always
John

aur0ra145 wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 11:51 pm Looks like quite the outing!

I start off small then just exceed my own expectations. Honestly I cannot do anything simple.

DW

Hi all
lets keep going shall we
The Doghouse and major parts were than washed in warm water and washing liquid to remove dust and grease, and dried overnight. The parts were then given a coating of MIG Productions One Shot Primer. I actually prefer Mr Hobby black Primer, but at the time, their seemed a bit of a shortage of the stuff. This is not bad as a substitute for Mr Hobby. I sprayed a coat then added the Armored Glass Sections in the Doghouse these were then masked with Liquid Masking Solution (Vallejo).


This is a bit of a jump, but the next images are the Doghouse attached to Upper Hull and the bar Armour attached. Boy, was that fun. Do not think that bar Armour is exactly straight and perpendicular. Its not. Having looked at many images, these sections are heavily used for access and are removed and attached regularly, and plus suffer routine operational damage.




The first coat and this is a thin coat, is AMMO Real IDF Sinai Grey 82. This again came in a box from Scale Model Shop.










So, as always, I never do things by half.
In fully, and go big.
DW

Not seen the Airbrush reamer before and going by the name it appears to be the be all end of AB cleaners.
Might be tricky to keep the varnish off the windows.
Looks pretty good and I don't think those bars would have been easy to align.

digger303 wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:26 pm Not seen the Airbrush reamer before and going by the name it appears to be the be all end of AB cleaners.
Might be tricky to keep the varnish off the windows.
Looks pretty good and I don't think those bars would have been easy to align.

Hi Digger

Hope you and family are well?
The Reamer aresol is pretty good but noxious, so when using keep room vented. It certainly cleans out all muck in the A/B.
Best wishes,
John