Zenrat's Flying Circus

[scooter]

I've borrowed this sprue cutter from my neighbour.  I'm hoping it'll be up to coping with the big attachment points on short run kits...

I think that may even have trouble with one or two of the older ones 

That's when you break out the oxy-acetylene.  It can't fight you if it's liquid.

[zenrat]

The panel lines on the Delta are fighting me.  I should have deepened them all a touch before starting PSR.

I have decided not to partake in the 1WGB this year.  I've got too much on.  Model Expo tomorrow, car being serviced plus working a long day Tuesday, been sent on a course Wednesday, plus Mrs Z's ongoing chemo (she's having two weeks off due to dehydration and low potassium - she's bounced back well but has no strength or energy).
It's the Swamp and Smell at Expo tomorrow.  My list of stuff to look out for is a lot shorter than usual but that means nothing when tempted by large piles of other peoples stash...
Mental note - no more 1/35 Tamiya Jeeps.  No matter how cheap...

[zenrat]

A couple of ideas i've had over the last few days;
Thundershriek - F-105 Thud with a prop.  Phase two of the Thunderscreech program.
Prewar RAF fighter squadron markings on a silver Hurricane.  Specifically the No. 19(F) Sqn blue/white chequered transfers from the Vintage Classics Bristol Bulldog on the Airfix rag-wing Hurricane.

[PR19_Kit]

I like both of those Fred, go for it. 

[NARSES2]

Prewar RAF fighter squadron markings on a silver Hurricane.  Specifically the No. 19(F) Sqn blue/white chequered transfers from the Vintage Classics Bristol Bulldog on the Airfix rag-wing Hurricane.

Hurricanes look good in pre-war markings 

[zenrat]

Prewar RAF fighter squadron markings on a silver Hurricane.  Specifically the No. 19(F) Sqn blue/white chequered transfers from the Vintage Classics Bristol Bulldog on the Airfix rag-wing Hurricane.

Hurricanes look good in pre-war markings 

And as 19 sqn was the first to operate Spitfires it should be particularly irritating to rivet counters.   
I'm planning silver enamel for the fabric parts and alclad for the metal.
Maybe a two blade prop.  Does the Airfix kit have that option?  I can't remember.
As the Tinydyne is finished and the Delta is ready for paint (nearly, one tiny bit of rescribing to make right) then I have a gap in my schedule for a new aircraft build so this might be next.
Although there is a bagged Bulldog on the bench and I do feel that as I now have three of these I should at least build one of them.  Rigged of course.

[Rick Lowe]

Although there is a bagged Bulldog on the bench and I do feel that as I now have three of these I should at least build one of them.  Rigged of course.

You silly, twisted boy, you.
Just sit/lie down, with a cuppa (or tinny) and the urge will pass. 

[zenrat]

I haven't rigged a biplane for a while.  Last one was the jet DH2.

[NARSES2]

I'm planning silver enamel for the fabric parts and alclad for the metal.
Maybe a two blade prop.  Does the Airfix kit have that option?  I can't remember.

The 2 bladed prop is the only option in the recent "rag wing"" moulding.

The early Hurricane had a lot of fabric areas, I've used Humbrol Aluminium (No 11 ?) in the past as it's dull enough to represent doped fabric and the contrast with their Metalcoat Polished Al is just right IMO

[zenrat]

Another Idea.
I was looking at a pic of the Hedge Trimmer and it came to me.  A Universal Carrier "Gun Truck".
Raise the armour in the rear section as I did on the 'trimmer but raise it on all four sides.
And then fit a pair of .50 cal machine guns and some big ammo bins.

Meantime i'm working on getting the Ford Woody finished.  It's been on the bench far too long.
I've used bare metal foil on the small amount of trim above the wheel arches and along the bonnet sides and this morning I added transfers to the windows.  I know from experience that if you put these on the outside of the "glass" they look crap so this time i've tried coating the printed side with decal glue before sticking them to the inside.  They look OK so far.
This means I can fit the interior into the body and then work out if I have neglected to paint and of the fiddly bits.
I've got a surfboard somewhere I need to find and I also need to have a serious look at if I am going to scratch build a sun visor for it.

I also have some repairs to do.  While putting the Tinydyne away in a display bookcase my Special Hobby Breguet 695 took flight.  Unfortunately its bid for freedom was unsuccessful and it landed tail first onto the concrete floor.
This is what it used to look like.
Breguet Br.695  - 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The whole tail snapped off just in front of the stabs (not a construction joint - the fuselage itself broke), chunks of rudder were smashed off on both sides (but the fins themselves remained attached to the ends of the stabs), one engine came loose, and both props flew off.  Surprisingly the undercarriage was undamaged.
I could not find the chunks of rudder or one prop.
The tail will glue back on easily and the break can be made good.  Both props will be replaced with alternatives from the Props and Engines box.
However, my attempts to replace the missing chunks of rudder with PPP failed and they will have to be replaced.
A rummage in the Box of Broken Glue Bombs (donated by Nephews) resulted in a pair of P40 stabs which will do the job nicely when modified.

[Old Wombat]

Another Idea.
I was looking at a pic of the Hedge Trimmer and it came to me.  A Universal Carrier "Gun Truck".
Raise the armour in the rear section as I did on the 'trimmer but raise it on all four sides.
And then fit a pair of .50 cal machine guns and some big ammo bins.

Interesting idea ... Not sure it would work, though, with the engine stuck right in the middle of the cargo/crew space ... But I'm sure you'd make it cool, no matter how impractical. 

I also have some repairs to do.  While putting the Tinydyne away in a display bookcase my Special Hobby Breguet 695 took flight.  Unfortunately its bid for freedom was unsuccessful and it landed tail first onto the concrete floor.
This is what it used to look like.
Breguet Br.695  - 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The whole tail snapped off just in front of the stabs (not a construction joint - the fuselage itself broke), chunks of rudder were smashed off on both sides (but the fins themselves remained attached to the ends of the stabs), one engine came loose, and both props flew off.  Surprisingly the undercarriage was undamaged.
I could not find the chunks of rudder or one prop.
The tail will glue back on easily and the break can be made good.  Both props will be replaced with alternatives from the Props and Engines box.
However, my attempts to replace the missing chunks of rudder with PPP failed and they will have to be replaced.
A rummage in the Box of Broken Glue Bombs (donated by Nephews) resulted in a pair of P40 stabs which will do the job nicely when modified.

Ooh! Nasty! 

Hope the repairs go as planned! 

[scooter]

Another Idea.
I was looking at a pic of the Hedge Trimmer and it came to me.  A Universal Carrier "Gun Truck".
Raise the armour in the rear section as I did on the 'trimmer but raise it on all four sides.
And then fit a pair of .50 cal machine guns and some big ammo bins.

Interesting idea ... Not sure it would work, though, with the engine stuck right in the middle of the cargo/crew space ... But I'm sure you'd make it cool, no matter how impractical.   

That's when you mount the ammo bins on top of the motor

[buzzbomb]

Another Idea.
I was looking at a pic of the Hedge Trimmer and it came to me.  A Universal Carrier "Gun Truck".
Raise the armour in the rear section as I did on the 'trimmer but raise it on all four sides.
And then fit a pair of .50 cal machine guns and some big ammo bins.

Option in the Vickers .50 MG perhaps, ridiculously chunkier than the Browning M2



This is a Naval mount From this site
https://smallarmsreview.com/the-other-5-inch-guns/

[kerick]

Another Idea.
I was looking at a pic of the Hedge Trimmer and it came to me.  A Universal Carrier "Gun Truck".
Raise the armour in the rear section as I did on the 'trimmer but raise it on all four sides.
And then fit a pair of .50 cal machine guns and some big ammo bins.

Interesting idea ... Not sure it would work, though, with the engine stuck right in the middle of the cargo/crew space ... But I'm sure you'd make it cool, no matter how impractical.   

That's when you mount the ammo bins on top of the motor

This I want to see!

[zenrat]

The Northrop Delta is ready for paint but as I want a nice shiny NMF finish i'm putting it to one side until the weather gets warmer and dryer and more conducive to painting.

Woody is looking good.  It appears I neglected to fit a gear shift so i've added one.  Transfers on the inside the windows have worked and are much better than when I stuck them on the outside of a previous build.
Fiddly bits are in progress - Battery, shocks, sway bars, spare wheel etc all primed.
I forgot to paint part of the rear wheels before I glued them on so there is an annoying different coloured area on the back of them.  It doesn't show unless you look for it but...