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

[NARSES2]

Some progress on the Invader, she has had her matt coat on the undersides so we are almost at that "nearly there, but not as nearly there as I think I am" phase   Why do those minor finishing touches linger on for ever ?

The Do 17 has had her main transfers added. I had to use after market swastikas, again from that long gone shop in Wimbledon, but that's not a problem and understandable. The Airfix transfers are very thin and have a tendancy to curl up if you are not carefull. They are however very strong and take a lot of handling. I did lose one of the underwing letters however as it had curled up so much it was just impossible. No problem I had some of approximately the right size and the right style in the spares box. Strangely RAF pre war underwing serials.

I now have to do the stencils. I hate stencils  . I'll only be using those that are clearly visable on the finished model, life's just to short I'm afraid. If that's the wrong attitude, then so be it....it's mine   I do find some models, especially in 1/72 can be overwhelmed by stencils. F4's  and Japanese ones in particular (indeed most JASDF types) may be realistic but just look ridiculous IMHO covered in stencils head to toe. Sorry if it offends anyone but it just gets to me and has spoilt what have otherwise been some excellent models when I've looked at them at shows.

[PR19_Kit]

I now have to do the stencils. I hate stencils  . I'll only be using those that are clearly visable on the finished model, life's just to short I'm afraid. If that's the wrong attitude, then so be it....it's mine   I do find some models, especially in 1/72 can be overwhelmed by stencils. F4's  and Japanese ones in particular (indeed most JASDF types) may be realistic but just look ridiculous IMHO covered in stencils head to toe. Sorry if it offends anyone but it just gets to me and has spoilt what have otherwise been some excellent models when I've looked at them at shows.

I'm with you there Chris, the new(ish) Airfix Lightnings are covered in the darn things, yet if you look at any pics of 1:1 scale Lightnings you can only see a few of them. I left over half of mine on the decal sheet when I built my PR9.

[Captain Canada]

I agree. You want a few to bring a bit of realism, but that can definitely go over the top....

[NARSES2]

Right stencils are on the Do 17 and to my surprise I used about 90% of them. When I got down to studying the separate stencil placement sheet there are alternatives for a fair few of them. Some in white for the BoB aircraft and then the same but in red for the Bulgarian Russian Front aircraft. Once the white ones are applied you can see why they were changed. they almost scream out "aim here for the most damage".

Anyway no traumas with them as I now know how they behave and they are good  However I was putting the markings on the prop blades and after I got 5 on I lost the 6th  Looked all over for it and no it's not attached to me or at least a part of my body I can see  . Luckyly I found one from an old Me 109 sheet that was exactly right  Otherwise I'd have had to paint over the others and prop stencils are some of the ones that I think visually work well on all models.

The stencils are all readable by the way and even my schoolboy German was able to translate 90% of them o they are very clear.

[Captain Canada]

Now there's an about face ! lol. Sounds good tho. Interesting to read that they are all legible as well. Look forward to seeing this one.

[zenrat]

...The stencils are all readable by the way and even my schoolboy German was able to translate 90% of them o they are very clear.

Schnell! Schnell! Kartofelkopf!

[NARSES2]

Ok so I've now got the Invaders upper surfaces varnished and the Do can get her varnish latter this weekend.

I now need to return to the Caproni. She got parked because I made a bit of a ****'s up with the masking and she looks rather tatty around the transparencies  Anyway I've had a few thoughts about it, which strangely didn't include putting her on the shelf of doom, and I've had a couple of ideas.

I think I can save the canopy by using the old toothpaste polish method. A couple of the nose panels may also respond to that as well, but they are not as bad in all honesty. The cabin windows however are another matter and are what made me park her. Then I had a thought. She's operating in the desert as a navigation, radio and air gunnery trainer, right ? So it is hot and dusty, right ? So I can say some of the "tattiness" is caused by the conditions and some may even get a coat of silver or primer. The cabin windows however ? Then I thought, hang on, they would have needed blinds in that sun otherwise they wouldn't have seen the instrument faces on the radios and navigation equipment. So I'll just paint blinds that have been drawn to various degrees down the windows  Will still look tatty, but close enough for government work.

[zenrat]

How about painting some of the nose glazing matt white and saying it's whitewash like they used to put on shop windows when they were doing stuff inside.  You could even scratch come names into it.
I paint all my glazing frames by hand and have yet to tackle the Caproni nose.  I might have a try later on.  Hopefully being full of post dental op drugs will give me a steady hand.

[NARSES2]

Not much today, I simply wanted to get the Dornier varnished. Went to start spraying her this morning and I noticed some very slight crazing on those parts still on the sprue. Stopped straight away and got a new can out (Humbrol spray varnish) as the previous one was almost empty. Let her bathe in warm water whilst I had a cup of tea and then gave it the count to 200 shake. Still got some slight crazing. Nothing bad and in all honesty it doesn't really notice on the undersides. I wasn't risking the uppers however. So got the bottle of Windsor and Newton out and my widest brush. Little bit of water to thin and went on like a dream 

My personal view is that it's the weather. In the heat this morning out on the balcony the spray was starting to dry before it hit the surface, whence the crazing ? The W&N conversely was nice and thin because of the heat (normally can be very thick and needs a fair bit of thinning). So in future I'll just keep an eye on the temperature when I varnish.

Hopefully actually get some work done on the builds tomorrow as the weather is forecast to be cooler and cloudy

[zenrat]

Hah.  I'm having the opposite problem.  Too cold and dank.

[NARSES2]

Hah.  I'm having the opposite problem.  Too cold and dank.

I suppose we both like Spring and Autumn then for modelling ? 

Anyway the Do has reached the point where I need to get the transparencies done. Hopefully finish her this week.

The Invader is finished  Pictures during the week. I've decided I'm going to work on her predecessor as one of my next builds and do a late SEAC Boston. Will be using the Special Hobby kit.

Means I can get some serious work done on my GB Comet now 

[Captain Canada]

We`ve got the air on so it`s nice and comfy in the house....great for sleeping 

I like the idea od the shades pulled down too.

[NARSES2]

Well here's the link to the finished Invader http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,40875.new.html#new

Plus 1 piccie

[kitbasher]

Excellent Invader, Chris.

I've a Revell boxing of the solid nose variant that is destined to be a real world OOB effort.  My fantasy whif RAF Invader has always had a post-war Medium Sea Grey/Gloss Black finish as I see them as Brigand alternatives.  Brigand looks so old-fashioned compared to the Invader.

[NARSES2]

I know what you mean but to me the Brigand looks so much more pugnacious