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Hi folks, So I met with the surgeon today and have been told I'll be joining the zipper chest club tomorrow morning. The triple bypass should be about 3 hours long and then off to recovery I go. Then it's 5-7 days here before discharge and home for another 6 weeks of recovery. Which means I should be as good as new in time for Christmas. I'll let you all know once I'm functional after the operation. See you all soon. Carl

I don't know if there's an inbox review somewhere but I built the Spad a few years ago. Everything went together well and uI didn't run into any issues. I did leave some of the internal details out to simplify things. You can't really tell but the wings still fold which makes it much easier to display. This was my first ZM I built. Carl

Me too. Just need to get to the stash to find something but I've got time.

Dale, the Mossie has twin engines so it'll take John an extra day to get her done

I'm good Harv. A bit bored but had a bunch of friends and family visit me today. Everyone is still a bit freaked out I had the heart attack. Some are considering getting checked out themselves which is a good thing I guess. Still waiting to hear when the operation will be but tentatively it's Wednesday. Carl

This place feels like a happy family. We don't always agree but we also respect each other's views. We can poke fun at one another and know there won't be hurt feelings. We learn and inspire each other. Plus there's so many squirrels to chase down rabbit holes. Carl

Thanks Gus! My dad had triple bypass back in the '90s and he's still with us. I'm in better shape than my dad was at that time so hopefully that'll count towards something. In the meantime I'll keep an eye out for a pretty young physio I'm good Jeff. Bored mostly. The food actually hasn't been too bad. Just finished a roast beef sandwich that had flavour. Breakfast was a write-off though as they served two things I have a very hard time getting down: egg whites and oatmeal. It's a texture thing so I just passed on those .

Ernie, there's some good advice there. I really can't add anything to it. I'm going to be away from the bench for a while myself but for different reasons. It'll be there when I get back and the same goes for you. Only yours is much better than mine. In the meantime, we're here if you need us. Carl

Thanks Dale! My wife brought me a phone charger the first day which has helped keep me sane. I haven't managed to get a wifi password out of anyone yet so that'll be next. The toilet paper isn't too bad. Maybe 600 grit instead of the 80 you sometimes find. The nurses and staff are great so far. There's too many health care professionals in my family not to show respect to them. On my way to the hospital, the ambulance crew commented that I hadn't tried to stab, spit or punch them so their day was off to a good start. I'll do my best to keep you all up to date. In the meantime, have fun at the bench.

John, I'm pretty sure I have those in 1/32. Let me know which plane you're thinking of and when I get out of the hospital and I'm allowed near the bench by Sue I'll look for them for you. Carl

Banff Strike Wing Mossies are always cool. Or a Coastal Command one...

John, the Tamiya Mossie is an amazing kit. I've built one and am seriously considering adding a third to the stash. Carl

Thanks for all well wishes folks. It means a lot to me. I had the angiogram done this afternoon and the news is mixed. The one they started in my wrist found some blockages that made them concerned so I ended up getting a second one in my groin. That one showed one artery 100% blocked at a weird angle so they couldn't use a stent. There are three additional blockages so the end verdict is sometime this coming week I'm getting a triple bypass. The doc said it's almost certainly genetic since I'm otherwise healthy and don't smoke but both my parents have had heart issues. The good news is there is very little tissue damage to my heart. So I'm definitely going to be away from the bench longer than I thought. But it'll all be there when I get back. I'll just have to watch you guys crank them out. Carl

Definitely not model related but it seems that I got my first heart attack yesterday. It happened when I was dropping my boys off at school. Some other parents noticed I went from looking a bit pale to very very pale and combined with the dizziness I was experiencing felt it best I call an ambulance. Sure enough, it was a mild heart attack so over been in the hospital since then. I'm just waiting for an angiogram at the moment to find out what went wrong. So I'll most likely be away from the bench for a bit but I'll be around here watching what you guys are doing. Carl

Very nice collection of purchases Rog! The ZM Dornier is a nice kit. I've got it in the stash.

Harv, the big one is the upper hull. No cast front hull like the Mk 1 hybrid.

Ok, I've the booklet for you. Unfortunately I won't be near a post office for abut but will get it out to you as soon as I can

Rob, nice job cutting the canopy open. I was too chicken to try it. For the main wheels, AMS Resin makes some. I have the smooth ones but I think he may have made treaded ones as well. Carl

I should have two copies so PM your address and I can drop it in the mail for you. Carl

Had a quiet day at work so I popped by my LHS. Brought in my Revell GR1 Tonka to exchange as it was a kit I don't think I'd ever build. Got a full credit for it so I walked around to see what was in I could spend it on. I found a kit I've been trying to find to find for the last couple of years. Worked out to barely more than the retail price in Japan so can't complain at all. Now I can finally do a Sherman 1C!!! Got home and there was a package waiting fr Hannant's. These will be for the HB B-24J. Going to do a shark mouth RCAF Lib. Plus some other bits for kits in the stash.

For me, it's really whatever strikes my fancy. Planes, cars, armour, sci-fi, giant robots. Doe-eyed teenagers piloting giant robots. Not really on the last one There's also the occasional "what the h€ll did I buy that for?!!!!" kit in the stash when I've been distracted/mesmerized by something something. Like a Shaun the Sheep Land Rover. Carl

Graham, if you ever do the Mk 21 I'd certainly get one. That and a Griffon conversion for the Tamiya Spitfires. I've already used your corrected nose for the Matchbox 22/24 and need to build your Seafang. Carl

I used wire anchors attached to the frame. I think they're the 4mm (maybe 6mm?) ones. I'll double check later and let you know.

Hi Dale, yes I apply it before masking. I usually polish my canopies with some rubbung comoound and then put a drop of thr Gloss Coating on them before masking and painting. Carl

You mean they're even screwing up the vaporware??!!!! Can't they get anything right? Carl