Farmer matt

Evev if I had the patience to do that rigging, in any scale, my eyes and definitely my thumbs would not allow it. In 1:144 you are acheiving miracles. Does the book come with a magnifying glass? Seriously, would be very interested in a copy. Matt

Contrasts on the A217 this morning, a dreadful looking early VW Transporter camper, lowered and ratted and most noteworthy for having a huge mattress strapped to the roof. Luckily order was restored within minutes by an immaculate dark red XJS convertible (hood up though) on an L- prefix. Also a first-gen Disco in an odd mid -green, they are not so common now. Edit And just saw this coming on the A23 in time to get a pic 1963consulcapri by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Edit Its a Consul Classic not a Capri, see the post from @stevehnz further down the page. Thanks for pointing that out, swotting up done! Matt

Luckily within yards of home so I could remember the registration long enough to look it up, a 1953 Bentley R, in grey and shall we say faded elegance for the condition. Very nice.. Matt

This is the rotor painted c30.31 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr And a few other bits. The exhaust ring locates by two handed holes on the back of the cylinders so you can only get it correctly oriented. c30.32 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr You may notice the two windscreens cut from plastic to the instruction template. The test fit was so much fun there is a likelyhood they will be omitted unless they cooperate when the time comes to attach properly. As you may have gathered from previous exploits on here, transparancies are a bit of a nemesis for me. Always have been. I know they are just parts to attach like any others, but somehow it doesnt work like that. And this is the main airframe after a dousing in Ford Ivory c30.33 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr c30.34 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Some detail painting needed, then hopefully not far to go now. Matt.

Whilst this is straying slightly off thread, the question of accurate portrayal vs. what looks like poor modelling may sometimes raise its head. For example, are those antenna supposed to be offset or central, is one tailpane supposed to be higher than the other (c30), are those invasion stripes really that wonky. Those may be cases when presenting evidence would be beneficial. Matt

This morning a quick trip along the A25 yielded an F-prefix Vauxhall Astra 5-door in white, and an immaculate J-suffix Morris Traveller in dark blue with very fresh looking woodwork. Also, not something I think I've ever seen before, being loaded at the local funeral directors a (modern) hearse in silver. One of the horsedrawn hearses is white, but otherwise black would be more expected I would have thought. Unless it is available as a specific request I suppose. Matt

As already mentioned, no kit is ever going to be 100% accurate, for a start the thickness of plastic immediately compromises the space available for the cockpit interior, so the seats have to be too narrow, then the pilot has to be too small, and then..... The same applies to engine bay detail and other parts. It is frustrating if a manufacturer makes an 'obvious' mistake, however you must bear in mind that many preserved airframes now are bitsa lash-ups, virtually replicas, or painted as something they never were. These are largely the starting point for a model. Assuming a plan is worked to, it may well have its own inaccuracies, even original manufacturer blueprints will vary from reality. There is also sometimes the need/desire to produce many different variants from one basic tooling. This will often require compromise as to which details are the most 'generic' and can end up with a starting point which is 'wrong' in some way for any chosen outcome. As to whether a modeller chooses to or can correct such things, my attitude varies between 'I know its wrong but it looks nice so live with it ' to 'out with the hacksaw' depending largely on my whim at the time. It is just as easy, if not easier, to completely stuff up a £100 superkit as a £10 cheapie. However it is far more satisfying to at least feel that your efforts have improved a kit in some small way. The debate about whether you shoud need to improve it will probably continue for as long as there are kits to build. Matt

So pitot on (for how long?), and tailwheel on. I was not going to affix this yet, but I need to keep the tail off the ground for paint so seemed the obvious way to do it. The shank needed shortening a fair bit, and a very snug fit - it is not actually glued but will probably never come out. c30.28 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Next up will be primer and paint, but first lets play with the rotor c30.29 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr The wires to support the blades are actually cast in to the head, which must have been quite involved to acheive. There are grooves in the underside of the blades to accept the wire. The instructions say to bend the wire down for a stationary rotor, but I suspect they will droop of their own accord given time so I left flat. c30.30 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr The end result is not altogether elegant, but you will rarely see the underside of the blades once fitted. Matt

Wow never heard of one of those. Just googled a bit of background, shades of Delorean and Arfur Daley methinks. Body moulded in colour, not sprayed. Rear lights from a Pantera apparently. Interesting one, thanks for sharing, Matt

That is absolutely superb, especially the road surface and the various tiny details on the building. One query, the spelling of the operators name vs that on the truck?

Another Ford rarity on the Dorking Road this lunchtime, a silver (Mercury》Cougar, (the short lived Probe replacement, and actually a Ford unlike the Probe which was a Mazda). Matt

And another look at her belly, c30.27 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr As you can see I have added the tailplane struts, again substituting plastic rod for the kit supplied wire. Helpfully the locating holes were clearly defined so not too much drama. Many photos of preserved examples show a prominent square hatch on the underside. Anyone know if this was on all machines or an RAF fitting? Or what it was for? Matt

There is a Sierra based one around here in Martini colours, but they do seem very thin on the ground. I thought the Cortina ones were extinct. Matt

With the fuselage join pretty much resolved, and incidentally I do much prefer a horizontal join to the traditional vertical, time to add some more struttery to the undercarriage. The rearmost struts are supplied together on a runner c30.22 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Unfortunately it is less than clear at either end where the part stops and runner begins, and the instructions are less than helpful at this point. c30.23 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr The written instuctions simply say attach, there is no mention of the parts being handed (port has a step) and as you can see the diagram is not exactly explicit about location at the lower end. There is a notch in the fuselage at the upper end, but the junction of the struts at the wheel is left for you to determine. So, one side at a time, port first because that was the most willing to locate somewhere that looked about correct. c30.24 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Not very graceful. And then starboard , and I found my repair to the axle area was less than helpful at this point and it was easier to trim the part than try to clean up the excess glue. c30.25 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Once that was set in place, time for the horizontal struts, for which wire is provided but I substituted plastic rod. c30.26 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr The overall alignment is better in some directions than others, but it is as good as I could make it without potential major surgery . The main undercarriage piece was probably a good idea but a bit too reliant on it casting cleanly and not becoming twisted or damaged subsequently. As I have mentioned, later issues of the kit had a zinc part which was hopefully more resilient. Matt

Taking the local cut through earlier, followed a tidy red D-prefix Mercedes 300SL, top down in the afternoon sun, whats not to like? Also red with the top down but rather less subtle, a 17-plate Mustang on the A217. There are plenty of ponies around here, but virtually all hardtops rather than convertibles. Finally, and also red, representing the Brits firmly wedged in traffic so I couldnt see the plates- but they were black- an MGB-GT. I do quite fancy one of those. Matt

I was looking at this myself, it seems to have been a parts bin special from both concerns, so if we can find out which parts that would help. The airframe is apparently extant at the de Havilland museum London Colney, Hertfordshire UK, but I do not know if it is on display. They might be able to help you though. Matt

At the other end of the scale, two tiny K- prefix survivors within moments on the A23 this afternoon. I had just noticed an immaculate white Suzuki Swift GT, when heading the opposite way was a blue Fiat Panda in equally fine fettle. I'm not sure why you would have wanted one new back then, let alone kept it 30 years. Perhaps they are worried about having that new- fangled curved glass in the windscreen. Matt

Bumping this as I have just found where the name Billy Boy comes from. That name was applied to G-AHTZ (the former G-ACUI) and is clearly visible in a couple of images of that airframe online. HTZ was impressed as HM581, and was apparently kept serviceable using parts from G-ACUU (HM580). Hope this clears up the mystery, Matt.

Thanks Dave, Sadly I have only ever seen the museum examples of which she is one. I have seen photos of G-ACUU in both silver and blue, and silver and a slightly odd red. If I do that airframe it will probably be with blue, but looking at AHTZ as possibly cream and red, not sure yet. Matt

Sadly I didn't see those, they were bargains indeed! The S1 seems to come up quite often. There is a Caudron in Canada which works out about £40, but I'm a bit wary of getting stung for vat and customs charges when it gets here so leaving that alone too. Matt

Hmmm. Bargain not quite the word I was thinking of. Except if Mrs F is enquiring of course. Matt

So on with some primer which only threw up a few minor points for attention c30.19 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr c30.20 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr And whilst playing with the paint, a start on her motive power c30.21 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr These can actually be about the last things to attach so can be painted up off the model EDIT the engine locates into a handed hole in the nose, and should be checked for fit at this stage rather than later as it proved a bit snug, requiring some opening up. Matt

Well this was a bit of a pleasant surprise.. bb32 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr bb33 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr She stands! Although she is back on blocks now just to be on the safe side. Jobs to be done now only windshield -made but too flimsy so won't stay in place long enough to glue, needs a plan b. Registration- I got some suitable letters, but they are letraset dry transfers and I am really going to have to be in the mood to make that attempt Prop and spinner - you may know the theory about leaving a monkey with a typewriter long enough and it will randomly write Shakespear. I am hoping that given enough plasticard the thumbtwins will randomly come good here. At the moment they are on 'see Spot run' rather than 'out cursed spot'. For the moment I am just happy about this though! Matt

Thats a fantastic document @Zephyr, so many civil schemes are open to hopeful interpretation of old b+w photos, at least this nails some of them! Matt

This is likely to end in tears, but... bb31 by Matt Farmer, on Flickr Matt