I’m not sure that I like this cold weather.  My modified shoulder seems to ache when it gets cold – I guess I shall have to live with it.  At least the lounge is warm for a quiet read, and the loft workshop warms up quickly with a fan heater.  I should have been making trains, but got distracted from my ‘Walrus’ by a ‘Myrt’.  I have a soft spot for WW2 Japanese aircraft, and this reconnaissance plane could outrun Allied fighters such as the Wildcat.  It’s a big plane, too, larger than the Whirlwind parked next to it.  A Hasegawa  1/48 kit from 2002 and although a little dated in some detailing and engineering, it goes together very well with just a scrape of filler for a few joints and has excellent surface detail.  I’m afraid my stash of Japanese aircraft kits also includes a Zero and a couple of float planes.

On to a few random thoughts.  It’s a pity this part-figure is only made in 4mm scale.  It would look rather good on the layout.

The District Line in 1910.  It’s interesting how the stations resemble the layer Berlin U-bahn ones.  It would make a fine model, with the lovely wooden EMU’s and the planked platforms.

Another set of top 10 layouts – this time finescale in all scales.  Some lovely modelling here, though I might have chosen a different selection….

My other minor triumph this week was with my trusty laptop.  It was a slightly nerve-wracking 20 minutes getting inside my laptop and changing the internal battery.  The external one just clips in.  They had more or less given up holding charge, so it was a good £60 investment to get new ones.  It had a new keyboard last year after a coffee spill – but there’s still some of the original machine left!  Next question – do I have to get a new machine in October when Microsoft stop supporting Windows 10.  If, as they seem to be promising, they offer another year of updates to 10 for a small sum, I may put off the evil day.

I also opted out of the Bognor show today.  Mr Dawes went – a few good layouts, but the show was a bit cramped and prevented him getting some pictures.  Next post will be reporting on today’s ESNG meeting – we’ll see who turns up!