The Border Models 1/32 Lancaster BI/III

[Gern]

Sheesh Barry, that's not good! I understand your philosophy behind buying top quality kits, but isn't this the third or fourth you've ended up binning due to manufacturing issues?

I have to agree with Chris that an email to Border is in order. They've only got to look at your other builds to know you're no amateur and therefore your issues are legitimate and something they should resolve.

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Here are my two penny worths of thoughts. Really sorry that this supersize Lanc kit has not gone well Barry especially after all you have been through recently. But at £550+ it's far too expensive to bin off and should be given a second chance. So for me, put it to one side for a while, grab some cups of tea and biscuits and come back to it in the new year when hopefully your frustration with it has gone away.

[BarryW]

Sheesh Barry, that's not good! I understand your philosophy behind buying top quality kits, but isn't this the third or fourth you've ended up binning due to manufacturing issues?

I have to agree with Chris that an email to Border is in order. They've only got to look at your other builds to know you're no amateur and therefore your issues are legitimate and something they should resolve.

I have built nearly 100 1/32 aircraft models and 20-30 1/48. Out of these I have ‘Binned’ about 6/7. I usually do so if I stop enjoying the build because the model fights me a bit too much. I am quite philosophical about this ‘sh** happens’.

In this case, if I were in good health, I would persist with the build, take photos and if I cannot accommodate it due to having to cement the wings into place enquire about museums or whatever who might want it, or bin it then if not. The fact is that I had not stopped enjoying it…. My final decision was because of my health, I don’t know how long I have, it could be a year, it might be four years. Also it takes longer working from a wheelchair and as my experience with the 1/32 B24 suggests handling a large kit is a lot more difficult and, I suspect, almost impossible for one this size when in a wheelchair. The handling would have worked if I could keep the wings separate but I am certain that would not be the case.

As I mentioned it seems that BM Lanc builds are often side-lined so I have no doubt that this is a known issue. The kit is not ‘unbuildable’ it just takes a lot of corrective work and I just made a decision based on practicalities.

[BarryW]

Here are my two penny worths of thoughts. Really sorry that this supersize Lanc kit has not gone well Barry especially after all you have been through recently. But at £550+ it's far too expensive to bin off and should be given a second chance. So for me, put it to one side for a while, grab some cups of tea and biscuits and come back to it in the new year when hopefully your frustration with it has gone away.

if I just sidelined a build onto a ‘shelf of doom’ I know I would never return to it. Also, as mentioned previously, the decision was made on practicalities given changes to my health. See the answer above where I give a fuller explanation.

Yes, it’s an expensive kit and it was the most money I have ever spent on a model but I have other kits in the stash I want to get on with and my health now time limits me.

[boatman]

OH Barry so sorry to hear that your health is still not good i thought you was gettin better an havin to use the wheel chair must be quite irritatatain as yes i understand about limit of movement as i at the moment i have been havin back trouble again an difficult to move about for this last month but you sir must have an incredible moitvation an persitant to try an keep building as i dont think i could if i was in your postion but then at the moment i have no kits to build even if i could but thankfully im feelin a lot better now so hope to get to hannants in new year to pick out two new kits one 1/200 ship an a 1/32 scale plane so jen an i wish you all the best on your next kit an hope you can build it ok an enjoy the build
ATB TO YOU SIR
chris an jen

[BarryW]

OH Barry so sorry to hear that your health is still not good i thought you was gettin better an havin to use the wheel chair must be quite irritatatain as yes i understand about limit of movement as i at the moment i have been havin back trouble again an difficult to move about for this last month but you sir must have an incredible moitvation an persitant to try an keep building as i dont think i could if i was in your postion but then at the moment i have no kits to build even if i could but thankfully im feelin a lot better now so hope to get to hannants in new year to pick out two new kits one 1/200 ship an a 1/32 scale plane so jen an i wish you all the best on your next kit an hope you can build it ok an enjoy the build
ATB TO YOU SIR
chris an jen

Thanks Chris

the simple fact is that there is no way to cure my cancer. It is at a stage where all they can do is control it as much as they can.

The direct quote from my oncologist was that the trials medication I am on can control for a period, one, two, three or perhaps four years but the cancer ‘will get through’ at some point and then I will need chemotherapy. So I just don't know how long I have. I am told that I have responded extremely well to the treatment so I am optimistic that it will be longer rather than shorter, but I really have no way of knowing.

Good luck with your issues, back problems, as I found, can be really inhibiting.

[stillp]

Barry, rather than bin such an expensive kit, is there a local modelling club or branch of IPMS who you could donate it to in exchange for a donation to a cancer research charity?
Pete