The other day I received an email from someone mentioned in the blog, asking me to remove the references to this person, which I duly did. However, it then struck me that it’s been way too long since I last updated my blog!
Anyway, it’s the last Friday of March 2008. My project for the holiday company I’m working for, is proceding nicely, if frustratingly. Still, I aim to have this major part of the project finished before long. My boss, the FD, doesn’t think it will be that, but I know I’m fairly far advanced in the project. Oh well, time will tell!
Now for the more important things in life than money, relationships, etc, yes, models!
Today I worked, for the first time in ages, on my Revell 1/48 F-14D Tomcat. It is really is a large, but crap, kit! For some daft reason there is a mould line down the middle of the fuselage. Unfortunately, I only noticed this after I’d painted (airbrushed) the cockpit. The colour used was a Revell enamel, SM (Silky-Matt) 374, a slightly blueish mid to light grey. Actually, it sprayed on fantastically. I know many don’t like the Revell series, but I think they’re fine, quite nice actually. Now, this isn’t the colour that Revell recommend. However, I had it to hand, it seems to be approximately correct, based on pictures I’ve seen on the internet. Actually, my original choice (I had to overpaint the original) was much darker, although with more blue. Oh yes, I should say, I started this model several years back!
Back to the kit. As I said, I’ve kit has a mould line down the middle, right down the middle of the nose, the cockpit, etc. Well, when I noticed, I tried to sand it, which was a slight error as the paint wasn’t yet dry. Now I just need to wait for the paint to dry, then sand, sand, and sand! Actually, this whole kit is one of those that requires loads of sanding, and, of course, filler. Those air intakes caused me nightmares, and require yet more hours of sanding…
Still, the seat seems to be OK. I used Humbrol enamel 72 for the cushions. Possibly a greener khaki was more accurate, but what I used wasn’t too bad. As for the sides of the seat, Humbrol enamel 67, a very dark grey. I originally painted it a matt black, but it just seemed too black. Looking at a picture of the seat, it seems that maybe a matt black is correct. Hmm, another paint job is due? Be slightly funny to go back to the original colour I used!
The other model I worked on today was an Airfix 1/72 Short Sunderland. Another large, but crap, kit! This time it’s not a kit I started ages, but a more recent one. On the other hand, the kit itself is stamped 1960. One nice touch is that the kit has starboard and port inscriped inside the wings. I guess boys born in the 40’s and 50’s were expected to know such things! Today was just touching up some paint for some internals. For some daft reason, the Humbrol enamel 33 matt black isn’t always matt. I have no idea why, but I’ve gone back to over paint shiny with fresh, hoping it comes out matt this time.
Like the Revell, the Airfix kit has major issues with fit. This time it’s the mainplanes, who’s relationship to the wingroots needed a lot of coaxing, plus filler and sanding. The problem was especially pronounced around the leading edge, where I had to build up, and sand down, to gain consistency. As it is, if looked head on, a slight gull shape has developed. Unfortunately, a lot of detail was lost on the wings, in a half an inch line. Oh well, comes with the kit, losing detail.
Well, getting late, so time for bed. Off to Hannants tomorrow, to swap a whole gaggle of kits (plus, probably, some dosh) for 2 new Airfix 1/48 Canberra B(I)8. Might also get a new Revell F-22 whilst there too! However, the Airfix will not be around long, as just 10,000 are being made… On the other hand, some of the new Nimrods are still floating around, a month after launch. However, the Canberra should be a more popular choice.
