FAIL TO PREPARE: PREPARE TO FAIL. OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT…

Surely this couldn’t be right? I’d bought all of the paints needed to complete the Gannet, how had I forgotten to source the colours needed for the Vampire? I had everything else, why not the paint?

You would think after all of these years building models as a professional occupation that I would be as prepared as I could be at the start of each project. With a studio packed to the gunnels with all manner tools and materials, boxes full of paints, shelves crammed with reference books, there should be very little chance of me ever being myself short of items that I might need to complete my next build.

That’s what you would assume, right?

And yet, this very thing comes up with an almost alarming regularity. And every time it does I promise myself that next time I will be more prepared. So how then did I find myself this afternoon sat in my car on the way to a local Hobbycraft, in search of paint that I was sure that I already had?

I’m currently building two models for work, both 1/48, both Airfix; a Gannet and a Vampire FB.5. I talked about these builds during last night’s Interesting Modelling Co. Broadcast on that there Facebook. During our chat, I mentioned that I’d decided to build an Aeronavale Vampire finished in overall dark blue, as a change from my normal RAF subjects. It’s a nice scheme and one that I’ve been wanting to completed for some time. Indeed, these very same colours and markings are planned for my still-to-be completed Matchbox Privateer (honestly, when will I ever complete that model?!) so you can see how attractive I find both the overall colour and those wonderfully Gallic markings.

---

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!

If you like this essay, please consider subscribing to my site so that you don’t miss out on any of my updates.

---

Knowing that I had this model to do, I spoke to Jean-Pierre Desprez at the Bolton model show (owner of the wonderful Model Art Decal System) who kindly supplied me with a suitable decal sheet for my project as indeed had he, for my still-to-be-completed, Privateer! Whilst there, I also grabbed the paints that I needed for my Gannet, together with some additional supplies that I knew would come in handy later this year, Tamiya Clear lacquer, some adhesives, metallics and some abrasives. I thought at that point my next two projects were nailed down. Well, you know what thought did…

Last week, I started work on the Vampire. I spent time on its sub-assemblies and then ordered a couple of additional detailing sets that I thought might improve its detail a little and perhaps, make my feature a little more in-depth, so to speak. Though Brett was happy with my decision to build the model and no doubt would have accepted its completion ‘from the box’ I figured a couple of Eduard sets and that wonderful Model Art decal sheet would be a little more interesting once brought together. And so having partially constructed my newest model, I went away for my weekend off, returning this morning, ready to apply some paint…

Anyone that has followed me over the years will know that I have a very specific way of building and painting. I like where possible, to outline openings such as the cockpit, intakes and wheel bays with the external camouflage colours from the beginning of my journey. This helps to cut down on masking later on, not to mention making me feel that I am making more process than perhaps I am. It’s a small psychological victory, but one that I very much enjoy during the early stages of any project. So that’s where I began, with plans to deal with all internal painting and then finish those surrounding panels where needed, in their dark blue plumage.

It was at this point that I discovered a distinct lack of blue paint. Despite having a collection of paints that I can number in the hundreds, if not thousands, I could find nothing that would allow me to spray those outer panels, let alone the overall colour scheme. Surely this couldn’t be right? I’d bought all of the paints needed to complete the Gannet, how had I forgotten to source the colours needed for the Vampire? I had everything else, why not the paint? Who knows.

So, with no sign of anything useful, I found myself travelling to a local Hobbycraft for three bottles of Tamiya paint that I knew would combine to create the dark blue shade that I needed. Truth be told, I could have ordered it online, paid the postage and perhaps just about come out even when petrol was taken into account, but I needed it there and then, not in a few days time. And so I hopped in the car, travelled the 10 miles to the shop, walked in, picked up the paint, hit the chip & pin, and then walked out: a 20 mile round trip that took 45 minutes for three bottles of paint. Annoyingly, had I noticed this on Friday, I could have bought the paint at the South Cheshire Militaire show I attended on Sunday, along with the other paint I bought there! What an idiot!

Will this happen again. Probably. Will I learn from it? Unlikely. Will it occur at the most inopportune moment? Without doubt. That said, after discovering my lack of blue paint, I took a look at my upcoming projects that I will be doing before the summer and checked whether I had the materials for each one. I’m happy to announce that I do, which is a victory of sorts. But of course that assumes that all projects are going to be from that collection and not suddenly drop in my lap out of the blue. If that happens, I’ll just have to hope that I find what I need, otherwise Hobbycraft will find itself once more, one customer up, frantically trying to find missing paints for a project that he thought he’d planned for, but in all honestly had not.

See you next time.

LATEST POSTS…

• PHANTASTIC PHANTOMS!
• PUT A FORK IN IT, IT’S DONE…
• AIRFIX REISSUES: THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITES, AVAILABLE ONCE AGAIN!
• RISK AVERSION, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE HUNT FOR INSTANT GRATIFICATION…
• FROM THE WORKBENCH: AIRFIX 1/48 DE HAVILLAND VAMPIRE FB.5

1. 

   sorry the last comment was me Andrew wright but it came up as anonymous

2. 

   hi Spencer, not sure if I had one reserved but can I get one please money has just been transfered…

3. 

   Hi Spencer could you put me down for a copy of the phantom printed book please. I have emailed you…

4. 

   Hi Spencer: Not sure if I already have, but yes please reserve a copy of your new Phantoms book for…

5. 

   Yeah, whatever Spencer. Petty gripes over not a lot methinks.