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

[zenrat]

I don't wash my kits unless they are resin or feel particularly greasy (Amodel, i'm looking at you) but I prime everything and rarely have paint adhesion problems.

[NARSES2]

I don't wash my kits unless they are resin or feel particularly greasy

I've not had to wash Airfix before and not had adhesion problems either, but these new tools  Be interesting to see what the B.25 is like when I get it

[NARSES2]

Attacker's repaired and paintwork has started on the upper surface of the 262 and the Tomahawk. Only problem is I've used that Shesto tape on the Tomahawk, so expecting repairs 

Yup, tape is off and it's pulled some of the sky away from the underside of the Tomahawk. Pulled off 3 layers down to the plastic  I'm not to annoyed as I expected it and if I'm honest it won't take to long to fix, but I shouldn't have to 

The 262 meanwhile has just suffered a little paint "creep" where I haven't burnished it sufficiently, but no problem and down to me not the Tamiya tape.

Anyway progress and I can start getting the transfers on now.

[NARSES2]

All the necessary touching up has been done and I've started to get the transfers on the Tomahawk/262/Attacker 

In doing the 262 I remembered why I very seldom do Luftwaffe subjects, other than early or late war types, mottle  It only had a little on the tail and I used some sponge to dab it on, but . I'll wait and see what she looks like with her transfers, but she may get a "solid" colour tail.

Mind you using the sponge reminded me of how "we" did mottle in the days before airbrushes, sometime in the 60's ....... 1860's ? 

[NARSES2]

Most of the major transfers are on so now we come down to the "stencil or not to stencil" ? question.

The P-40 will get a couple on her undersurface as you will probably be able to see them, the rest will get "filed". The 262 on the other hand will probably get most of hers as they will be visible and if I'm honest aren't as fiddly as the P-40's. The Attacker ? Hasn't got many, it's an AZ kit, and some aren't applicable, the ejector seat markings for instance, so will probably get hers.

[NARSES2]

Not modelling related at all, but pure nostalgia 

The Drama T.V. channel in the UK are showing the old 60's/early 70's sitcom Steptoe and Son every day at 6.00pm. Been recording them and had a bit of a binge the other day. Some of them actually made me laugh out loud  , which no recent t.v. sitcom has been able to do, and yet some of them are equally poignant.I do wonder if nowadays they could actually get away with some of the things that are said and done however ? 

A different era and a nice 30min trip down memory lane 

[NARSES2]

Slow but steady progress, indeed the Tomahawk can move onto final assembly. 

Only noticed this morning that the 262's canopy, or more accurately windscreen, is moulded integrally with a section of the forward fuselage , something a few manufacturers are now doing. Whilst I think this is a great idea I just wish I'd noticed earlier 

Hopefully make some more progress over the next few days and then will probably have a bit of a fallow week. Firstly the modelling room is coldest in flat and the forecast is freezing for next week, plus I'll be quite active on the social front 

[NARSES2]

Well the Tomahawk is very nearly done. She's been matted and now just needs her canopy sorting. Major job there will be the frames, but hopefully this week.

Whilst matting her yesterday, and she very nearly became a flying model in the wind, I was reading the Tamiya spray can as one does and got wondering why California is more dangerous to your health than other U.S. States ?

The usual warning information on the can also includes "This product contains chemicals which are known in the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm". So you are o.k. in Nevada, but cross the State line and ........

[NARSES2]

Bit more progress than expected yesterday, so getting there on all current projects 

Meanwhile whilst watching the new Sunday night BBC sitcom, with a very low key and amusing John Cleese, I was trying to work out what the returning prodigal son had in his stash ? He was working on an Airfix Hercules, but in the background there was a fair selection of boxes and makers ; Tamiya, Italeri, Airfix, Hasegawa and at least one I didn't recognise, but looked remarkably like old style MPM when they used red for the "sides" of the box ?

[TheChronicOne]

Alright... I'm getting antsy for this Hawk.. .. ..

[NARSES2]

Tomahawk is finished, it's a real world build but I'll stick a picture here when I finish the 262, also real world.

First model I've finished in a while and I've enjoyed it . Seem to have got my mojo back  Taught me a few things about the way I'm going to have to work in future and what I can expect to achieve and what I'll just have to accept as not achievable, at least for the foreseeable future. At least I seem to be coming to terms with things which is half the battle 

[NARSES2]

Bit earlier than thought, but here's the Tomahawk, and yes I'm still learning about my new camera phone !

[PR19_Kit]

Very smart Chris, love the squadron marking. 

[DogfighterZen]

Tomahawk looks great, Chris.

[zenrat]

Very good.  P40s are definitely growing on me.