Quote from: zenrat on September 12, 2023, 04:02:49 AMMrs z is the gardener.  I just do the groundworks and anything involving a motor.

I describe my tasks as "The JCB end of gardening"

Not much gardening today. None, actually. That might have something to do with the weather having shifted from summer to autumn, just like that. Annoying. Then again - the mowers are working, so there's no acute need right now, methinks. And the Mistress of the Garden agrees, luckily..

Not much modelling done regardless as work has taken an unreasonable amount of time from more enjoyable pastimes. Nonetheless, I've actually made my mind up on the little MiG, sticking with unmodified wings but sorting the stabilators. And the latter makes a ridiculous difference to the general appearance.
In true KP tradition, there's been quite some sanding and fixing to get things to fit properly, but again, once buttoned up, it looks the part. Which, considering the glaring wing fault, is remarkable!

Tomorrow is yet a largely unknown entity, so whether I'll be able to continue "MiG-ing" or not remains unclear. However, as the drill set I've ordered has arrived, I might do some repairs on older builds where steel reinforcements are desirable, and it would also be a pretty good idea to get those jousting lances sorted on the Yak-28 before I lose them to the Carpetmonster or any of the other magic beings living around here that seem to feed on my stuff.

Also, I'm realising that I haven't decided on IRST for the Flagon interceptor. I should really do that. And then also decide on paint schemes. I'm definitely not an all NMF person so it'll have to be something more wartime, I think. While I guess it would be quite realistic going for the classic MiG-23/MiG-31 all over ghost grey, it seems a funnier prospect to look towards the early Su-27 scheme, f.i. On the other hand, just shifting to grey from metal might be just the right amount of confusion for the unprepared mind.

I'll sleep on it. At least one night. 

 

So much work, and so little time!

Just some very minor MiG-ing today, adding some air data probes (the usual T-tubes) to the little jet. Otherwise - nothing!
Pretty annoying, but I suppose it is what it is.

On the other hand, I've made some significant progress on my own little side business, now being fully registered, connected and banked. Even the email and web domain is fixed. And the first invoice is going out tomorrow.
The best part, though, is actually that what I do in the little company is fun, and good fun too. And while being work, and hence tiring in a sense, it's also at the same time energising. An interesting paradox.

Now, in the process of evening resting in the sofa, I came to google around a bit for RuAF units. There is a very nice Danish website detailing most of the Cold War allocations of aircraft, but there's not much about more recent types such as the Su-30SM, Su-34 or Su-35. That's a pity, methinks, as I find that these kind of studies are quite symbiotic with my modelling mojo.
Well, eventually I'll probably find out, one way or another. One usually does, but impatience..   

The weekend seems to be pre planned by the Mrs, so not much benchtime in sight, but then again, the main reason for her being the Mrs at all is that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her, and as I still do, I shouldn't complain. And I won't. Also, the kits aren't going anywhere, are they?

On telly, there's a programme about old houses. It's a series where a historian and an antiquarian are visiting houses of interest, researching their history and assisting the current owners with some restorative construction. As we also live in a house, about 250 years old, I find it quite interesting and also contemplative. Old dwellings have a certain feeling about them. A soul of their own, if you like and I find it a blessing to be able to live where we do, knowing that others have too, and for a quite long time. Watching others in our situation and circumstances is quite inspiring, though.

Well, tomorrow is still to be dealt with before the weekend.

Quote from: Pellson on September 14, 2023, 11:37:38 AMOld dwellings have a certain feeling about them. A soul of their own...

That's normally called "haunted"

As my parents house is only about a hundred years old, I do know what you actually mean.

Quote from: scooter on September 14, 2023, 11:46:30 AM

Quote from: Pellson on September 14, 2023, 11:37:38 AMOld dwellings have a certain feeling about them. A soul of their own...

That's normally called "haunted"

As my parents house is only about a hundred years old, I do know what you actually mean.

You're possibly right, but we haven't been able to find that much misery in the annals of our house. It was built as the gardeners home, at our local estate, and stayed an estate property until about 15 years ago when it was bought away from the rest of the land. However, almost up till then, it had actually mainly served as the home of people working at the estate and the family living there, and they in turn seems to generally have been rather decent employers.

The manor house, however, hosts a bunch of ghosts, it seems. But that's another story..

It's like when you are viewing properties with a view to buying. You feel completely comfortable in some almost immediately and some make you shiver.

Quote from: Pellson on September 14, 2023, 11:37:38 AMThe weekend seems to be pre planned by the Mrs, so not much benchtime in sight, but then again, the main reason for her being the Mrs at all is that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her, and as I still do, I shouldn't complain. And I won't. Also, the kits aren't going anywhere, are they?

 

Quote from: Pellson on September 14, 2023, 11:37:38 AMI've made some significant progress on my own little side business, now being fully registered, connected and banked. Even the email and web domain is fixed. And the first invoice is going out tomorrow.  The best part, though, is actually that what I do in the little company is fun, and good fun too. And while being work, and hence tiring in a sense, it's also at the same time energising. An interesting paradox.

The weekend seems to be pre planned by the Mrs, so not much benchtime in sight, but then again, the main reason for her being the Mrs at all is that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her, and as I still do, I shouldn't complain. And I won't. Also, the kits aren't going anywhere, are they?

On telly, there's a programme about old houses. It's a series where a historian and an antiquarian are visiting houses of interest, researching their history and assisting the current owners with some restorative construction. As we also live in a house, about 250 years old, I find it quite interesting and also contemplative. Old dwellings have a certain feeling about them.

We are delighted that you have found a side business that gives you fun, uses your skills, and apparently brings in money too! An all round win as far as we can see.

As to Mrs Pellson planning the weekend for you, I've got one like that too.  We chose each other 37 years ago and are still enjoying each other's company.............which seems to be another all round win.  As to the kits, I've never yet heard one complain of being ignored..............

It's  worth looking out for the BBC  TV series   "A House Through Time" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_House_Through_Time  Presented by David Olusoga.   Each series examines a single property over its entire life.    Our present house is 186 years old but (in the words of my historian sons)  definitely built to last!

Quote from: Rheged on September 15, 2023, 08:05:19 AMOur present house is 186 years old but (in the words of my historian sons)  definitely built to last!

A bit older than mine, as mine was built in 1856, when they knew how to build big Lofts. 

But mine wasn't built to last really, it keeps falling apart.

I love it when these "decorators" get in an old house and start the demo and painting without one thought as to what the house was meant to be. As in, I would like to kick them in the butt and throw them out!

Ah, weekend! Lovely!

Gearing up for tomorrow's show (fancy dinner and stuff) by selecting wardrobe. Spoke to a friend who's attending too, discussing what to wear, but he laconically concluded that if you only own one suit, then that's what you'll wear. Me, being somewhat more lavishly furnished in said department, had a bit more of a struggle that that, but I think I've come out alright.
Mrs P, who's wardrobe is even more contentious, has, as so often, managed to strike that fine balance between style and appeal that will stir equal amounts of awe and envy among the other ladies at the event, something that seems to amuse her to no end. And me too, to be honest. Style is underrated.

I've attached the canopy to the little MiG after having puttied the worst gaps along the wing joints. Having decided to replace the nose gear doors with something homemade rather than using the ridiculously undersized and misshaped kit parts, I've left it until Sunday, at least, to contemplate its shortcomings on its own. It's somewhat surprising that so much shapes are off on this model when it's KP bigger sister, the Su-7 Fitter, was so good in this regard. Annoying! Still, it does look like a Fresco, if you squint just a little, so I'll let it pass.
Next issue will be weapons pylons. There are none in the kit, but they seem reasonably easy to hack up from some plasticard, so I'm scavenging the web for some references. And there is quite a lot, so it'll be more a matter of getting to it.

I also bit the Flagon bullet and produced a new, MiG-style IRST-pod to go under the nose. It does actually look quite alright, and I think it'll be just the small deviation needed to make people think twice about what's not quite right with it, the way we want them to do.
Having for this, also that model is RfP, making a grey session likely in the near future.

But that's for another day.

Quote from: Pellson on September 15, 2023, 02:39:46 PMMrs P, who's wardrobe is even more contentious, has, as so often, managed to strike that fine balance between style and appeal that will stir equal amounts of awe and envy among the other ladies at the event, something that seems to amuse her to no end. And me too, to be honest. Style is underrated.

And if you can rouse the same emotions in the males who realize that she's your Mrs, then that's another bonus!   

Quote from: Rick Lowe on September 15, 2023, 04:00:37 PM

Quote from: Pellson on September 15, 2023, 02:39:46 PMMrs P, who's wardrobe is even more contentious, has, as so often, managed to strike that fine balance between style and appeal that will stir equal amounts of awe and envy among the other ladies at the event, something that seems to amuse her to no end. And me too, to be honest. Style is underrated.

And if you can rouse the same emotions in the males who realize that she's your Mrs, then that's another bonus!   

She's very much her own, you know, and for that, I'm quite grateful considering the fact that we're raising our daughters to be equally independent and strong. That said, I'm even more grateful that she keeps choosing to spend her days as well as her nights with me, for a reason I'll probably never will properly understand. In this case, though, I think understanding isn't absolutely necessary.

Back home now, slightly worse for wear, it was indeed a good outing. Still, it's nice to be at home again, in the tranquility of this countryside location.
I might actually even have a quick look at that little Fresco before afternoon tea, you know..

Quote from: Pellson on September 17, 2023, 03:19:16 AM

Quote from: Rick Lowe on September 15, 2023, 04:00:37 PM

Quote from: Pellson on September 15, 2023, 02:39:46 PMMrs P, who's wardrobe is even more contentious, has, as so often, managed to strike that fine balance between style and appeal that will stir equal amounts of awe and envy among the other ladies at the event, something that seems to amuse her to no end. And me too, to be honest. Style is underrated.

And if you can rouse the same emotions in the males who realize that she's your Mrs, then that's another bonus!   

She's very much her own, you know, and for that, I'm quite grateful considering the fact that we're raising our daughters to be equally independent and strong. That said, I'm even more grateful that she keeps choosing to spend her days as well as her nights with me, for a reason I'll probably never will properly understand. In this case, though, I think understanding isn't absolutely necessary.

Back home now, slightly worse for wear, it was indeed a good outing. Still, it's nice to be at home again, in the tranquility of this countryside location.
I might actually even have a quick look at that little Fresco before afternoon tea, you know..

Fair comment - perhaps I should have said 'rousing the same emotions when they realize that she has chosen to be with you.' 

And yeah - don't try to analyse it, just Take The Win! 

Quote from: Rick Lowe on September 17, 2023, 10:33:11 PM... just Take The Win! 

Yep. You bet! 

Btw - no offense taken whatsoever.


Unexpectedly busy day today work wise, and here I was, hoping for a soft start of the week. Hence not much in the way of modelling, but on the Soviet theme, I managed to sneak in a quick but rather thorough deep dive into the surprisingly unclarified depths of MiG-25 interceptor variants, or more to the point, the outward differences between these. The amount of guesswork is impressive as is the lack of indisputable evidence, but by the looks of things, as long as you're not too fussy about panel lines (or sand them off), the three main differences I can find between the first generation of fighter Foxbats, the 25P, and the second, the PD/PDS, are the nose pitot/air data boom, the under nose IRST and the brake chute container between the jet exhausts. The vaunted nose extension seems to be a hoax, to be honest, and I actually suspect the difference I length data evident from various sources is entirely due to aforementioned chute box. Upgrading a P kit will thus be relatively straightforward as long as you just simply overlook just that chute box. At least if it's an old, already built Foxbat you want to refurbish.

I shall mull on this.

Tomorrow's an even busier day, so I'm not likely to need a quick conclusion anyway.