Pellsons Perceivings

[NARSES2]

Nice photo and a foot long Perch is certainly a nice one 

I seem to have gotten away reasonably cheap in comparison to the prettier part of the family who really went down on Wednesday and Thursday, so I guess I shouldn't be complaining too loudly. And most of us are much better already. In particular the kids, obviously.. 

I always found it "interesting" comparing my better half's re-action to me having a cold and my expected re-action to her having one 

[Pellson]

It's strange, really - I'm well over fifty and still I find Monday mornings being properly awful. It just gets harder by the week to get yourself up and going after the weekend. You would think things would improve with age and practice, but not so much, I'm afraid. Annoying. And I tend to stay grumpy until well after lunch, which doesn't improve anything.

Anyway - having sorted a few professional issues before lunch I actually found some inspiration again and got back to the Shack. I have more or less finished the wings and also decided on stabilators and fin. Some minor design left in the vertical part, but I think it's coming along nicely. Issues left to ponder is how to build the MAD boom and also whether to extend the 16 prop tips or not. The blades could do with slightly longer blades, on one hand, but on the other it's a tedious job making 16 pieces, and I also fear it's a recipe for disaster as I think it's going to be very easy to break a propeller while working on it.

So I'm applying the thoroughly tried and tested method of putting that decision aside and doing something else. That tail boom, f.i. And when that's done, the rest of the tail with the stabilators and the fin. Getting the general shape up usually triggers me enough to move on with the more difficult parts as well.

Sourcing parts for the Shack, I took out an old build that I once intended to convert to a French MPA. However, the kit was originally built in my youth and OOB, and I didn't do a very good job with it, so having given it some serious thought a few years ago, I decided to replace it entirely and bought another example of the same kit - that just got stowed away as they so often do. But seeing the old wreck made me think I might just get away with another MPA build in the R&S GB, so maybe I'll dig it out tomorrow and see if I feel like getting on with it.

It's good to feel inspired. But it's annoying when that same inspiration keeps you awake at night..

[NARSES2]

It's strange, really - I'm well over fifty and still I find Monday mornings being properly awful. It just gets harder by the week to get yourself up and going after the weekend. You would think things would improve with age and practice, but not so much, I'm afraid.

Tell me about it  I was one of the lucky ones and managed to get early retirement at 55, got out the day before "we" were taken over and the firm's decline accelerated 

[Pellson]

Another week is ending, and with it, the summer goes too, also from a calendar perspective. In Sweden, September is seen as the first month of autumn, when leaves gain colour, the air gets cold, clear and high, and eventually, autumn storms with heavy rain will wash away the final memories of our short but sweet summer.

Celebrating the waning summer, the local town hosts an annual (well, with an exception for last year, obviously) medieval festival where anyone can participate. You just dress back some 600 years, and then your good to go. There's a pop up market selling anything from armpit to candy, and obviously lots of more or less period correct clothing and paraphernalia.



Also, there's musicians, jesters and jokers, and if you're really lucky, you'll come a cross a magician who'll amuse and amaze you equally.
In the evening, there's usually one or two lunatics going berserk with fire, which really sets the atmosphere, and you shouldn't forget the barbecues going on everywhere. Quite a few people actually camp out, living in tents, mainly out of woollen felt, doing everything "in period", and it's good fun just strolling around, watching and taking in the smells and sounds of people singing and telling stories.



Mostly, the festival seems to have good luck with the weather, but this year - not so much. It's basically been pouring down throughout and the "live gang" have suffered for it. Nevertheless, probably due to people longing for their old prepandemic amusements, they've stuck to it, and so did we, even if we're just dressing up for a few hours, visiting. And it is good fun indeed!



So not much room for modelling, you would think. And you would be correct. Still I found some time to sneak away, making some headway. More of that in the project thread, once I get to write it.

[kerick]

No archery or axe throwing competition?

[NARSES2]

Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves 

[Pellson]

No archery or axe throwing competition?

Loads. And "viking wrestling" added to that. 

[NARSES2]

No archery or axe throwing competition?

Loads. And "viking wrestling" added to that. 

Ah so lots of pig grease involved ? 

[Rheged]

No archery or axe throwing competition?

Loads. And "viking wrestling" added to that. 

Ah so lots of pig grease involved ? 

It's more or less the same as Cumberland Wrestling..........the Vikings introduced it (so it is said) in about 800  AD, and the locals took it up in a big way .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_and_Westmorland_wrestling

[Pellson]

This week is moving frighteningly fast, and it seems to be all about logistics. Driving kids to and fro schools, sports, orchestras and God knows what, and on top of that, some work. The Landy has done more than 450 km only this week, and it's just Thursday.

However, I also, finally, managed to get my second COVID-19-jab. At last!! Now, in two weeks, I'll actually be able to lower my guard somewhat for the first time in over a year and a half. It's actually a quite surreal feeling.

What about modelling, then? We'll - I have actually done a little more on the Shackleton. Most if not all of the antennae are on and finally, even those troublesome turboprop exhausts are done. The latter took a lot of thinking and trying on, and the first idea I had didn't feel right, so I have redone it all over again and now it's better. Good, even. I think.
As I write I am listening to a seminar from the Swedish electric TSO (yes, it's boring) and at the same time finalising some sanding on the Shackleton. Maybe, I'll even start some painting later today. And also maybe, I'll start another MPA build, as we still are in the R&S GB.

[Pellson]

Not really being able to decide on the final touches on the Shackleton, I diverted my attention to a rather long overdue matter - decalling the Valiant tanker. While I'm pretty chuffed that I at last got around to do it, it took more time than I anticipated, almost two full hours. But it was well worth it!
The juice Valiant now looks great, the idea I had for "nose art" worked out better than anticipated and so did the underside tanker dayglo decals I nicked from the future Oz Victor.
Now the decals are drying, and tomorrow, I plan to seal them in under a layer of J&J and then, once that's dry, a final matt coat. And then that's it. I think.

Good fun getting this step done. Now, some Mandalorian catch up. Then bed.

[NARSES2]

I always find that transfers are the part of a build that brings a project to life. Even what is looking a fairly dull build can suddenly spring to life with its markings.

[Pellson]

J&J on, but then something made me get stuck on that all Valiants but the anti flash white ones had an anti glare panel in front of the cockpit. At first I thought I would be able to give it a miss, with reference to that white scheme, but having gotten it into my mind, it kind of nagged me while I gave the Shackleton a first coating, so now the Valiant has a toned down DSG panel to match the hemp over LAG scheme. I had to paint it freehand, which meant four rounds of corrections to the demarcation.

Yes, I know only an imperfect mind will worry about demarcations, but so shoot me. Now it's there, and it looks good.

Matt varnish on top tomorrow.

I really need to set up a project/aircraft thread, don't I?

[NARSES2]

Yes, I know only an imperfect mind will worry about demarcations, but so shoot me. Now it's there, and it looks good.

Glad I'm not the only one 

I really need to set up a project/aircraft thread, don't I?

Yes you do 

[Pellson]

So.

The Valiant tanker is actually done! And I'm really happy with it. The goal, already from the start, was to build a late service tanker, as if the Victor tankers never had happened, and now we're there. With a twist, even, as that nose art I found really enhances the full appearance.

The Shackleton is also moving along, despite the summer weather we currently are experiencing. After some mulling and a little help from my friends (thanks, Alastair) I've finally decided on arming her with Martel missiles, and to put the control antenna on the fin top. Accordingly, I needed a fin top pod for the antenna (and maybe some ESM/ECM stuff) so I went to the stash and dug out both a Nimrod and an Atlantic to get some ideas for shapes. Having them out, next step was raiding the spare bin (subsection: drop tanks) to find some suitable pod raw material. An hour later, I had cut down the fin somewhat to accompany the pod, glued it on and removed it again because it looked just wrong. Some more comparing, thinking and fixing, and yet another hour later, the Fin Pod mk II was glued on. And now it looks good.

If I can get to it tomorrow, I'll try to paint the pod, the radar and maybe also start on the red-white-red propeller tips. While not lo-vis per se, those are pretty important for safety, so I think they'll stay even if the rest of the markings will be toned down. Plus that they will break up the novemberish feeling of the rest of the model.

It's been a good build so far, that Shackleton, and I've had lots of fun. But I'm not so sure that I'll go for a second R&S GB build after all. Time is running out, and I can even now feel some light stress for not getting the Shackleton ready in time, and one of the main reasons for modelling at all is to NOT stress. Plus i feel it has become something of a "lock-in" in just that R&S subject, which also isn't how I build.

But now - kip time!