The Rat's Nest

[The Rat]

Ain't serendipity wonderful? Got the Pegasus Supermarine Spiteful on the bench, and the inevitable decision arises: colours and markings. But a sideways glance on the bench and something catches my eye, a Frog Sea Venom, box open, decals laying on top, showing both RN and RAN markings.

Red Roos on a Spiteful! You know it was meant to be.

[NARSES2]

Red Roos on a Spiteful! You know it was meant to be.

I had very similar thoughts the other day, but it was Red Roos on a Seafang, instead of Sea Furies. Great Minds mate 

[DogfighterZen]

  
Red Roos were also on my mind when i built the AZ kit last year so i'm looking forward to see that Spiteful!

[su27rules]

Very very nice,I like it.  

[The Rat]

Ignore the dust, it'll come off with the masking. But the fit of the canopy most definitely cannot be ignored, it's probably visible from Proxima Centauri. I've only stuck it on with white glue to see what needs to be done, and I've figured it out: bin the kit, find another canopy, or grind away at this one for a few weeks.     

[The Rat]

Back a day early from camping. The weather for this afternoon and evening was thunderstorms, and I wasn't about to pack up a load of wet equipment tomorrow morning. Hardly any photos due to the aforementioned canoe disaster, and some rather nice opportunities were missed and grumbled about. Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. Spilled whisky, that's another matter, but I'm never that careless. 

[Rick Lowe]

Fair enough, packing in the rain is a PITA.

Glad you're back safely. 

[NARSES2]

On balance did you enjoy it though Ratty ?

[The Rat]

On balance did you enjoy it though Ratty ?

Relaxing, but taxing. The destruction of my camera and 300mm lens, which I mentioned in another post, was a definite negative. Bird migration was starting to pick up, but numbers were not great, and the site we had wasn't ideally placed for it, with no pools of water or rivulets which would attract more. But we enjoy it for the ability to take a brief walk, less than a minute, and enjoy the view over the lake from atop a large granite mound.

My right knee was giving me grief, so canoeing was minimal. My wife wasn't able to accompany me due to looking after her ailing mother, and two weeks without my best friend forever left a hole. But daughter Meagan proved herself to be a good firestarter, and even a woodchopper, so there was much relaxation around the campfire in the evening while imbibing various beverages.

If my mind can stay in a positive mood, I will try to get much more exercise during the coming year, (he says while sitting in front of the computer, yet again ) and be more active next year. (reaches for happy pills...)

[The Rat]

Fair enough, packing in the rain is a PITA.

Glad you're back safely. 

Agreed, and thanks. 

[Rick Lowe]

I will try to get much more exercise during the coming year, (he says while sitting in front of the computer, yet again ) and be more active next year. (reaches for happy pills...)

Hmm, how many years have I been saying much the same, myself?
More than I want to contemplate... 

[su27rules]

First car model in about 50 years, E-Type Jaguar. Airfix, 1/43rd scale. Not a bad little kit, but not for the serious modeler. Side windows needed some filing to fit properly, but everything else was a fairly good fit. Headlight glass could be smaller.

          Great work!!

[NARSES2]

But we enjoy it for the ability to take a brief walk, less than a minute, and enjoy the view over the lake from atop a large granite mound.

  

[The Rat]

Bit the bullet today and replaced my camera equipment. First to arrive via UPS was a Canon EOS M50 MkII, a replacement for the exact same item that went for a swim a few weeks ago. Used, but reconditioned, and looks brand new.

Second was the biggie. Or should I say BIGGIE! After serious deliberation, I chose my upgrade: a Canon EOS R5 MkII, and a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens, both brand new. The 'L' means 'Luxury' series, which is better protected from dust and moisture. IS is Image Stabilisation, and the USM is Ultra Sonic Motor, for fast autofocus.

Total cost with a few extra bits and bobs - somewhere around $12,000 CDN.  My bank manager is probably tearing her hair out, but it's covered easily. Purchased from a local outlet of Henry's, a well-known Canadian chain that deals with pros as well as snappers like me.

The learning curve will no doubt be frustrating, as this thing has more bells and whistles than a film studio. Even the M50 had a load of stuff on it that I never used, just didn't need most of it. Might get out on the weekend to test it at the annual Toronto airshow, but it's such a lousy location that I'll probably just get close enough to find anything staging over the lake waiting for their time slot. Failing that, fall migration is picking up, so the little birdies will be seeing a bit more of me.

[Rick Lowe]

New toys are always a joy. Have fun.