A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: FEELING BETTER, OH, AND DECALS…

20th November 2025

A much better day today with higher levels of energy and what appears to be – fingers crossed – the passage of this flaming cold. I won’t get too comfortable though because much like busses, I’ll doubtless only have to wait a few days and another one will appear around the corner…

I began the day with a trip into town, first for a haircut, second to post out the remainder of the book orders and finally to grab my new blood pressure meds that I hope – again, fingers crossed, which I’m doing a lot these days! – brings my BP down to the level it needs to be. Oh and I popped to the bakers for a vanilla slice that Liz and I planned to eat today, but didn’t get around to. Well, there’s always tomorrow.

I began work with a few hours writing the article on the Marauder. I always begin by collating images, cleaning them up, picking what I need, numbering them and then writing the captions, all before I write the actual body of text. It’s a backside about face way of doing things but it works for me!

Having done that for a few hours before the enthusiasm waned, I spent the rest of the day decalling the Airfix Spitfire, or applying the stickers as I like to call it, much I am sure to the annoyance of those who see my description as rather childish.

Decalling is my favourite part of any build. I actively look forward to it. The colours and markings are often the reasons I build a particular aircraft, so to get to the stage where my dreams start to reach fruition is embraced with both arms.

Decalling the Spitfire was a fairly straightforward process until I discovered that the upper wing roundels were very slightly out of register. Thanks to a tiny but noticeable white edge around one side of the markings, I found myself hunting for suitable replacements, and though I had some, they were not a perfect match to the rest of the markings in terms of colour. In spite of this I persevered, knowing that the disparity would not be visible in the final images of the completed model.

As it stands, the model is now drying out and actually looking very pleasing. That paintwork I applied using the MRP paints I’d been sent by Premium Hobbies, coming together under the markings in a most pleasing manner.

The morning will see me taking a few hours off to take my mum shopping before I return to both the writing and the Spitfire. It certainly feels a lot more relaxed around here after the intensity of the last few months and with the festive lights being switched on in town this weekend that can only mean one thing: Christmas and the holidays are around the corner. I can’t wait!

See you tomorrow.