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

[NARSES2]

Thanks lads. I have another one which will be wiffed and I already know what I'm using the kit transfers from that on, but that kit isn't out yet 

Meanwhile the 262 continues to gain stencils and the Attacker now has the bulk of her markings courtesy of a Freightdog transfer sheet 

[TheChronicOne]

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

Yeah buddy!!! I do love a good Hawk!

and yes I'm still learning about my new camera phone !

Welcome to Hell!       

[NARSES2]

Testing a new photo hosting site as Photobucket are obviously having problems and I will be moving latter in the year anyway.

These are the sprues etc of my IBG PZL 43 that I'm working on, hoping to complete her by MK

[NARSES2]

Finally got the stencils finished on both the 262 and the Attacker. Can now turn my attention to finishing them

[NARSES2]

Got the 262's undercarriage sorted yesterday  Had some fun with it, but that was almost certainly down to the fit being a bit too good ?? My usual method of painting the parts and then assembling them after the main construction/painting process is complete meant that when it came to fitting them I'd reduced/increased the size of the parts by a couple of coats of RLM 02 and thus made it a bit of "B" to get done. Got there in the end, but when I get the inevitable two seater I will assemble the undercarriage and paint it afterwards. Easy on this one as it's almost all the aforementioned RLM 02

Still you live and learn, and it just needs it's matt coat, wheels and clear parts now.

[TheChronicOne]

Yeah!! I know what you mean about them microns or whatever thickness of paint making things askew. On "looser" fitting kits it doesn't cause as much problems as the finely engineered ones.    Im slowly being forced into the habit of scraping paint off of the butting surfaces but it's a right PAIN on the itty bitty ones. Hard to see sometimes but yet harder to HOLD. Same goes for trying to file/sand on one... them tiny parts...   I need a third, tiny hand with spindly fingers. 

[Thorvic]

Probably best to avoid paint on the parts to be joined where possible Chris on the new Airfix kits, The new Phantom is not too bad although there are some ropey areas especially the fit of the intakes as it feels to be more an exercise in the CAD design process rather than model building in places.

[NARSES2]

Probably best to avoid paint on the parts to be joined where possible Chris on the new Airfix kits,

Absolutely Geoff, lesson learned hopefully.

Anyway the 262 has had its matt coat and that has brought the whole thing together quite nicely. Last few bits to do on this.

Also started on the Attacker's undercarriage and it's here the limited run nature of the kit comes to the fore. A bit fiddly, but providing you clean the parts up and take your time it all goes together quite painlessly. For once I managed to do both of those operations 

When it comes to fitting the legs into their bays there is a small pin at the top of the leg and a small depression in the bay provided. Many would insert a pin in the leg and drill a whole in the bay. I'm afraid that is beyond the capabilities of my dodgy eye so instead I'll glue a thing plastic collar to the top part of the leg and use thick super glue.

[NARSES2]

Well the Attacker is on her legs and I just have to paint the undercarriage and add a few fiddly bits, including the pitot's or whatever they are on the nose. A.O.A. probes ? I've never liked them there, although there were probably very good reasons from them being there. Mine will go on the wing for no better reason than I think they'll look better there.

In all honesty the Attacker's undercarriage was easier to sort then the 262's. Now part of that was down to the fit problems caused by the layer of paint on the 262 parts, but in the main it was because I thought about how to deal with Attacker's whereas I just did the 262's.

Lesson learned ? Regardless of whether it's state of the art or a really old limited run kit, think about the build process and the best way to do it before committing to it.

[NARSES2]

Still making slow, read very slow, progress. Part of the problem is I'm not happy with my canopy framing. My dodgy eye is causing me a few problems with the method I've used for ages  I probably need to go down the Eduard mask route in future where possible, or one of their competitors.

[NARSES2]

Well the 262 (real world) is finished and I would have varnished the Attacker today but it is belting down outside 

[NARSES2]

  Varnished the Attacker and absolute disaster 

Humbrol spray varnish onto Xtracrylic and it acts like flippin' paint stripper  I've had Humbrol spray varnish react with Xtracrylic before but never this bad or this quickly. It started to "bubble" up straight away in places and by the time I'd got to the sink it had stripped some areas back to the bare plastic 

I've got it sanded and washed and shall repaint the affected areas tomorrow. Luckily the upper surfaces are o.k.  I think I'll be moving to using brush painted artists varnish in future. I'm just more comfortable with it and it's actually quicker.

Mind you the Attacker has been one of those unlucky models. You just have to  read back to the saga with her wings. I still like her though 

[kitnut617]

Is the Humbrol varnish a lacquer Chris. I was always under the understanding that you could put acrylic onto enamel or lacquer, but not the other way around.

[Rick Lowe]

Sorry to hear that, hope it's savable.

[NARSES2]

Is the Humbrol varnish a lacquer Chris. I was always under the understanding that you could put acrylic onto enamel or lacquer, but not the other way around.

It's their acrylic spray mate. After I calmed down a bit I did notice that it hadn't affected the areas which I'd coated with Klear, basically the transfers. So maybe it's o.k. over a coat of varnish ? Whatever it will be a while before I try it again.

Sorry to hear that, hope it's savable.

Thank you Rick, and yes it does appear to be savable.