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

[Radish]

Was thinking about your rigging.....
......still thinking.....

[NARSES2]

Was thinking about your rigging.....
......still thinking.....

Don't hurt yourself 

[NARSES2]

Well here's the Firebrand

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,37362.new.html#new



And here's the Gladiator - 94 Sqd Aden 1940

[NARSES2]

Decided I'm going to try and sort all my spare bits and bobs out. To paraphrase a famous Antarctic explorer "I may be gone for some time" 

[NARSES2]

Sorting of the spares box - why do I keep some of these things  - has also revealed a load of transfers - much more usefull  - that haven't been used when building the kit intended which need to go in their appropriate envelopes within their appropriate boxes. Am I to organised sometimes ? Must admit I go from chaos to tidy and then start to build the chaos up again 

Anyway the two ex shelf queens are nearly there. The 110 just needs her masking removed and the SR 177 needs her markings, armament and canopy finishing. I wasn't happy with either of these which is why they went on the shelf. The Airfix 110 is one of their earlier releases in this reincarnation and is a little clunky, especially in comparison  with the new tools. Couple that with the fact it was sprayed with the dodgy can of Humbrol matt I've previously referred to and I didn't like her. Fixed the varnish problem and she will get finished although she's intended for the reserve collection. As for the SR 177 ? I screwed her up. Fixed her but you can still see where I was careless/over confident. Still she looks better now. very nice kit and I've another one with which to make a better job of.

After that I'm going to wait for the weather to cool before I start the next 4. All British WWII period, 2 twin engine, 2 single engine. 2 plastic, 2 resin 

[PR19_Kit]

Are you feeling alright Chris? An SR177 doesn't have a propeller! 

[Howard of Effingham]

Are you feeling alright Chris? An SR177 doesn't have a propeller! 

worse than that kit, he has another SR177 to build! 'ow 'bout a retro BPF scheme on one? 

btw, chris. the firebrand is a great build.

[Mossie]

Your on a run at the mo Chris!  Enjoying the recent crop, the turbprop Metoer looks 'right' with a torpedo load and the colurs on the Firebrand suit it.

Also enjoying the real world stuff, I recentely picked up a Gladiator just to see what the newest Airfix kits were like, would have got the Tiffie but only the Glady was on the shelf.  Glad I did, lovely little kit, liked it so much I started it straight away.  It was going to be real world too, but I've found a few suitable whiffy markings for the period, Austrian (couldn't make that work in my head, possibly as part of a partisan unit), Spanish Nationalist (captured), Danish and Swiss.  It'll probably get Swiss markings as I've found their biplanes wore an unusual splinter scheme early war, finding paints that roughly match the colours has been the hard part.

[The Wooksta!]

Chris, I've a feeling that the number is wrong on the Firebrand.  I did something similar and got pulled about it.  Apparently the first number refers to the number of crew - I take it you took it from an Avenger or Barracuda?

[Dizzyfugu]

It was going to be real world too, but I've found a few suitable whiffy markings for the period, Austrian (couldn't make that work in my head, possibly as part of a partisan unit).

Austria operated some Ju 86 bombers right before WWII broke out - that cammo in beige and two green tones should look nice on a biplane like the Gladiator? Perhaps...?



KORA's color indications might eb slightly off - agree on Humbrol 71 and 151, but AFAIK the dark green should rather be kind of 116 or 75, 120 is (much) too pale.

[Mossie]

Thanks, that helps a lot, first time I've seen a colour break down.  The scheme I've got is slightly different, a brown is included and the underside is a pale blue.  H71 seems to match the tan well, I've got a Vallejo Dark Earth(?) that is close enough for the brown shade.  H120 I don't have, except in enamel, I might mix acrylics and enamels which works after a coat of Klear or use a mix of H78 and H106.  A 1:5 mix of H47 to H34 seems pretty much spot on for the underside.

I've been working from pics and none of them quite look the same due to lighting, different cameras etc so I guess if I'm close enough, not many people will know much about early war Swiss aircraft to notice (what's the bet I'll find the one expert in the country)!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Switzerland---Air/EKW-C-35/1011502/L/

[NARSES2]

Are you feeling alright Chris? An SR177 doesn't have a propeller! 

Yup as I've said before Kit I really do have a problem psychologically as to where or whether I've finished or not 

worse than that kit, he has another SR177 to build! 'ow 'bout a retro BPF scheme on one? 

btw, chris. the firebrand is a great build.

Thanks Howard, must admit a BPF retro anniversary scheme could be an idea ?? 

[NARSES2]

Chris, I've a feeling that the number is wrong on the Firebrand.  I did something similar and got pulled about it.  Apparently the first number refers to the number of crew - I take it you took it from an Avenger or Barracuda?

They are from a Barracuda so you may be right Lee. Must admit I thought the first No was something to do with the squadron and the 2nd/3rd were flight/aircraft in flight sort of thing.

Right having had a quick flick through my Putnam's the evidence would back you up Lee if only for BPF and Eastern Fleet aircraft. Aircraft used in the Atlantic, Med and Home waters don't appear to have adhered to it but there's obviously a limit to the number of pics I've looked at.

Need more research and if necessary it's easily corrected - thanks for the heads up 

[NARSES2]

Your on a run at the mo Chris!  Enjoying the recent crop, the turbprop Metoer looks 'right' with a torpedo load and the colurs on the Firebrand suit it.

Also enjoying the real world stuff, I recentely picked up a Gladiator just to see what the newest Airfix kits were like, would have got the Tiffie but only the Glady was on the shelf.  Glad I did, lovely little kit, liked it so much I started it straight away.  It was going to be real world too, but I've found a few suitable whiffy markings for the period, Austrian (couldn't make that work in my head, possibly as part of a partisan unit), Spanish Nationalist (captured), Danish and Swiss.  It'll probably get Swiss markings as I've found their biplanes wore an unusual splinter scheme early war, finding paints that roughly match the colours has been the hard part.

Cheers Mossie.

Must admit I like the idea of an Austrian Gladiator. Swiss with the large areas of red/white would look good as well, almost like a WWI ace's aircraft 

[Radish]

WWI Gladiator appeals...French? Doped limen with natural metal/wood....perhaps a German ace?
There's a few Gladiator "skins" out there.....