A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A QUICK END OF THE WEEK ROUNDUP…

Having finished the model, photographed the results and laid out the pages in the book, I was horrified to realise that I had forgotten some decals that I’d planned to apply during finish assembly.

9th May 2025

Here we go again, another Friday and other busy week completed.

This one has been odd in that it has been a work week, but not one for the day job where military subjects, mainly from kits, predominate. Instead, it has been the first week from a month of work that will see me studying fusion 360, completing an important new commission and then getting the book that I’ve been working on, off to the printers and into the hands of readers.

As discussed over the last few days, my mind has been taken up with getting to grips with Fusion 360. This has been necessary so that I can create the parts that I need for my new model, including a doors, sash windows, flower pots and balustrades, all of which will combine with scratchbuilt elements to create the finished piece. With the help of Drewe Manton I’ve drawn up all of the parts and he is now in the process of printing them out for me. So far the results have been very pleasing, so I’m confident that the model will be finished as planned and on time.

Alongside the studying, I’ve had to work on what I thought was a completed Magic Factory A-4M Skyhawk. Having finished the model, photographed the results and laid out the pages in the book, I was horrified to realise that I had forgotten some decals that I’d planned to apply during finish assembly. That being so, I had to rework the model, retake the completed shots and then replace all of the images in the book with the newly taken pictures, ensuring each was in exactly the same alignment as the originals! As you might imagine, this didn’t fill me with any joy, much gnashing of teeth and releasing of various curse words, accompanying this wholly unwanted drag on my time. Still, it’s done now, so finally, with only a period of proof-reading to do, the book can go to the printers at the start of next week.

And finally…Almost.

Though focussed mainly on my commission, I have been able to work a little more on the Airfix Jaguar. The cockpit and wheel bays are now complete and as of this morning, the airframe is now together. After what has seemed like a fair amount of time dealing with those internal areas, it’s good to see a miniature Jaguar coming together on my desk.

Next week I hope to complete assembly and then who knows, maybe start to apply some paint over the external surfaces of the model. Though a simple scheme, I still haven’t settled on how to best replicate the desert pink scheme that these aircraft carried during OP Granby, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something. Images point to a finish that wasn’t overly filthy, certainly nowhere near as bad as the Tornados and Buccaneers that served alongside SEPECAT’s masterpiece, so that will have to be born in mind. Used and abused, certainly; overly weathered, certainly not.

And Finally…

This is being written early today, because in a couple of hours we will be setting off for the first leg of the Championship Play-Off semi final between Coventry City and Sunderland. Honestly, after a full season, I can’t really explain how bad the nerves have been this week, so I can only hope that the Sky Blues put in a performance and get the result we all want! And that my friends, is all I can say about that!

Have a great evening everyone ands I will see you tomorrow.