Moments of Zen

[TheChronicOne]

Yes.... it's an addiction with me... I can't help but snag this stuff up. I've taken to staying away from ebay and so far so good but when my contract money gets here next month.... here comes more kits I guarantee it!!! I have plans in the works to make storing them better but I've been moving slowwwww on that. Going to make a big computer desk my HQ for modeling then cram 90% or more of my kit stash under a bed.

Good looking out on the documentary. I like the have stuff like that going while I work on kits... sets the mood and all that.


Now let's see the canopy!   

[DogfighterZen]

All done now, not much i could do on the canopy... And i'm back to work on the F/A Viper!
I like to have some aviation documentary or modelling related video playing while i'm at the bench but sometimes i like to have loud music playing... 

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, long time no post here... been having a hard time to go into the cave and actually do some work on the Black Widow...
Besides time, the other issue is that it's been so hot there that i barely have the will to go there during the day, although i do have a large fan in there...
Anyway, i've been thinking that only one build on the go is not enough so i'm getting the urge to open up a new kit, just have to figure out what i wanna do next...
Looking at the boxes right now... RW or whif... the YF-23's gonna be whif, so maybe a RW build would make for a nice change of pace...

[NARSES2]

I quite often find a straight from the box, real world build can be quite relaxing. Especially if I've got a few models on the go

[DogfighterZen]

It is something that i always tend to put aside as i quickly lose interest in RW builds because the're so many whifs i'd also like to do but my mojo's been a bit on the down side... i've been working hard in the heat and it takes it's toll on the will to go down into the cave. I did get the rest of the panel lines scribed on the YF-23 a few days ago, just haven't sanded the raised lines to move on with the rest of the work.
The scribing didn't come out perfect but i think it's good enough for a simple first try. I learned a bit about it and don't think i ruined the kit so, moving on.
Motivated by the great builds recently posted by Comrade Harps and Axu, other whif projects that come back to mind are the alternative aircraft for the PoAF, in those scenarios, which i've also had in mind for some time. I'd like to build something on the Axis aligned Portuguese AF, Portuguese Navy in the Pacific, PoAF equipped with more American fighters, the cold war era, explore the Communist side of things, too... Also with more French, Swedish and other British aircraft which the PoAF never flew...
So much to do but so little time...

[TheChronicOne]

Just gotta hang on til winter! 

[zenrat]

...So much to do but so little time...

Nah, you've got the rest of your life.  Plenty of time.

[DogfighterZen]

Just gotta hang on til winter! 

...So much to do but so little time...

Nah, you've got the rest of your life.  Plenty of time.

Both are correct, my friends. Brad, you know how it is, and how it's been with this heat wave...
Fred, my dad always told me that, "In life, there's time for everything..." and that's how i like to see it, and i should still have quite a few years ahead so, plenty of time for everything.
Well, to start the mojo back up, today i got the raised panel lines on the YF-23 sanded away and i'm back on track with this. Gonna get some more work done tonight.

[TheChronicOne]

Good, good!!  Time to kick that mule! 

Yeah unfurtunately I do... I've taken to getting up earlier and earlier to deal with it. I'm now waking up at 3AM so I can leave out the door at 5... to try to beat the heat. Still having problems.. I always wind up out until about noon or 1PM. PLENTY hot by then but it could be worse.

A lot of days even when I'm feeling optimistic about it... I get home and can't even find the energy to work on my kits. My set up here is less than Ideal so find myself having to get up out of my seat a lot and dig through things and have to go all the way up and down stairs outside and inside and sometimes I just don't want to do all that milarkey. I've had plans in the works for months to revamp my work space and get it all organized and everything within reaching distance but uhh....   yeah not going to happen any time soon now, I'm afraid!

Godspeed on the YF-23..  it's going to look great!  Lookin' like a flyin ninja star!

[DogfighterZen]

Good, good!!  Time to kick that mule! 

Yeah unfurtunately I do... I've taken to getting up earlier and earlier to deal with it. I'm now waking up at 3AM so I can leave out the door at 5... to try to beat the heat. Still having problems.. I always wind up out until about noon or 1PM. PLENTY hot by then but it could be worse.

A lot of days even when I'm feeling optimistic about it... I get home and can't even find the energy to work on my kits. My set up here is less than Ideal so find myself having to get up out of my seat a lot and dig through things and have to go all the way up and down stairs outside and inside and sometimes I just don't want to do all that milarkey. I've had plans in the works for months to revamp my work space and get it all organized and everything within reaching distance but uhh....   yeah not going to happen any time soon now, I'm afraid!

Godspeed on the YF-23..  it's going to look great!  Lookin' like a flyin ninja star!

Bro, sorry for the late reply on this one... Yup, the heat just drains all energy down when you have to do work like we do, only those who've done it for a living know how hard it is to get a rhythm going so you can finish stuff in time when it's so hot... But you know, i prefer doing this than working in an office, store or warehouse. If i'm not modelling or recording songs in the studio, i'd much rather work outdoors, rain or shine.

On the modelling front, i've made some progress today on the flyin ninja star and finally have the parts needed for my idea! And besides that, i also dug out of the stash one of the 2 Italeri F-35 kits, which will also be whif!
And as if it weren't enough for the spare time i have at this time of the year, i've also decided to recover both WWII german fighters that were in my shelves of doom so, 4 models on the bench as of tonight!
I'll probably have some time to work on something this weekend so more news soon to come...

[TheChronicOne]

WELL WELL WELL!!! Feeling mighty bold are we? Wit' all 'ese kits 'n projects 'n 'all'at!     4 at a whack. I'm loving the stuff coming off the shelf of doom. It kinda makes me sad a bit when projects stall out. Been trying to do the same myself. 2 stalled with one "new" project on the bench.

I know what you mean about working outside. Despite the nutty extremes that can happen with the weather...  I'll take it. Indoors stuff either A: Is tolerable, somewhat fun, and won't drive one insane.. or... B: Pays well but is likely to be monotonous and/or repetitive. I can't have either aspect of the latter, despite pay. I've done the prior before, and enjoyed it for the most part, but those don't pay the bills. There are exceptions of course... but yeah, for the most part, I find these things to be true.

Go on and get started with the F-35.... can't wait for the arguments to start on that one. (kidding, I ain't trying to start no riots  )  Let's just say opinions on the F-35 range from one extreme to the other as I'm sure you know!      Personally, when I first saw it, I was like, "whoa, it's a Baby Raptor!" I mean... to the untrained eye, they have similar shapes and all. 

[Rick Lowe]

Although that particular 'Baby Raptor' hit a few branches on the way down out of the Ugly Tree...
But not as many as Boing's X-32...


Is it me, or is it getting hot in here?
Ooh, looky - someone's lit the pilot light...   

"Puttin' out Fires with Gasoline...."

[DogfighterZen]

WELL WELL WELL!!! Feeling mighty bold are we? Wit' all 'ese kits 'n projects 'n 'all'at!     4 at a whack. I'm loving the stuff coming off the shelf of doom. It kinda makes me sad a bit when projects stall out. Been trying to do the same myself. 2 stalled with one "new" project on the bench.

I know what you mean about working outside. Despite the nutty extremes that can happen with the weather...  I'll take it. Indoors stuff either A: Is tolerable, somewhat fun, and won't drive one insane.. or... B: Pays well but is likely to be monotonous and/or repetitive. I can't have either aspect of the latter, despite pay. I've done the prior before, and enjoyed it for the most part, but those don't pay the bills. There are exceptions of course... but yeah, for the most part, I find these things to be true.

Go on and get started with the F-35.... can't wait for the arguments to start on that one. (kidding, I ain't trying to start no riots  )  Let's just say opinions on the F-35 range from one extreme to the other as I'm sure you know!      Personally, when I first saw it, I was like, "whoa, it's a Baby Raptor!" I mean... to the untrained eye, they have similar shapes and all. 

Although that particular 'Baby Raptor' hit a few branches on the way down out of the Ugly Tree...
But not as many as Boing's X-32...


Is it me, or is it getting hot in here?
Ooh, looky - someone's lit the pilot light...   

"Puttin' out Fires with Gasoline...."

Well, i guess i'm in over my head but what the heck, i've had 20 unfinished models before so 4 is not a big deal... And they've been on my mind for quite a while now, might as well just get on with it, right?
Re outdoors work, i can cope with the weather extremes pretty well, when it's cold and wet, it's good to work cause you warm up, and when it's hot and dry, you can get a tan while at work but obviously, keeping yourself hydrated is a must, even if you drink warm water.

Rick, great song by a great musician! You're ok with me, bro, i LMAO with your comment!
The F-35... i really like it despite all the controversy, i believe it's a very advanced fighter and that in time it will become all that was expected of it. And it's so much better looking than the X-32 was, that is an ugly thing... let's just say i think the X-32 is as good looking as a dog's chocolate starfish!!
The F-14/15/16/18 didn't come into service as the machines they became with more time and money... Truth is that new concepts always need time to iron out the problems that always come up in machines that are to do what has never been done before. It's funny that a lot of people said bad things about the F-22 and now it's the best... now it's on the F-35 but i think they forget that these were the first of their kind, with such advanced capabilities... The Russian PAK-FA and Chinese J-20/31 came after the American fighters, and i'm not so sure if they have the same capabilities as the Raptor and Lightning II... Besides, these are in service and their Eastern and Oriental rivals have just come out of prototype stages... I think Americans should value their fighters a bit more, they're breaking new ground and you just can't do that in the current days without spending a lot of money.
Anyway, i like it and i was glad i could buy kits of my favorite version, the F-35C, in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales.
i have plans to build one of the A variant as a future Portuguese fighter, which will replace the PoAF's F-16AM fleet in 2025...
So, i have today's afternoon for myself so modelling is on the list of things to do.

[Rick Lowe]

Glad you liked it, it was more a joke than a serious comment - I mean, I don't like the planes, but I'm not that opinionated that I'll get into an argument about them.

Just stirring the pot and watching the fun... 

[DogfighterZen]

Glad you liked it, it was more a joke than a serious comment - I mean, I don't like the planes, but I'm not that opinionated that I'll get into an argument about them.

Just stirring the pot and watching the fun... 

Although i like the plane's design, i'm with you on that, i'm also not the type of guy to get into arguments over this type of subject, it's the same with music for me, everyone is free to like whatever they like. If i like something, there's not much anyone else can do about it and i'm not going to try to change someone's taste of something like an aircraft's design, but i do admit i sometimes enjoy reading some discussions about this type of thing, when someone stirs things up, it can get pretty hilarious. 
The issue of it being a good plane or not, i have my own opinion about that and i'm not afraid to state it like i did in my previous post, but as i'm nowhere near to being someone "in the know", i'll leave the serious arguments for the keyboard pilots and experts.