Narses2's Blog - or what I'm slowly making progress on

[NARSES2]

Rest of the transfers are on the Mustang as is the windscreen. Matt varnished today. Just need to paint the windscreen frames and fit the canopy and she's done.

Checking I had everything for my next 3 builds (3 Airfix Hurricane IIC's) and found I didn't have the national markings necessary for one of the planed builds. Not in the after market collection nor in any other kit I have  So ordered from Hannants. I'll be building all 3 of these at the same time so should save a bit of time with this production line approach ?

[NARSES2]

Mustang is finished - photo's tomorrow hopefully, in between the rugby.

Had one last minute modification. The aerial broke off half way up  Defeated all attempts to super glue back and then flew off the tweezers  Aircraft now has the RAF's late war UHF radio with the short mast 

[NARSES2]

Well here's the link to the finished Mustang build

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,36541.msg587244.html#msg587244

[NARSES2]

Transfers arrived for the Hurricane so the builds can start

[NARSES2]

Well I've started on the 3 Hurricane IIC's. The Airfix kit is nice and simple (no idea how accurate and as long as it looks like a Hurri I'm not fussed). You can build up quite a few sub assemblies, which I've done and start on the painting of the interiors etc, which I've also done. It's only real vices are the sprue attachment points which are large and clumsy in places and there's oodles of the so and so's. The undercarriage legs are particularly prone to breakage when removing from the sprues - ask me how many times I found that out  The only other thing to note is that if you drill out the upper fusalage location hole to a greater diametre the fusalage closes far better then if you don't. It will be interesting to compare the new Mk I when it comes out to this moulding.

I also used my Humbrol workstation on my lap in the living room (it's warmer) whilst doing the sub assemlies an dpleased to say it works as advertised 

[The Wooksta!]

It can't be much worse.  The Airfix IIc has been panned by pretty much everyone I know - the whole tail area is small and out.  The fin should be offset but isn't and the only kit to ever get that right was the old Airfix Mk I.

May buy a cheap IIc for use as spares.

[NARSES2]

Well work on the Hurricanes continues. Interiors finished, inc. tape belts and the fusalages are now closed up.

Once these are finished it will be the Airfix new tool Me 109E Trop - had an idea for this at lunchtime  and I also had an idea for the Bulgarian markings inc. in said kit 

[NARSES2]

Major construction now complete on all 3 kits. Quite strange that whilst 2 of them went together like Derby and Joan the other one needed a little fettling on most pieces  Monday morning moulding ?

Anyway won't get much done now until Monday, may get some filling done, mainly Mr Surfacer needed that's all, but not much else.

[Radish]

I need to finish the Air Police Hurricane.....can't fing the piggin spinner. It'll turn up

[NARSES2]

Well as suspected the 3 Hurricanes only needed an application of Mr Surfacer 500. That has now dried and been sanded back so they are probably ready for priming. Problem is I do my spraying on the balcony and it's snowing  Might clear up enough to get in done tomorrow though.

Cut out the major parts of the Me 109 and glued the cockpit assembly etc. Start with the RLM 02 in the morning

[Captain Canada]

It's snowing everywhere this week ! You see how much the east coast of NA has gotten ? Crazy....look forward to seeing the Hurricanes. Can't go wrong with Hurricanes !

[NARSES2]

Well I braved the cold and got the Hurricanes primed out on the balcony - bloody freezing  Still warming the Halfords spray can up in warm water first helped.

Detail painting complete on the Me 109's inners.

I'm trying a couple of different "techniques" with the painting on these kits. Just little tweaks to the way I usually do things but trying to improve a bit.

So hopefully in the next couple of days I can get the Hurricane's undersides painted and the 109 assembled.

[NARSES2]

The 109 is assembled. What can I say ? It went together beautifully  Yes you have to take care in trimming the parts properly but if you do then a little drop of liquid cement on the edges and the parts slot into place perfectly. No filler what so ever and with the 109's seam on the top/bottom of the fusalage no cleaning up there either  Took about an hour to get a complete airframe, and that's with the multi part nose assembly. This is quite possibly one of the best fitting kits I've built so well done Airfix  Lovely detail on the kit as well, will be building another of these.

[NARSES2]

Well it's been a "3 shades of blue and grey day". Got the 3 hurricanes and 109's undersides painted whence the 3 shades of light blue and 1 Medium Sea Grey. Also got the tyres painted. Here the Monday Hurricane struck again. The tyre/wheel definition lines on this one, particularly the tailwheel, weren't as clearly defined as the other two and it was a lot more difficult to get a decent demarcation. Couldn't use my usual trick of thinned RLM 66 and capillary action.

Rugby tomorrow (come on you Quin's) and FA Cup Sunday so these will be parked until Monday.

have a good weekend all

Chris

[kitbasher]

I enjoyed building the 'new' Airfix Hurricane IIc, Chris.  I accepted the deficiencies and go on with it - it was for a whif (http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,36088.msg578618.html#msg578618) after all.  Yes the deficiencies were avoidable Mr Airfix, but it is a really good 'training kit' that can be made into an attractive model OOB.  If it draws newbies to the hobby (especially kids) then it is a valuable addition to modelling.