What's in the box Woody?

It is still cold here in the UK. I know by some standards -2 or -3C is not that cold but it is comparative. When you have got used to the mild winters that we seem to have had recently this prolonged period of cold is a shock! Given the cost of heating following the increases in energy then it does make it all the more difficult to just turn up the heating! I did go into the man cave tonight for an hour and I did put the heater on for 20 minutes just to try to get some warmth in there but to be honest at the moment there is little point in doing anything in there as glue and paint are not going to dry. I did however have a pleasant, allowing for the cold, time playing operating trains!

I have my inside the house layouts but I also would like to stick some plastic together again. So, I have come up with an alternative plan and this is it!

Yes, it is grotty looking box that I made in about 1994 and has been languishing in the conservatory for almost as many years acting as a store for junk! However I have cleared the junk out. So what exactly is in it now? Well opening it up reveals a few model making essentials. A few tools grabbed off the man cave work bench, the cutting mat and a spot light. This just about replicates my full model making set up from that time so this is almost like stepping back in time!

The lap is telescopic so is ideal for this set up. Although it would be useful if you could close the lid of the box with the unmade kit in it and then open the box the next morning to find a completed model this is just not going to happen - but I can dream!

I did pull out of the man cave the £5 Airfix Dodge 1 1/2 Ton Personnel Carrier that I bought at the Spalding Model Makers Show a few weeks ago. 

This was the first time I had looked in the bag that the kit came in. The instructions were in there which is a good start!

This kit is 47 years old if the sprue information is to be believed.

It was at this stage that I found out I had bought a part built kit. There were still a lot of parts left on the sprues but the previous owner had started the chassis. Unfortunately the workmanship is not the best and the chassis is broken into three parts.

From an initial check through I think most of the parts are there. Looking at the broken chassis it is not beyond saving from what I can make out. So hopefully this kit will actually make it out of the box complete or it might end up in another type of container - the bin!