Someone once told me that musicians tend to be some of the most insecure people because we're always looking for everyone else's approval of what we do... not sure about being insecure but what would be the point of making music only for yourself?
And although we want people to like the work, we can't let it stop us from being free to do whatever comes to mind... what would art be if it wasn't free?

Quote from: DogfighterZen on January 24, 2024, 04:38:23 AMbut what would be the point of making music only for yourself?

And yet some do, likewise some artists, painters and sculptors, do as well.

Chris, that's what they all say till someone tells them they have a "masterpiece" on their hands...  
This is a very interesting subject to me and i know very little about sculpture and painting but what i do know is that, from all the musicians i've known, every one of those who said that, ended up putting something out and the reality is, if you're making music, you wanna be heard.
To have an instrument and make up a tune to jam on when relaxing at home is, IMO, more like building a snap tite kit but to compose a song from start to finish is usually not the same thing, even if it's just a vocal melody and clapping to back it up. The type of thought that goes into it is much more like having an idea for a kitbash and then do the research of which kits to use, what and where to cut and glue, etc., and then do the actual build, start to finish, pics and backstory.
That's why i find it very hard to believe that people are spending their time composing and recording songs and albums at home with no intent of letting anyone else hear them.
A lot of factors come into play when you think about what it takes to form a band, get everything set up to be able to get to a stage and perform your songs. Not everyone is willing to risk it and i understand that, i've felt that way before.
Of course, some people are so insecure that they're afraid to show it for fear of being criticized or even ridiculed so they'll just say it's just to have fun at home and they don't want bands to play live gigs or record albums, but i can't believe that, deep inside, there's no desire at all to have people listen to their music. If given the chance and the right conditions, i bet that almost every single one would give it a shot.
The guitar player with whom i had my first band in 1997 is one of those who now "does it only for himself", calls me and tells me that and, a week later, a couple of songs pop up on his youtube channel...
That's how i see it and i may be wrong but it's what i get from everyone i've ever heard saying that.

Quote from: DogfighterZen on January 24, 2024, 03:00:53 PMChris, that's what they all say till someone tells them they have a "masterpiece" on their hands...  

Oh you are a cynic     

That is true with every form of creativity, and a few others, out there 

Quote from: DogfighterZen on January 24, 2024, 03:00:53 PMA lot of factors come into play when you think about what it takes to form a band, get everything set up to be able to get to a stage and perform your songs. Not everyone is willing to risk it and i understand that, i've felt that way before.
Of course, some people are so insecure that they're afraid to show it for fear of being criticized or even ridiculed so they'll just say it's just to have fun at home and they don't want bands to play live gigs or record albums, but i can't believe that, deep inside, there's no desire at all to have people listen to their music. If given the chance and the right conditions, i bet that almost every single one would give it a shot.

Very well put 

So... time for an update, i guess...
I've been getting the G.91YP ready for some weathering and a couple of days ago, i'd just finished spraying the last drops of color on the missiles and just as i was about to clean the airbrush, my compressor's air tank cracked and now has a big leak so i can't use it as the engine is always running and it never gets to a decent pressure...
Worst part is that i was ready to spray some gloss varnish to seal the decals and start with the weathering process so now, i can't move further with this build until the new air tank arrives. Supposed to be here by the 26th so hopefully, in less than two weeks i'll be able to get back to the BBN Gina.

Meanwhile, i've been thinking about the next build but still haven't decided... guess i need to take a look at the stash on Scalemates once more...

That's a B. Hope it arrives on time.

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 15, 2024, 08:26:00 AMMeanwhile, i've been thinking about the next build but still haven't decided... guess i need to take a look at the stash on Scalemates once more...

Always a good idea no matter what the driver is 

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 16, 2024, 06:07:39 AMThat's a B. Hope it arrives on time.

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 15, 2024, 08:26:00 AMMeanwhile, i've been thinking about the next build but still haven't decided... guess i need to take a look at the stash on Scalemates once more...

Always a good idea no matter what the driver is 

It really sucks cause i've been having a bit more time to get stuff done at the bench and this happens after i've spent my modelling budget for the month but i just couldn't wait to order the tank...  
Anyway, like you said, Chris, it's always a good idea to take a moment to go through the stash. 
Last night i ended up digging up another kit from the stash, a Hasegawa 1/72 Saab Draken.
No surprise, it's another one for my whif PoAF. It was one on their first list of options for a fighter/interceptor back in the late 1960s and i wanna build almost all of the aircraft that the PoAF was offered or considered to buy but didn't since WWII so, i still have a few to build.
Also been thinking about writing the backstory for the G.91YP to save some time and to keep me busy
till my new air tank arrives. Tracking says it was shipped today and is scheduled for delivery on the 22nd so, that is coming along as expected.
I'm also thinking of starting a real world Alpha Jet of the PoAF. The Wingman models kit is right by the bench and there's a lot to do before any paint needs to be sprayed so, that is a good contender for another build on the bench at this moment...

Any chance the cracked tank could be welded? Might cost more than the replacement.

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 16, 2024, 03:24:05 PMLast night i ended up digging up another kit from the stash, a Hasegawa 1/72 Saab Draken.

Yet another Draken, it seems to be "kit of the season" at the moment    Not sure if I ever built one ?

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 17, 2024, 04:58:53 AM

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 16, 2024, 03:24:05 PMLast night i ended up digging up another kit from the stash, a Hasegawa 1/72 Saab Draken.

Yet another Draken, it seems to be "kit of the season" at the moment    Not sure if I ever built one ?

I've been on the look-out for a 1/48 Draken for a while (to go with my 1/48 Viggen & the 1/48 Gripen) & one is now on its way to me, albeit a Hasegawa Austrian version.

They're all going to be Australian, so the Hase kit only needs "al" added to it (Austrian - Australian, geddit! ).

The Gripen may be semi-navalised as a RAM's aircraft ... or it could go Army Air Corps. The other two will be RAAF, although their "legs" may be a little short.

Quote from: kerick on February 16, 2024, 09:36:25 PMAny chance the cracked tank could be welded? Might cost more than the replacement.

Well, i could do it but the tank's interior is probably corroded on several areas so, it would probably not last long anyway so, i might as well skip that whole effort and be sure that at least for the next 9 years, i won't have to worry about it.
And it may very well last longer cause i wasn't very careful in the first few years. I think i only found out about draining the tank's water after a couple of years of use so, that has probably shortened the tank's life...
Anyway, it lasted longer than i was expecting and the compressor itself is still working perfectly so, i think it's worth the investment, which is around a third of what the new compressor/air tank combo cost me back in 2015. These combos are still selling for over 100€ and with shipping it will cost me close to the 150€ i paid for mine at my former LHS.

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 17, 2024, 04:58:53 AM

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 16, 2024, 03:24:05 PMLast night i ended up digging up another kit from the stash, a Hasegawa 1/72 Saab Draken.

Yet another Draken, it seems to be "kit of the season" at the moment    Not sure if I ever built one ?

I haven't and will be doing so very soon.
I think the Draken is a beauty and we don't see enough whifs of those so, the more the merrier, right?

Quote from: Old Wombat on February 17, 2024, 05:31:50 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 17, 2024, 04:58:53 AM

Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 16, 2024, 03:24:05 PMLast night i ended up digging up another kit from the stash, a Hasegawa 1/72 Saab Draken.

Yet another Draken, it seems to be "kit of the season" at the moment    Not sure if I ever built one ?

I've been on the look-out for a 1/48 Draken for a while (to go with my 1/48 Viggen & the 1/48 Gripen) & one is now on its way to me, albeit a Hasegawa Austrian version.

They're all going to be Australian, so the Hase kit only needs "al" added to it (Austrian - Australian, geddit! ).

The Gripen may be semi-navalised as a RAM's aircraft ... or it could go Army Air Corps. The other two will be RAAF, although their "legs" may be a little short.

You know, i was very disappointed when i opened the box and realized that the fuselage sidewinder pylons are not included in most boxings of the 1/72 kit (incl. the one i have) but, they used to be on the sprue.
I think it's a stupid move to remove one part of a small sprue for most editions, especially when there are more unused parts on the J35O "Austrian Millennium" box. Why would they do this to the sprue? Does it really save them any money or styrene?
IMO, it's ridiculous, especially because the pylons just below the missing ones, are not to be used on this build either...
Not even the new editions of the kit have the damned pylons so, what gives?
I've checked the other sprues and these are the only parts missing, and yet, they're supposedly included in the 2016 Ace Combat edition...

That made me look at the 1/48 kit and those have all the pylons... i must admit i'm very tempted to buy one and put this one back in the stash for some other time.
I know, some of you are probably thinking: "because of a pair of pylons?" and i say yes. I had been looking at the 1/48 kit a couple of months ago but i've been saving up for a new guitar and decided not to buy it but, now, i'm thinking i could avoid having to scratchbuild the pylons and build the bigger kit, which i've had on my sights for several reasons.
I'll leave the scratch building for another kit, the Gina's build left me wanting to build something OOB, no changes besides decals and paint.
Will have to wait for my modelling monthly budget to be replenished to order it so, i have time to decide what to do next.

This afternoon will be spent assembling a new display cabinet, one of the 4 i bought some 5 years ago...  

 

Why, Hasegawa, why???





I just don't understand this.... As is, i have found suitable bits to make these pylons but that means cutting up the launcher rails off of the F-4 Phantom's twin AIM-9 rails that come in the Hasegawa US air to air missile set #4. I'd rather keep these as a single part to use on something else but i have no other source for these unless i buy some aftermarket bits... which is what i'll probably end up doing... 

I've only ever seen similar a couple of times, but it does make you wonder 

IMO, it makes no sense. Say the pylon was removed because it wasn't needed in the OOB scheme but, if so, why didn't they remove all the unused ones? The only ones needed would be the drop tanks' pylons... Ridiculous...
Or maybe... that's really a genius move for suckers like me, who's now thinking of buying the 1/48 kit and giving them more money...   
Truth is, i'd been thinking of the 48th kit for quite a while, way before i noticed the lack of pylons on the 72nd kit so, this only makes me wanna buy the bigger one even more.

It's almost certainly to do with sales and marketing. I provided a lot of data to and worked with marketing people and some live on/in a world of their own