Narses2's Blog - or what I'm slowly making progress on

[NARSES2]

Removed the masking from the Tigercat and found just a small amount of overspray of the Gloss Sea Blue. Not unexpected and it's a tiny smudge really but what throws me is that the entire tail of the aircraft was swathed in a few layers of Tamiya's finest in order to avoid the possibility of spray creeping under edges. This small spot has managed to work its way through at least 3 layers of tape and it's at least 5/8mm from any possible edge ? How the heck did that happen ? 

As I said it's not a problem and is already fixed. Start getting transfers on to her tommorow

[NARSES2]

Yak and FW can now have their matt coats, hopefully tomorrow, and then it's canopies and nav lights and they are done.

Tigercat doesn't need a matt coat. So it's nav lights, armament and the last of the markings for her

[NARSES2]

Tigercat has had her final markings put on. I changed my mind re squadron and went with 832 in the end. In real life they were an Avenger squadron aboard HMS Begum out east in 1944, so I have them coming home and re-equipping. Reason for change ? I had the codes in white available and more importantly they were the right size. The Tigercat fuselage is quite a small area for markings, surprisingly for a twin engine bird.

Cockpit is attached and as per the rest of the kit is a superb fit. I assume this is an old Mongram kit ? Has the feel of one particularly the fit which as I've said is wonderfull. Sure it has raised panel lines and a minimum of parts but what's there is good and goes to show you don't need a multitude of parts to make a good kit. I'll keep my eye open for another one as I have an idea.

The Fw and Yak have had their canopies attached and framing has commenced.

[NARSES2]

Re the Tigercat. I put an awful lot of lead in the thing (if dropped on my foot, she'd probably break it  ) and she was fine. Now I've added the canopy, ariel and markings she just about stands on 3 legs. On the slightest downhill slop she sits on her tush 

[Captain Canada]

CA glue a white metal aerial under the nose 

[Thorvic]

Re the Tigercat. I put an awful lot of lead in the thing (if dropped on my foot, she'd probably break it  ) and she was fine. Now I've added the canopy, ariel and markings she just about stands on 3 legs. On the slightest downhill slop she sits on her tush 

Drop the hook ?

[NARSES2]

Re the Tigercat. I put an awful lot of lead in the thing (if dropped on my foot, she'd probably break it  ) and she was fine. Now I've added the canopy, ariel and markings she just about stands on 3 legs. On the slightest downhill slop she sits on her tush 

Drop the hook ?

Interesting point Geoff. Not many Tigercat's had arrestor gear fitted, according to my reading anyway. Only the F7F-4N variant and going by the serial numbers only 13 of those.

Managed to sneak a little more lead shot into the nose via the nose wheel bay so she's a little more stable on her legs now.

[Thorvic]

Re the Tigercat. I put an awful lot of lead in the thing (if dropped on my foot, she'd probably break it  ) and she was fine. Now I've added the canopy, ariel and markings she just about stands on 3 legs. On the slightest downhill slop she sits on her tush 

Drop the hook ?

Interesting point Geoff. Not many Tigercat's had arrestor gear fitted, according to my reading anyway. Only the F7F-4N variant and going by the serial numbers only 13 of those.

Managed to sneak a little more lead shot into the nose via the nose wheel bay so she's a little more stable on her legs now.

FAA - BPF - it will mave an 'ook 

[NARSES2]

Re the Tigercat. I put an awful lot of lead in the thing (if dropped on my foot, she'd probably break it  ) and she was fine. Now I've added the canopy, ariel and markings she just about stands on 3 legs. On the slightest downhill slop she sits on her tush 

Drop the hook ?

Interesting point Geoff. Not many Tigercat's had arrestor gear fitted, according to my reading anyway. Only the F7F-4N variant and going by the serial numbers only 13 of those.

Managed to sneak a little more lead shot into the nose via the nose wheel bay so she's a little more stable on her legs now.

FAA - BPF - it will mave an 'ook 

Ah but is it going to be BPF ? Is it going to be carrier based ? All will be revealed next week  Just needs arming and props adding then photos

[NARSES2]

The Tigercat and 190 were armed this morning and we had the "Ceremony of the Propellers" this afternoon.

Now this traditional finishing act of my modelling is usually a formality but this time  

No problem with the Yak but the Tigercat's prop shafts were way to long and the diameter was to great. First problem on the kit really. Nothing a drill and cutters couldn't sort. The 190 was me  How many props/spinner combinations have I built over the years ? Do I need instructions ?? Well some of these new Airfix kits have some slightly innovative ways of constructing parts we take for granted. Lesson, read the instructions  Got it fixed but I should have read/looked at the instructions 

Still done now, so photographs in a day or two and then post them on site with their back stories

[Captain Canada]

Ceremony of the Propellers......I like it !

 

[NARSES2]

Here's the completed threesome and the respective links



http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38638.msg633682.html#new




http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38636.msg633679/boardseen.html#new




http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38637.0.html

[NARSES2]

The next 4 boxes are on the bench

2 Airfix Hurricane I's. One fabric wing to be real world Belgian, one metal wing to be RAF France 1939/40 again real world

1 Special Hobby "Super Corsair" - probably FAA, probably Korea but just might end up as an Aeronvale one at Suez (mind you I have 2  )

Magna Fairey Spearfish - to be BPF

[NARSES2]

I've been preparing the Spearfish this morning. Cleaning up the resin, not much needed, and the white metal which needed a little more. Just a few sink holes on one wing leading edge which are filled. I do this in one hit at the beginning and then I can treat her like any other kit except using superglue. Strangely the two sides of the airframe are in different coloured resin, looks odd.

Should go together quite quickly now, not many parts.

[The Wooksta!]

IIRC, thje u/c is a nightmare to fit and *will* sag under the weight.  The wheels are awful and plus, of course, the curse of Magna's horrible canopies will strike.

The old Contrail vacform is a much nicer kit.  I used the metal prop on the Magna one I built in 2002.