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

[zenrat]

Almost zenrat industries' corporate colours...

I hadn't realised that 

It shows our subliminal advertising budget is well spent...



I'm drawn towards the DAP Beaufort IX.  A bit of PSR would be needed.


Or there's the scaled down training version used for educating ground crew.  Seen here being carried between airfields on a full size Beaufort.

[NARSES2]

Or there's the scaled down training version used for educating ground crew.  Seen here being carried between airfields on a full size Beaufort.

I always thought that was a WWII aerial equivalent of WWI's "Bantam" Battalions ? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantam_(military)#:~:text=A%20bantam%2C%20in%20British%20Army,5%20ft%20(150%20cm).

[The Wooksta!]

Highplanes did the Beaufreighter - I've got a part started one somewhere but would like another to cross with Beaufighter wings to do one with a bit more oomph.

[NARSES2]

I managed to get a little tinkering done on the P-43 today, very little, but at least it's some progress 

First time I've felt like doing anything for ages. I've had/have both the 2022/2023 Group Build season and the UK What If Group Newsletter taking up time and I'm also feeling a bit "heavy". Think it's the fact that I've just reached 70 ? Had a similar thing happen before upon reaching a couple of "milestones" and it takes a while to get through them and get any enthusiasm back. But I get there, touch wood, so hopefully will move on in a short while and start to make some progress.

[kitbasher]

Sounds like you need a couple of jars and some fish and chips down The George!

[NARSES2]

Bit more work on the P-43 this morning only to discover that the "Carpet Monster" seems to have developed quite a liking for it  . Interestingly whilst looking for a few bits that pinged off into space (I found most of them) I discovered some bits that I'd lost to the "Carpet Monster" eons ago. Indeed I'm not sure which kit the undercarriage leg originally came from ? It never ceases to amaze me just how far some of these relatively small pieces can bounce upon hitting the floor. 

[NARSES2]

Some more progress this morning, obviously I'm starting to come out of my fugue and get my enthusiasm back 

As well as some more work on the P-43 I pulled the next couple of kits out for the bench. A couple of KP Tempest II's, IBG Me 109 D-15 and an Airfix Mosquito. However I'll probably start with the Airfix Tempest V. It'll be a real world build, although I'm pretty sure the aircraft I'm reproducing was a Series II and Airfix do a Series I. Still it's basically just the gun barrel length that's noticeable, isn't it ?

[NARSES2]

Started assembling some sub-assemblies on the Airfix Tempest. So far going together well

[The Wooksta!]

The Airfix Tempest is very nice, but TBH, I'd rather get another KP Tempest II, largely as you can build any in service Tempest from the box.  More spares too.


The early Tempests also had the 5 spoke Typhoon wheels.

[zenrat]

I just read the article in AMW on the Early Tempests.  IIRC they had a blister on the wing root covering Typhoon cockpit framework and reinforcing fishplates on the rear fuselage.

[NARSES2]

The Airfix Tempest is very nice,

Must admit I got it mainly to see how well it builds, and so far it builds very nicely  All the sub-assemblies are together and will start seeing some paint over the next few days  As far as future purchases go ? Then I'll probably buy a few more KP Mk II's as the II is one of my favourite aircraft ever. Airfix ? I'll wait and see what they bring out next.

I just read the article in AMW on the Early Tempests.  IIRC they had a blister on the wing root covering Typhoon cockpit framework and reinforcing fishplates on the rear fuselage.

Yup re-read it this morning. It would appear that the progress from early Tempests too late ones was much more of a evolutionary one than the monikers "Series I and Series II" would indicate.

Anyway mine will be a real world 80 Squadron one, based in The Netherlands in Oct. 1944.

[NARSES2]

Interestingly the Tempest includes both 4 and 5 spoked wheels, the 4 spoke not being used in the box options. They are rather nice and you can even read the makers name (Dunlop) on them 

Among the other non used items are the drop tanks which are moulded on the clear sprue. I'm told this is because the boxing that uses then will include an option for a recce version which had the camera gear in an old drop tank ?

Both of these, and the sprue layout makes me wonder if we will see a series 2 aircraft from Airfix ?

[PR19_Kit]

The Tempest's drop tank pylons really were clear in the RW.

I guess they were made of perspex for some reason, so it made sense for the kit parts, including the tanks themselves, to be on the clear sprue.

[NARSES2]

The Tempest's drop tank pylons really were clear in the RW.

I guess they were made of perspex for some reason, so it made sense for the kit parts, including the tanks themselves, to be on the clear sprue.

Ah right. I swear I'd read somewhere about the recce drop tank. Must of been dreaming

[kitbasher]

Interestingly the Tempest includes both 4 and 5 spoked wheels, the 4 spoke not being used in the box options. They are rather nice and you can even read the makers name (Dunlop) on them 

Among the other non used items are the drop tanks which are moulded on the clear sprue. I'm told this is because the boxing that uses then will include an option for a recce version which had the camera gear in an old drop tank ?

Both of these, and the sprue layout makes me wonder if we will see a series 2 aircraft from Airfix ?

Wasn't there a clear panel on the actual pylon?  IIRC there was mention of this in an Airfix product update a few months ago.