A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: STORMY WEATHER, DINNER DATES AND SPITFIRE COCKPITS…

Away from the wind, rain and canal path issues, I’ve managed to apply some paint to the inner workings of my Spitfire.

14th November 2025

If today has been defined by anything it’s the weather. The forecast all week has been for a storm to roll in today with heavy rain and strong winds and boy oh boy, has that proven to be the case. From early this morning, this part of the UK has been battered by some truly appalling weather that has curtailed all but the most important of activities. I’m just pleased I work from home. 

One of those activities was a dinner date with my mum. With so much of the last few months being centred around work I’ve not had the chance to spend too much time with her, so today we got together for a catch-up, some food and coffee and in her case, a little shopping ready for Christmas. It was all rather lovely, a relaxing few hours being spent chinwagging away whilst the rain fell from the sky and the trees bent double as the wind howled around us.

Speaking of wind, it would seem that some of the trees that line our little stretch of canal have fallen – quite literally – foul of the weather, a particularly large tree now blocking the tow path. It will need moving of course, but I doubt that many will feel keen to sort this out at the moment, so it will have to sit there until the weather breaks. Mind you, I doubt many will be using the path either, so maybe there’s not too much in the way of urgency around this issue, unless of course the ducks and swans are looking to walk that particular stretch of canal, rather than swimming it…

Away from the wind, rain and canal path issues, I’ve managed to apply some paint to the inner workings of my Spitfire. I mentioned that I was planning to use some of the MRP paint that I’ve had for a while, so that came into play this afternoon. First time user that I am, I was keen to see how it needed to be applied and how it compared to my usual roster of paints. The answer to that is very well, though being as thin as it is, it needs to be applied carefully and at low pressure, light coats being built up until a nice opaque layer is created. It’s quick-drying and pleasing to the touch, its delicate satin finish working well as a base for further work, such as washes and I am sure, decalling. So far, I’m pleased with the results and look forward to seeing how it operates over the rest of the model. 

So that’s it for today. We are all hunkered down at home waiting for this storm to pass through and though I fancied a few pints this evening, I didn’t fancy them enough to get soaked and blown from pillar to post on the way to the pub. That, I am afraid will have to wait until tomorrow. Now, what about some food..?

See you tomorrow.