Tim Vincent

Looks great! In my experience the best way of finding a missing part is scratch-building a matching pair of replacements, at which point the original turns up…

1/25 scale plastic model of a 1950 Ford Custom Convertible, built from the AMT/Matchbox kit, with kit options of side-pipes and '60 Buick rear lights, and with a 1958 Lincoln MEL 430ci engine from the spares box. Painted in dark red metallic (Holts spray can) with a two-tone black/white interior, and baby moon hubcaps. Front left quarter view.

1/25 scale plastic model of a 1950 Ford Custom Convertible, built from the AMT/Matchbox kit, with kit options of side-pipes and '60 Buick rear lights, and with a 1958 Lincoln MEL 430ci engine from the spares box. Painted in dark red metallic (Holts spray can) with a two-tone black/white interior, and baby moon hubcaps. View of dashboard, steering wheel and interior.

1/25 scale plastic model of a 1950 Ford Custom Convertible, built from the AMT/Matchbox kit, with kit options of side-pipes and '60 Buick rear lights, and with a 1958 Lincoln MEL 430ci engine from the spares box. Painted in dark red metallic (Holts spray can) with a two-tone black/white interior, and baby moon hubcaps. View of the MEL 430c.i. engine, with triple carbs, Spalding 'Flamethrower' ignition, twin ignition coils.

1/25 scale plastic model of a 1950 Ford Custom Convertible, built from the AMT/Matchbox kit, with kit options of side-pipes and '60 Buick rear lights, and with a 1958 Lincoln MEL 430ci engine from the spares box. Painted in dark red metallic (Holts spray can) with a two-tone black/white interior, and baby moon hubcaps. Rear view, showing (fictitious) 1960 Illinois licence plate.

Just completed this, the venerable 1/25 scale AMT(Matchbox) 1950 Ford Convertible, with additions from the spares box (see alt-text). I can't resist this era of american cars, and kits, even if it does mean fixing things like replacing the straight-through front axle! #scalemodels #histscalemodels

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1985 Ford Mustang SVO, built from the Monogram kit, painted black, with a grey interior. Front right quarter view.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1985 Ford Mustang SVO, built from the Monogram kit, painted black, with a grey interior. Under-bonnet (hood) view.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1985 Ford Mustang SVO, built from the Monogram kit, painted black, with a grey interior. Front view.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1985 Ford Mustang SVO, built from the Monogram kit, painted black, with a grey interior. Rear right three-quarter view.

Catching up with a build from a couple of months ago: A 1/24 scale Monogram 1985 Ford Mustang SVO. Not a difficult build - except for casting clear resin replicas of the front lights (supplied as chromed parts in the kit)! #ScaleModels #HistScaleModels

Seven 'big' Austin-Healeys.

Jochen Rindt Trophy racing car

MG MGB

Westland Scout AH.1 of the Historic Army Aircraft Flight

Catching up with photos from last weekend - had a great time at the Thruxton Retro, my first visit to the Thruxton circuit despite having driven past in many times on the A303. Lots to see on and off track! #Thruxton #Classic #MotorSport

Marc Chagall stained glass window in All Saints church, Tudeley, Kent

Marc Chagall stained glass window in All Saints church, Tudeley, Kent

All Saints church, Tudeley, Kent

Marc Chagall stained glass window in All Saints church, Tudeley, Kent

We visited All Saints Church in Tudeley this morning, to see their spectacular Marc Chagall stained glass windows! Lucky that there were so well-lit on a bright, sunny morning. #Kent #photography

Franz Ferdinand opening for Belle & Sebastian, Bath Pavilion, December 2003

View from the South Downs way.

signpost to Bignor, Londinium and Noviomagus.

View from the South Downs way.

Footbridge across the River Arun, at Amberley.

More photos from yesterday's walk from Cocking to Amberley along the South Downs Way #Walking #Photography #WestSussex

Having a great day off, walking a bit of the south down way, currently half way between Cocking and Amberley #Walking #Photography #Sussex

Radio telescope at Jodrell Bank, with aerial mast behind it.

Entrance to First Light pavilion at Jodrell Bank.

Exterior view of First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank.

Rear view of Radio telescope at Jodrell Bank.

We visited @jodrellbank.bsky.social
last Tuesday, too, highly impressive! The First Light pavilion in particular very effectively tells the story of the creation and creators of the site, including Sir Bernard Lovell of course. The dish is spectacular too! #Astronomy #Photography

Japanese garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire.

Japanese garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire.

Inari fox in the Japanese garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire.

Japanese garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire.

We visited Tatton Park lastTuesday, visiting their extensive gardens, focussing on the Japanese garden pictured here. Very impressive! #Photography #Gardening #Cheshire

Dornier Do 17 wing section, recovered from Goodwin Sands in 2013.

Last remaining complete Vickers Valiant B.1

English Electric Lightning F.1 XG337, displayed vertically

Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV, serial 68-8284

After Croome Court, we went on to the RAF Museum Cosford (or 'Midlands' as they brand it!), lots to see, some I hadn't seen before, especially the wing section of the Dornier 17. Valiant of interest to us as my wife's late father did his National Service working on one. #RAF #Aviation #Museum

Model of RAF Defford

Bridge behind Croome Court

Croome Court, view of the rear of the house.

Croome Court's tearoom, a dark grey structue looking very much like an ex-Air Ministry building.

We visited @nationaltrust.org.uk Croome Court
on the way to Cheshire, for coffee and cake (which was excellent!), stretch our legs walking around the grounds, and as it turned out, discover the RAF Defford Museum, which was fascinating, used for Radar research during and after the war...

Chinese Streamside garden at RHS Bridgewater

A bee at RHS Bridgewater

Paradise Garden at RHS Bridgewater

Border at RHS Bridgewater.

We had a very enjoyable visit to RHS Bridgewater this afternoon, atypical weather for Manchester in May I think. More photos on my camera but these phone pics for now… #Garden #Photography

Westland Scout AH.1 XT636 (G-CIBW) of the Historic Army Aircraft Flight (HAAF)

De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk WD325 (G-CLWK) of the Historic Army Aircraft Flight (HAAF).

Saunders-Roe (Westland) Skeeter AOP12 XL813. Dark Green and Dark Earth camouflage.

de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver XP821. As used by the British Embassy in Laos in the early 70s, hence the overall white paint (and light grey underside of fuselage) denoting its neutrality.

Had an interesting visit to the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop on Friday morning. Missed the Historic Army Aircraft Flight's Scout flying over but caught it on the ground. Lots to see in the museum, and new exhibits like the Lynx AH.7 and Apache AH.1 #Military #Aviation #Museum

Freightdog Models 1/72 Wasp HAS.1, with spare floats and frame from the LF Models Scout kit, depth charges from Air-graphics, paint from Xtracolor (X13 - BS381C 633 RAF Blue/Grey) and decals from the kit, Model Art Decals and my spares box representing XT786 (320/AZ) from HMS Amazon 1975-77. Front port quarter view.

Freightdog Models 1/72 Wasp HAS.1, with spare floats and frame from the LF Models Scout kit, depth charges from Air-graphics, paint from Xtracolor (X13 - BS381C 633 RAF Blue/Grey) and decals from the kit, Model Art Decals and my spares box representing XT786 (320/AZ) from HMS Amazon 1975-77. Rear port three-quarter view.

Freightdog Models 1/72 Wasp HAS.1, with spare floats and frame from the LF Models Scout kit, depth charges from Air-graphics, paint from Xtracolor (X13 - BS381C 633 RAF Blue/Grey) and decals from the kit, Model Art Decals and my spares box representing XT786 (320/AZ) from HMS Amazon 1975-77. With a 1/600 scale Airfix HMS Amazon in the background.

Freightdog Models 1/72 Wasp HAS.1, with spare floats and frame from the LF Models Scout kit, depth charges from Air-graphics, paint from Xtracolor (X13 - BS381C 633 RAF Blue/Grey) and decals from the kit, Model Art Decals and my spares box representing XT786 (320/AZ) from HMS Amazon 1975-77. Port side view.

Just finished for the #JFFatSea group build in 'the other place', the Freightdog Models 1/72 Westland Wasp HAS.1 with spare floats and frame from the LF Models Scout kit, paint by Xtracolor (X13 RAF Blue/Grey) and decals from the kit, Model Art Decals and my spares box #HistScaleModels #HistModels

Queue of people outside Malmesbury Abbey

Interior of Malmesbury Abbey

Interesting gravestone…”In bloom of Life She's snatchd from hence, She had not room To make defence; For Tyger fierce Took Life away. And here she lies In a bed of Clay, Until the Resurrection Day”

A different venue tonight! Eddi Reader at Malmesbury Abbey…

Spoken with all the authority of Michael Palin’s shopkeeper asserting that ‘Notlob’ is a palindrome of ‘Ipswich’…

A picture of the waxing gibbous moon, taking at 19:24 British Summer time, showing the blue sky background and the moon 3 days before full moon.

Playing about with a new camera lens, the Waxing Gibbous Moon in daylight (19:24 BST) #moon #photography

Yes, came as a nice surprise! Ideal reference for anyone with the Airfix kit and Air-graphics (or other?) aftermarket decals...

XS743 Beagle Basset CC.1 at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

English Electric P1A WG763 - Lightning prototype.

A red japanese-style bridge at Heale House and Gardens, near Salisbury

Heale House and Gardens, near Salisbury (note that the house itself isn't open to the public)

We visited the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection this morning (great to see new exhibits like the Beagle Basset CC1 and the English Electric P1A) and then Heale Gardens, both near Salisbury. Great coffee & cakes at Heale, and very good gardens, especially the Japanese-inspired are. We'll be back!

I was 2 when the Lynx first flew, and probably nearly within earshot of it… It’s still a shock seeing what I think of as a modern helicopter, in air museums!

1/72 scale plastic model of a Westland WG.13 Pre-production Army Lynx, made from the Matchbox kit with main and tail rotors, and cockpit interior from the Airfix kit. Painted gloss dark green and dark earth, as shown in contemporary photographs.

1/72 scale plastic model of a Westland WG.13 Pre-production Navy Lynx, made from the Airfix kit with doors from the Matchbox kit and scratch-built blade supports and tail fold. Painted gloss Oxford blue. Right rear three-quarter view.

1/72 scale plastic model of a Westland WG.13 Pre-production Navy Lynx, made from the Airfix kit with doors from the Matchbox kit and scratch-built blade supports and tail fold. Painted gloss Oxford blue. Left side view. In the background, a pre-production Army Lynx (gloss dark green and dark earth camouflage), and a production Army Lynx AH.1 (matte olive drab and black camouflage).

Happy anniversary of the first flight of the #Westland Lynx, on this day 54 years ago (21/03/71). I've not yet built a prototype Lynx (although I have a Matchbox Lynx set aside for that) so here are two pre-production Lynxes, from a combination of #Airfix and #Matchbox parts #histscalemodels

A lilac tree in a completed wooden planter, 75cm square and 65cm high.

A lilac tree in a nearly finished wooden planter, 75cm square and 60cm high. A damp-proof liner has been fitted and it is awaiting filling with compost and grit, and a final capping of the wooden sides.

A lilac tree in a 2/3 finished wooden planter, 75cm square and 40cm high.

A lilac tree in a 1/3 finished wooden planter, 75cm square and 20cm high. The planter is being built around the plug of a lilac tree, freshly removed from its old pot.

Did some 1:1 scale kit building this morning! A planter for the front garden, for a Lilac tree that had outgrown its pot. Typical of a short-run kit, there were no painting instructions, and assembly instructions were just an email. Plenty of locating pins though! Very pleased with the result

Six Haiku Book Reviews   I It gave me the pip. Disappointed - I had such Great Expectations.   II Dystopian tale. Neon leg warmers and Wham! Nineteen Eighty-Four.   III A group of lions struggle to find acceptance. Pride and Prejudice.   IV .well aged hasn’t it :Button Benjamin of Case Curious The Read V Woolly yarn about the history of tank tops. A Farewell to Arms.   VI Pop group clones itself. It all ends in tragedy. The Thirty-Nine Steps. Brian Bilston

Happy World Book Day. Here are six haiku book reviews in celebration.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, built from the Academy Kit (labelled 'European Classic Car'!), finished in Metallic Steel Grey with a black interior. Front left quarter view.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, built from the Academy Kit (labelled 'European Classic Car'!), finished in Metallic Steel Grey with a black interior. Front view, showing the number plate '245 LG 75', as purchased by the French actor Roger Vadim in 1961.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, built from the Academy Kit (labelled 'European Classic Car'!), finished in Metallic Steel Grey with a black interior. Overhead view.

1/24 scale plastic model of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, built from the Academy Kit (labelled 'European Classic Car'!), finished in Metallic Steel Grey with a black interior. View of the engine bay, showing the inlet trumpets of the three two-barrel Weber carburetors.

Finished an Academy 1/24 'European Classic Car', which bears a remarkable resemblance to a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder SWB, specifically chassis 2175GT, first owned by Roger Vadim. Added aftermarket wire wheels and some scratchbuilt engine detail. #ScaleModels #Ferrari

Had a great time today at Race Retro at Stoneleigh, lots to see, both on display and on the rally demonstration track! #Motorsport #ClassicCars

Exterior of Great Chalfield Manor, a 15th century manor house in Wiltshire, owned by the National Trust.

Snowdrops in the arts & crafts inspired garden.

reflections in the fishponds of Great Chalfield Manor

Snowdrops in the arts&crafts garden of Great Chalfield Manor

We visited Great Chalfield Manor this afternoon, to see their annual Snowdrops open garden event in aid of the Dorothy House hospice. Quite chilly, but a variety of snowdrops to see around the gardens. Great to see!

Monte Carlo or Bust?

Anything by Jasper Fforde…

1/24 Plastic model of a Ferrari 250GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta (SWB), based on the ESCI kit with aftermarket wire wheels, decals and other details. Representing chassis number 2731GT, as raced at Le Mans in 1961. Painted silver metallic with #20 race number.

1960 Ferrari 250GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta (SWB), chassis number 2735GT, at the Goodwood Revival in 2019 as part of their Stirling Moss tribute.

SWBs are lovely! I used to think I didn't like them, finding the rear bodywork too 'hunched over', until looking at them in the 'flesh'(metal) I realised I loved them, and what I didn't like was Esci's horrendous kit! So I deconstructed and rebuilt a model I'd made, reshaping the rear bodywork...