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

[NARSES2]

Excellent A6m ! 

Russ it is that good a kit that providing you don't fall asleep it would be a difficult to cock it up

[NARSES2]

Right Dauntless now looks like a Dauntless and has the little bit of putty it needed applied. I'll start the PSR tomorrow. Probably just needs sanding and then some Mr Surfacer before priming.

The Tomahawk has its upper surfaces painted so I can start applying the transfers tomorrow - my favourite bit brings everything to life I feel.

The other things I'm working on have been parked. I want to get these 2 finished and then clean the bench down - yes I know sacrilege in some parts - but it's gotten so messy I'm losing things. Should be some progress before I go up North though

I said I was using etch on the Dauntless. Well its actually gone quite well to my suprise. However as expected without the use of an endoscope 80% of the bits can't be seen. Those that can be seen however do make a difference. It's also had the knock on effect of helping me concentrate and start thinking about the modelling process again rather then getting on with it the same way I have been doing for nigh on 55 years  . So I may well use the etch I have - doubt if I'll buy any more -and hopefully it will help me improve my general modelling especially in so far as the tiddly bits are concerned.

[NARSES2]

Right Dauntless has had the little PSR it needed and been washed. Waiting for it to dry before priming, hopefully latter today.

Tomahawk has had its transfers added (from a Sky P-40 sheet). I've just done a standard 112 sqd machine. Added the undercarriage etc this afternoon. If building this kit I would advise you to fit the wheels and hubs to the legs before attaching the legs to the wing. If you don't it all gets a little fiddly and fragile - ask me how I know  Take care with the tyre flats as well. It may have been me but I had to tweek them to get them to sit properly.

Won't get much modelling done until Monday now. Brighton tomorrow in the sun, although how much sun will follow me and my mates to the pub I've no idea  Still it's a nice walk to Hove. Then Friday is lunch with an ex colleague and Saturday is the Rugby Premiership Final - come on you Quins 

[NARSES2]

Got a little done yesterday before the rugby 

The Dauntless has had it's tail feathers sprayed white and I've decided on the scheme. A slight change from the origional plan.

The P40 has been sprayed with Humbrol matt and it must be the warm weather but it worked beautifully. I sometimes have problems with aerosoles  Just a few finishing touches needed.

Didn't want to start anything major until after my break "oop North" so I got an Airfix 1/72 Hurricane IIC down from the stash and made a start on her. Will be real rather then Wif, SEAC as per the boxing. Nice little quick build to get on with while Dauntless parts are drying.

[NARSES2]

I'm fairly lucky in that my modelling room is in the shade for a lot of the day so it dosn't get too hot, still warm but not too much so.

The Tomahawk is finished and I'm quite please with it, will make a nice addition to my D.A.F. collection.

The Dauntless has had it's undersurfaces painted and I'll start on the top sides tommorow hopefully.

The Hurricane is all assembled. Just needs a little work on some seams and then I can start painting. Went together like a breeze. No idea how accurate the Airfix IIC is, but it goes together nicely and is a quick, smple build.

[NARSES2]

Dauntless has its camouflage scheme painted, need to varnish as I used Lifecolor then can start transfers.

Hurricane has had PSR, very little needed, and has it's undersides painted.

I might get some stuff done between now and when I go away but then it will be a 2 week interregnum 

[NARSES2]

Little bit of progress during the Jubilee weekend 

Dauntless has most of the transfers added and if I say so myself is looking good.

Hurricane has had it's uppers painted and I've started the process of putting the transfers on

Won't get much done now for a couple of weeks

[NARSES2]

Back from my travels but not got anything done yet. Always takes me a while after a trip to get back into the mood plus I had the one day international on Tuesday and Doc's today. Hopefully progress on Dauntless, Hurricane and new Airfix Spitfire on Saturday

[NARSES2]

Still no progress  Don't know why but it always takes me a while after I've been traveling to get in the mood again.

Been catching up with my reading instead

[NARSES2]

Finally got some things done 

The Hurricane now hs most of it's transfers on and the Dauntless is complete in that respect. Got some of the smaller bits and bobs painted for both as well, so the finishing line is getting closer for these two, although canopies need to be masked.

I've started prep work on two of the new Airfix Spitfires, one to be real, the other ? Not sure yet

[NARSES2]

Some progress this weekend. Not as much as I'd hope mainly to an old mate turning up in the pub Friday lunchtime which led to a 6 hour "session" and a "carefull" Saturday 

Still the Hurricane has been glossed to seal in the final transfers. I feel Airfix got the number of stencils etc just about right, enough to add a little interest but not enough to drive you mad. The Dauntless had it's final bits and bobs added, seemingly endless task, but done now. So assuming we get a dry day these both can now have their mat coats. Still need to do the canopies but I have a mask for the Dauntless and the Hurricane is not difficult to mask if you do the verticals followed by the horizontals.

After that I'll tidy the modelling area up before work commences on 2 Spitfire 22's, a Beaufighter, Mosquito and something Italian. Mix of real and wif.

Chris

[Radish]

You busy busy boy....slow down!!

[NARSES2]

Well regardless of the weather   I managed to get the matt coats on both the Dauntless and the Hurricane. Canopies are masked so they just need to be attached and painted. Then it's nav lights and tips to pitots etc, so should get done by early next week. Then I can start on the next builds. Hopefully I'll get on a bit of a roll again.

I need to sort out a backstory for the Danutless as I managed to get the squadron codes round the wrong way   so I have to work out a squadron for her. Either real one that used HQ

As I said a lot earlier I used an Eduard Zoom etch on the Dauntless (because I had it) and it worked out very well. The problen is that you can hardly see any of it, especially by the time the canopy is on   Shame really because the additions to the rear guns and the seat belts are excellent

[NARSES2]

Right masking on both the Hurricane and Dauntless removed to reveal the touch ups needed on both - this is my least favourite part of modelling. I remember fondly the Hasegawa kits that came with pre-painted canopies 

On the finishing straight now. Busy weekend ahead but reckon to have photo's by Tuesday.

Then it's clean work area and commence next batch 

Chris

[NARSES2]

Right I've finally finished the Dauntless and Hurricane. The Dauntless details are posted over on the Aussierama thread which can be found here :-

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,35488.msg566145.html#new

Just as a little teaser here's a picture of the finished build together with the real world P-40 and Hurricane that I've also recently finished.





Now these have finished I've started on a couple of Airfix Spitfires. A PR XIX and a Mk 22. The XIX will be a wif and the 22 real world. There's also a Hasegawa Beaufighter and Tamiya Mosquito that have been taken from the stash to work on.

The Airfix Spitfire 22 goes together really well and looks as though it will be a great kit. I've already got the innards built and painted - just needs seat belts - and then she can be closed up. Hopefully get the XIX's innards done tomorrow.