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

[NARSES2]

Right the Ro 57 is painted and is awaiting the Future coat clearing prior to getting her transfers.

The CA15 is basically assembled and has had her first bash of filler and sanding, will need a second go around. Thinking her of calling her a Brumby as that's an Aussie wild horse and she was "inspired" by the Mustang. Interesting kit this. Falls in Czechmaster's Middle Period. After the really early but nice kits like the Ro 57 with solid fuselages, minimum parts etc and before the latter super detailed kits like the Spitfire family. Attacking a Firebrand TF 5 next (again a middle period kit not the recent issue) together with a couple of injection kits.

Hendon next week for a couple of hours (Ruby Wedding bash in the pm). Not looking for much at all. Some thin masking tape from Small Cars and that's about it...am I feeling ok ? 

[The Wooksta!]

Looking forward to seeing your take on the CA15 - I've a pair of the same kit built (RAF SEAC and RAAF) plus another three I discovered a while back. The same box also had my CMR Speed Spitfire in it that I'd been looking for for THREE YEARS!

Nice kit to build, although eclipsed by the new Kora kit.  There was a vacform by Eagle's Talon.

[NARSES2]

CA 15 reprimed and the Ro 57 has had some of her markings painted. Was trying to get yellow to cover underside grey, forgot it would need the yellow when I painted the grey  That took a few coats I can tell you 

My Doflug 3802 has had major surgery to her spine so that she can become a 3803. Started on building the interior. Nice plastic parts in this RS kit but there are a load of small injection towers. Plastic is easy to deal with so they aren't a real problem just a small pain. Strange as this is a latter tooling then the Airabonita which didn't suffer the problem.

[kitbasher]

Will be discussing the CA15 with you at Hendon, Chris - sounds interesting!

[NARSES2]

Right Ho 

Had one of those days where you spend a few hours working on your projects without much to show for it. Future/Klear coats on the Ro 57 so she can have her markings tomorrow, CA 15 now has the first coat of her underside colour but it will take a few coats as Aussie Sky is very, very pale and I've started on the internal painting of my Doflug.

Also whilst looking for something else I found, oh wonder of wonders, a small resin helicopter kit  Didn't think I had any eggbeaters. She is small but nicely formed and will fit very nicely into my Alt WWII in the Far East scenario for 1946. Just need to sort out if RN, RAF or Army ? Wondering who would handle casualty evacuation in the jungle ? RAF or Army ? Be the first chopper I've built in Gawd knows how long.

[Radish]

The RN operated the first Sikorsky thingies....my friend Dennis Gorman (sadly died last month).......he worked on the first ones in Olive Drab/Neutral Grey. He scratch-built a 1/24th model.

[PR19_Kit]

But what type is it Chris?

Or post a piccie and someone here will be bound to know.

[NARSES2]

The Helicopter is the CMR Sikorsky R-6 Hoverfly. So RN South China Seas Fleet she will be

The CA 15 has had her undersides painted, took 4 coats until I was happy but the Lifecolor stuff is thin. The Ro 57 has her national markings so I can get on with finishing her now. The Doflug's interior is almost finished. I quite enjoy working on interiors even though I know you won't be able to see 3/4's of what I do, strange one that but I find it quite therapeutic.

Was wondering what to do with the transfers included in the Doflug kit and then thought "of course Swiss AF Spitfire 22". Not sure whether to do it immediately post war or in late war markings ? Now my WWII scenario goes on slightly longer then in the real world so maybe the Swiss got some for not allowing the German's access to the new bomb sight being used on a downed Lancaster ? In the real world they got late 109's because they destroyed a downed Me 110 Nightfighters new radar gear in front of German diplomats before the Allies could get at it.

[NARSES2]

Some progress on everything in progress and a major argument with the carpet monster

Whilst fitting the Ro 57's engine cowls I dropped one and heard it drop on a piece of wood under the modelling desk. Now this is not a small bit of resin and it's painted bright yellow, could I find it ? Could I heck  Must of spent 30 mins on hands and knees looking for it, found lots of other much smaller long lost stuff but no bright yellow cowling. Eventually after a mug of tea to calm down I discovered it had bounced off the piece of wood, then must have bounced off the wall whilst turning through 45 degrees before travelling 3 foot on it's new course and coming to rest in the gap between the modelling desk and the wall. This gap is only just wide enough for said piece and there was no way I could get my had in there. Not wanting to move the desk and it's accumulated stuff I had to go and find an old curtain rod (that was fun) and use that to get at the bit. All in all must have taken over an hour 

[NARSES2]

Ro has had the matt coat so is now on the final lap. Ca 15 has had a few coats of Future/Klear so can start getting her markings on Monday. I've found a suitable personal marking for that rather serious conk. It's the 3 flags used on an Aussie P-40 

The Doflug is now basically together. Went together very well apart from the pain of the injection towers. Now I know they take no time to remove but there is basically at least one tower on every piece in this kit and some of the ones on the wing etc are rather tall. Strange because other RS kits I've built haven't had this problem to anywhere near this extent.

On the plus side the resin fuselage insert fits perfectly (my cutting was obviously on form for once), the vacform canopy (the standard one is injection) is quite soft and flexible and therefore is quite easy to cut accurately and the cockpit interior fits like a dream. This and the recent Airabonita have both had superbly fitting innards, puts a lot of better known manufacturers to shame - well done RS 

[Radish]

Impressive production line!!

[NARSES2]

Good couple of hours at Hendon yesterday, sorry I couldn't stay longer and apologies to anyone (Dave) I didn't say goodbye to but as said I had a Ruby celebration to go to. Ruby in two senses actually. 40th wedding and my friends are Anglo-Indian so the curry selection was superb 

Didn't buy a thing. The one thing I wanted (0.75mm masking tape) was out of stock and I'm told now discontinued  May have to use 1mm instead (from Mr Models) or try and cut down some 3mm tape. 

[NARSES2]

Some progress on all 3 kits so gradually getting there with all of them. The Ro and CA are at that stage where you can spend an hour or so working on the kit and apparently not make much progress and then the next thing you know is that you are done  The Doflug has had it's first session of putty over the dorsal area surgery. The resin insert fits well as said so this shouldn't take to long - famous last words ?

I also worked out what I'm going to do with my next 3 builds. The Airfix Typhoon will be real and the rocket armed Tiffie as supplied in the box, the other 2 will be wifs

I've decided the Moonbat is finished. So photo's when I have the Ro ready

[Radish]

That's one hell of a production rate......

[NARSES2]

That's one hell of a production rate......

Not really mate. I find that having 3 models on the go at any one time (in various stages of progress) suits me. Any more and I can lose the enthusiasm, any less and the down time gets to me and I find I get nothing done.

Plus this Spring/Summer is awful and the normal outside attractions...cricket, days at seaside with mates etc... just hasn't taken hold yet.