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

[JayBee]

Oh, as an aside I got my first Christmas card in the post this morning 

Given the postal service, here, in the UK, I take it that it was a late delivery from last year. 

[NARSES2]

Oh, as an aside I got my first Christmas card in the post this morning 

Given the postal service, here, in the UK, I take it that it was a late delivery from last year. 

Nope, says "Happy 2019" 

[zenrat]

Oh, as an aside I got my first Christmas card in the post this morning 

Given the postal service, here, in the UK, I take it that it was a late delivery from last year. 

Nope, says "Happy 2019" 

AD or BC?

[NARSES2]

 

Anyway the Type 432 is finished. I'll post some pics up in the next few days.

Meanwhile I've got some more work done on the Hs132 and I have a problem with one of the seams. I think it's what some call a "Ghost" seam and I call a PIA seam  I just can't seem (no pun intended) to get rid of it and it's very visible 

[NARSES2]

Here's the finished Type 432 or Vickers Viper

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,45533.msg828377.html#msg828377

[NARSES2]

Very little progress on the modelling front, something called Christmas is sticking it's oar in 

Anyway one of my good friends normally gets me a Hannant's credit note for Xmas  This has just joined the prospective purchase list.

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/HLP72028

[NARSES2]

Managed to get a little modelling done yesterday amid the chaos that is the build up to Crimbo and the Hs 132 now has an engine.

The engine pod to fuselage fit was excellent on one side, whilst the other side will need a little PPP. This is now't to do with the kit but more my rather lopsided sanding of the upper seam. Obviously more pressure applied to one side of the sanding sheet then the other  Still it won't need much work and then I can fit the canopy, tests show it to be an excellent fit, and start painting. Going to do her in a mix of camouflage schemes on the basis that the various sub-assemblies were built in various different, scattered plants. She will then have been issued to a specialist bridge busting unit in an attempt to slow the Allies advance.

Still not sure what I'll do with the B version I bought at London show yet, but thinking of a specialist naval attack unit, Luftwaffe not Japanese.

[NARSES2]

Been musing and to be honest I blame Jaybee.

We have been having a conversation about FAA WWII colour schemes and markings and during this I found a whole slew of Hellcats in various schemes and of these some of those used in the Indian Ocean, both on carriers and based in Southern India/Ceylon were fascinating. Among these was an aircraft in overall pale blue with the large blue/white roundels included in the Revell kit.

So I was thinking about a FAA P.R. Hellcat in all over pale pink for low level work with a smaller version of those roundels ? I have the kit, I have the paint and I have the roundels 

[Old Wombat]

Then why are you musing?

[zenrat]

Yes, get on with it.

[PR19_Kit]

A PINK Hellcat boggles the mind! 

You could trigger someone doing the same scheme on the new Airfix 1/24 Hellcat. That'd need a LOT of pink paint!

[scooter]

A PINK Hellcat boggles the mind! 

You could trigger someone doing the same scheme on the new Airfix 1/24 Hellcat. That'd need a LOT of pink paint!

A couple of rattle cans at least.

[NARSES2]

Then why are you musing?

I want to finish my two current builds first, but they should get finished between Christmas and New Year, touching wood, so it's earmarked for tail end of this year, beginning of next.

A PINK Hellcat boggles the mind! 

It will be a very pale pink 

I have memory in the back of my brain that some FAA Hellcat's were converted to the PR role by the fitting of the camera gear in an under belly drop tank ? So a couple of painted on camera ports should sort that.

[NARSES2]

Back to the Hs 132 and she is ready for paint 

Whilst priming the underside of the wings, I was going to use Humbrol Metalcoat Dull Aluminium on them, I noticed the distinct lack of panel lines. Checked the upper surfaces and they were the same, just a couple of them. Now the fuselage and engine pod have a fair few so a thought occurred to me, and yes after consulting Putnam's, they were mainly constructed of wood, so, so much for the Dull Aluminium 

Anyway I've decided to do the underside of the wings in Xtracrylic RLM 76 and the fuselage in another manufacturer's to give the impression they were made in different factories, The tail will get RLM 65 undersides on the basis of that's what the plant had in stock.

Probably won't notice the two different 76's but I'll know 

[PR19_Kit]

It will be a very pale pink 

I have memory in the back of my brain that some FAA Hellcat's were converted to the PR role by the fitting of the camera gear in an under belly drop tank ? So a couple of painted on camera ports should sort that.

I'd have thought the Hellcat fuselage was large enough to take 5-6 cameras inside it! If they could get 3 inside a Spitfire.........