Zenrat's Flying Circus

[jcf]

Hmmm, I swear those pics were not there when I replied before.
So, if I use the smooth cowlings (which I am) then I will need an additional exhaust outlet somewhere.
I can also claim that there is a turbocharger somewhere inside the nacelle.  I will have to amend my back story to reflect this.

Collector exhaust outlet, it glowed brightly at night and it was very obvious to the bad guys,
which was one of the reasons for going to the separate exhaust stacks.


You could go P-47 style, a waste-gate forward and the main exhaust out the bottom of the nacelle.

[zenrat]

the combination of high gull wing and short/low undercarriage gives it a funny look

Yup and with that colour scheme you could see it having a starring role in a Disney cartoon 

The aim of the gull wings was to put the fuselage close to the ground to facilitate unloading and loading cargo on rough strips using manual labour - like a Privateer Express.
Main undercarriage are standard length B-25.  I have trimmed the props slightly as while they cleared the fuselage they were a little close for comfort IMO.
The colours are zenrat industries corporate colours - which coincidentally are fairly low visibility at night.

Thanks for the pics Jon.  I think my plumbing and turbos are above the wheel wells in which case the exhaust outlets will be somewhere on the top of the wing.
The Italeri kit, while having the smooth nacelles does not have the appropriate cowl flaps or outlet.

I finished fettling the undercarriage today (slightly lower in front than in the pic) and started painting the legs and wheels.  Cowlings and cowl flaps got satin clear.

[zenrat]

Last lap for the Mitch.  I've scratched a nose gear door and when the glue is dry just have to paint it and the main gear doors and attach them.  Then a lick of wash in the hinges, glue on some exhaust stubs, add some exhaust stains and she's done.

As this morning was a balmy 20℃ before I went to work (to face the madding hordes waving burning rolls of wrapping paper, baying for xmas stamps and demanding unrealistic delivery times) I put some Model Master "Sealer for Metalizer"  onto the Analogue.  I have had this stuff for years but this is the first time I have used it.  It seems to do what it is meant to, producing no noticeable change in the appearance of the metalisers on the model but presumably sealing them against damage.  To be honest I was expecting it to add a higher level of shine.  But hey ho, now the metal finishes are sealed I can presumably use any clear without affecting their look.

I have started minor assembly on the Sea King and primed some parts.  Interior is very bare on this kit so I may just paint it a dark colour and glue the door shut.  I presume the new mould Airfix Sea Kings have more detail inside?

Also, as the Brother in Law will be here for xmas day, I have been progressing with the Sea Witch.  I want to have it at the stage of building and attaching the masts by the time he sees it. 

[zenrat]

Ah, Eastern European kits, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...

Started to put the transfers on the Analogue.  Stopped after both vertical tail transfers partially broke up.  Obviously Modelsvit transfers need decal film painted on them.  So I did.
The transfers for this consist of sky blue striping.  Vallejo sky blue appears to be a pretty good match and I have touched up one side of the tail.  We shall see what it looks like when dry.

[DogfighterZen]

The Soviet XL... I like the look of this bird and have that kit in my watch list. Are you going to put Go get'em sticks on yours? This thing should looks great with a bunch of them under the wings.

[zenrat]

I'm building this one OOB.
But I also have the kit of the second Analogue which I will prolly whiff.

I have already built a tail-less delta Mig 21.
MiG 21 11-3 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=41849.msg723706#msg723706

[DogfighterZen]

Fair enough... And i remember that beauty... Viggen wings, right?

[zenrat]

Yep.  Airfix Viggen wings rescued from a glue bomb I found at a swap & sell begging to be used as parts fodder.

Today I sat down to put the rest of the (now coated with decal film) transfers onto the Analogue.
They still broke up.  Problem being they are long thin pinstripes and so when cut down to size they have no strength.
So I was forced to spend a couple of hours of intense concentration painting them by hand.
MiG 21 Analogue WIP 22-12-2019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Not too shabby if I say so myself.

[Rick Lowe]

Yup, that worked nicely. 

[PR19_Kit]

Not too shabby if I say so myself.

You  can say THAT again! It looks terrific! 

[scooter]

[DogfighterZen]

Hand painted...  You're crazy, you know that?
That is one heck of a job you did there...   and the NMF...

[zenrat]

About half way through I realised I could have painted thin masking tape and used that...

Thanks folks

[ericr]

but hand painting has a nice feeling too, like hand piloting w.r.t. automatic pilot 

[zenrat]

When the mojo is with me and my hand is steady (which it is more so since I quit smoking and hardly drink) I find brush painting fine detail very relaxing.
Of course the opposite applies and it can be frustrating on a bad mojo day.

Worked a full day (9 to 6) today so no modelling time.  I did get out to the main street Toy World at lunchtime (had to buy girl lego for a niece) and noticed that they had sold most of their stash of aircraft kits, which is nice to see.