I’ve made what’s probably the right decision, and am splitting off the modelling section of my ramblings to a new blog, called Glacial Modeller.  It’s at glacialmodeller.wordpress.com, so, if you’re into reading about my modelling, or lack of modelling, have a look there!

Other than that, I’m going to start adding links, the first one being for the fiat forum.   Look forward to my, hopefully, writing a bit more in the future!

I had a crazy plan to build all the rocket powered aircraft that existed. It all started when I began to build a Tamiya X-1, but also found I had a PM DFS 194, a Pavla Me-163S (bought cheaply), and a Heller Natter BA-349 (2 actually, from double sets of Heller BA-349 & FI-103A). So, I headed down to Hannant’s London, and bought some more kits, in this instance: a Condor Me-163A; a Special Hobby Me-263; and an Academy Me-163B.

So, the Me-163, Komet (hence the joke in the title) makes the centre piece of the range. I could also have obtained an X-1E, and I believe the X-1D, but decided that just the one was enough. So, 7 kits (8 if I built 2 of the Natters) it is to be!

The Tamiya is a lovely kit, one that just about falls together! It’s a little weird, as the interior doesn’t touch the interior wall. However, it’s a lovely interior! Even the undercarriage is a dream. I still have to finish painting the canopy. Actually, there’s no reason not to finish it, as it’a quite easy!

The PM model has only a few parts, and, bar a little work around the instrument panel, is OK. OK also means basic though! Still, it has the right outline. Not sure how accurate it has to be said, but hey, when there’s no choice, there’s no choice! The only problem is the canopy. What a pain! Aside from the crack in the canopy (nearly all in the non-clear section), it’s a real paint to mask. I’ve done most of it, but some parts, towards the front are giving me grief. Sometimes modelling can cease to be fun. This isn’t yet at this point, but it’s getting that way! However, with just a bit more to be done, I’ll finish it. Interior is RLM02, but needs to be recoated as the Xtracolor is satin, and I need flat. I’ll use Color of Eagles RLM02, as I’ve been using it elsewhere. It’s a tad thin, being a Valejo pre-mixed paint, but it brushes OK. I painted on some kind of lap belt. Bit daft, but under that tiny canopy should look fine.

I’ve built the Academy Me-163 B or Me-163S (same kit, but with options for either version). OK, the B was the production version, and the S was the 2 seater trainer version, in case you were wondering! Anyhow, the Academy kit is a full production injection moulded kit, to the usual high Academy standards. That means a lovely detailed interior, everything fitting properly, a quality canopy. There is some discussion on some of the forums about the accuracy of the rear of the cockpit, behind the pilot, in the glassed off area. I have examined pictures (but, to my discredit, not gone to the my local museum, which has one!) and yes, there should be a blanking plate, which is missing. However, it’s a pretty damn nice kit! Interior is RLM66, for which I used Humbrol no.66. Say what you want about Humbrol enamels, they still produce a lovely finish. Yes, you waste a fair bit in mixing, but you must well mix them. Straps, for the panel sides, are pale yellowish in colour. I first tried to use Humbrol 250 Stone, but it looks daft, so I used (I believe) 103, which looks much better. It may have been 71, but I don’t think so. Dry brushing the interior really helps! Need to pick out the head cushion still, and thence some belts. I’m using strips of excess metal from photo-etched sets. Colour is Humbrol 113. A picture I have shows the belts (from the Me-163A) in this colour. Another instructions say to use a more brown colour, but, ah well, seems OK! Already glued in the ‘bridge’ behind the pilot.

The Pavla Me-163S is interesting, simply because one can compare this to the Academy offering, as both are the same item (if one takes the S route with the Academy kit). However, after building the cockpit halves, including the photo-etch (PE) bits (side instrument panels, seat belts, and pedals) and even some stretch sprue for the pedal rods, I found that I simply couldn’t get the halves to fit within the fuselage. Really annoying after painting the PE so much! OK, painted the insides RLM 66 using Humbrol 67, with the belts in red-brown, using Humbrol 113. The wheels were painted in red.

The Condor ME-163A is next. A very weird kit. There is PE, but this PE does not include seat belts (I made my own simple ones, with painted buckles, using some excess material from some other PE), but does include pedals. As the pedals can’t actually be seen from outside, it’s weird! The fuselage is split down the middle, front to back, across the top and bottom, which is not usual (in fact, unique) for Komets, as I’ve seen. The cockpit itself is very basic. No sidewalls (which are a distinctive feature of Komets), a basic seat, a lovely set of pedals, and an instrument panel with PE front, and film backing. This kit is very difficult to build, and has been abandoned. Basically, getting everything to fit didn’t quite work. Possibly it was partially my own fault, but really, the fit is awful. Also, with that awful cockpit (oh yes, what a weird way to attach it, with part touching the headrest, and part resting on the nose), just not worth it, so, it’s gone!

The third of the short run kits is the Special Hobby ME-263, an updated version of the 163, but with proper landing gear and more range (the 163 had skids, and a very short range). Just the prototype flew, but it did fly! For some reason, my kit had a scratch in the plastic, on top of the fuselage. However, this aside, the kit has, so far, gone together nicely. The diagrams for the undercarriage bay are confusing. Basically, the artist showed the items back to front, so you can see which way they go, but, you must have the detail pointing outwards, not inwards, as the diagram shows!!! The kit contains PE, film, and resin, as well as the kit itself, so, quite comprehensive. For the red-brown I used Humbrol 113 again, with the rest in Humbrol 94 (I think!). Although from the same family of companies as Pavla and Condor (or, is it just distributors, not too sure), the quality is far higher. This is still, excuse the pun, a flyer. Interior is my usual RLM02, from Color of Eagles.

That just leaves the Heller kits, but more on those later!

My last blog post was ‘Changing gear’, which, for it’s time, was quite correct.  Actually, maybe that’s the point of blogs, that they reflect how you are, or what you’re up to, at the time.  I guess in that sense, it’s quite correct.  However, things move on, and so, I’d better write a new post, as, otherwise, the wrong impression can be given.

The gear one is in is a reflection of where one is, at that point in time.  4 Weeks ago I was tired.  I’d been working for 7 months, with no real breaks, doing a job which had bored me.  Whilst the job was near home, and paid reasonably well, it wasn’t satisfying, leading me to the point of exhaustion.  There were some moments of high stress, but, usually, it was fine.   However, worse than this, I had pushed myself to be something more.  Thus, 4 weeks ago, I was tired, exhausted, and a little emotional.

Into this mix came a few girls who wanted to see me.  Frankly, I was tired, I had reached the end of this path, had run out of steam, and needed a break.  I just said that I didn’t have the capability to see someone, to give myself over to a relationship, or, more so, a new relationship.

However, over the past few weeks something has happened.  I have relaxed, and found my energy returning.  Already people are noticing that my smile has returned, and I’m not as intense as I was then.  For work, I’m taking a different approach.  Without realising it, I’m realising what I want in my next contract.  It’s not being near home, so I can run away at 5pm.  It’s not short hours, or easy work.  Rather, it’s being more accepting of where I am, of being more relaxed, and not always worrying about the next contract, or what it’s doing for my career.

A by product of this has been that I’m now energised enough to get back into the dating game.  In fact, I was off JDate for a while, around 6 weeks I think, but I’m now back on, and have met a lovely new girl.  You may recall the girl I mentioned before, well, she’s met someone, and, whilst I still like her, I know it’s never going to be more than as friends.  You might say: but meet her first!  Actually I did, and spent a nice afternoon with her, and whilst she’s still a lovely girl, the chemistry wasn’t there to go further.  So, let’s see how things pan out with this new girl.  So far, it all seems great, but let’s see.

Speaking of contracts, it has been a little depressing that it’s been 4 weeks, with no offers (bar one silly one), but that’s the nature of being a contractor!  Still, I live in hope, and reasonable hope I’ll be working in the next week or so.  A couple of interviews Monday should sort things out, maybe!

Just a short round-up, more next time!

Lisa Jewell is styled as the queen of ‘Chick-Lit’, that is, literature written for a primarily female audience.  However, her books tend to cross over into other realms, and go beyond the usual chick-lit formula.  This book, 31 Dream Street, is more mainstream chick-lit than some of her other books, but still has enough in it to satisfy a more demanding audience, as well as appealing to many men, myself included.

The plot is fairly simple, and one that could be easily, and quickly, worked out.  Obviously there are some twists, but it’s a fairly good read.  The characterisations are, as normal for Jewell, good, if a little too convenient at times.  That is, people fell in love (or lust?) with just the right people.  Still, it is a good read.  Most twists, and surprises, occurred right at the end, when the story, which had just began to plod, suddenly picked up it’s skirts and flew.

The one great problem with 31 Dream Street is that it will be judged in terms of Jewell’s previous books.  That’s not to say it is a bad book at all, and it deserves to be a hit, it’s just that some of them were truely cross-over books, but this puts Jewell back into the chick-lit genre, even if there are some dark, deep, elements to the story.  Maybe it’s because I’m a man, but I’d have liked those to have been explored more.  The other point is that the build-up to some love events took, in my view, far too long.  On the other hand, that’s more popular in the female market, for whom this book is dedicated.

In short, a good book, and a nice read.  I give it 3/5

It’s funny, a fortnight ago things were in flux, but I sort of knew where I was going.  Now, suddenly, so many balls are in the air.  Well, this was this girl, and yes, whenever I commence a tale of myself, there’s always a girl around!  However, there was this girl, but, sadly, it seems, that before we’ve even met, it’s looking likely we’re, well, not going to meet.  Yes, I agree, garbled English, but I believe it conveys adequately how things are.  I met her, as I meet most girl, on JDate, and she is, really, quite fine, being witty, intelligent, fun, world-wise, and, from what I’ve seen, quite good looking too.  There were some issues, none insurmountable, bar one, and that one is one, i.e. me.

Frankly, I’m not in the correct frame of mind, for a number of reasons.  Quite what they are is not something I’m going to discuss in great depth, except that a major cause is work, which I’ll come onto in a moment.  Right now is the time of reflection, and introspection.  It’s looking into oneself, to find the answer to enable progression.

A few weeks ago, when my contract was coming to an end at the holiday company I worked for, I was asked to stay on, but I refused.  I knew I needed time off, that I was tired.  I guess I’m still tired, but a lot less than I was then.  What I have been able to do, during this time off, was to look at myself, from different eyes.  I realised a few things, and given myself the wherewithal to progress onwards.  Somehow, I knew I needed this.  What this means is that I’m moving forward, and getting ready for more work.

Financially things will be tight, but I should be OK.  I’ve changed what I’m looking for, both in terms of money (I’m considering roles I’d previously thought too junior), but also changing emphasis, looking for more ability to progress, both in terms of career, and myself.  In other words, I’ve learnt a lot about where I am,  and where I’m going.

To bring it back to girls, to finish on that lovely note, I’ve realised that I’m not ready for a relationship, even though I know a couple of girls who I’d love to date, and they, I think would like to be dated, by me.  One other thing I’ve done is to stop flapping about with girls where the connection is more physical, than anything else.  I had, and it pains me, to change my relationship with, well, more than one, because I realised I saw her just in terms of what I could get from her (which was on offer).  I haven’t turned celibate, just realising I’m not ready for a relationship, and yet not happy for sex sans love.  A frustrating dichotomy!

Apparently, a quarter of all new cars are in silver. At least, that was the case a few years back. Wonder if it’s still true? I mention it because I’m building a few, well, 2, silver aircraft. Some people love to build silver, or Bare Metal Finish (BMF), and others hate it. It is true that BMF shows any imperfection, and so demands better building standards. Of course, this is true of any single colour finish, but BMF is the worst. I should point out that n ot all silver is BMF. Some silver aircraft were painted that colour, whilst, of course, BMF are those who were left natural, or even polished. Silver is though a strong colour, unlike black, which absorbs all colour, by remaining, in effect, soft.

Speaking of colour, I’ve been asked if I use enamel or acrylic, to which I say: yes. I suppose, for now, I use mostly enamel, but I do use acrylic, and will probably, in the future, switch to acrylic more and more. Acrylic is easier to use, washes off with water, can often be mixed with water, produces a nice finish easily, is more forgiving, and dries in minutes, unlike enamel, which takes hours. However, it’s also a weaker finish, less able to withstand knocks, and just looks thinner to me, as if something is missing. Still, it looks OK, and produces stunning model finishes. I guess I’ll switch soon! There are two main groups of acrylic. Those, such as the Games Workshop (GW) range, the Humbrol acrylic range, and some others, which are excellent for brush painting (especially the GW range, which is actually hard to spray without significant thinning). The other main group are the thinner ones, especially the Japanese ones Tamiya and Gunze Sangyo, which are both excellent for airbrushing. Between the two are the Vallejo range which are good for both. That’s not to say that the Japs can’t be used for brush painting (I have), but some are better for some jobs, than others. Still, it’s all a matter of choice.

Anyway, onto the kits. No new kits for a while, bar an original Sh’ot kit from AFV Club, which is a birthday present from mama, to match the later Sh’ot kit.

The most advanced kit is possibly the 1/48 Hobbycraft MiG-17 kit. It has some issues, but it’s been an interesting kit from a learning perspective. The fuselage didn’t join properly, in fact, it left a large lip. There was also the interesting problem of the instructions not being clear to put the forward wheelbay in before the fuselage is closed up! Also, some shaving was needed to get it to fit properly. What made it more interesting was that I had already glued the fuselage together. So, I broke the very forward part of the fuselage apart (actually, it broken open already), and squeezed the wheelbay in. Trying to sand and shave the inside of the assembled fuselage though was fun! The kit also need weights. Mine was put in the front of the fuselage, which means, even when the air splitter is put in place, they will be visible, despite also being painted black. Fun and games! So, getting the fuselage smooth meant losing detail. Anyway, the panel lines didn’t match up. The answer? To rescribe. Used some dymo tape as a guide, and gently ran a metal dental pick to scribe the line. Not a brilliant result, but reasonable, for now.

I could finish the MiG in camo finish, but I’m not happy with my skills there. Other points to consider are that the bombs have little lugs to fit into holes on the fuselage. Or, rather, would do, if there were any! Lost one of the small part, no.34, from the underside. Hobbycraft give you raised details where to place items, such as the lumps, and the bombs. One group of things not marked out are the guns. Of all the parts, it’s most crucial to get these right. I think the guns as installed, are wrong, as they rise up, not level, also, they need to be next to each other, which is difficult.

Next up is ‘The Dog’, AKA a Revell-Monogram 1/48 B-25J Mitchell Red-Bull special edition. Not much to report since last time except I popped in the top hatch. Managed, with some blu-tac on a dental tool, to get it back in place, even if slightly out of line (still looks OK though). Took it, and the MiG, to the Barnet modelling club. Amazing how many noticed the raised words saying it’s copyright 1977, under the left wing. No one noticed that some of the little rods hanging of the back of the engine nacelles are missing. Well, you try sanding, and not knocking them off!!!

Now for the rest!

Tamiya 1/72 Bell X-1, painting the canopy, which is black, whilst the fuselage is orange. Using a new technique for me: using strips of Tamiya tape, either side of the lines, then painting the line. Not bad, but some seepage.

Mach 2 1/72 B-45 Tornado, more or less given up now. The part built model I was given had errors, but, more than that, the undercarriage is weak. Truthfully, I needed to paint it better, but I’m not going to re-work it, just not worth it now. Will decal it, and give it to my Godson.

Revell (ex.Matchbox) 1/32 Sea Venom FAW.22, some small progress here. Painted the cockpit, using Humbrol enamel no.85. I must admit, I’m not happy with this colour. 85 is called Coal Black, a mid-shiny black, but I find it too shiny, almost a shiny black (Humbrol 21). Of course, maybe it needs more mixing (Humbrol 33 needs a lot of mixing, else it comes out shiny, but well mixed, is fine, in fact, more than fine, it’s a gorgeous matt black). I didn’t mean to re-paint parts of the cockpit, but then realised I missed out the rear panel! It’s not a part that effects others, which is why I didn’t put it on first time. Speaking of missing bits, there’s also making errors with the parts. Part no.87, the engine fan assembly, was put on backwards. This means, of course, closing up the fuselage, so you can’t see the engine, as it now will not fit against the intakes. To get around this, the intakes are glued as should be, but are left hanging. This means that the engine will need to be glued to the fuselage. Should be OK, but need to be careful.

Just started 2 Bilek SU-22 in 1/72, one a UM-3K, and the other an M-4. These were bagged kits, which could cause damage. The interior has been painted Xtracolor enamel X-629 Soviet Interior Blue/Green. Not sure if the colour is exactly right, but it’ll do.

PM model 1/72 DFS-194, still slowly masking the canopy! The instrument panel fits badly. Needed to dig out some of the sidewall, to get it in.

Bilek 1/72 A-6E TRAM. Apparently this kit is also released by Italeri and Revell. I can see why, it’s lovely! Very crisp, nice detailing, or so I thought… The interior was painted Humbrol enamel 140, which seems nice, with Humbrol acyrlic 33 (matt black) for the seat sides. Went on lovely! For the top of the seats, used black before, and behind, the wraps on the top. However, a couple of problems. First, the kit was bagged, which has lead to one of the fuselage parts being broken off, whilst the sides are warped. Secondly, for some daft reason, they put an injector mark on the seat cushion, and not where it can be hidden! OK, so, it took the space forced by the straps coming together, leaving a little V. However, it sill looks weird. even if it’s 1/72. Used an ancient tin of Humbrol Authentics Olive Drab for the cushion. Amazing how these old mixes lasted, but the new stuff (due to law I believe) has just isn’t as good.

The 4th bagged Bilek kit I started (or, technically, opened and put away in little takeaway boxes) is the SU-34. Again, warped fuselage sides. Fun…

Airfix 1/48 Spitfire Mk.22, and a Mosquito FB.VI. Both of these are being worked on side by side. Interior is Humbrol 78 Interior green, with Humbrol 33 matt black for the rest, aside from some Humbrol enamel 94 for the cushions. Interesting thing noted is that the Humbrol 78 changes tin to tin, so, repainted interior of both, to keep consistency. Another thing is that the Spitfire has decals for the instruments, as well as a detailed (and rather nice) instrument panel. Weird thing: the decal sheet is quite different from the panel! Not only it means it can be put over the top, but it begs the question: which is right? Decided to use the panel, but using the decal as a guide, picked out 2 parts in red. For the rest, did my usual, and used Humbrol enamel 21, shiny black, for the instruments. Now to dry brush, to make it all stand out.

Tamiya 1/48 Mustang P-51D, fuselage finished, wings added. Used Tipex to fill gaps around the scoop on the underside. Surprised it needed what it did, but finally made it look OK. One of the small rear facing scoops looks a tad rough, but it’s tiny, and should be OK. Was told at the club last night that Tipex is melted by paint. Need to coat in Klear first it seems. Scratched fuselage fixing the cockpit, filled in with Tipex, the sanded in. Looks good! Nice kit, good fit, but actually, it wasn’t as perfect as I had thought. The wheelbays are looking nice, with the tiny pistons (?) painted in silver, with the bands in black (as required). Tiny, but sets it off nicely!

Revell submarine – nothing to report

Tamiya 1/35 Scout Car. Progressing nicely. Wheel cover fairings in place, or at least, where, until the front ones fell off! Trying to squeeze them in, sitting on the suspensions, was too much. Going to sand, and reapply, but ignoring lugs. Forgot to add in a hatch, but made it in using blu-tac. Re-painting the panel at the front as it’s too white. To make it look better, re-painted roughly with Revell 371, which is called a light grey, but to me is a grimy white. Brilliant! Now for some more dust, dirt, and it will look great! Ancient dried out tin, but, if I poke the dried paint, there’s a layer of wet paint under it. Reminds me of oil bubbling up! Fantastic stuff! More external bits added in. Nice kit, but does need some work in places. Still, it was an early Tamiya moulding.

Right, enough for now. Happy modelling!

Strewth I can’t believe I’m 37. Thirty-Seven. It’s not 35, which is the edge of being young, or 36, which is just gone, no, 37 means you’re, no fail, on your way to being 40. Crikey! Rather frightening really. Makes one sit back, and muse a bit. At least before I’m 40 we should have a Conservative government in power in the UK, but I’d rather, if one could chose, give up that for a peace deal in the middle-east. However, both would be nice! I do wonder if we’ll see McCain win, or will it be Obama. I reckon it’s too close to call.

So, to modelling (as I assume you’re here for the modelling). Well, ‘The Bitch’ is no more. Yes, she finally tried my patience once too many times. Having assembled the fuselage, I found that the Revell 1/48 F-14D just will not fit. The final straw was the forward fuselage, which, fitted like a crack dealer at Lords doesn’t (to ape Douglas Adams).

The counterpart to The Bitch is The Dog, another Revell 1/48, this time the B-25J Mitchell, in Red Bull configuration. The interior, in ’stone grey’, from Revell’s own range, was lovely, if the fitting were a tad flat. Trying to enough weight in was a problem, but by losing the front wheelwell (which can’t be seen anyway), and the tunnel (not a huge loss), just about managed it. Also, some more weight dotted around, but it seems to be OK. Fuselage fit is a bit indifferent. However, by using Tippex, Zap-A-Gap, and Mr. Surfacer 500, finally achieved a smooth top fuselage. Now have masses to complete elsewhere! Seat sides are silver, Humbrol no.11, the seats themselves are blue, from Testors, straps are black, with the cockpit in Humbrol, no. 144 I think, but need to check.

Not a bad kit, but raised panel lines, and some indifferent fit. Still, easy to build, and cheap too.

I’ve also been working on the Tamiya scout car. Not a bad kit, although the floor seems a bit dodgy. Still, it is an early kit. Fit is fine, but then, it is Tamiya! Interior is white, with smeared ‘wood brown’ from Humbrol, and smeared black. Dry brushed some of the brown along the bottom corners, where the walls meet the floor, looks good! Exterior is being brushed some Molak black-green. Looks good, and, being a land vehicle, can be heavily weathered.

The Tamiya Bell X-1 was a lovely kit to build. Quick, easy, satisfying. Perfect! Needs now to be sprayed orange, and then, well, that’s about it. Just need to paint the canopy first, then mask off. As for when I’ll do that… Slight problem in that the instructions were for the Eduard 1/48 Bell X-1, but seemed to have worked it all out! Interior was Gunze Sangyo interior green, with details in Humbrol black.

The Tamiya Mustang continues at a glacial pace. Slow doesn’t mean good! I re-painted the instrument panel, as the original job was far too shiny. Humbrol 33 can, unless well mixed, come up shiny. Now mostly OK, with some shiny black (Humbrol 21) for the instrument faces. Using matt and gloss for instrument faces works really well, so, pleased about that.

Speaking of instruments, I dropped some Humbrol 21 onto the clocks of the little Scout car, worked a treat! Will also use it for other instrument panels in the future. Another thing that worked well was the dry brushing of the radio boxes for the Mustang. I use a light grey for this, made them look nicely worn in, but not too worn. Fantastic!

Other bits worked on include: the DFS aircraft, which had a drop more canopy masking; the submarine, which was brush painted with a mixture of Humbrol no.10, Humbrol no.01, and an Airfix which was similar to no.01 (to finish the tin); and the 1/32 Sea Venom, which had bits of the cockpit painted, and the seats re-done, yet again!

One thing I find is that Humbrol no.85, coal black, is not a mid-gloss, between 21 and 33, it is, in fact, a shiny black, more like 21. This is rather annoying, as I have masses of 21, and really need something between 21 and 33. Revell do some nice mid-way black, so I’ll use those. As for modern Humbrol no.33, well, it must must be well stirred, else the colour is far too shiny.

A few new kits around too. Swapped some for a Trumpeter 1/24 Mustang. I will build this in Israeli colours, maybe as Judy/Tink, the first Mustang, or as a later blue/brown from 1956. Either way, should be fun. Also bought the new AFV Club Sh’ot 1973, which is similar to my old tank. For my for birthday, my mother bought me the new AFC Club Sh’ot 1967, which was more like the Centurion base tank. Both of those are 1/35, but I also bought the new 1/48 AFC Club Tiger. The price, just 12 Pounds was the same as the Trumpeter, but far less than the Tamiya, even though it’s a fine product, or so it seems. Time will tell, but AFV Club have a good reputation.

Meant to start the Sh’ot for my birthday, but not quite there yet. Other than that, a few kits here and there, but the interesting one is the Academy F-89J Scorpion, from Hannant’s London second hand section. A mad looking aircraft, so, should be interesting to build!

Finally, I also commenced work on the Tamiya 1/72 Nanzan. Very simple build, but what’s RLM Grey? Decided to use RLM02 for it, from the Color of Eagles range. This range was actually produced by Vellejo for an American company, but not any longer. The theory is that the paints are ready mixed for spraying. Personally, I found them a tad too thick, but not too much so, and so sprayed direct. Not a bad result. Needs a second coat, and also to balance out a slight colour imbalance, where some items were darker than others.

Oh, and really finally, did a tiny bit of work on a 1/48 Airfix Mosquito, but just some painting of the interior (Humbrol 78) and some black for detail work.

OK, that’s it for now, for modelling.

Otherwise, well, been using some dowsing rods, with some interesting results.  Been chatting with this lovely girl I met online, from a dating website, and, hmmm, excited to see what happens there.  My contract is up for renewal at work, as it’s supposed to finish Monday 30th.  They asked me to stay on a fortnight, but, no, I need a break, so, decided to say sayonara on Friday 27th.  Then, have a break in July, whilst hunting an appropriate new contract.  September’s a good month for new contracts, as is May.  June is less so, and July worse.  This means I could be up a gum tree, but I hope not!  Today, had my first Gaapweb email which had no new jobs in it.  Has the market dried up that much?  I hope not!  Still, I just need the one right job, not 30 jobs!

Car’s still running, running well actually, but decided not to replace until get a good new contract.  Likewise computer, which needs replacing, but can do for now, until I get a contract.  Actually, I have a virus, or had a virus, rather, but it’s damaged my Explorer.  As I need to partially clean my machine, I’ll wait until my break, as it could take a few hours.  Hopefully all will be OK.

Ideal?  A nice contract, to start end of July.  Perfect!  Then I can have a break, and start refreshed.  Still, let’s see what life brings.  Need a break though, and need to spend time walking, getting fit, losing weight, and, of course, writing my blog!  Modelling just goes without saying.

Anyway, enough for now.  TTFN!

Been quite a while since the last update, so, here goes! Firstly, I noticed I made an error in an earlier post, which I’ve now corrected. The F-14 seats are Humbrol 67, not 62 (probably slipped up as the cushions are 72). Anyway, been quite a few developments.

As I’ve mentioned the F-14, I should say that I’ve worked on the underside. It’s a pig! For that reason, this build was nicknamed ‘The Bitch’, and that still holds true. Basically, the intakes do not match up well with the fuselage. A lot of filling and sanding later, and it’s much better, but still not quite right, and there are gaps (and poor adhesion) which I’ll Zap-A-Gap, then sand, later. Dry fitting the cushions to the seat sides showed some bits of white, where I’d thought the plastic was hidden, so, re-painted the seats, again, in Humbrol 72. Next up, well, tomorrow, I’ll paint the seat sides in 67, and leave for a while. As I’ve sanded out parts of the cockpit, out with the Revell paint to re-do, and to also paint the canvas instrument binnacle covers. Not sure yet what colour to use, but that can be easily sorte.

Away from kits, was very pleased that Boris Johnson won the election to be London mayor. Ken Livingstone is one of those politicals who I dislike, possibly on a par with George Galloway. As I’m living in St.Albans, was weird that the Tories gained 3 sears, and the Liberals 1, but it gave them control of the council. Oh well, guess that means more anti-car policies here. Still, for now, fairly sane, except in St.Peter’s St. where they seem to be, oh never mind, but it is crazy to stop all parking there, for no reason. The old system of no parking during market times worked well. Banning at all times, and installing cameras to monitor cars, issue remote fines, etc, just feels so wrong. No wonder Tesco want to abandon the town centre! I wonder, can’t councils grasp the simple concept that if you stop people going to smaller town centre shops by car, they will drive out to the larger places. Sadly, this means that the town centre loses supermarkets, resulting in people living there being forced to drive out… Oh well!

Other than that, meeting some lovely girls online, one in particular, but enough on that. Sadly, had to dump someone the other day. Nice girl, but, a culture clash, and I knew it would bring grief. Also, going to be starting the gym next week with an old work colleague. At least, that’s the theory!

The B-45 Tornado is now more or less done, except some touching up, where some of the original paint job came off. Hand painted the engine cowling covers in olive, using my ancient tin of Humbrol Authentic. It looks good! At least, I think that’s what I used. I’d better work it out before I finish it off! Once touching up is finished, decals, and then, that’s it. Cool!

Working on a SMER Fokker S.11 Instructor. That’s proving a bit of a pig as well, but it’s my own fault. The left wing was shoved in, glued in, and then I realised, wasn’t quite right. Wondering if the fix, or trash it. Might go to my godson for experimentation. Another along those lines is the Short Sunderland. Just can’t be bothered to finish it. Also there will be some other bits I’ve lost interest in, such as an Airfix 1/72 Spitfire, an Airfix 1/72 Drakken, and who knows what else!

Was feeling fed up with modelling the other day, decided to jack it all in, but, for now, have stayed my hand. Instead, will dispose of 100 or so kits. Ignoring the 1/144 kits, that around a quarter of my stash. Obviously, there’s a financial implication, in that I’ve spent money, and now not using it, but, on the other hand, these are all kits I’m unlikely to build in the near future, or indeed, not so near future. Some could be sold on ebay I guess, maybe raise £500 ? It’s just a hassle with finding boxes, packing, etc. Still, would raise my ebay profile! The Airfix TSR.2 kits alone are worth £100, plus decals, resin aftermarket bits, etc.

Well, that’s it for now! Osher

My modelling seems rather glacial at times!  Nothing much has happened with the Mustang, except some touching up here and there on the seat.  For some reason I never painted the back of the seat, so, need to do that.  Used Gunze Sangyo acrylic, but didn’t thin it.  Result was, hmm, not tostandard.  So, quick flick with the sanding stick, and off I go again!

The Sunderland is moving forward.  The porthole that had the glass pushed in was filled with Krystal Klear, and it seems to have dried OK.  Put Maskol on all the port side, and one starboard side, portholes.  Now need to Maskol the rest, mask the canopy & turrets, put on fin, rear planes, oh, the list goes on!  Still, moving on.

The real progress has been with the Mach 2 B-45 Tornado.  I removed all the masking from the canopies, and began painting (or re-painting) the olive drab of the engines covers, using Humbrol 86.  So far so good.  Wheels are in place too.  The chap who originally worked on it must have stopped when he was on the wheels as they’re partially painted.  Excellent job too!  In other words, it’s approaching completion point.

Other than that, things much the same as ever!  Bought The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on tape for £2 in St.Albans market, so listening to that whilst working.  Also bought a futon for £10.50.  The people I bought it from seemed most unhappy to have sold it for so little.  Of course, the fuel costs to transport it, plus buying my friend lunch, and cleaning the car, made it almost the same price as a new one.  Ah well, it’s fine, and had a nice day out too.  At least it means that friends, if they want to stay over, can do so now.

Finally decided to finish the fuselage of the Sunderland.  Easy task, you might think, except, no, not this time.  Before one can assemble the fuselage, the 3 turrets need to be attached, and the cockpit too.  The upper turret is easy, it sits on a shelf which you attach to one side.  The front turret sits on a slider, a little more work, but OK, whilst the rear sits on, well, the rear!  The cockpit, as with so many cockpits, was a pain.  Still, it all came together.  However, this is not true of the fuselage, which left massive gaps!  Out with the Plastic Weld, out with the clamps, and, eventually, out with the Zap-a-gap.  During the fight, one porthole became partially pushed in.  If it goes fully in, I’ll have a dead model, so, need to rescue it.  Also, the gun from the front turret became dislodged, so, using a cocktail stick, need to re-attach.

The turrets themselves are very simple affairs, with no lines for painting.  Still, they’ll do.  Speaking , it’ll do, the fuselage is now looking much better, and begining to resemble a Sunderland.  With the top sanded down, and the bottom now looking better too, it’s all go!  Next up will be the rearplanes and the fin.  After this, mask the canopy and turrets, then spray on some Mr.Surfacer.  Normally I don’t use this, as a bit rough, but need it this time I think.

Not much else this week, except the re-painting of the Mustang floor.  Now resembles a plywood floor, to which black paint has been roughly applied, and thence worn away in places.  Pretty pleased with that!

Need to sort out a ‘works programme’ to complete all kits sitting on my workbench.  Most of them are near the end, so, I should be able to clear a lot, quickly.  The current kits are (and next stage) – all 1/72 unless otherwise indicated-:

Short Sunderland – Attach rears elements; B-45 Tornado – need to repaint engine covers; Horton – repaint swirls; Draaken – mask canopy; Spitfire – mask canopy; 1/144 Lancaster – fix gap, repaint; Submarine – get the energy to attach bits!; Sea Fury – mask for final paint; 1/48 Mustang – cockpit; 1/48 F-14 – cockpit; 1/48 Spitfire – next layer of brown

Whilst I know what I’m going to build next, nothing is release to the workbench until these are completed or binned!