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

[NARSES2]

In Portugal there's a popular saying that translates into something like: "The hardware is always right."  Keeps coming back to me whenever i find myself in that situation. Too many kits have bad instructions,

Yup. It's not bad instructions as such, they could just be a little clearer. In all honesty if you read 3 or 4 stages in advance they are obvious, it's just that I didn't  . The thing with the kit though is "if it doesn't fit, then you are doing something wrong. It's not the kit" So you walk away and come back and try it differently latter 

[NARSES2]

Not much done this week, real world intervened. Some good, some not so and most just normal  . Still I got a little bit of paint on both the Mitchell and the 109. Decided I'm going to use RAF Desert War "Pink" for the Mitchell's upper colours, be "barfed" if I'm going to mix something up for a colour that no one is actually sure of ?

Got my first cricket match next weekend as well, so I spent some time trying to find where I put my whites at the end of last season 

[NARSES2]

Decided I'm going to use RAF Desert War "Pink" for the Mitchell's upper colours, be "barfed" if I'm going to mix something up for a colour that no one is actually sure of ?

Got a couple of coats on and if I say so myself it looks pretty good as well.

Got my first cricket match next weekend as well, so I spent some time trying to find where I put my whites at the end of last season 

Found them, but they need a good wash and getting some grass/ red leather stains out might be interesting. Still need to find my box as well, but as I was a No 11 even before my eye problems that isn't to much a problem........hopefully.

[Mossie]

Make sure you use a tray style, the end opening ones won't stop much....

[zenrat]

Make sure you use a tray style, the end opening ones won't stop much....

ROTFL

[NARSES2]

Make sure you use a tray style, the end opening ones won't stop much....

Oh, that's where I've been going wrong 

I did have a girlfriend many moons ago who asked me what I was doing with a "jelly mould" in my sports bag ? 

[Old Wombat]

Hope you don't mind, Chris, but I thought I'd put the in-box review of the Trumpy 1/350 "HMS Dreadnought 1918" here:

There are ten sprues, including one for the base & one for the hull halves, four sheets of PE & a small sheet of transfers. The mouldings look excellent; crisp detail, zero flash, no visible warping. For the most part the sprue gates seem to be in reasonably logical places, although I can see a few in the middle of some long thin parts, which is always fun! The full hull comes in the mentioned two halves (port & starboard). The four sheets of PE include quite a number of parts &, looking through the instructions, there are no plastic alternatives – so, if you don't like PE (& it's all pretty damned small, & a few quite complex, by the look of them) then that won't be a plus. Personally, I can live with it, as there aren't too many multi-piece PE elements. There are structural reinforcing panels to be put inside the hull to help it hold its shape. Six 2-part turrets & twelve 12-inch guns are supplied, but only five turrets & ten 12-inch guns are required for a RW fit-out. I haven't counted them but there is, probably, an excess of 12-pounder guns, too (27 are required for a RW build) &, for the scale, they're probably of a decent level of accuracy (I'm not going to look for anything better, anyway).

Speaking of instructions; they appear to be quite well laid out &, generally, logical, with the usual separate glossy colour "Painting & Marking guide" with colour options from Mr Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya & Humbrol (only Mr Hobby has the full range, though, as given).

Overall, I get a good feeling about this kit because, despite the PE, she looks like she'll go together fairly well & without too much fuss ... but I have been wrong before!


Pity I'm going to be bashing her into an aircraft carrier, really.

[NARSES2]

Thanks for that, much appreciated 

I think I need to have a look at the PE before committing myself, so the warning is very handy mate. Luckily I've discovered a model shop in Dorking which specialises to some extent in ship modelling so having had a chat with the guy at Southern Expo to see what his range is I'll be popping down in the next few weeks to have a look. I must admit I really fancy one of the pre-Dreadnaughts.

Thanks again

[Old Wombat]

No problem, mate!

[NARSES2]

Not spectacular, but some progress.

The Mitchel is now ready to get it's transfers after a mammoth transparency masking session, certainly glad I treated myself to the Eduard set. The 109 is almost there in so far as it's main camouflage is concerned although there is very little difference between the RLM 76 under surface and the uppers which made getting the differention awkward. Should have masked it 

Off to play cricket today, first game in Lord knows how many years.

[kitbasher]

Sooo mistead your post.  Thought it sait it was your first game at Lords in years.  Thought 'blimey Chris has been keeping that to himself'!

[NARSES2]

Sooo mistead your post.  Thought it sait it was your first game at Lords in years.  Thought 'blimey Chris has been keeping that to himself'!

Just my natural modesty 

Quite a good game yesterday even if we did lose by 38 runs. Managed to bowl quite tidily (those net sessions obviously paid off), Took 2 for 23 in my 6 overs, so happy enough about that, wasn't called upon to wield the bat, so even happier about that 

[zenrat]

Well played.
Tell me, as a bowler what grade of sandpaper do you favour?

[NARSES2]

Well played.
Tell me, as a bowler what grade of sandpaper do you favour?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. All I'll say is that a small cut off from a sheet of "super-fine" sits quite nicely in my back pocket and the grit is still quite effective through the old fabric of my whites. 

[zenrat]