Zenrat's Flying Circus

[zenrat]

With car models getting the body mods and the PSR finished and the body primed if a big step for me as it shows me if I am going to match the picture in my head.  That all over coat of grey makes a big difference.
Today I didn't get to that stage with the Chevy i'm working on as more filler was needed where i've blended in the bumpers.

The rocket trolley is progressing nicely.  A squirt of satin clear and I should be able to start glueing it together.  I have started on the FW 190 which will sit on top of the 262 bomb.

Hun fiddley bits are also coming along.

[zenrat]

My trolley isn't as big or as complicated as Kit's (and definitely wouldn't float) but it is faster as it has a rocket motor.
Me 262 Mistel WIP 24-10-17 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
MPM have of course managed to make the supports that hold the "bomb" different heights so some adjustment is required.
Me 262 Mistel WIP 24-10-17 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I've got the fuselage together on the FW190 I was going to use as the upper half of the Mistel but i'm not 100% sure if I want house it.  I may switch to a Bf 109 so as to keep it all in the family.

Hun is finished.  I'll create a thread for it.

[NARSES2]

Nice trolley  You don't really envisage it's size until you see the 262 on top of it

[PR19_Kit]

That looks very neat, with or without the aeroplane on top.

What was the source of the trolley? And what's its 1/4 mile time with that gurt great rocket on the back? 

[zenrat]

Thanks guys.
The trolley is part of the MPM Me 262 Mistel kit which consists of the trolley, the Me 262 "bomb" and a bomber nose Me 262.


I'm not sure what the trolley would do over the quarter but I expect if would be outside of it's lane by the 60' mark.  It appears to have no steering, relying on castor effect to keep the front wheel straight.

In other news I now have an A Model Yak 28R in three big pieces (and a larger number of smaller ones).  Nacelles have been glued to the wings and PSR will definitely be needed.  The kits vertical tail is moulded separately and needed gluing to the fuselage.  The tab provided to facilitate this needed trimming and thinning to fit and when that was done the upper spine of the fuselage needed sanding as it was wider on the starboard side.  Again, PSR will be needed.

[zenrat]

Yakkety Yak.  Wings jammed into place.  I have since removed them and smeared on more PPP.
Yak 28R WIP 26-10-17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Tip for future builders of A Model Yak 28s (which includes me as I, like a fool, have another in the stash).  Shim the nacelles or they will be narrower than the slots within which they sit.
Actually, despite all the whinging I am quite enjoying this build.  It's a challenge, but not too much of one.  I think have the skill now to overcome its shortcomings as well as the experience to foresee most of them (apart from the nacelles - but I'll know better next time).

Finishing the Hun was the straw that broke the camels back and despite my determination not to until the start of the next GB I have started another build.
I was inspired by the latest issue of AMW.  It's an Airfix EE Lightning F2A (1/72 of course).  So far it's got upgraded radar and I will be rummaging in the weapons stash for something different in the way of missiles.  Japanese or Soviet probably although I do have some Swedish ASMs from an Airfix Viggen.

[NARSES2]

Actually, despite all the whinging I am quite enjoying this build.  It's a challenge, but not too much of one. 

That's one of the reasons I like A Model and some of the earlier Special Hobby stuff etc. You have to think about things and you can still have a good old moan 

[PR19_Kit]

I was inspired by the latest issue of AMW.  It's an Airfix EE Lightning F2A (1/72 of course). 

Yeah! 

It's a wonderful kit, along with its F6 brother. I'll be interested to see what Zenrat Industries makes of it.

[zenrat]

Nothing too wild Kit, but it might be given to the JASDF.

I glued the horizontal tails onto the Yak today.  I forgot to deepen the elevator panel lines on them before I did so which means they might inadvertently come off again when I try to rectify that omission.

Hash the Parcel Dude brought me a Hasegawa Me (sic) 109E today which I immediately hoed into for the top half of the Me 262 Mistel.  My plan is to make it look very shabby like it was a tired out frontline survivor being used by the factory.

For those who are interested photos of my collection of Hasegawa "Box Art & Font" kits are here.
I think this is my favourite.
Lockheed P38 J:L or F Lightning by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[TheChronicOne]

On my way to check them out!!!

By the by... I had that very same kit saved in my ebay watch list for some reason, but I can't remember why. It was going for about $40 and it still wound up on the watch list so there had to have been some reason . ..


EDIT: Glorious collection going on there! Highly collectible, I wouldn't mind a big pile of them myself. They're all numbered and have the different colored bands.. artwork is always good, etc. For some reason, the Hellcat stood out.. 

[DogfighterZen]

For me it was the Zero, the clouds are so realistic, great collection there.

[PR19_Kit]

Quite a few of them looked pretty familiar too, mostly the ones without props. 

[zenrat]

I like to collect them because of the box designs.  I'm not so sure how many others collect these because prices are pretty low compared to later boxings (which quite often use the same tooling).  However, that is a good thing as it means that pretty much all those, with the exception of the Kawanishi Type 94 ($20), cost me $10 or less.
It's odd that unlike Airfix the older a Hasegawa release is the cheaper it is.  Mind you, you can pretty much rely on the decals not doing what they are supposed to do.  But then they are up to 40 years old so its not surprising.
I haven't worked out the logic behind the coloured bands and the numbers.  Some numbers are used on two different models at different times.  Still, it has helped me identify which releases I have in case I get really obsessive and try to collect them all...


I painted a car body today.  AMT 1/25 1976 Chevrolet Caprice.  I've shaved all the trim and door handles and moulded the bumpers in.
Pro Lux WIP 28-10-17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I have also nearly finished a second Hasegawa 1/72 Crew Van from the US Pilots and Ground Crew set.  The first one I build was dirty and shabby.  This one is far from it and i've modified it into more of a cargo van than a crew van.  I'm thinking about a third version as a SesStaPo surveillance van.

[TheChronicOne]

Coupe lookin nice!

[zenrat]

Thanks Brad C.

I glued the Me 262 "bomb" to the trolley today.  I waited until I thought the glue had set before I put it on its wheels but I was too early and being tail heavy it tilted backwards.  I tilted it back up and inverted it but neglected to notice that it was crooked.
The last thing I did before leaving the shed was therefore to pull it off the trolley.  I'll have another go gluing it tomorrow.

Crew vans (1/72 Hasegawa US Pilot and Crew Set).  Here are the first two.
First one is OOB apart from RHD.  Second one is also RHD and has a rear roller door.  You might recognise the colour scheme.
Crew Van 0ne 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Crew Van 0ne 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Crew Van Two 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Crew Van Two 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr