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

[NARSES2]

Very little progress this week, but then I knew that would be the case. Hopefully next week will be different and  the Ki-87 will get near the finishing line and I'll make a start on my Cold War G.B. entry 

Meanwhile whilst looking for a completely different book I picked up an Osprey Aces book and mused on the idea of doing an early Me 109, B or C ? in one of the aces schemes (not Richthoven's) and then doing an early Mk I Hurricane in standard RFC scheme as worn by a Pup or Camel. I then dug out the transfer sheet I have for Albatross's .

Completely forgot which book I was actually looking for of course  Remembered and found now however 

[Rheged]

Meanwhile whilst looking for a completely different book I picked up an Osprey Aces book and mused on the idea of doing an early Me 109, B or C ? in one of the aces schemes (not Richthoven's) and then doing an early Mk I Hurricane in standard RFC scheme as worn by a Pup or Camel. I then dug out the transfer sheet I have for Albatross's .

Completely forgot which book I was actually looking for of course  Remembered and found now however 

It's a form of mental thread drift. I suffer from it too!

[NARSES2]

Right, Palace are safe for another season, so perhaps I can get a bit of modelling done now, starting tomorrow 

COYP 

[NARSES2]

Started touch ups on the Ki-87 and got some detail painting done on the SR.53 or SR Robin as she will be known in the RAF

[NARSES2]

The Ki-87 has started to get her clear coats and the Robin can start to be assembled.

The Ki-87 is a very large aircraft, especially for a Japanese fighter. She would look very good as a single seat torpedo bomber. Certainly she is large enough to carry one, I tested it, but of course she'd have no need for the supercharger then I suppose ? Maybe a launcher for a smaller, unmanned Baka ?

[NARSES2]

Assembly on the Robin has started and it looks as though it will go together quite quickly. I do however need to put some nose weight in before I close it up. I don't think she needs it, but knowing my luck 

I'm thinking of another one of these. Perhaps a Mk 2 or 3 ? With the missiles mounted under the wings rather than the wingtips, or perhaps 4 missiles ?

[NARSES2]

The Ki-87 has now had her transfers and I now need to get her matted. Given my recent experience with Humbrol spray varnish  I'm a touch paranoid and will revert to brush painted Windsor and Newton Galleria. I know I said in an earlier post that she's a large aircraft and indeed is bigger all round, other than in height, than the SR.53.

The SR 53 Robin is now a completed airframe and went together very well and quickly. Some cleaning up of the parts was necessary but after that they just slotted together. I have had to use a strip of microstrip on one side of the tailplane, but that is down to my inability to sand a flat surface. Other than that a little PPP on the underside of the wing/fuselage joints and that's it.

It's a very nice kit and I will be getting another. I've had some farther thoughts on this and decided she will be the FAA version. If it was planned for them to have her big brother (SR 177) than why not the 53 to provide the Fleets inner ring defence ?

[NARSES2]

Well the Ki-87 has been matted and is getting her canopy framing, whilst the SR 53 has been cleaned and can now stat to see paint.

Unfortunately whilst Saturday was a good day modelling wise, Sunday was  . No progress at all. Don't know why but I had a bit of a lie in and that always leaves me feeling completely out of sorts. It not only unsettles me, but it actually causes me some physical aches and pains as well. Should no better by now 

[NARSES2]

Ki-87-II is finished and can be found here http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,45249.new.html#new

[NARSES2]

Nothing done for a while as I've been away and am now catching up. However I have dug the kit I want to build for the One Week GB out and will give it a good wash tomorrow as I find that Airfix's recent toolings/mouldings are very, very oily, especially the smaller parts. I've also dug out the first three kits for the RAF 100 GB.

Hopefully get some other stuff finished in the next few weeks before the RAF GB kicks off.

[NARSES2]

Whilst working on my One Week build I did something I have not done for ages and ages, in all honesty I can't remember when I last tried. What ? Well I actually did my masking like an adult.  Yup, burnished tape onto canopy and cut out the necessary with a sharp blade. I surprised myself and apart from one very minor bleed it came out well.

No idea why I decided to do it the "proper way", but will I be doing it this way in future ? Probably not. Why not ? Well it took at least 3 times longer than my standard method of painted masking tape strips and I don't think it looks any better either, but that's subjective. I also need to be in the right mood both mentally and physically - my hand/eye co-ordination has to be having a good day, which is not every day nowadays. However having proved to myself I can do it, it will come in handy for those parts of canopy framing that "my" method doesn't really suit. i.e. those that have a lot of curves. So, a result of thoughts 

I've also decided what scheme I'm going to finish my stalled SR.53 Robin, that was intended for the Cold War build, in, as well as figuring out a backstory which will explain the rather poorly moulded Firestreaks. Finally the transfers from the Airfix Tomahawk that I've used for my One Week build are going to go on one of my AZ Mohawks 

Amazing what the brain can come up with whilst sitting in a hospital waiting room 

[NARSES2]

Whilst trying to find out when the French ordered their Hawk 81's as well as when the first ones were ready to be delivered * I stumbled upon an interesting tit bit.

Allegedly there is a single photo of a mocked up twin engined version with the engines mounted over the wheel wells. Now the P.36 etc thread on this site starts with a plan view of a twin engined P.40 but that is a GKX Wif suggestion.

Anyone know more ?

* Ordered 5/10/39, first one completed 6/6/40

[jcf]

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,11700.msg161190.html#msg161190

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/p-40-twin.38575/

[Tophe]

And... don't forget the twin-fuselage twin-engine P-40 (my favourite P-40):

[NARSES2]

Thank you Jon, I knew that if anyone could come up with it, it would be you 

I did look for anything on site but obviously missed the thread you have linked to