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

[NARSES2]

Well had a good day at the Farnborough show yesterday once I got there.

There was a broken down train at Vauxhall which was causing chaos. Trains were all running late, which effected my connections (I had 3 to get there) so was a tad late. Then coming home there was scheduled engineering work at Balham which meant more trains were using the Crystal Palace branch which thus meant they'd reduced the trains I normally get from 4 an hour to 2, and they were heaving ! It really is amazing how busy the London rail network is 7 days a week. Still at least we didn't hear the most feared 3 words in the English language "Bus Replacement Service" 

I was knackered when I got home and then realised I'd walked about 5 miles at least. A mile to CP station there and back and then the show was about a mile and a half from Frimley station. So add that to all the walking at the show and no wonder I was creamed. Getting old   

Anyway it was a good day. Picked up a few things, see elsewhere, and met up with Mike M, Nick and Lance. Some nice stuff on display (I didn't lug my camera) though very little wiffery that I saw. It's a small show but it gets crowded and there's a very good selection of traders many of whom will have driven up to Cambridgeshire today. So all in all it's one for the Southerners among us plus it's on a Saturday which in all honesty I much prefer. Public transport is a bit better normally then on a Sunday.

[TheChronicOne]

I'm starting to get jealous reading about these shows and meet ups and stuff... LOL   

I couldn't find anything like that within a hundred miles of me, if that. Oklahoma City maybe? Dallas, TX?  Both hundreds of miles away and NOTHING happens in Lawton. I'd damn near wager I'm one of the premier modellers in the area simply because none other exist. (HEHEHE     )  Works well for blowing smoke up people's nethers but makes for a boring modeling community around here.. 

Any how, if I were to do anything in OKC it would be around a 250 mile round trip plus any other costs and Dallas is like a 700-800 mile round trip. Approz 300 miles down there then the navigating of the city which is insane.  Then, 300 miles back. Add in costs of fuel, eating, etc...  yikes.

For now I will continue to read y'alls experiences.   

[NARSES2]

Not got much done lately, been to busy catching up with old friends and around the house. Not sure where time flies but it does go quicker as you get older.

Anyway I have got a little work done. I got the real world Tamiya Zero finished and had no problems with her at all until the very end when I came to fit the canopy. The windscreen wouldn't fit at all. Now this was down to me as I'd obviously not got the gunsight in the correct position and this was fouling the windscreen. Removed gunsight and replaced it at the correct angle and it fitted ok. The rear of the canopy also gave me a little problem but eventually went on but the sliding portion just wouldn't fit. I'm not sure what the problem was/is but it just wouldn't go on in the open position. Fits perfectly in the closed position but not in the open. Might of been my fault but I can't see where I screwed it. I've another kit in the stash so I'll fit the canopy sections prior to paint and see if that has any effect. Anyway apart from the canopy and in all honesty even with it this is quite possibly the best kit in terms of buildabilty I've ever built, and I don't say that lightly.

[NARSES2]

So here's where the XP-42 and XP-54 are. As you can see still in the prototype yard.



Here's the current state of my Sea Defiant



And here's a little teaser for my next project. East Indies 1944/45

[TheChronicOne]

The Zero looks like a Hero,Chris. I've heard rumor that Tamiya makes great stuff, esp their Zeros, so I'm glad to hear your endorsement. I haven't built one myself, but I have an F4-U Corsair of theirs coming and I can't wait to take a look at it. 

Looking forward to the rest coming together. Like Tophe, I'm a bit partial to the twim boomer...

[Librarian]

The A6M is a winner, lovely model of a firm favourite . Still get angry about the cop out at the end of "The Wind Rises".

[Tophe]

So here's where the XP-42 and XP-54 are. As you can see still in the prototype yard.

I am interested to see what you will do from the XP-54. Not just what-if colours, but T-T tail or something?

EDIT: possible ideas:

[zenrat]

The Zero looks like a Hero,Chris. I've heard rumor that Tamiya makes great stuff, esp their Zeros, so I'm glad to hear your endorsement. I haven't built one myself, but I have an F4-U Corsair of theirs coming and I can't wait to take a look at it. 

Looking forward to the rest coming together. Like Tophe, I'm a bit partial to the twim boomer...

Some Tamiya 1/72 kits are Italeri moulds.  Doesn't mean that they are bad although their own stuff tends to be better.
Their Skyray and Bf 109 build up really well and the P47 Razorback looks great in the box.
The Italian stuff will say "made in italy" on the box.

[NARSES2]

the P47 Razorback looks great in the box.

We'll see how well they build shortly as they are both in the "to be built" pile, which is the intermediate step between "stash shelves" and "bench".

I am interested to see what you will do from the XP-54. Not just what-if colours, but T-T tail or something?

Sorry Tophe it will be straight out of the box. I haven't fitted the tail yet because of all the p.s.r. needed on the booms.

I do like the T tail however 

[TheChronicOne]

The Zero looks like a Hero,Chris. I've heard rumor that Tamiya makes great stuff, esp their Zeros, so I'm glad to hear your endorsement. I haven't built one myself, but I have an F4-U Corsair of theirs coming and I can't wait to take a look at it. 

Looking forward to the rest coming together. Like Tophe, I'm a bit partial to the twim boomer...

Some Tamiya 1/72 kits are Italeri moulds.  Doesn't mean that they are bad although their own stuff tends to be better.
Their Skyray and Bf 109 build up really well and the P47 Razorback looks great in the box.
The Italian stuff will say "made in italy" on the box.

Ahh.. ok!  Good stuff.. learned something today, thanks. 

[Dork the kit slayer]

Like the Zero (it is a great kit) and the "swoose" is coming on apace. Know what you mean about time and age Im in the same boat.

[NARSES2]

Cheers mate.

Yup the Zero is Tamiya at their best and when they are there I don't think anyone can beat them. A comparison with Wingnut Wings would be interesting but I'm unlikely to do that. Cost + subject makes it very unlikely in fact.

[NARSES2]

A little progress made. Other things on the go and generally distracting me a bit. However the Sea Defiant is almost there, just needs aerials and matt varnish now and I'm calling her done. P-26 had entered the paint shop, undersides done, first coat on the uppers.

Getting chilly in the model room now, need to dig my sweatshirt out for its winter stint. The chill is starting to effect the curing time of superglue which has had a knock on effect on the Defiant  I'll be glad to finish it for some reason, started off brightly, even the middle was bright but as we got to the end  No idea why, but there it is.

Still I do know what's up next and it's Telford in 4 weeks and one day 

[NARSES2]

Well a little progress on all current projects, not much but a little.

I alluded above to other things distracting me a bit, well received news during the week that a good mate died. Known him for 30 years or so and he was a regular drinking partner until a year or so ago. Couple of days younger than me, literally, and the first of "my generation" to go. So it's hit home a little bit than normal. The usual platitudes don't work as well when they are younger than you, albeit by 4/5 days.

All compounded by the fact he died in the Gambia. Was spending 6 to 9 months a year out there, whence the "was a regular drinking partner" comment. Not sure what the funeral arrangements will be and indeed it may simply be that we end up raising a glass over here. All sobering food for thought.

On a happier note I will be meeting up with 4 of my old school mates for a jar or two on Friday and we go back 53 years  So all adds a little poignancy to the meet.

Hopefully get the Defiant finished this week, not much to do and the Peashooter has had a her paintwork done so transfers are awaiting. See if they go over those rivets 

[TheChronicOne]

Sorry to hear that. Condolences.