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

[PR19_Kit]

Opened in 1848 apparently. That'd be a HECK of a lot of dust! 

[jcf]

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 ?

Not as much as one would expect, possibly a red-oxide primer right at the metal which
would possibly contain lead, but not necessarily, and possibly some cadmium pigment
for the red topcoat, but more likely one of the chromium pigments. The amount of lead
in old paints is very much overstated, except where it was used as white pigment, many
colours didn't contain any lead aside from a very small amount of lead drying compounds
that helped the paint film cure more quickly, enamel paints don't actually "dry" via solvent
evaporation, they cure due to the oil polymerizing in the presence of oxygen which produces
the paint film.

Otherwise the rest of the classic "enamel paint" constituents are pretty much harmless, the
"drying oils" that make up the bulk of the paint being primarily plant-based, although fish-oil
was used when other oils were in short supply, but it was not preferred because the paint film
produced wasn't as durable and, yes, the paints tended to have a fishy odour. The "oil" in
oil-based paints isn't petroleum. In terms of chemistry some of the "newer" types of paints
developed since the late 1930s carry more hazards than stinky old "enamel" - which was so
named when developed in the 19th century because the smooth glossy surface resembled
vitreous enamel. "Matte enamel" is actually an oxymoron.


None of it would be of particular risk unless you were really going to town and grinding like hell.

[zenrat]

Opened in 1848 apparently. That'd be a HECK of a lot of dust! 

That was the original station.  The roof and the building at the Waterloo Road end are more modern.  From a skim read of the wiki page it's very early 20th Century.  The archway at the river end features a WW1 memorial so postdates 1919 but would have been an addition or alteration.
My office was the second floor.  The third floor had a view across the roof.  I never thought to take a camera up there.  Wish I had.

[NARSES2]

Cheers Jon 

Progress is being made on the KP Seafire and some on the Moonbat.

The Seafire has only needed a small bit of psr on the cowling so far, I think every Spitfire/Seafire I've built has needed some on the cowling  and the dry fit of wing to completed fuselage appears to indicate that it will need a little PPP at the roots. So hopefully ready for primer over the weekend 

The only slight issue I've had are with the instructions which could be clearer in places, but nothing that a bit of dry fitting doesn't solve. Interestingly the new Tempest instructions deal with this by highlighting the areas where glue is to be applied in bright red. Some areas are obvious of course, but others help to illustrate orientation and positioning of parts, so well done AZ/KP  I can't remember seeing this before although I seem to remember some older Japanese kits used glue tube symbols to illustrate where glue was necessary ?

[NARSES2]

The only slight issue I've had are with the instructions which could be clearer in places, but nothing that a bit of dry fitting doesn't solve.

I now what they meant by the placement of the internal part of the arrestor hook "bay" insert  Sometimes it pays to "not think you know better"  . Still it would only be a real problem if I was displaying the hook deployed.

[NARSES2]

Seafire is ready to be primed 

I made the "mistake" this morning of deciding to check what the cockpit colours were on the Hawker Tempest. Easy I thought, quick Google search and off we go. What a hornet's nest, all I'll say is that some people should get a more balanced life  And basically I'm more confused now than I ever was, but I do know what I'll be doing with it.

[The Wooksta!]

Tempest interior should be black. All Hawker Siddley group aircraft got black cockpits from late 42 onwards.

[NARSES2]

Tempest interior should be black. All Hawker Siddley group aircraft got black cockpits from late 42 onwards.

That's what I thought Lee and is what I'm going with, it's also what KP suggest

[NARSES2]

An out of focus (I can't get to grips with the focus on my phone's camera  ) shot of the bench as it was at 11:00 am this morning.

KP Seafire and Tempest and Anigrand Moonbat



Not on the bench but ongoing are the Beaufort which is now ready for its paint job and the Fokker which needs it's nose and tail glazing and which I keep putting off 

[NARSES2]

Was socialising this weekend (in the rain  ) so no modelling done at all. Hopefully back to it this coming week.

[NARSES2]

As is now standard if I socialise it takes me a few days to get back to feeling "bright and cheery", so didn't get around to anything until Friday. However I have made some progress since then even though the Premier League has started up (Palace  ) and much against my early thoughts I've quite got into the Cricket 100 (come on the Oval Invincible's  )

So the Moonbat is now a completed airframe and primed, so painting this week hopefully. The real world Seafire is painted and can have its transfers although the national markings provided are a shade on the bright side to my eyes so I'll use some others from the spares box. The Tempest is primed and can now have its camouflage. Oddly the national markings in this kit look to be dark enough, certainly a shade or two darker than the Seafire, The Beaufort is ready for priming although I need to decide whether to fit the glazing before this or after painting. I've got an Eduard mask set so may go for before painting.

One thing of note in both the KP Seafire and Tempest is that the wheels, two types in each, are offered as one piece detailed mouldings so no messing cleaning up those awkward wheel seams 

[NARSES2]

For various reasons  much slower progress than expected, but hey, progress is progress 

[NARSES2]

Progress has been slow again, mainly for medical issues which I will just have to learn to live with and secondly because of the issues I'm having with my "new glasses" and current opticians. Lets just say I won't be using them again  My medical condition means that some days there is no way I can get any modelling done, thankfully these days are quite rare, and I just have to read. Others I can model, but in 1 hour or so stints with a break in between, whilst others I feel like what I would have once termed as normal, although these are a little on the rare side now as well. Still could be worse 

Anyway the AZ Seafire is finished and I'm pleased with it. Their Tempest V is ready for its transfers, and again I'm pleased with it. My current GB build, the Moonbat, is in the process of getting its paintwork, an all over coat of Artificial Haze Blue, which is Xtracolour, so whilst the coverage is excellent the drying time isn't. I've parked the Beaufort until I've got the Moonbat done, although I'll probably start on the canopy masking as I have the Eduard set. And finally me and the Fokker had a little drink the other night to celebrate its first birthday on the bench  I will finish it this year, maybe in time for Telford although it may not travel even if I do as my current builds aren't up to what I consider "table standard".

Chris

[Pellson]

I am sad to hear that you're feeling impeded by your health. Having been there (and as I even to a certain degree still is) I am too well aware of where you are, and it isn't an entirely pleasing place.

Above said, you also show some kind of acceptance by stating that you'll have to learn to live with it. That's good, because without that, you'll be disappointed every single day, and that alone will break you down. Having appreciated where one are, one can instead rejoice in any overperformance one achieves, and in that find energy. This, you have a positive spiral rather than a negative one.

But - it is easier said than done, and regardless of one knowingly accepting modelling as a pastime, not a duty, it's sometimes, at least for me, still very annoying when I can't seem to get at the progress I'm expecting. Regardless of cause. So I feel for you.

But - I hope you'll find a way to spiral up rather than down. If nothing else, please be aware that I for one very much appreciate your comments and other input on MY builds, even when you can't seem to get anything out yourself. And for that, I am grateful. 

Take care. Model when you feel like it and allow us to pep every now and then. 

[NARSES2]

Thankyou sir, much appreciated