Spey_Phantom's corner of solitude

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #281

this week, the bench has started to clear and new projects have been added.

work on the DKM Wiesbaden was completed a few days ago, clearing room on the bench for new builds.
out from the fridge, are 2 1/144 Chengdu F-7MG's, that have now recieved a first coat of paint.
next to these, in the same scale, i started on a Mirage F1 and an A-10A Thunderbolt, to be painted in Area 88 colors.

also today, i was truck by an idea for one of my next builds. after looking at a Revell 1/72 DHC-6 Twin Otter in the stash, i was thinking of how good an Antonov An-2 Colt would look in those RCAF SAR markings, and so i have my next 1/72 project sorted out.
as for the Twin Otter, im thinking of building it allongside the An-2 in a WHIF airline color scheme, i was thinking of using it on my own WHIF bush/regional airline company, Marlin Air Services.

also next in line is a realworld build, a Belgian Airbus A400M in 1/144 scale.


more soon...

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #282

i really have my groove backon the bench, thanks to the lockdown, but i should be able to go back to work after next week.

on the go at the moment are 2 1/144 realworld projects, a Belgian Air Force Airbus A321 and A400M. in between are the 1/144 Area 88 Mirage F-1 and A-10 Thunderbolt. on the waitinglist is the 1/72 RCAF Antonov An-2.
right now im focusing on the A321, which is nearly ready for the airbrush.

also, i have printed out some new DIY decals for future projects this week. these are:

real world:
-1/72 Alouette III (Belgian Navy, dark blue and UN White)
-1/144 SAAB Ja-37 Viggen (metallic SwAF historic flight and 2-tone grey)
-1/144 Airbus A400M, Belgian AF, MSN106, CT-02.
-1/144 F-86F Sabre (Portugese Af and Luftwaffe)

What If (all Area 88):
-Boeing 747-100, Yamato Air Lines
-BAC Lightning F.6 (Escape killers)
-MiG-21PF, Anti government forces
-B-1B Lancer, Saki Vashtahl


more soon....

[TheChronicOne]

Area 88.... sweet. I especially like the B-1B happenings... 

[NARSES2]

Glad you are back in the groove Nils 

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #283

this week, work on the bench is moving like clockwork. i finished a Belgian AF Airbus A321 a few days ago, and im about to start on the 1/144 A400M. also in progress, in 1/144, is the Mirage F-1 and A-10 Thunderbolt for the Area 88 collection. the mirage is new sprayed in its dark grey colors and im about to put more work on that one as is doesnt take that long finish.
the A-10 still needs some more work and the engines still need to be assembled. start on the 1/72 Antonov An-2 has been delayed due to another bench clearing spree.

the first to be finished are 2 1/144 Chengdu F-7MG's, these were small in-between builds as aggressors, one in Russian Air Force, the other in New Flanders AF markings (pics to follow). they were only practice builds, and not exactly modelshow quality, but it was a fun build. looking on the fridge, uncompleted kits in line are a 1/144 F/A-18E in USMC markings, an F-16A from Ghost Squadron (from a Buck Danny comic), F-86F-40 Sabre and a 1/72 F-16A Tigermeet 2009. i also found an unfinished 1/72 Humvee that i started a few years ago, im planning on finishing that one in Belgian Army colors.


more soon...

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #284

still home due to Covid19 restrictions, as i have been for the past 2 and a half months 
the intern-office called to ask me if i wanted other type of work, i said i will wait 2 more weeks, if im not back at work by then, im gonna start looking for another job, but in the current climate, i doubt i would get anything.

anyway, back to the bench, i have put the start of the 1/72 AN-2 and 1/144 A400M on hold for now, as i am now focusing my efforts on the trimotor DC-3 (with spats!), an entry for a BTS group build, in memory of Brian Da Basher, who sadly passed away in april.

another project is the 1/144 A-10 Thunderbolt, for my Area 88 collection, assembly is mostly done, im now gonna prepare this model for painting. also back on the bench is my 1/72 Junkers Schnellbomber TL i started a while back but never continued.


more soon...

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #285

progress this week has been really slow, i hardly got anything done.
prepwork and decal designing for the 1/72 trimotor DC-3 is now done. work with the Junkers Schnellbomber TL is also progressing slowly, i painted the inside of the bomb bay and started assembling the inside. i still need to look for a new bombload for the smaller bombay (had to make room for the nosewheel bay), but its going to be limited as the fuselage of the Ju288 is very narrow.

i also started research on other future proojects, including (in 1/144) an Osean Maretime Defence Force (OMDF) SH-3 Sea King (see the Ace Combat series) and an Erusean Air Force MiG-21PF. im also looking into reviving my 1/72 Belgian Army S-300 missile system plan in the near future.

reason work has been so slow is that im currently rearanging furniture in the house and thorough cleaning of the living room, to make some more playspace for the baby, as he will start crawling soon (also, my wife needs extra space for his playpen).
during the move-arround im also gonna do smaller works arround the house.


more soon...

[NARSES2]

reason work has been so slow is that im currently rearanging furniture in the house and thorough cleaning of the living room, to make some more playspace for the baby, as he will start crawling soon (also, my wife needs extra space for his playpen).
during the move-arround im also gonna do smaller works arround the house.

One of the better reasons for slow progress 

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #286

there has been little to no progress in the past week, with the exception of painting the wheels and engine parts for the trimotor DC-3. however, lately i havent been happy with my own performance on the bench. i feel like ive kinda lost my edge and skill, everything i build seems to come out kinda basic and toyish, so im gonna take some time to update and get back my skill and mojo.

im also thinking, just to get my edge back, im gonna go back to basics and work my way up from there.
ive been doing this hobby for so many years and yet i feel my skills are barely improving or are even going backwards.

so for the time being, im gonna use my current projects as tests to get my skill back, might even improve on some points.
im gonna look in the archives and get some old modelbuilding magazines and books, some inspiration might work just as good to get the creative juices flowing.

more soon....

[NARSES2]

I think sometimes we all need to take a step back Nils and just review where we are. Not just modelling, but most things in life 

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #287

after more then a week hiatus, i started to get back to work on the bench. the Twin Otter and RCAF Antonov AN2 project have been put on ice for a while. the 1/72 Schnellbomber TL and trimotor DC-3 are currently concidered a priority, specially the latter.

i also started another conversion just now, i started on a 1/72 Airbus Helicopters H145M, converted from an EC145 kit with an EC135 as a donor kit for new parts. the leftover parts of the EC135 and the old tailboom of the -145 will be used to create a production version of the Bolkow Bo.108 (wich evolved into the EC135, now H135).

the H145M will be built in Belgian Air Force colors, as yesterday they announced to possibly buy these to replace the Agusta A109 and NH90-TTH. as for the Bo.108, i have no idea on how to paint it when completed. might enter it into the prototype GB as a production prototype.


more soon...

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #288

At this moment, progress on the bench is halted due to other priorities and unexpected supply problems.
all my filer/putty and maskol has dryed up and im running out of plasticard, so im gonna have to restock on all of it, this means that work on the trimotor DC-3 and other projects are currently on hold.

im using the downtime to get other things done, such as workspace organisation, cleaning and decal design work.

i recently dissassembled an old drawer unit and i saved a 40 x 70cm wooden plank, this will form the base for a new future diorama project, namely a Area 88 air base. i already did some measuring and planning and it looks feasable. it will have 3 main buildings (Mc Coy's warehouse, a maintainance hangar and the control tower), aircraft parking revetment (for 2 aircraft at least).
these will go nicely with the area 88 themed models i have on the shelf, in progress and in the planning. this is a long-term project and i already started making a list of all the items i need to make it work. i was thinking of adding some desert sand to the sides of the armac, but i think thats not gonna leave much room for aircraft, specially the bigger ones as its already a small area to use.

more soon....

[NARSES2]

im using the downtime to get other things done, such as workspace organisation, cleaning and decal design work.

Sometimes that can be strangely satisfying.

[TheChronicOne]

Catching up.  YUP. I sypmathize with a lot of what you are dealing with. Keep on your plan......  I think you have the right idea.  I've been doing a lot of the same. This has been a trying year for many obvious and some not so obvious reasons.

[Spey_Phantom]

Blog Entry #289

ok, time for a new update, and with this also my 6000th post on this forum 

work is slowly starting to move again as supply problems are almost solved. over the last few days i have been working to complete some WIP models on the bench. the 1/144 Area 88 A-10 Thunderbolt is nearly done, all it needs are the decals and a clear and matt coat of varnish. i also started on another 1/144 SAAB Gripen as the previous one didnt come out that good.

work on the 1/72 trimotor DC-3 can nog be restarted, im gonna start with PSR work on the landinggear spats.
the 1/72 Junkers Schnellbomber TL is currently on hold until the DC-3 is done.
there are still about 6 in progress builds in various scales in various stages of completion, these will gradually get finished before starting on any other new projects.

over the past week, i have placed orders at various online stores for supplies for my next big project, my 3rd airfield diorama in 1/144 scale, this time Area 88 themed. i already drawn up all the plans for the buildings and the layout. all ineed to do is find something that can form the basis for the revetment.

more soon...