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

[NARSES2]

The Black Hawk now has it's undercarriage legs fitted. They are a butt fit and will need to support a lot of weight, both resin and lead ballast, so I've pinned them using cut down Revell Contacta tube as well as a fair bit of industrial super glue. She will rest in her cradle for a couple of days so that everything sets solid before I attach doors and wheels etc. Must admit she is a much nicer looking bird then her competitor the F.89 and is somewhat Canberra-esque.

The Spitfire has her matt coat on and looks ok to me. Must admit I was a little concerned about using the Humbrol Aerosol but I immersed it in warm water for 10/15 mins and then gave it a real good shake and touching wood it's worked well.

I'm busy this week but these two will get finished and photoed by Xmas.

[NARSES2]

No progress as I was at the London Model Show yesterday. Report and pics here http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,37972.0.html

Busy week this week so if any progress it will be 20mins here, 30 there type of thing. Still should get the 2 current projects done by Xmas

[Rheged]

Thank you  for the report  and piccies!!

[NARSES2]

No problem sir

[NARSES2]

Well as I suspected got hardly anything done this week due to Crimbo festivities etc.

One thing I did discover was that the Black Hawk obviously has Canberra genes in her make up ! She is one heck of a tail sitter and there is a lot of lead in her belly and nose, so much so that I feared for the undercarriage until I realised they were standard Anigrand tree trunks  She is a really hefty thing with all the lead in her but I could put some in the nacelles and then put FOD guards in them ? Or I could make a small base (£1 store table mat sprayed with £1 store black paint + some scenic scatter). I've started on the base today in case I don't go with the FOD guards. We shall see in the coming week.

[NARSES2]

Progress, despite the eye 

Spitfire just needs her canopy framing finishing, which is proving a problem as my dodgy eye is causing problems with judgement of distances etc, but after that she just needs nav lights and a whip Aeriel and she's done.

Black Hawk is now on it's wheels, or at least it's rear ones  Canopy is attached so just needs framing and then nav lights painting. decided she will be fixed to a base, so base is completed.

I'm finding the eye is causing problems with some of the finer work needed so these will not be amongst my better efforts I'm afraid. However I've decided not to fret about it and get on and enjoy my hobby even if I do muck things like canopy frames up a little. Doctor reckons it should get better even if it doesn't get back to what passed as normal for my myopia  However will take time.

As me old dad used to say "worst things happen at sea" 

[NARSES2]

Spitfire's finished, Black Hawk will be finished Thursday, photo's over the weekend 

[NARSES2]

Black Hawk finished 

Work area all tidied up and stuff put away. No more work before Christmas but once that's done I'll start work on my Airfix Hurricane Mk I's and a couple of other projects

[Captain Canada]

Merry ( early ) Christmas !

I need to do the same thing Chris......

[NARSES2]

Well here's the two latest details here http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38147.new.html#new and here http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38146.msg622550.html#new

[NARSES2]

Got a little preparatory work done on the next 3 builds. Cracked open the Airfix Hurricane I, Fw 190F8 and Lightning.

Just a gander at the sprues and checking options and pieces not wanted. Also read through the instructions  Yup the last couple of Airfix kits I've built have had some innovative approaches to assembly which because "I thought I knew it all" almost caught me out. Follow them however and it leads to a super build process  . Nothing particularly different with these though, other then the colour coding on the instructions for the Hurri which through me until someone on here pointed it out to me and it was obvious 

As said this Hurricane will be real world as will be the Lightning. Fw will be wiffed. Hopefully actually start to cut sprue once 2014 is in, little busy until then 

[NARSES2]

Sorted the first kit out for the 2014 GB. It's a Karas and won't be Polish, although it will have been built in Galicia  Got the back story straight in my head and have the markings sorted.

[NARSES2]

Started on the Karas. I like these old Heller kits. Sure they have raised panel lines, some clunky bits and this one has a flash fetish  but they tend to be nice builds and where else can you get some of the types offered ?

Used some of the "new" Humbrol acrylics I got the other day on this. First surprise was that the new style pots are screw lid, not those prise lid types with the screw option (you'll know what I mean if you have them). Nice big aperture to get your brush in  The Aluminium No 56 needed a fair bit of stirring/shaking initially but then covered very well. Looks like exposed aluminium when dry to me as well. The yellow really surprised me. Coverage straight on to grey plastic was fantastic. Doubt if it needs a second coat but will get one. I only used it for a couple of smaller items so not sure what coverage would be like over a large flat surface but first signs are good for this notoriously difficult colour.

[Captain Canada]

Have to see when we're getting the 'new' Humbrol acrylics over here....sounds promising !

As for 'know-it-all' during construction/ instructions.....had that happen yesterday. As I was glueing the fuselage together on the Puma I noticed I had completely forgotten the cabin roof and the associated engine placement !

[JayBee]

Yes, indeed, "If at first you do not succeed, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!"