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

[PR19_Kit]

Another "major" problem is that when at shows I'm having some difficulty seeing under the table sales whilst standing up, need knee pads I suppose 

Short range binoculars? 

[NARSES2]

Another "major" problem is that when at shows I'm having some difficulty seeing under the table sales whilst standing up, need knee pads I suppose 

Short range binoculars? 

One of those periscope things people take to golf etc but use it upside down ? 

[PR19_Kit]

Another "major" problem is that when at shows I'm having some difficulty seeing under the table sales whilst standing up, need knee pads I suppose 

Short range binoculars? 

One of those periscope things people take to golf etc but use it upside down ? 

Perfect. 

[zenrat]

Personally i'd campaign for taller tables.

[PR19_Kit]

Personally i'd campaign for taller tables.

But the kits for sale are usually UNDER the tables and sitting on the floor, so the limiting factor is the height of Chris' eyes above the ground......

[Martin H]

I bet they get a good discount on Tamiya tape, but maybe they have to buy it 1 foot wide rolls? 

Doubt it. Military and Health Service seem to pay three times as much as the standard price for most normal items  At least in the U.K. I've seen some invoices 

As the then sales manager at my old print job would say ref MOD contracts.

"work out the real price, then add at least three more zero's"

[zenrat]

Personally i'd campaign for taller tables.

But the kits for sale are usually UNDER the tables and sitting on the floor, so the limiting factor is the height of Chris' eyes above the ground......

Then we need to shorten Chris's legs.

[Rheged]

Personally i'd campaign for taller tables.

But the kits for sale are usually UNDER the tables and sitting on the floor, so the limiting factor is the height of Chris' eyes above the ground......

Then we need to shorten Chris's legs.

....or perhaps a small camera strapped below his knee, with a hand held screen.

[NARSES2]

Personally i'd campaign for taller tables.

But the kits for sale are usually UNDER the tables and sitting on the floor, so the limiting factor is the height of Chris' eyes above the ground......

Then we need to shorten Chris's legs.

They're short enough as it is thank you 

[NARSES2]

....or perhaps a small camera strapped below his knee, with a hand held screen.

Think I'll just stick to doing my knees and back in as I get up and down thanks 

[NARSES2]

The Beaufighter's finished and can be found here : http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44176.new.html#new but here's a taster.



Meanwhile the Hein has started to get her transfers 

[Radish]

Spiffing.

[NARSES2]

Well the Hein's had it's transfers and some of the smaller bits fitted. Just about ready for the coat of varnish. I got a tad confused with the transfer sheet and the instructions  Mind you I think I just had an "I'm getting old moment"  Most of the stencils included are tiny, in black and disappear on the dark camouflage colour, so have gone into the spares box. The main transfers behaved o.k. They came off the backing sheet fairly quickly, and were strong enough to move around once on the model. The only thing to be remembered was that they did move, but only for about 20 secs. and then stuck fast. Did cause a couple of problems with some of them, but I dealt with it 

The Claude can be primed again and I think this time it will be it. I'll be doing her in overall IJN Grey but can't make up my mind if she needs an anti-glare panel or not ? I'll probably wait until she's painted and has her transfers and then toss a coin 

The Attacker has had the wing root problem sorted, I think, and can now be primed.

[NARSES2]

Nice day so after a trip up the Palace I got out on the balcony. (security had been forewarned and the masses were suitably enthusiastic  ). Anyway the Hein has had her varnish and now just needs her canopy followed by the prop, which is always my final touch as long as the aircraft has one. The Claude can now be painted starting with the red tail feathers and the Attacker needs some more p.s.r., but not as much as I thought she'd need.

[NARSES2]

Despite taking advantage of the great Bank Holiday weather and being out and about I have managed to make some progress.

The Hein is finished  Real World but I'll post a couple of shots here when I have other bits to show.

I also made a start on the Airfix Whitley that is in my stash. First large aircraft I've built in a very long time so having to come to grips with that again, just glad I now have a proper full time model area 

Anyway first impressions ? Wow is all I can say 

The overall engineering and whence fit is superb. It's one of those kits you can't put down once started as she goes together so well, a case of "I'll just do the next stage before I go to bed". I put in a 4 hour stint the other day which I haven't done for ages. If something doesn't fit then go back and look at the instructions as it's you  Used no filler at all so far, just a hint of Mr Surfacer on a couple of seams.

Talking of seams the fuselage or rather rear two thirds of it, is engineered in 3 pieces (4 if you include the full length floor which aids the fit and strength) 2 side bits and a roof section. So you get a seam on the underside but where the roof fits is a natural panel line and that is all you end up with because the fit is so good.

The internal detail is very nice, but Airfix haven't wasted their time producing detail where it won't be seen unlike in some of their other recent new tools. It offers a couple of nice options, the navigator's seat can be placed either next to the pilot or "slid back" on it's rails and have him pouring over a chart in his own cubby hole. If up with the pilot then his map table is fitted folded. Some clever thought gone into the engineering and they've obviously studied their sources.

The only extraneous detail is the thimble shaped object mounted halfway down the fuselage floor. No idea, but I think it's the Elsan toilet ? Someone has a sense of humour....bombs away ?  Looked up Elsan toilet on-line and there's some great photos out there 

Anyway my only slight concern is that the she builds up into 3 major sub-sections rather than the more traditional wings and fuselage type build. It'll be interesting to see what the fits like here as it will make or break the build. I'll post some before and after shots of this stage.

Anyway can you tell I quite like this kit ?