West Wings Merlin

Earlier in the year I purchased a rather old edition of the West Wings Merlin that had been languishing in the back of the local model shop for quite a few years.

I was hoping my son would build this, but it was a little too tricky for him so I decided to build it.   Like previous West Wings kit, the balsa is a good grade and well selected.  The plans are very easy to follow and in just a few hours of work I had the 35" wings and fuselage constructed and ready to cover.  Not bad at all, an excellent beginners model.  I just need some spare time to cover it and I will report back on how well it flies.

Visit to the Eden Project

While on holiday in Cornwall this Summer I visited the Eden Project with my family.  The Eden Project is built in a 160 year old china clay quarry near St Austell in Cornwall.

The Biomes are an incredible examples of engineering - the Rain-forest Biome is the largest conservatory in the world and large enough to fit the Tower of London inside!

There are also hands-on exhibits too.  There are den building materials such as bamboo poles, rope and coverings that the kids can use to build large dens either outside or inside the white den making building.

 The Eden Project provides an excellent mix of engineering, art, ecology, ethics and education.  It is incredible how creative minds have turned a disused clay pit into an amazing ecological environment.