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

[NARSES2]

A little progress made.

The Ha 137 is now all washed and awaiting a slight change in the weather so I can get out on the balcony, quick wave at the adoring masses  , and get her primed. The He 100 has had the first p.s.r.session done and now needs some spot priming along the seams to check for what else is needed.

As these are at the, or almost at the painting stage I broke out a Hasegawa Ms406 to keep them company. Why this kit ? Well I had an idea for an Ms, so strike while you can still remember it  , plus I wanted something a little simpler as both of the others are proving a bit more like hard work than my recent builds. I know I've been spoilt by building a fair few new Airfix kits lately but the He 100 is an old MPM limited run and has taken a fair bit of work to get her to the stage she's at. It's not hard or difficult just lengthy in comparison to newer tools. The Ha 137 whilst a nice kit is resin and the work room is a bit chilly, thus super glue takes longer to dry/grab and getting the tiny winglets fitted was a right p.i.a. 

So I thought the Ms 406 would be more relaxing. Got the kit down and found it had both an Eduard etch set, just the basic set, and old style vinyl mask. I will probably use a fair bit of the etch as the cockpit is quite a large exposed space, and besides I enjoy the detail work. I won't be using the instrument panel 3 piece however as I have the rather nice Yahu one piece set. Mr Hannant had a few of these at Telford and I snaffeled all those for which I had the appropriate kit. Great value pieces 

Anyway here's the 406. The others are in the GB build page

[NARSES2]

Priming is done. The 137 can start to be painted whilst the 100 needs just a little more work on her seams in a few places

[NARSES2]

Some progress on both current projects but I'm in that post Telford/pre-Christmas slowdown I always tend to get.

However Christmas has now officially started as Radio 2 played the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl this morning  . Christmas can't start without it

[JayBee]

I'm in that post Telford/pre-Christmas slowdown I always tend to get.

You, Me, also!

However Christmas has now officially started as Radio 2 played the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl this morning  . Christmas can't start without it

I think that last bit is just a fairytale, Chris. 

[NARSES2]

No, I definitely heard it 

[Captain Canada]

lol a sure fire sign of Christmas Chris !

[kitnut617]

The numpties around our area have had their Christmas lights and such up since the end of October -----     

[NARSES2]

As expected very little progress. Indeed I'm pondering rearranging the work area to make it more ergonomic and take better advantage of the new lighting acquired at the LMS. This planning has gone as far as digging out the Black and Decker 

[NARSES2]

Some progress on the 2 Luftwaffe builds and one now has it's transfers complete, whilst the others are half way through. They won't be finished in time for the GB close but will get done just after Xmas I think.

On a more personal note. I was at the hospital re my eye yesterday when the doctor examining it said "I'd just like my consultant to have a look"  Well to cut a long story short she said I needed a series of injections and they could do the first one now. I'm glad she pushed me a little to have it done straight away as If I'd have had to think about it I might have chickened. Anyway whilst in the room awaiting the needle the nurse looked at me and asked if I was scared. I replied "yes, a little, it's the first time" and the dear girl held my hand  Consultant was right, I didn't feel a thing and you can't see it either  Not looking forward to the next two in this series but a least I'm not scared of it now. Hopefully the treatment should fix things or at least make it better.

[zenrat]

Needle in the eye?!  Urrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh
I'm agree with you, given time to think i wouldn't have come back.

[NARSES2]

A little progress and I've got the transfers finished on both the He100 and the B&V 137.

The He's were from a special set I got at a Hornchurch show a few years ago and behaved very well, the B&V's were from a set for the Stuka produced by Printscale and they gave me some problems if I'm honest. They came away from the backing paper as soon as they touched the water, indeed one came away before touching ! obviously some moisture on my finger   Now I don't like waiting half an hour, as I almost did with the swastika's for both aircraft but these were to quick. They were very, very thin and curled over straight away, thus difficult to place, especially with my iffy eye. They stayed movable for a decent enough time but were just to thin for me and crumpled if not very careful when moving them. Finally and the most suprising, the colours were not dense enough. The yellow on the code letters was quite poor and doesn't cover the background greens well at all. Quite surprised by this as I'd read good things about Printscale, maybe just got an odd sheet ?

Anyway the kits will get finished just after Christmas as I've a lot on, what with the reindeer to prepare and all of that - oooops I'm not meant to mention that, please forget you read it  

[NARSES2]

Well I continue to make slow progress on both and they will get finished this year 

I have decided however that my next few builds will be more mainstream, recent toolings. My eye problem is giving me problems when lining things up, especialy when they don't have location pins etc and as the course of treatment is due to take 3/4 months I think I'll be leaving the resin and the old SH/MPM kits to one side for a while at least. I probably need to re-evaluate I approach this type of kit. No problem however as I have a fair few new Airfix toolings to build

Anyway here's wishing you all a very happy Christmas and I hope the styrene gods are kind

[NARSES2]

Got the canopy attached to the He 100 and that's it for Xmas and the next few days. Went up the Palace and spent 30 mins in the cheese shop and got my Xmas cheese - it will keep me going until March I think  - then met a couple of mates in our local Real Ale pub and after 4 pints of rather good bitter came home to rest before the chaos ensues tomorrow.

Have a good one all 

[Rheged]

spent 30 mins in the cheese shop and got my Xmas cheese - it will keep me going until March I think

What a good ide, I approve of the concept of "Christmas cheese"!  We are lucky enough to have a local artisan cheesemaker   in the next village, so I can buy little and (very, very) often . 

[NARSES2]

Yup we have a small "cheese" shop up the Palace (the area has become very upwardly mobile over the last few years). He does excellent cheese and some good beers, as well as branching out into some quality hams etc at this time of year. The queue was outside the shop which at this time of year is ok as every one is in a reasonable mood.

So got a good, mature Cheddar, some excellent Stilton, quality Brie, a couple of English Goat's cheese rounds and a nice Wensllydale