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

[zenrat]

Keep hydrated mate.  Carry a water bottle with you.

[NARSES2]

Thanks for your thoughts lads  I did something I very seldom do (not that Zenrat ) and after putting a book down yesterday afternoon dozed off for an hour or so. Felt far better after the nap 

Keep hydrated mate.  Carry a water bottle with you.

Something I never expected to have to do in the UK, but yes I did when I went out this morning and guess what ? It was cooler with a nice breeze 

I wonder if the need to carry a water bottle is climate change, age, or a combination of both ?

[NARSES2]

One of those weeks where I spent a lot more time than usual behind the modelling desk, but progress made seems to be minimal. Lots of p.s.r. and cleaning up with some painting of small parts and sub assemblies. Hopefully this time next week will actually see some progress.

[kitbasher]

I know it never feels like it, but it's all progress, Chris!

[DogfighterZen]

I know the feeling... i've been having the same feeling a lot lately but it seems that once all the small tasks are done, the excitement goes up as we start seeing the result of those tasks coming together, isn't it so?
It's one of my favorite parts of a build, the model starts coming to life.

[NARSES2]

I know the feeling... i've been having the same feeling a lot lately but it seems that once all the small tasks are done, the excitement goes up as we start seeing the result of those tasks coming together, isn't it so?
It's one of my favorite parts of a build, the model starts coming to life.

Absolutely agree 

Meanwhile whilst waiting for the cricket to start yesterday, it didn't (btw cricket was once in the Olympics did you know ?) I was musing on some possible projects and thought of a Desert AF Whirlybomber. Must have been a serious thought because today I've been wondering where the dust filters would go on the air intakes. I suppose it all depends if Teddy Petter was in charge or some erk at Aboukir ? 

[zenrat]

That's the spirit Chris.  If in doubt, start a new build.

[NARSES2]

Not modelling related but just one of those "why hadn't I noticed that before moments".

I've lived where I do now for almost 60 of my 69 years and must have walked past/used my local pillar box 1,000's of times especially as it's right by the Doctors surgery and nearest bus stop. Now I'd always assumed it was George V/George VI (note for non UK members our Pillar (Post) boxes have the Royal Cypher cast with the body) but today I noticed it was Edwards VII, so it's well over 110 years old. This made me check all the other boxes on my way to the station, 5 of them, and they are all Edwardian, bar one which was Victorian. All I'll say is, they certainly knew how to make things to last back then. 

[Steel Penguin]

just had a quick wiki to refresh the memory, but yup, cast iron with the top held on by internal bolts for the older ones and as with any engineering project of the time, massively over engineered,  which gives them the long lifetime. but such a familiar sight that you don't pick up on the differences.

[PR19_Kit]

Plus a layer of paint for every 2-3 years they've been there.

So the older ones are larger than the more modern ones...... 

[zenrat]

Presuming they have not had the paint stripped then an analysis of the paint layers would provid data on what was floating about in the air over those 110 years.

[NARSES2]

Presuming they have not had the paint stripped then an analysis of the paint layers would provid data on what was floating about in the air over those 110 years.

Now that would be an interesting comparison. Not sure if London's air is any less or more dangerous nowadays, but the types of pollutant would have changed for sure. Mind you even the paint would have been "dangerous" back then when compared to modern materials., so can you imagine the protective gear necessary if you were to carry it out ?

There's probably a Phd study in that suggestion and I'm not being facetious.

[NARSES2]

Meanwhile on the modelling front I needed a break from the Moonbat and bits of the Beaufort were drying/setting so I picked up the KP Seafire. So far excellent detail and fit. Shame there's no open canopy option so you can see the cockpit detail more clearly as I doubt most of it will be seen through a closed one. One of those kits you can't put down once started.

Only thing I would say is that the plastic is rather soft and a glue like De Luxe Materials Plastic Magic is probably to strong for it, especially the smaller detail parts of which there are a few. I'll leave you to guess how I know that.

[zenrat]

Presuming they have not had the paint stripped then an analysis of the paint layers would provid data on what was floating about in the air over those 110 years.

Now that would be an interesting comparison. Not sure if London's air is any less or more dangerous nowadays, but the types of pollutant would have changed for sure. Mind you even the paint would have been "dangerous" back then when compared to modern materials., so can you imagine the protective gear necessary if you were to carry it out ?

There's probably a Phd study in that suggestion and I'm not being facetious.

When I worked for Railtrack I had, at one point, a desk with a window which looked out onto the station concourse.  It abutted the point where one of the cast iron structural members met the masonry.  On the girders was a layer of dust about four inches deep.  I suspect it had been slowly building up since the station was built (early 20th Century?).  I used to stare out of the window and ponder what it contained.

I found this picture on Wikipedia.  The balcony and stairs have been built since I worked there but my window was one of those in the brick area visible top right up where the ironwork is.

We used to occasionally look out to find that the station had been evacuated due to a bomb threat but they had neglected to inform us.  Which was nice.
"Just move away from the windows..."

[NARSES2]

That photo brings back some memories, but mainly of Waterloo East, I've not travelled from the mainline station much at all. Those offices are rather like the ones that overlook, or did anyway, London Bridge station. Dad worked in them but his office window overlooked Tooley St and the Antigallican pub in which he could be found rather more often than in the office 

As for bomb scares. In the late 60's/early 70's we used to get them quite frequently and we all thought it was the local coffee shop as they were always just before the morning tea round, we still had a tea lady, and as she couldn't then do her rounds we had to use the coffee shop  Strangely all the scares stopped when there was a real bombing 

On the girders was a layer of dust about four inches deep.  I suspect it had been slowly building up since the station was built (early 20th Century?).

Wasn't it Quinton Crisp who said that dust accumulates to a maximum of 4" and that is why he never dusted ?