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

[NARSES2]

It looks like Choroszy really hooped the canopy profile, way too bulgy.

Very much so Jon, it literally took ages to get it to "blend in" with the fuselage.

I think the D-520 look is down to who ever made the masters assuming
that a given engine always results in a particular look, and it's entirely
possible that the 'master' was a modified D.520 kit. Especially seeing
as the nose profile of the kit doesn't match the illustration on the box.

I had similar thoughts whilst building it Jon. The nose doesn't look much like any of the few drawings I could find, admittedly I didn't look that hard.

[jcf]

After looking at some photos I'm starting to believe that the PZL kit "master" was
a modified Heller D.520.

[NARSES2]

Slow progress on the Thunderbolt, but I'm on finals. So should, note I said should, get finished this week all fingers and toes crossed.

Meanwhile the October issue of SAM (it gets earlier every month) plonked through the letter box and the editorial is the editor announcing the end of his tenure after 14 issues. Now in it says he was hired with the mandate to "internationalise the magazine and broaden it's appeal". Now given that I've heard stories about maybe 50% of SAM's subscription list is overseas based that doesn't surprise me, however he seems to have achieved that by increasing the visual content at the expense of the written. Now I can understand that to some degree, and most publications seem to be going that way, but he has taken it way to far down that path in my view, but maybe I'm just showing my age. I've had this conversation with both him and the management at various shows resulting in some interesting discussions. Still I was in some doubt as to whether I would renew my subscription or not, but now I probably will and await and see who the new editor turns out to be and what his/her approach to the written word/visual debate is. Hopefully at the very least they'll sort out the rather untidy article organisation the magazine suffers from currently.

[zenrat]

Short of something to read I bought a copy oi Finescale Modeller last week.
I'd forgotten how little actual reading there is in it.  You get a paragraph introducing the article and then the rest is pictures and their captions.  Not a fully written article like in the Airfix magazine for example.
Is this typical of all american model magazines?  Model Cars Magazine is the same as it Scale Auto* (which admittedly is the same publisher as FSM).
Nothing wrong with the content in FSM (it was the Pacific War issue with an impressive, if busy beach landing dio in it) just the presentation.


*I used to subscribe to SA but refused to renew in a fit of pique when they reintroduced features on Diecasts.

[jcf]

When it started there was more meat to Finescale Modeler, including
articles on scratch-built models with -gasp- excellent scale plans and
extensive text. I still have the article on building a 1/24th Pilatus
Turbo-porter that included the model builder's drawings reproduced
in 1/48th scale. The magazine originally built upon the legacy of the
defunct Scale Modeler, with higher production standards if not as many
articles per issue, but over time quality content became less common
until it pretty much vanished altogether and it became what you see
now. The visual emphasis became dominant as the online modelling
sites and fora became more influential in the hobby, the magazine
publisher evidently believing the way to compete was to look just
like their web counterparts. Pretty stupid if you ask me.

[zenrat]

Thank you Jon.
We have our own modelling magazine, Modelart Australia, which is very similar to how you describe the early FSM (albeit without any plans).
Unfortunately its last issue will be published next month.  The owner and editor is retiring and (unless things have changed very recently) he can't find anyone willing to take it on as a going concern.

[NARSES2]

Interestingly now having had a chance to look at the October edition of SAM, whilst it is still picture heavy it has at least reorganised its layout so that they do fit in well with the captions and thus make it a much easier reading experience  There does also seem to have been a return in a couple of articles to a better mix, in my opinion, of the written word and imagery.

In all honesty I'd be happy if it stayed similar to this from now on, they seem to have reached a nice compromise between the traditional and the modern  Maybe the change of editorship has already kicked in ?

By the way if anyone is into Israeli Mirages there's an article on them accompanied by a load of profiles, some plans and a build.

[PR19_Kit]

OCTOBER? 

I've only just got the September issue, with the Meteor FR9 on the cover. What's on the October issue's cover please?

[NARSES2]

I've only just got the September issue, with the Meteor FR9 on the cover. What's on the October issue's cover please?

That's SAMI Kit, which was very late and seems to be getting latter every month  . I'm talking about SAM

[PR19_Kit]

Oh right, sorry.

The only one I get regularly these days is Airfix Mag, the others only now and then so I lose track.

[NARSES2]

Oh right, sorry.

The only one I get regularly these days is Airfix Mag, the others only now and then so I lose track.

No probs 

[NARSES2]

Thunderbolt is finished and I'm reasonably happy with it. Just need to do the photos and put some words around the scenario currently residing in my head.

[Gondor]

Interestingly now having had a chance to look at the October edition of SAM, whilst it is still picture heavy it has at least reorganised its layout so that they do fit in well with the captions and thus make it a much easier reading experience  There does also seem to have been a return in a couple of articles to a better mix, in my opinion, of the written word and imagery.

In all honesty I'd be happy if it stayed similar to this from now on, they seem to have reached a nice compromise between the traditional and the modern  Maybe the change of editorship has already kicked in ?

By the way if anyone is into Israeli Mirages there's an article on them accompanied by a load of profiles, some plans and a build.

Thank's for that info about the Israeli Mirages so I ordered a copy last night. 

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Thank's for that info about the Israeli Mirages so I ordered a copy last night. 

Gondor

Happy to oblige, I shall contact the management team re my commission immediately 

Meanwhile I was watching the Repair Shop whilst having my tea yesterday afternoon and the "Leather Lady" (calm down children she repairs/renovates all the leather items that's all  ) was doing some great work on an old Edwardian piece when I noticed her cutting mat, it was huge  . Far, far bigger than my A2 one. On checking I'm fairly sure it must be an A1 one ? Anyway it would just about cover the usable part of my modelling desk......I want one 

[Gondor]

Meanwhile I was watching the Repair Shop whilst having my tea yesterday afternoon and the "Leather Lady" (calm down children she repairs/renovates all the leather items that's all  ) was doing some great work on an old Edwardian piece when I noticed her cutting mat, it was huge  . Far, far bigger than my A2 one. On checking I'm fairly sure it must be an A1 one ? Anyway it would just about cover the usable part of my modelling desk......I want one 

She is rather good 

Gondor