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

[darthspud]

milliput used to be used for small "carved" items

non-used bits get piled up and then carved into Penguins/Sheep/dogs/ Sea lions. and usually presented to people when leaving MPN .

[NARSES2]

milliput used to be used for small "carved" items

Ah cheers  Because I mainly build pre 1950 there don't tend to be many lumps and bumps on the aircraft but there's always a few things it might come in usefull for. I'll put them in a tin....and promptly forget where I put them 

[NARSES2]

Right progress -

The Firebrand has been sanded and the wing profile looks a lot better. Will need a fair bit more work and I will have to attempt to re-scribe some of the more prominent panel lines, something I very seldom do.

The Gladiator didn't need any extra psr (lovely little kit) so has had her black/white undersurface painted.

The Typhoon needed just a smidgen of PPP on the cowling, my fault when I fitted the gun sight slightly awry. Done and reprimed.

The Meteorite has had my error in painting her uppers fixed so is now waiting for the Future to dry and then transfers can start. I've also stated putting the undercarriage together - nice little job as it's quite fiddly but so far has gone together ok.

The 2 WWI guns are now starting to look like guns. Interesting builds, some of the smaller parts are superb but the resin used is prone to air bubbles on some of the larger parts and they have had to have a few holes filled in.

[NARSES2]

Some progress with paint and I've started to give the Meteorite it's transfers.

Whilst looking for something else among my transfer collection I discovered a set for Soviet Pe 2's and 3's. Now I immediately thought of a Soviet Beaufighter torpedo bomber rather then the A-20's they used.  May well get done.

Another bit of serendipity whilst looking for something completely different was a photo of an experimental Typhoon with double stacked rockets...16 of them  May well necessitate another Airfix kit.

Also while struggling to find something in the mess I call a model room I made the decision to completely sort it out once I've finished the current crop of kits, it's driving me mad at the moment 

[NARSES2]

Thanks to Crudebuteffective painting of the Meteorite can continue 

[NARSES2]

The Typhoon has started to have her transfers applied. Started with the "D Day stripes" and they are brilliant, fit like a dream and go on dead easy 

The Gladiator has started having her topsides painted.

The 2 WWI guns are going together but are a bit of a pain. The resin doesn't seem to want to be glued. My normal superglue seems to take ages to hold bits together, all round pia 

Progress continues on the Meteorite. I've had to alter the undercarriage. It's obvious given the actual aircrafts undercarriage that it would have been nigh on impossible to hang anything under the wings or fuselage and this was with the standard Meteors undercarriage altered to allow for prop clearance. So I've had to extend it in order to fit some ordnance. Nothing drastic but I'm going to say that the undercarriage had a double pivot in order to retract into the bays. Once the doors are on you won't be able to see the extension. However she is definitely a tail sitter. Loads of lead in the nose but she still won't sit properly. Have to use the clear prop I made for the Moonbat although I may fit her to a base ?

[NARSES2]

The Firebrand has had some re-scribing done, just enough so that the difference between the unfilled part of the wing and the filled part don't look as though they are from different planets. Had a little bit of fun here as the scriber stated to tear at the Miliput. I stopped straight away and used a sharp scalpel blade instead on this bit. Want to fit the undercarriage and doors and then start painting. Normally don't fit these until the end but as I will be using Sky from a rattle can for the undersides it makes sense to do them at the same time.

The Meteorite and Typhoon have had 90% of their transfers applied. Given my "previous" with stencil transfers they are probably nearer 98% transferred  The yellow leading edges will work on the Typhoon. They take some persuading (nothing more serious then spit and patience) but they do go on and conform to the leading edge. Possibly easier to paint and mask but just possibly.

The Gladiator is painted and is awaiting her markings which given the scheme - RAF Aden 1940 - is pretty minimal.

The 2 WWI guns are now looking ready for primer

[NARSES2]

As I thought very few of the stencil transfers were used. Just the prop markings on the Meteorite and a few others on the Typhoon.

The Gladiator has her national markings, codes and serials on. There are scores of stencils on the Airfix sheet but very few will get used. They might look right on a silver doped example but not on a camouflaged one in my opinion. Will have to brace myself for the rigging now 

Talking of stencil transfers. I do think that in 1/72 they can actually make the model look wrong, especially where there are a lot of them. I've seen some Phantoms, Japanese ones in particular, which look like billboards. May be accurate but to my mind it detracts from the model. Personal view and I know there are many more, some of which are to the contrary but just as valid. As a certain person of this parish has been known to say "it's my model"

[PR19_Kit]

As a certain person of this parish has been known to say "it's my model"

I can't imagine who you might be talking about Chris. 

I tend to agree about 'over stencilling'. Being an airliner modeller I find a lot of the better kits have THOUSANDS of stencils and as much of the model is gloss white they stick out like a sore thumb, much more than they do on the real thing. I tend to 'dumb down' the stencils on mine and only put them where I can see them on RW photos.

[Dizzyfugu]

One thing that many "modelers", esp,. those who consider themselves "serious", forget that 'a model is a simplified representation of something complex'. It IMHO finally all boils down to personal taste, but hardcore realism can be a real PITA, and it gets even worse when third parties critisize you for NOT adding anything that's available, be it OOB or through aftermarket options.

It's just a MODEL! 

[NARSES2]

One thing that many "modelers", esp,. those who consider themselves "serious", forget that 'a model is a simplified representation of something complex'.

That's a definition I've not heard before, and a good one 

[NARSES2]

I tend to agree about 'over stencilling'. Being an airliner modeller I find a lot of the better kits have THOUSANDS of stencils and as much of the model is gloss white they stick out like a sore thumb, much more than they do on the real thing. I tend to 'dumb down' the stencils on mine and only put them where I can see them on RW photos.

Yup the Japanese Phantom I vividly remember was basically white all over and was literally covered in stencils. In 1/72 it just looked artificial to me, but it's a free world and as long as the modeller was happy then the world continues to turn

[NARSES2]

Little bit of sad news this morning.

A good American friend of mine died yesterday at the age of 95. He was an ex USAAF pilot and flew P-47's in WWII through to F.105's in Vietnam. A wonderfull man who I met in Hawaii many years ago when he was till serving in the Air Force. remained great friends of his family ever since.

Soon there won't be many of that great generation left, so lets salute them while we can.

Here's to you Jet 

[PR19_Kit]

That's awesome period of service Jet had Chris, can't be too many USAF pilots who flew in WWII and Viet Nam.

Commiserations on his family's and your loss.

[NARSES2]

That's awesome period of service Jet had Chris, can't be too many USAF pilots who flew in WWII and Viet Nam.

Yup tail end of WWII and beginning of Vietnam. Ended up attached to Hawaii State University (some posting) as their Air Force liaison/recruitment type of person.

Still had to keep his hours in so went down to Hickham every now and then to "play" with the ANG's Phantoms (shows how long I'd known him). The incident of the flight at zero level along Waikiki beach at 7.00am to show his daughter "daddies aeroplane" made the Honolulu Advertiser