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

[scooter]

A jet???   Are you feeling alright, bruh?! 

I thought the same thing...

I do build the occasional one, although I struggle as to what part to add that signifies the build is finished ? With most of my builds it's the prop, but with jets there isn't anything that stands out as the obvious final step.

I find hanging the things that go "BOOM" to be the final step.  Once they're on, it's done IMHO.

[NARSES2]

Works for some I must admit, but others either don't have any or they are far better attached at an earlier stage of the build. Props are just so reliable in that respect 

I typed that last piece just knowing that somewhere there is a kit where you can't attach the prop as the last part and that someone on here will know what it is 

[PR19_Kit]

Gluing in the landing gear maybe?

[DogfighterZen]

I agree with Scooter, for me, the pylons, weapons and tanks are normally some of the last things for me but i do leave the antennas, pitot tubes and small bits for last cause those are easily snapped off so i'll try to not touch the model after those small bits are on.
It's funny that you mention the props being the last thing for you cause i'm in a bit of a dillema with the Monogram Spitfire.
The prop is molded in 2 parts, the spinner and blades are one piece and the rest of the spinner is the bit that has to be put in place before the fuselage is closed up but the seam is not on the same spot where the spinner on the real bird is divided. I'm wondering how i can get that attached after painting and have no noticeable seam where there isn't supposed to be one.
If i attach it before painting the masking will be hard to do without breaking off one or more of the blades and if i do it after masking and painting, there's no way to get rid of the seam...
Probably the best way to do it on this one will be to paint the camo on the fuselage and then glue the prop on, get rid of the seam, mask the fuselage and then paint the prop. Still, wouldn't be the last thing on this model cause i'm leaving the landing gear doors, wheels, pitot tube and the last bit will be the rear view mirror.

I also have the Tamiya 1/72 Skyray in the stash and it does look very good. Looking forward to see what you do with yours.

[NARSES2]

I've not seen the Monogram Spitfire so can't help I'm afraid.

I must admit very few of my models have "spinning" props nowadays so I just skip any fiddly bits needed to enable it to turn. Tends to help when cleaning up.

[TheChronicOne]

A jet???   Are you feeling alright, bruh?! 

I thought the same thing...

I do build the occasional one, although I struggle as to what part to add that signifies the build is finished ? With most of my builds it's the prop, but with jets there isn't anything that stands out as the obvious final step.

That final gear door.....  it's like.... "Ahhhhhhh!"   

[DogfighterZen]

This is it but don't forget this is the 1/48 kit so if you only build 1/72, it's normal that you've never seen it. In the meantime, i've decided it'll be easier for me to paint it after i've painted the fuselage. It'll also be safer if i leave for last. I believe that if i glue, sand, paint and mask it off after i do the camo, i'll save myself some frustration cause i'd probably end up breaking off one or more of the blades in the process of masking the fuselage for the camo.



BTW, i was going to ask what color you'd recommend for the spinner but after going through what must've been almost 100 pics of the Spitfire, i believe i'll be able to get a very close tone if i mix Tamiya's XF-14 Japanese army grey with XF-2 flat white. What do you think?



Thanks in advance!

[zenrat]

I build my 1/72 prop aircraft with removable propellors.  I like to be able to remove them for transport and storage.

As for when a model is finished, I find that point is when I have to do no more work to it...

[NARSES2]

I see what you mean about that spinner, it's an odd one for sure. I'd certainly leave it until last.

As for your paint mix ? Sounds fine. As long as it looks o.k. to you, it's o.k.   

[NARSES2]

As for when a model is finished, I find that point is when I have to do no more work to it...

Smart Alec 

Meanwhile progress is being made.

I've been concentrating on the Whitley and it's gradually getting there. When I started this back sometime in the last decade for some unknown reason (at least I've no idea why now) I broke the assembly sequence up into what I presumably thought were a series of sensible sub-assemblies, probably for space reasons ? Anyway they certainly weren't sensible when it came to the finishing stretch and have turned into a right P.I.A.  Still onwards and upwards.

I'm also have "fun" with the Whitley's underside paint work. My normal black of choice is Humbrol 33, however this is the first time I've used my current tub of it for large surface areas, it normally gets used on nothing larger than prop blades etc. The consistency of the paint in the tub is rather on the thickish side and to get anywhere near decent large area coverage it insists on being thinned with proper Humbrol thinners rather than good old water. However it still drys remarkably quickly, or I should say partly drys off. It's dry enough to show brush strokes and to "lift" within a minute or so and then it doesn't dry completely for a day or two. Frustrating or what ? 

I'll be picking up a generic black (Hataka, AK or Valleeo ?) at the next show I attend.

[scooter]

As for when a model is finished, I find that point is when I have to do no more work to it...

Smart Alec 

You would expect any less?

[NARSES2]

As for when a model is finished, I find that point is when I have to do no more work to it...

Smart Alec 

You would expect any less?

Not really, no. Indeed I'd probably be disappointed with anything else 

[DogfighterZen]

I see what you mean about that spinner, it's an odd one for sure. I'd certainly leave it until last.

As for your paint mix ? Sounds fine. As long as it looks o.k. to you, it's o.k.   

Yeah, you're right. I should just go with what looks good to my eyes and move on... but i do admit that, while i normally don't stress too much about this type of thing, building a real world subject turns me into a bit of a JMN cause i wanna get things as close to the real thing as i can...
That's one of the reasons why i love the freedom of whif builds.

Regarding the Whitley, i think you guys are brave building these birds, they're big even in 1/72 and i admit that, even though i have a few 1/48 fighters, the size is one of the factors that has always put me off building bombers cause i'd have nowhere to display them with all the fighters i wanna build...

I build my 1/72 prop aircraft with removable propellors.  I like to be able to remove them for transport and storage.

As for when a model is finished, I find that point is when I have to do no more work to it...

I normally leave the canopies unglued so that i can look at the interiors when i'm looking back at my models or when i'm dusting them and i tend to forget which are glued and which aren't so i end up dropping them every time i handle them... but it does make sense for props, especially for the reasons you mentioned.
Regarding the finished models, i agree with Fred cause the last bit to go on varies from model to model for me. Sometimes it's the small bits, others it's a last coat of varnish on the finished build, sometimes it's the gear and doors, just depends on how i planned and executed the build to make things easier, just like the decision of the prop on that Monogram Spitfire. Last thing for me on that one will probably be the wheels going on the gear... either that or the pitot on the port wing's underside and the rear view mirror on top of the canopy.

[NARSES2]

Dug the passport out and popped over to Kent this morning. Mainly food shopping, but did get some varnish from the art shop over there as I'm running low.

On coming home I got to Bromley South at about 9-25 a.m. and there must have been 50/60 old farts (of whom I'm proud to be a member) standing outside the station waiting for 9-30 and our Free Travel Passes to kick in on National Rail service.  From the rush through the barriers at 9-30 I think most of them were getting the 9-32 to Victoria. Poor old ticket guy nearly got trampled in the rush  I just stood back, my train was at 9-35 

Very little progress, although I do now know where I am with the Whitley and can see the way ahead.

[PR19_Kit]

Is that Free Travel Pass just a 'London Thing'?

We don't have them over in the west, just the Bus Pass, and have to pay real money on the trains, but I do have a Senior Rail Card of course.