Spey_Phantom's corner of solitude

[Captain Canada]

Exciting times with all that military action going on around you ! Lucky you !

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #100  


2 years since i first started making almost weekly blog entries, and now we come at update number 100.
so lets get you up to date with the latest modelling news from this end  

im curretnly putting the finishing touches on the 1/144 Tornado F.3, should be finished tomorrow.
im also preparing for the next RW project, also 1/144, a Tornado GR1 "MIG Eater", using the revell GR1 kit with the decals from the Academy GR1 box (witch is only good as a cheap source for decals and Sea Eagle missiles).

as for what if, i should start on an 1/144 Area88 F-14 Tomcat soon.

as for future projects, im thinking or reviving my 737-800 tactical tanker idea (KC-40 Icarus), im thinking of getting another Minicraft 1/144 KC-97G kit as a rource for conversion parts (and use the kit aircraft as an airliner whiff). looking at the boom of the already aquired kit, conversion should not be that hard (and i know a spot in Brugges that still has an old KC-97 on the cheap that been lying arround for over a decade).

looking at the other kits on the stash, ive taking another look at the 2 1/144 Airbus A320's and i think i know what to do with them.
one might become a Belgian Air Force transport aircraft, the other im thinking of the old RAF transport command scheme (white/grey with blue flash), as used on the DH Comet C.4 and the Bristol Britannia C.1 and others.
another kit in the stash thats looking tempting, is the White Knight II and SpaceShip II, im thinking either NASA or RAF Space Command markings (equiped with ASAT missiles).

as for today, little to no modeling activity, i have to go to a birthday party/baby shower this afternoon (my nephew Jayden is turning 3 today and the baby shower is for his little brother, Lucas (1 month old)).
until then, im just gonna do some cleaning up of the bench, i can hardly find anything on it anymore  


more soon........

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #101


im a little late with this blog entry, my girlfriend spent the weekend here and stayed until teusday (busdrivers were on strike on monday).
but here's an update on the bench 

things are moving slowly, i did managed to get some work done on the seats for one of the 2 SeaKings im building, im also repainting 3 1/144 Mig-29K's in Russian Navy markings as a side project.

also, a very old Minicraft 1/144 Lancaster that i was about to throw away is gonne be repaired, so far i just got the paint stripped, but the propellors were damaged beyond repair, so i wil have to replace those. also the gun turret on its back was broken, but i was gonna remove it anyway as it was to foggy from the excesive glue use back in the day. kinda looks like a Mk.III or B.Mk.1 Special (if i cut open the bomb bays). as for the lost propellors, im thinking of replacing them with those salvaged from Revell's Miniwings (from 1/144 Spitfires or Hurricanes).

ive also been thinking of looking at the Luft'46 stash agian, might pick out a kit to build, i already got my eyes set on the 1/72 Do335 Pfeil.
also got a Japanese torpedobomber version of the Me P.1099 in the planning stage (R2Y alternative).


on a private not, being home now for the past 21 months with hardly any work found, and the metal industry in Belgium pretty much dead or going down, im re-concidering changing my field of work. as you read an earlier post in march, i tried it by registering for a CAD/CAM designer course, but i failed the entry interview due to bad crittics. now im gonna try again in a different field. i have no idea what yet as i have been working in Metal since i got out of high school almost 10 years ago, and not having my drivers license (yet) pretty much limits my options. might have to make that last one top priority.

i have a feeling im gonna come down with a depression, i havent been feeling myself lately and the last couple of days im having trouble sleeping and lay awake restless, being worried about my future. luckily i have my parrents and my girlfriend morraly supporting me on my way to find a job.


more soon.........

[NARSES2]

Nils if you feel you may get depression then go and talk to your doctor. Believe me it is the best thing you can do.

[Captain Canada]

Sounds good. Look forward to seeing the Tornados. I love those wee kits !

As for the airliner whif, another Sabena bird ? A Stratoliner would look great in those colours and has that big fat fuselage for a nice speedbird or somat.

And keep up with the Sea Kings, you know you want too !

As for depression, don't forget excercise. You're young, get out there and bike, run, walk, climb, lift weights etc. Motion does the body good and gets the blood flowing to the 'happy' parts of the brain !

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #102


little activity on the bench the past week, but there are a lot of 1/144 projects in various stages of completion.
mostly refurbished old models, some new.

-3 x MIG-29K (ex-New Flanders Navy aircraft, currently being repainted in Russian Navy colors, 2 single- and 1 twin-seater)
-HH-60 Blackhawk (previously a prototype for SeaHawk conversion, now a Blackhawk again, to be painted in Royal Navy FAA colors)
-MH-60K Seahawk (first of 2, converted from Dragon SH-60F, in New Flanders Navy markings, the second one is unknown)
-F-111F Aardark (refurbished old Minicraft kit, awaiting decals, USAF or RAAF)
-Avro Lancaster (old Minicraft kit, undergoing restoration, many parts to be replaced)

i have another old 1/144 S-70B Seahawk (converted from a Blackhawk) that im going to strip the paint off soon, im thinking of repainted it in either Belgian Navy or Polish Navy colors.

as for 1/72, the 2 SeaKings are making progress, but its very slow, mostly the building and painting of the interiour takes time 
im hoping to get those finished and out the door soon, so i can start on the 2 NH90-NFH's (also commisioned builds)
once the current 1/144 projects are done, im gonna look into starting building some new ones, i have a need for some Soviet/Russian types on the shelves at the moment, might have to start on a Mig-31 or Mig-25 soon (Real World) alos got a couple of Mig-23, Su-22, Su-27, Su-34, Su-47 and Mig-1.44 to start on soon, perhaps even a Tu-95 Bear-D. i have been in kind of a Soviet mood lately 

as for Whiffs, im looking into revaming my WW3 storybuild, thats why im currently working on something big, witch include those 3 repainted 1/144 MIG-29K's. also on the "kit-buy" list are (in 1/144) Rafale-M, Rafale-B, Su-27UB/Su-30, Another J-20, EA-18G Growler,...and (in 1/72) A129 Mangusta, Ka-52, Su-47,...
of course all of this will depend on what my modeling budget will be after the holidays, as i already had to cut back this year on stash additions.

for today, im doing "Stash Inventory Management", in other words, seeing to stock some more long-term build in boxes and put them in the attic to make room for more.


i unemployment news, i still have no idea in what area to re-train in, as i noted earlier, finding work in the metal sector in Belgium is almost impossible, and im not willing to travel/move to the other side of the country just for that. i have a good life and good friends here and im not gonna leave that for a dead end job on the other side of Belgium, so ive beenlooking at what fields i can re-school in, ive been looking at offering from Adult Education courses, long-term unemployed courses and even night schools, but so far, i have found nothing that really intrests me, i have to meet with my guidance counseler on Thursday to make my desision, but its very hard to make choice and i need more time to do so.

i have been working in metal-production since i graduated 9 years ago, and i have taken additional courses to specialize myself in the field of CNC machinery (Turning and Milling), to suddenly change to a different line of work is a real culture shock, but i have been at home for almost 2 years now, and im not gonna be stuck here for god knows how much longer. i need to do something, even it its just for a reason to get out of bed in the morning. as i noted in the last blog entry, i think im on the brink of a depression. i have spent the weekend over at my girlfriend and her parents house, witch to me was a welcome change of scenery, even if it was just to get my mind of the stress.

this week its gonna be more busy the usual, jobhunting, visisting my guidance counseler, the weekly wednesday employment meetings, christmas shopping, chores at home.....


more soon...

[McColm]

Have you thought of seasonal work, you might have to swallow your pride and take up a mundane job but at least its something?

[Captain Canada]

Take what you already know about metals, and start thinking about minerals and the rocks from which they came, and become a geologist or somat. Still lots of jobs in the oil patch. Travel, adventure, money. And if you find yourself offshore, lots of boats and helicopters !

Looking forward to seeing some Sea King pics too.

[zenrat]

When I was made redundant and thinking about a change of direction I identified that the two areas which are expanding are Occupational Health & Safety and Age Care.
Have you thought about OH&S?  It's mostly common sense with the application of simple techniques.  The trick is to remain realistic and not get carried away with the power, The Power, THE POWER! HAH HAH HAARRGGGH HAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH cough cough splutter choke.

Sorry, about that.  I'm cooking marmalade and I think the sugar fumes went to my head.

[PR19_Kit]

Have you thought about OH&S?  It's mostly common sense with the application of simple techniques.  The trick is to remain realistic and not get carried away with the power, The Power, THE POWER! HAH HAH HAARRGGGH HAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH cough cough splutter choke

Sadly many practitioners of the 'art' do exactly that and morph into mini-Hitlers!

[Rheged]

Have you thought about OH&S?  It's mostly common sense with the application of simple techniques.  The trick is to remain realistic and not get carried away with the power, The Power, THE POWER! HAH HAH HAARRGGGH HAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH cough cough splutter choke

Sadly many practitioners of the 'art' do exactly that and morph into mini-Hitlers!

Yes, I've met a few of them too.  The regulations themselves are usually quite reasonable, it's the way that the H&S commissars apply them that needs attention.   Speaking of which, Zenrat, keep your head down about the marmalade fumes or one of them will have your breakfast comestible classed as a prohibited substance---------and you'll probably find Paddington Bear and his mates all "preserve sniffing" outside your kitchen window.

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #103

little movement on the bench this week, i had very little time to do any modeling work at all.
but i am making progress on some of the current 1/144 projects, the MH-60R SeaHawk's almost finished, the 3 Mig-29K's are still in need of the final camo patches before decals can be applied, and the 1/72 SeaKings are also making more slow progress, but things will speed up once the interiour is done.

looking at near future projects, im currently looking at a 1/72 Hobbyboss Dornier Do335 Pfeil, looks like a simple kit, few parts, good detail, might start on it once the workbench clears up. on the other hand, ive been in a Soviet mood lately, and im thinking of taking in some 1/144 RW Russian models in between, might have a look at the old Revell Tu-95 Bear-D, witch has been in the stash for almost 4 to 5 years now, might have a go at that. might take up a few 1/144 Mig's and Sukhoi's as an escort  

i didnt have much time to get anything done this week, mostly due to jobhunting, job interviews, christmas shopping,...
since were so close to the holidays, i dont think anyone will be hiring at this moment, so i might get some work done.
next weekend, im helping my sister move to her new house closer to here, so no modeling then. also, no modelbuilding the week after since i will be spending christmas with my Girlfriend and her family (she will spend newyears eve here, with my family).

also, yesterday, me and Jessica went to the travel agency in town to book our first holiday together, so on the weekend of my 31st birthday in may, were going to ...........Disneyland, Paris  


more soon, comrades...........

[Captain Canada]

Sounds good. Enjoy your family time over the Holidays !

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #104


thought i would post one more blog entry before the holidays 

on the bench at the moment, just started, is a 1/144 Revell F-14A Tomcat, this will be a what if version, from the anime/comic Area 88, flown by Mickey Simon. decals have been sourced from another Revell kit (Black Tomcat, for the Playboy Bunny logo).
so im gonna try to get some progress today, but its not gonna be done this week.

also earlier this week, i finished another project, a 1/144 Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut, a revell kit, build OOB with RW markings.
ive been sorking through the stash and i found a pair of Trumpeter 1/144 J-7II's witch i have no idea what to do with.
but im thinking of building one as an Area 88 enemy Mig-21, would go nicely with the earlier built F-5E and the WIP F-14A.

looking at the number of Soviet Aircraft in the stash, im hoping to start on a pair of 1/72 scale Mig-37 Ferrets in the new year.
one will likely be a Soviet/Russian fighter, as for the other, im thinking either Czech, East German or Polish AF. also on the projects list is a 1/72 Mig-1.44 (to be built as an operational Mig-39). im thinking either a Heavy Interceptor (MIG-31 replacement) or a ground attack version (using an ICM 1/72 Russian weapons set). im also planning on getting a 1/72 Su-47 Firkin.

the majority of these project will be part of the WW3 story build i have going for some time now.
there are still a lot of western aircraft on the list aswell, including a Belgian F-35A, EC665 Tiger and EC635, German SAR EC645, and lots of 1/72 and 1/144 5th generation aircraft, helicopters, ships,....

as for now, those projects will have to wait until 2015, as for now, im planning on spending the holidays with family and friends.


there will be a new update next week, but until then:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[NARSES2]

All the best to you as well Nils