Zenrat's Flying Circus

[TheChronicOne]

Much of it stems from the wholesale application of armour/ground vehicle
weathering techniques to aircraft models, it generally looks pretty good
on the former, not so much on the latter. Yes, "dirty panel lines" are visible
on many aircraft, dependent on operating environment and general
condition, however they aren't a single width and shade of grey-black/dark
umber, both can vary a great deal even on the most beatup aircraft.


As stated, the result can look very cartoonish or have the appearance of a
coloured in technical drawing. On one of the Facebook groups I sort of
follow there is a build a modeller has just begun of a Fujimi CH-53E, and
the first thing he has done is to scribe over the recessed panel lines of the
kit because they weren't "deep enough"!


That said, I have seen a handful of models in the "flesh" so to speak that
have been featured in magazine articles etc., which actually look very
good in person, but look cartoonish in the magazines. That I think is a
combination of lighting/photography technique and over processing by
whoever did the digital image prep for the publication. Levels, colour
curves  saturation, and particularly sharpening combining to exaggerate
the model's "real world" appearance.

I have to wonder if some of the oohing and aahing folk are dissapointed
if they happen to actually see some if these models in reality.
 

Aye!!



Man, that.... DEEPENING of panel lines?!?! That's a first on me!   

[zenrat]

I like cartoonish.  It has its place.
Depends on the build.

Still at Knutsford.
Finally got rid of the hire car this morning.
The arrangement was Europcar would deliver it to us on Tuesday morning and then pick it up Thursday morning.
They did attempt to get it Thursday but we had gone out and the bloke I discussed hiding the key with had not passed that information on to the young lady who came to get it so she went back to Warrington empty handed.
I'm only paying for two days hire so they've potentially lost 3 days hire due to a breakdown in communications.

[TheChronicOne]

In good ol' America they would be trying to take them 3 days outta yer hyde.    Everything is instantly the customers faut. The stories I could tell....   

Seems like a pretty good company.   

[NARSES2]

I like cartoonish.  It has its place.
Depends on the build.

Agreed, everything has its place. It's when things are done or methods are used purely because they are in vogue that gets to me.

[zenrat]

Back home.
Flew in at 5 am this morning.
A380-800 Heathrow to Abu Dhabi follows still a led by B787-9 Abu Dhabi to Melbourne.  More comfortable than the outward legs but still a long way over water with only two engines.
Fighting jet lag.
I've had a nap but now need to stay awake until bedtime in order to force myself back into step with the correct schedule.

[TheChronicOne]

WB!!!   Go find a pot of black coffee. 

[NARSES2]

Enjoy the trip ?

[zenrat]

Yes thanks Chris.
We met up with some people we hadn't seen for ages, revisited some places we'd wanted to get back to and saw some new ones we want to return to again.
We stayed in an old people's home, a converted naval officers quarters and two different works in progress and drove about 3000km on the wrong side of the road.
I have some photos which need wrangling and then i'll put some up here for all to see.

But now, it is time to sleep.

[NARSES2]

Good to hear 

We stayed in an old people's home,

Dependent on your definition of old I could be said to live in an old person's home 

[zenrat]

No comment. 


Some photos.

Mrs z and a Hetzer at Bastogne War Museum.
Bastogne 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Pre-loved Sherman at Bastogne - one carefull owner, never raced or rallied.  Delivery miles only.  Rare airconditioned model.
Bastogne 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Bastogne 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

MiGs at Cosford.
Cosford 6 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Cosford 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And finally, spot the difference.
                        Cary Grant                                                       Me

[NARSES2]

 

Sure your not Scooter's big brother ? 

[TheChronicOne]

Crackings photos, mate!!! 

[zenrat]

No modelling today.  I have just worked my first (paid) 8 hour day in six years.
Yes, I know, but when all you've been able to get was 3 hours a day or (lately) 5 hours a day this is a shock to the system.
And other than breaks it was all standing up.

My feet ache (not a whinge, a statement of fact).


An idea has been bugging me.  It's so obvious that it must have been done but I can't find photographic proof.
It came to me while watching Dukes of Hazzard.
It's an M3 Lee painted orange with 01 on the side and a confederate flag.

[PR19_Kit]

It's an M3 Lee painted orange with 01 on the side and a confederate flag.

Hehehe, MAGIC idea!   

One thing's for sure though, it won't be doing any if that jumping over bumps and stuff that the other General does!

[NARSES2]

It came to me while watching Dukes of Hazzard.
It's an M3 Lee painted orange with 01 on the side and a confederate flag.

Ah, Daisy.....