Chronic's Research and Aeronautics Project (C.R.A.P.)

[TheChronicOne]

BLOVIATING? 

From Wikipedia.  Bloviation is a style of empty, pompous political speech popularized by United States President Warren G. Harding, who, himself a master of the technique, described it as "the art of speaking for as long as the occasion warrants, and saying nothing".  The verb "to bloviate" is the act of creating bloviation. In terms of its etymology, according to one source, the word is a "compound of blow, in its sense of 'to boast' (also in another typical Americanism, blowhard), with a mock-Latin ending to give it the self-important stature implicit in its meaning."

  This is one of those fun words to use. It can be used sort of passive aggressively, it can be used as self-deprecation like I do when I'm embarrassed about rambling too much, etc.  Definitely describes politicians. I like to say that some people talk a lot but never say anything. 

[TheChronicOne]

Ahem... bump. I didn't want to lose this post to the page turn because I'm curious about what others think about the whole color issue.

I tend to be a colour person I must admit. The Me 109 I'm currently finishing came with 3 very attractive schemes in the box, but I chose the one which was both slightly unusual and quite attractive, to my eyes at least. It was a close call, but the other scheme that attracted me is also offered, or at least a similar one is, in AZ's boxing of the Me 109 K14, so I'll do that one from that boxing 

Ah ha!!! Thank you for the rumination. It's a determining factor and part of what helped the decision along. I imagine there are many others that couldn't care less and would choose based on other factors. 

It's sort of like having a sports team you like for no other reason than the colors of their uniforms whereas the next person likes the sports team because of players and stats.

[TheChronicOne]

Had some mishaps with my Gunship build today.      I tried unmasking and found that all that stuff was buried under so much paint and stuff that it was rather futile. Once again, I resorted to the kit decals to save the day! 

The obvious question is, "Why didn't you just use those to begin with?"  The answer to that is that I didn't pay much attention to the decal sheet because I knew I was making my own custom livery. Next, I ordered window masks and used them thus going with the clear windows option. Next I painted everything. Finally, I looked at the decal sheet. "Oh, how nice, they gave me all the windows if I needed them."  The lesson I learned here is that next time I will investigate my window options much earlier in the process.

For an update.. I have all the windows on now and have started work on the landing gear. I'm using GEL CA and it's taking forever to dry so I've stopped short of finishing the build and reaping the glory. I only have TWO things left to glue on..... the main gear doors. If I try to do them now, though, it'll disturb the alignment of the gear so I'm going to just wait a couple more days so it can dry, THEN I'll enjoy the glorious feeling of being done with a build and showing it to everyone. 

[NARSES2]

Sounds like it's one of those kits that's determined to make you work ? 

[TheChronicOne]

Every time to I do something civilian it turns into a bigger war than any death-dealing machine I could model in the military realm.       I swear, for something that is technically much cleaner, smoother, aerodynamic, etc (not having to carry all the extra what's-its like weapons and sesnors, etc.) there's a level of difficulty beyond.

Also, I've been moving really slowly lately because of work and the weather. Kind of a lazy type of build pace but it suits me when I'm tired.    I get more TV watching and internetting done than modelling but slowly over time everything comes together.

Speaking of.... when I get home from work tomorrow, I will only have two things left to do: glue on the two gear doors and then glue on the props which *I* think is the fun part so hadn't really added it to my list of "work." Should be less than 5 minutes to do this. Would have finished last night but that blasted glue wasn't drying worth a crap. I guess that's the consequence of gel. Still, I don't mind waiting... the way these gear are constructed, while accurate, is NOT very good concerning strength and weight dispersal. Rather than connected directly to the airframe, the gear sit outside of it and are connected by lateral struts. Much weaker. ANYWAY... it'll be damn well dry by tomorrow.    Well worth waiting a day or two to ensure I'm not having to go back and fix it or have drooping gear. 

[TheChronicOne]

Update to that! I finished it today. Had to re-organize the work schedule a little and find myself with some free time and I'll have some more tomorrow as well. Joy! I'm not upset. I've paid my bills and bought my groceries, I can stand stay out of this heat a few days. It's right around 100 right now and very humid. It is REALLY uncomfortable outside and makes me feel terrible. 

So anyhow... I finished the Gunship and I think it turned out really nice.













There's a bunch more pictures over in the thread for it in the Aircraft section of current/finished builds forum.

https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=46169.msg847801#msg847801


So anyhow... now I'm trying to file down the Miliput that I used to fill in the gap on my lengthened engines for my 737-200 Advanced. What a pain in me arse! !!    I came to the conclusion that I need a Dremel tool. I'll have to pick one up soon. Next time around I'll use a different method. I was sort of forced into using extra putty to keep it crammed into the gap. Next time I will fill much more of this gap with actual styrene so that I'm not having a blob that doesn't want to sit still making things rough.

Since I'm very close to giving up on that project I guess I'll work on my wee F-4 Phantom flying for B-Cal.    Not sure were I left off but I glanced at it earlier and it needs a bit more blue paint on the tail area then I THINK I need to merely mask that off and spray it with white as I appear to have masked everything else off already including the PITA area around the nozzels. 

Fighting the urge to go ahead and start a Tristar.......       I have to wait to start my ridiculous Caravelle project so I can put it in the GB so it's time to come up with something to do. It's also time to start another military something or other because unless I'm having amnesia I think this F-4 and 737 are the only projects right now and both are airliners.  Maybe I'll go on a kit-dive later and see what strikes my fancy.....   

[TheChronicOne]

Moving on... 

I've removed the masking from my little F-4 and the stuff on the horizontal stabs is crooked!!! I think it's just one side so I'm going to have to mask and re-paint some of the blue to fix it. Pretty disappointing. I though I followed the panel line but it doesn't really matter now, I just need to fix it.  I also finished the rest of the painting; the landing gear and the drop tanks. I just need to clear the gear ( ) then that stuff is ready to go for final build phase.

Now the fun part!! I like to have a little bit of everything going.....  An airliner build, a military build, and a what-if build. Some overlap can occur, of course, but I want to have all elements. So, the next builds I've decided on so far a PSA Tristar and an F-111. This satisfies both the airliner and military parts. The what-if part will be the stretch Caravelle I start in a couple weeks so that makes a well rounded diet of model building. 

Here's my F-111 stuff:








The Tristar is of course in 1/144 and is the Airfix serving with ten trillion doors.



I need to get the decals still but I have them sourced. I'm also thinking about making the lounge for this as a separate piece.   

This is my attempt to graduate from "Airliner Academy" and go to larger aircraft. Although, I've learned that just because the model is smaller in size and has less parts that DOES NOT mean it is easier. Sure, the larger models will have more repetition but the principles are all the same. Now that I've a few smaller airliner builds under my belt and that I've learned some things, it's time for ~WIDE BODY~.  Hell yeah.    Not only that, but this satisfies me recent ruminations about building something with pink in it.



Look how happy she is!     

[Old Wombat]

Dremels are good but you have to be careful with them as they tend to melt, rather than cut/grind, plastic if you're not.

I have a 3000 & it cuts/grinds through plastic fast, even on its slowest setting, but I'm forever having to clean up melted plastic around the worked area, even when I am careful.

I've been told the battery operated ones are better for our hobby, as you run the battery down on them before using them, so the rotation speed is slower & less likely to melt the plastic you're trying to cut/grind.

Hope that helps you in your decision.

[TheChronicOne]

Thanks!!  I'm just needing it to grind away some Milliput. Just enough so that my cadre of files become viable again. I'm going to keep out of the plastic all together if I can... I just need to whittle away some of this bulk putty that doesn't involve flaring up a dormant carpal tunnel syndrome event. 

So, next means I need a recommendation; could you point me in the direction of one of these battery operated tools? Sounds perfect for what I'm doing and I have tons of mostly and half drained batteries. 

[Old Wombat]

Couldn't tell you where to get them in the US but these are ones you might look at;

7000 Alkaline Cordless Rotary Tool

7300 MiniMite Cordless

7700 7.2V Rotary Tool

8050-N/18 Micro 8V Max Tool Kit


I have an older version of this: 3000 Variable Speed Rotary Tool

[zenrat]

My (mains powered) dremmel has a speed control built into it.
I recommend getting one of the flexible shafts.  Trying to achieve fine control is hard when you have a motor spinning in the thing you are trying to control - gyro forces tend to fight you.

[Old Wombat]

My (mains powered) dremmel has a speed control built into it.

Yeah, so does mine but at 5,000rpm it's still melting plastic unless I'm ve-ery careful!

[NARSES2]

Gunship's come out very well mate 

[TheChronicOne]

Couldn't tell you where to get them in the US but these are ones you might look at;

7000 Alkaline Cordless Rotary Tool

7300 MiniMite Cordless

7700 7.2V Rotary Tool

8050-N/18 Micro 8V Max Tool Kit


I have an older version of this: 3000 Variable Speed Rotary Tool

Marvelous!! I love the idea of battery powered, no fiddling with cords and as much as I would use it, shouldn't have to change batteries very often. Thanks!!!!!

[TheChronicOne]

Gunship's come out very well mate 

Thanks, bruh!!! I'm thrilled with it!! It doesn't seem to be very popular on the whole but I build for ME, damnit!    I love it!