The big freeze

Yesterday only went out to take Pepe round Debdale park and we were both glad to get back home.

Friend Bob the Abell chanced the run to Etherow and saw this
 check this out

So it was the rest of the day modelling, the only trouble is the paint doesn't dry very good in this weather does it, still do a bit and then get in front of the fire.

 

Bit of brass wire and a couple of picture hooks for the hinges on the gas locker and one of the transfers I got with the kit and that's another job finished.

 

Stern stripes added with vinyl sheet bought earlier at the Birchwood Show so it pays to plan ahead hey.

Oh NO its just started to snow here !! still its been promised so it looks like we are going to join our Scottish Welsh and North  Eastern friends and be slipping and sliding everywhere.
 The moral of that is don't go out unless its necessary !!

Buxton Pavilion Gardens

Here is the program of events for the Buxton Pavilion Gardens in December though with the snow about at the moment you will have to be careful not to be caught in the hills.

Looks like something for everyone there, but its the thought of heavy snow at the moment isn't it.

Progress

After a very cool visit to the lake yesterday I made some progress on the Narra Boat namely the green on the upper section of the hull 

As the green hull is now almost finished I can start to add the other stuff I've done whilst waiting for the paint to dry

I've started to make some locker seating for inside the well in the bow of the boat and finished one side, the other side to do and join up the two sides in the middle. Should look al-right when painted and perhaps cushions on, this section lifts out complete so a bit easier to work on just have to keep trying it out to make sure it comes in and out easily as the battery will go under here.

Saw this young dog at the lake yesterday as well, bit bigger than Pepe !! 

Pepe was not worried, though I was as I thought Pepe might kill it if he got lodged in its throat.

Happy Birthday Rachel

To-day is my eldest Granddaughter's birthday ,can't believe she's 17 already !!

Rachel this is for you because as the L'oreal advert say's "Your worth it "

Mooring weight

My wife expressed an interest in a mooring weight for tying her boats to when we are at other clubs without this facility and noticed that another member of our club had one , so it was on with the thinking cap and found this on a Narrow Boat site click here

At £20 and the thought of the postage, I gave it some more thought !

There is a store at Mumps bridge in Oldham that sells all sorts of weird and wonderful things from ex army surplus and  liquidated factory machinery and tools. My son called there in passing and they didn't let us down as they had these but they were £45 each!! and 25 lbs in weight so my lad went for a smaller one which I think will look better once its been cleaned up and painted with canal art work.

Isn't technology wonderful these days as he was able to take this picture with his "Blackberry" and send it to my PC to check before he bought it. 

So don't forget if you want anything weird and wonderful this is the place to go.

The store man said they once had a gigantic anchor and had plenty of interested callers but lost interest when they found out they had to get a large truck to move it , but it was sold in the end. 

I'll bet there is someone out there that's saying I've got one of those you could have had !!

Typical.

Sunday Outing

We went to the lake yesterday and it was supposed to be a steering competition but when we got there most of the sailors were going as the organiser hadn't turned up, break down of communications somewhere there.

After a chip muffin at the cafe for Sunday lunch ( Mother told me there would be days like this) we took Pepe round the park and saw this puppy

5 months old and already weights 3 stones, bit of a woof with a bejewelled pink collar Pepe thought.

Then it was up the motorway to Saddleworth to visit the Son and family, we were offered Dinner ! but I said I'd already had mine thank you!!

Whilst there John gave me some tools for the Narra Boat and some other embellishments that might come in later.

They will look good on the deck and the little clock will come in handy as well, don't know where the fancy scrolls will come in yet but will have a think about those.

Had a look at the RJR railroad whilst there, it always surprises me how much smaller it looks in real life, its all down to the photography isn't it,  have a look at his blog down on the right

All in all a good day out.

Wednesday 10th Nov

Went to the Lake on Wednesday but the lake was so full of leaves and bits of twigs that we didn't chance sailing as a twig jammed in your prop is the quickest way to lose it, the problem was the sluice gates had been closed because of the large amount of stuff backed up behind the sluice gates and the wardens had closed them to stop it making matters worse in our lake.
They will address the problem and then open the gates again and our lake will flow again into the big lake .

So it was a nice walk round the lakes and then a bit of lunch in the cafe.

Mandarin down from the top lake

Cold but Nice

Bit bigger than taking our Chihuahua for a walk.

.

Artwork

Did a bit of a change on the  artwork on the ends of the stand yesterday.

I'd forgot I had bought some transfers of Canal Art with the boat and as you can see from older blogs I think it looks better.

 New Art

 Old art

I also finished all the doors, handles and hinges on, varnished and artwork added so all finished unless of course I decide to leave them open on the boat in which case they will have to have the insides done. 

Will have to think about that nearer the time.

Bob's Pix's

Whilst round the park the other day Bob Abell took these fabulous pictures

Thought you might like these as there isn't much boating going on at the moment , you can always have a nice stroll round the park to see the beautiful colours going on at the moment, though there is the 

Warwick  Model Boat Show on this weekend 

Painted bottom

Friday I sprayed the bottom of the hull matt black and got a few rain drops on it so yesterday rubbed it down and give it another coat so all is well now.

Had a trip to the lake yesterday as well  ,it was nice and sunny but after 3-00pm it was getting a bit chilly, still we had a sail and a natter with a couple of the members and some of the regular park visitors at the cafe.

The trees are now at their best for Autumn , changing colour but not yet shed all their leaves.

Got to get out whilst the sun shines haven't you.

Had a look round the shops at Romiley on the way home, just like the old days when shops were shops and not supermarkets.

Painting the hull

Yesterday I masked up the hull of the boat to start painting the black bottom section and wouldn't you know it, its not stopped raining since, I am too well trained to spray paint in the house or in the immaculate garage so I usually do my spraying outdoors on an old stand.

 I usually use car shop spray paint but thought it would be better with Plasti-kote spray paint, a bit dearer than the car shop stuff but gives a beautiful finish and doesn't tend to run so much ( you still have to be careful )

Went to B&Q for the paint and couldn't get to the counter quick enough with my stuff as it was on sale at half price, but what a bummer I was told it was only on certain colours and they weren't the ones I wanted, wouldn't you know it some one had put my colours back in the wrong place.

Shopping in Ashton

 We were shopping in Ashton yesterday and in a little model shop there I found that they do Dolls house furniture and a lot cheaper than Hobbycraft, perhaps the quality isn't as good, but this is for  in a boat not a dolls house 

Got this family for a fiver and some pans 75p and a frying pan 50p and the pans are real heavy metal not the white metal you usually get them in. I will still be trying to build my own kitchen units though as I used to do on a part-time  basis with my son after I retired. It must be a lot easier at model size as those unit tops in 3 metre lengths are quite heavy and awkward to handle.

Will get the details of the shop next time I go in case there are members out there that want a few bits and pieces whilst in Ashton.

Doors

Finished all the doors for the boat yesterday 

Rear doors on left, front doors on the right.

Idea's for the canal art on the doors !

Still have to try and fit hinges and handles to them to make them look realistic.

Front doors will have glass in the top.

Don't think they have anything as fancy as this though