Zenrat's Flying Circus

[buzzbomb]

Looks like you have been shopping at Andrews Hobbies in Ravenhall... he has a number of the Noch figure sets on said subject last time I was there.

[zenrat]

Were I to ever build a model railway layout (not likely - no time, money, or space) it would be WW2 era and would have both an armoured train and a brothel train.

No modelling today.  Instead I ironed about 10 shirts for work.  I hate ironing.  I like to leave it for as long as possible.

[Rick Lowe]

I used to just put my shirts through the drier and hang them up straight away - easier, and I was in the 'Good enough; you get what you get' mindset at the time.

Western Europe, England or Russian Front for the trains, Fred?
Or was the 'Special' for whenever any Party high-ups went anywhere? 

[zenrat]

Just spitballing here but maybe something like Combined Earth Forces vs the Martians circa 1943.  Trenches, dug in artillery, flak emplacements, a few houses, a small factory, and a painted backdrop with tripods and saucers approaching.
The brothel train would have first to third class accomodations made available dependant on rank.

[scooter]

Just spitballing here but maybe something like Combined Earth Forces vs the Martians circa 1943.  Trenches, dug in artillery, flak emplacements, a few houses, a small factory, and a painted backdrop with tripods and saucers approaching.
The brothel train would have first to third class accomodations made available dependant on rank.

So, something similar to or set in Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series?

[zenrat]

Just spitballing here but maybe something like Combined Earth Forces vs the Martians circa 1943.  Trenches, dug in artillery, flak emplacements, a few houses, a small factory, and a painted backdrop with tripods and saucers approaching.
The brothel train would have first to third class accomodations made available dependant on rank.

So, something similar to or set in Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series?

Possibly.  I haven't read any of those.  The only Turtledove I have read is Guns of the South in which South African Nazis use a time machine to supply the Confederate forces with AK47s.

[scooter]

I've only read Britannia Ruled, where the Spanish Armada successfully invades England and overthrow Good Queen Bess and Shakespeare has to thread of writing both a tribute play to the late Phillip II and an insurgent piece of work to rally Tudor partisans in London to overthrow the Spanish puppets; and The Two Georges, wherein the American Revolution didn't happen (along with an interesting set of postulations), and Chuck is king in 1996.

[NARSES2]

Read a fair bit of Turtledove whilst I was recovering from my minor heart attack many moons ago. Quite enjoyed it I must admit, and it did make a change from the "heavier" reading which was/is my usual staple.

[zenrat]

I enjoyed Guns if the South but avoided anything else as I didn't want to get sucked into another long running series of books - I was already involved with enough at the time.

But I suppose that now Terry Pratchett and Iain M Banks are dead (i miss them both - the world is a lesser place knowing there will be no more new discworld or Culture) I suppose room could be found.  But maybe i'll finish working my way through Flashman first.

Friday is my long day at work so no modelling today.

[Rheged]

I enjoyed Guns if the South but avoided anything else as I didn't want to get sucked into another long running series of books - I was already involved with enough at the time.

But I suppose that now Terry Pratchett and Iain M Banks are dead (i miss them both - the world is a lesser place knowing there will be no more new discworld or Culture) I suppose room could be found.  But maybe i'll finish working my way through Flashman first.

Friday is my long day at work so no modelling today.

Once you have finished the Flashman books, look for anything else by George MacDonald Fraser.    His non fiction The Border Reivers (Anglo Scottish border warfare 1300 to 1600)  and Safely Quartered Here (Border Regiment in Burma)   are excellent,  as are his three  supposedly fictional books of short stories about life in North Africa with a highland regiment just post WW2............The General Danced at Dawn,   MacAuslan in the Rough  and  The Sheikh  and the Dustbin.     The last three are really a fictionalised autobiography!

[zenrat]

I enjoyed Guns if the South but avoided anything else as I didn't want to get sucked into another long running series of books - I was already involved with enough at the time.

But I suppose that now Terry Pratchett and Iain M Banks are dead (i miss them both - the world is a lesser place knowing there will be no more new discworld or Culture) I suppose room could be found.  But maybe i'll finish working my way through Flashman first.

Friday is my long day at work so no modelling today.

Once you have finished the Flashman books, look for anything else by George MacDonald Fraser.    His non fiction The Border Reivers (Anglo Scottish border warfare 1300 to 1600)  and Safely Quartered Here (Border Regiment in Burma)   are excellent,  as are his three  supposedly fictional books of short stories about life in North Africa with a highland regiment just post WW2............The General Danced at Dawn,   MacAuslan in the Rough  and  The Sheikh  and the Dustbin.     The last three are really a fictionalised autobiography!

 


Ballarat show is next Sunday and I am prioritising getting the Nissan van finished in time.  Not sure if i'm going to make it (not sure if i'm even going - Mrs z starts a new round of chemo tomorrow) but i've got it to the stage where I can put clear on the body - transfers are all in place and touched up in the places they failed to stretch enough.

[Rick Lowe]

touched up in the places they failed to stretch enough.

This phrase, combined with the pictures of Anime girls, sends my mind into... Places...   

[zenrat]

touched up in the places they failed to stretch enough.

This phrase, combined with the pictures of Anime girls, sends my mind into... Places...   

You're a sick man Rick.  You need help.  Go see Phill   

I cleared the van body today.  Not super shiny (I rarely achieve that) but an acceptable level for 1/24.  I added some bling powder which gives it a green pearl type effect.
Wheels and tyres are together and i've reversed the suspension mods which proved impractical (tyres fouled the bodywork).
Seats are in place and dash is painted and transferred.  Fiddly bits primed.

[Rick Lowe]

You're a sick man Rick.  You need help

Very likely - but you're saying that like it's a bad thing... 

[zenrat]

You're a sick man Rick.  You need help

Very likely - but you're saying that like it's a bad thing... 

I don't think i did.  I think I just said it.  You read into it what you wanted.   
Personally I think being a bit sick can be a good thing sometimes.  I mean look at this van body...

Elgrand WIP 15-05-25 03 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Elgrand WIP 15-05-25 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Elgrand WIP 15-05-25 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

...maybe not fully sick, but hopefully on its way.

I took those pics having just finished black lining the window rubbers with a texta and polishing the paintwork with wax.  It might not look it but that is finished bar final assembly.  All the fiddly bits are painted and ready to install and the major subassemblies are also done.  I am foreseeing some possible fit adjustment to get the dash to sit up snugly against the bottom of the windscreen but that should be relatively simple.  I've dry fitted it all but of course there is always scope for a f**k up I didn't forsee.  So, like life really...