Pellsons Perceivings

[kerick]

Thanks, getting stronger by the day.

[Pellson]

I just spent 11 days at University of Chicago Hospital so I can tell you, be nice to the nurses and they'll be nice to you!

Just home and you're right - keep the nurses happy and they'll sort you nicely.
Actually having longed back to the building table, the first thing I managed to do was breaking off a pitot tube. Of course. Well - since that's kind of business as usual anyway, I'm not fretting. Just raiding my spare part bins to see if there's something that can be used.

[Pellson]

Time moves on, and so far, so good. I'm feeling reasonably good, under the circumstances, and so far every day is better than the last.

While I've only made some minor modelling, I managed to almost complete a backstory for a model that's been sitting around incomplete for a while. There's still lots of modelling work to do, but I go where my lust takes me, and now I felt like writing. It's good fun, actually, especially reading up on what actually happened in the period you write about, making your story slot in nicely.

As far as building goes, I rummaged through my boxes to find a Storm Shadow ECM pod for use on a strike aircraft that's ready for decalling. I found one. Or actually - I found four. But three of them need a bit of work, and being the easily distracted animal I am, naturally I went all ahead sorting them out. That wasn't really panned, as it's delayed actually getting something off the table for once. But they're shaping up nicely, and there's always some bomber needing one.  I could use the odd BOZ pod to go with them, though.

While looking for BOZ pods, I happened to come across another Tornado, this time a Luftwaffe one. It's actually my first Tornado, so we'll over 30 years old by now, but I like it despite being the thick-arsed Italeri one. But it does need a refurbishment as many decals have fallen off and the paint scheme is simply wrong. And having gotten that thought in my head, I suddenly found myself googling the different German Norm camouflages. Unfortunately, I'm low on RAL-to-Humbrol conversion charts, which is annoying as I have a few Luftwaffe aircraft both to build and to paint, so any tips here would be very much appreciated, in particular the green Norm 83 and the oh-so-pretty Norm 81 multi role camo.

But let's see if I can get back to actually get the current RAF stream off the building table first.

[NARSES2]

Time moves on, and so far, so good. I'm feeling reasonably good, under the circumstances, and so far every day is better than the last.

Good to read. There's a lot of people on this Planet who'd settle for that, hope things continue to improve 

[Rheged]

Time moves on, and so far, so good. I'm feeling reasonably good, under the circumstances, and so far every day is better than the last.

That is very good to see!!

[Dizzyfugu]

Unfortunately, I'm low on RAL-to-Humbrol conversion charts, which is annoying as I have a few Luftwaffe aircraft both to build and to paint, so any tips here would be very much appreciated, in particular the green Norm 83 and the oh-so-pretty Norm 81 multi role camo.

The green Norm '83 consists of RAL 6003 (use Humbrol 86, or a slightly lightened 117 ), FS 34079 (Humbrol 116) and RAL 7021 (Humbrol 67).

Norm '81 consisted of RAL 7012 (Humrol 79 comes close, but Revell 77 is authentic), RAL 6014 (no true Humbrol equivalent; 163 may work, but needs more yellow or some Dark Earth; the tone is an olive drab, darker than 155 and more yellow-ish than 116; Revell 46 is the correct tone) and again RAL 7021 (see above).

[Pellson]

Norm '81 consisted of RAL 7012 (Humrol 79 comes close, but Revell 77 is authentic), RAL 6014 (no true Humbrol equivalent; 163 may work, but needs more yellow or some Dark Earth; the tone is an olive drab, darker than 155 and more yellow-ish than 116; Revell 46 is the correct tone) and again RAL 7021 (see above).

Norm 81 seems to be quite mysterious. HaHen decals lists six colours, but Don Color lists seven. And comparing the colour sheets/paint tins to photos, they both seem a bit on the dark side. Or am I just imagining?





Above said, I really appreciate your tips. I might need to source some Revell tins as well.

[Dizzyfugu]

Ah, you referred to the F-4F - I thought you were takling about the Tornado and its early three-color scheme. The Phantom's scheme is a complex beast, and there were variants in colors and shapes, but there's hope:

RAL 7001 ~ Humbrol 127; Revell 374 is supposed to be authentic
RAL 7009* = Revell 67 (authentic). There's no real Humbrol equivalent, RLM71 from WWII comes very close - Humbrol 30 is a start, but it is much too bluish and harsh, and too dark, too. Maybe add some 126 and even little 168. Other close but not-matching options are 31 and 78
RAL 7012 ~ Humbrol 79 (very close), Revell 77 would be authentic
RAL 7030 = Revell 75 (authentic), Humbrol 141 came close but it is OOP. 64 might be an option, maybe with a little 168 (Hemp) added - this grey tone has a brownish/sand hue!
RAL 7035 = Humbrol 196 (authentic)
RAL 7037 ~ Humbrol 106, but should be lighter
RAL 7039 ~ Humbrol 92, but it's OOP. Maybe 106 with alittle 168 works - again, this grey has a brownish hue.

*The HaHen indication of RAL 7005 is AFAIK wrong, and the Don Color profile shows wrong colors; these should be RAL 7001 and 7035, but there were many variations and inconsistencies.

If you can get hold of them, Xtracolor also offers many RAL tones as enamels.

[PR19_Kit]

Splinter camouflage still lives! 

[Pellson]

Ah, you referred to the F-4F - I thought you were takling about the Tornado and its early three-color scheme. The Phantom's scheme is a complex beast, and there were variants in colors and shapes, but there's hope:

RAL 7001 ~ Humbrol 127; Revell 374 is supposed to be authentic
RAL 7009* = Revell 67 (authentic). There's no real Humbrol equivalent, RLM71 from WWII comes very close - Humbrol 30 is a start, but it is much too bluish and harsh, and too dark, too. Maybe add some 126 and even little 168. Other close but not-matching options are 31 and 78
RAL 7012 ~ Humbrol 79 (very close), Revell 77 would be authentic
RAL 7030 = Revell 75 (authentic), Humbrol 141 came close but it is OOP. 64 might be an option, maybe with a little 168 (Hemp) added - this grey tone has a brownish/sand hue!
RAL 7035 = Humbrol 196 (authentic)
RAL 7037 ~ Humbrol 106, but should be lighter
RAL 7039 ~ Humbrol 92, but it's OOP. Maybe 106 with alittle 168 works - again, this grey has a brownish hue.

*The HaHen indication of RAL 7005 is AFAIK wrong, and the Don Color profile shows wrong colors; these should be RAL 7001 and 7035, but there were many variations and inconsistencies.

If you can get hold of them, Xtracolor also offers many RAL tones as enamels.

Magnificent!!  Thanks!

Re Tornados - I assume you were discussing Norm 76? I had too google it, though, but on the upside, this Tornado SIG page has a pretty good conversion chart as well, but not covering the F-4F/Norm 81

[Dizzyfugu]

Yep, that's the Tonka livery I was originally referring to.

[Pellson]

I think spring is here, actually. I no longer have to dress full Mr Michelin Man to go outside, and as I'm sitting here in my sofa, relaxing, I can hear quite a lot of different birds singing their hearts out outside our windows.

As too often, my mind moves a lot faster than my builds do. It's hard to keep focus - I often find myself wanting to build something quite different to what's actually on my table at the moment, but if I give in, the queue of unfinished - but still wanted - projects keep getting longer yet.
Considering that, I've decided to put the VC10 to one side for a bit, focusing on that Tornado interceptor and the two Anglo-French strike bombers that basically need decals and loadout and not much more. You would think that would be a quick affair, but I find it hard to get started with decals. Don't know why, but.. 

Also, I have a big red Airfix box lying around with a Valiant destined to become a tanker inside. A Valiant tanker is actually an old idea, so allow me to take you back to 2016 when I first bought my Valiant kit.
Originally, the plan was to build a K.2, i.e a tanker based on the reinforced, extended B.2 bomber we all know so well. To that end, when ordering the kit from big H, I also got an AiM conversion kit. Additionally, with a little help from my friends (you know who you are) I was able to get hold of a pair of Mk 20 refuelling pods from an old Matchbox Victor K.2. All kitted up, I went to work, building the cockpit and fuselage, including extension, and installing the wings before stalling on those Tupolev landing gear pods, you know. To fit them, you need to chop a big chunk out of each wing. Scary. So I lost traction and the Valiant project has been sitting on the Shelf of Doom ever since.

Much later, in another fit of distraction, I came to read up on the Valiant, and I realised that the real BK.1 tankers were a bit short on power when fully laden, and their fuel capacity wasn't even that big. Added to that, the production B.2 was to be powered by the much thrustier RR Conway, but without really major freehand rebuild of the wings, the Airfix kit simply just won't allow bigger power plants than Avon's. Hence, even if I could whif-replace the 10,500 lb Avon 200-series with somewhat more punchy 300-series Avon's (but without the afterburners, of course), making a tanker out of the structurally stronger and thus heavier Mk 2 was not going to be optimal as it wouldn't be able to save as much weight for payload as a similarly powered Mk 1. Accordingly, the stalled K.2 project has become a B.2 project, but obviously somewhat updated. So now it's my half built B.2A that's waiting for me to dare to chop in to its wings.
However, disregarding the conversion kit (which in all honesty isn't that bad, it's just me being a chicken) the original Airfix kit is really nice. As someone (Alastair?) recently wrote - the newer Airfix kits really just fall together in a very stressless way. Good old fashioned no fuss building, but with a much better and tighter result. So far, I think the Valiant kit is a good example of exactly this.

While leaving the K.2 aside, the Valiant tanker idea as such is too nice to let go of. But you would need a solution to the famous fatigue issue.
As we now know, the Valiant wing spar problem was more a material issue than a design issue, at least if you planned to operate at altitude rather than in the more turbulent layers below, and as we also now know, the Hastings transports, suffering from similar issues, were rebuilt and served well for many years to come. So, obviously, I will have my Valiants resparred.
Having sorted that (and gotten those more powerful Avon's) we need to address the power/weight ratio also from the other end. Looking at the American KC-135, already from the start, they often flew with a crew of three only, in comparison to the five in a Valiant. Keeping a seat for the navigator, I figure I at least can throw out one seat, saving some 200 lb, at least. Also, accepting the Valiant as mainly a fighter extender, a bit like the VC10 C.1(K), I think I can dispose of the rather heavy Mk 17 HDU, replacing it with a pair of lighter Mk 20 pods despite them having less flow rate.
Finally, rather than just hanging up an improvised fuel tank in the existing bomb bay, I would assume that by throwing all bomb related stuff out, including the doors and associated mechanisms, I could probably save quite a few pounds, rather installing a bigger but lighter permanent fuel tank, then adding a few gallons to that somewhat limited real world transferable fuel. Most likely, in reality, the gains would be negligible, but hey - this is whif world.

Accordingly, I went out hunting for a second kit, finding it a while ago. It's now all but preassembly painted, and if I get too uninspired to decal or paint, this is ready for some glueing. And to be honest, I'm happiest when building.

But thinking of tankers as such has meant that I have come to look at further options. One of those is a Comet C.4(K), analogue to the VC10 C.1(K) that came later. I have the Mach 2 Comet and I think a FR probe from an Airfix Javelin  will fit nicely over the cockpit. However, I need a second set of refuelling pods, either from a Victor or a VC10. Should anyone have anything useful lying around, I'm happy to buy. Just saying..

Tomorrow, I have to work a few hours, in spite of formally being on sick leave, so maybe not much hobby time tomorrow. But there's more days ahead.

[NARSES2]

So many ideas, so little time  The motto of the What Iffer   

[Pellson]

Well - I actually managed to stick the instrument panel decals on the Valiant K.1 dash and also paint the yokes today, despite work. Now, it's totally ready to assemble. I've even moved the fr pods from the B.2 box to the K.1 box, just to keep things in one place.

When having the decal stuff out, I also dug out those strike bombers, looking for similar warning stencils in two languages. Might have found some, but just as I planned to have a go, my significantly better half called out dinner. Ah, well.. 
On the other hand, the forecast for tomorrow looks modelling friendly, and I didn't remove my decalling tools, so maybe. Just maybe..

[TheChronicOne]

Progress!!   Very good. Maybe I'll join you tomorrow in spirit and try to get something done on my project, too. It's Saturday, after all!