TallEng's Modelling musing

[TallEng]

Blog?
To write a blog or not?
I'm hoping that this will encourage me to build/finish a few more models, especially if I try and update it regularly with progress reports and ideas for other whiffs. Comments and thread drift welcome
I think I'll give it a go, why not what could possibly go wrong?....
So A bit about me, I have worked on Airplanes (various) since leaving home, first for Her Majesty, then Later the Worlds Favorite airline, then much later from a full service airline to The Low fares, made simple airline. and currently a well known cargo airline, Excellence, simply delivered. 
Hopefully you lot will be able to work out who I mean. 
For me this hobby started with saving my pocket money and buying Airfix kits from the local newsagent. Series 1 of course still in the plastic bag with the Instructions stapled to the bag (had to be careful removing the staples otherwise ripped instructions...) remember Airfix paints in the little glass bottles? G1 was gloss red and I think G8 might have been silver? Later on with paper round money I moved onto the bigger ones, and the airspace on the ceiling of my bedroom became crowded with the likes of the Blenhiem IV, B17G ('a bit o lace') B29 ('Joltin Josie') P51 (fools paradise IV) and many more. I've still got a Boxed B29 somewhere with the wonderful written instruction sheet (Cement pilot (1) and Co-pilot (2) to seats (3,4) then cement locating pins....) First whiff? Not sure, think it was probably Concorde in green and brown, and The swedish marine transfers from the Airfix Vertol 107-II.
No idea why though...
Of course leaving home and joining the RAF put a bit of a stop to Modelling for a few years, but I Remember buying the Matchbox Victor in the NAAFI whilst based at Laarbruch (BFPO43) so the bug never really left. Later on I discovered  Airfix magazine with its conversion articles (featuring balsa and talcum powder) Scale Modelling (covered all sorts, planes, cars, trucks, tanks etc) and then of course Scale Aircraft Modelling, with its wonderful Profiles/in depth articles on one type of Aircraft and of course if you read SAM, you read tail piece by Mike Mcavoy and it was reading him that made me realize that whiffing was OK. Of course finding here sometime in 2009 and all the wonderful modelers who lurk here was the icing on the cake, it's all been downhill from there.
Current projects include a Phantom for the in the Navy GB (it's in the paint shop) Flt Lt Pollocks Lightning F.6 (decals stage and has been for a while..) various other Lightnings, a RAuxAF Hunter, Belgian Tornado.... There are many others gathering dust waiting for that elusive spark to finish them.
However my current obsession is an Eduard Spitfire XVI in 1/72 (is there any other scale?) it's the Royal Edition = more marking options and P.E. It's very detailed and quite complex in its make up. There are over 25 parts that go to make up the cockpit including some really tiny etched bits that I've not fitted.
My fingers/eyesight/patience/tweezers aren't that good, and now I've closed the fuselage up you can't see half of them anyway... But I do like the pre painted instrument panel and seat belts, they really do make a difference. I've also been trawling the Web for more info about AVM Robb's personal Spitfire (late version) as that's the marking option I want to do. More on that subject another time.
All in all its turning out to be a very enjoyable project.
Might even add some pictures next time.

Regards
Keith

[zenrat]

I find having a blog enables one to waffle on about anything one likes (within reason obviously) without hijacking someone else'e thread.
Although there is nothing wrong with a good hijack either.

You wrote "remember Airfix paints in the little glass bottles? G1 was gloss red" and I swear I could smell it.

[PR19_Kit]

it's all been downhill from there.

That says it all really. 

[NARSES2]

Must admit I find keeping a Blog on here encourages me to keep working at my builds even if it's only a little bit here and there. Keeps me at it 

From memory Airfix's own brand paints were truly awful, but I suppose we are talking about early 60's ? Or was it late 50's even ?

[TallEng]

There was going to be a couple of pictures next, but that will have to wait until I'm on my laptop,
So here's some more musing 
I've been delving around on the web for more photos of AVM Robb's Spitfire XVI,
Not doing very well. Many photos of SL271 in its various preserved schemes but very few from its service life. It was first painted in a blue scheme that is referred to as scheme D Light PRU Blue with C type roundels. This scheme lasted until the Aircraft was involved in a landing accident and had to be repaired. Afterwards it returns in what is called scheme D dark PRU blue with D type roundels. See this site for some of the pictures if youre interested. http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/131/Supermarine-Superstar.aspx
The  few black and white photos I've found on the web showing the Spitfire in its late darker scheme seem to my eyes to be to dark for the colour to be PRU Blue, but there is also one colour photo that would seem to show the aircraft in dark PRU Blue or possibly Blue Grey, however it is after it was purchased from storage and put on display by a garage owner, and could possibly have had a re-paint at some stage.
Of course interpreting old photos is a large can of worms...
Depending on the time of day and which of the photos I'm studying I can make myself believe it was painted in RAF Blue Grey or PRU Blue or possibly a dark blue like Oxford blue. Another dark blue that has a PR connection is Bosun Blue which  was used on some PR Hurricanes in the East/Far East.
Your thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.

Regards
Keith.

Further research has revealed that Lifelike decals claim the colour is Oxford blue for VIP aircraft. Information based on a colour photo from the above mentioned site that has now been removed apparently....
Why am I even bothering with all this head scratching when I'm a Whiffer is also a very good question.

[PR19_Kit]

Why am I even bothering with all this head scratching when I'm a Whiffer is also a very good question.

Remember Kit's 2nd Law of Whiffing, 'The backstory can always be adjusted to suit the model'. 

[NARSES2]

Why am I even bothering with all this head scratching when I'm a Whiffer is also a very good question.

Because once something like this starts to niggle at us we can't let it go. We're all like it 

[The Wooksta!]

PRU Blue is an odd colour that seems to change it's shade whatever the lighting conditions.

And if you think Robb's aircraft is a right can of worms, try the container load that is K5054...

[PR19_Kit]

PRU Blue is an odd colour that seems to change it's shade whatever the lighting conditions.

Not to mention who manufactures it.

I've got maybe 5-6 cans by different manufacturers and NONE of them are the same shade as any of the others. 

[TallEng]

Well I'm back at my home Work bench now, so a quick update,
Eduards XVI on the left and Airfix's 22/24 on the right,
From the bottom: Xtracolor PRU Blue, Oxford Blue and Blue/Grey, The Airfix 22/24 has had one coat of Xtracolor Dark Sea Grey.
Have to make my mind up sometime soon



Regards
Keith

[The Wooksta!]

Go PRU Blue.  There's more opinions than pebbles on a beach, and some arsepiece is going to say you're wrong whatever you do.  One of the colour photos looks close enough to PRU Blue, so say you're going with the colour on that photo and give whoever complains advice regarding sex and travel.  Or Specsavers if you want to be tactful.  Remember the motto - My Fecking Model!

[TallEng]

Managed a bit more stuff today
Found a possible Not PRU Blue, PRU Blue like colour for the AVM's Spitfire
Sorted out the Spitfire tail feathers, with displaced elevators and rudders. plus Lightning U/C Fitment, only managed the one though instead of the hoped for two sets.

, on Flickr

Gave the Instructions of the Valom Buckmaster and the box contents a damm good looking at. (And told myself to leave it in the box )
keep thinking it would make good Fast Transport/Communications/Courier Aircraft instead of the Buckingham. I think its the slightly wider two seater cockpit that does it, just need to give it a couple of windows for the Pax. Must resist the temptation to start it.

Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

The camouflaged Lightning looks interesting

[TallEng]

The camouflaged Lightning looks interesting

Ah yes, although you cant tell from this angle, that's the Airfix Lightning with Freightdog Lightning FGA conversion kit.
its in that "odd" Post war Desert scheme of Light Slate Grey, Dark Earth and Medium Sea Grey, or it will be when I've painted
the undersides. Struggling a bit with the Markings for this one, Ideally it needs to be one of the Middle East Ex Hunter or Meteor
Sqns, but not 43Sqn (I want them to join 111Sqn at Leuchars for some full colour fun )
I just need to rummage through my Xtradecal Hunter/Meteor sheets and make a decision. trouble is not lot of the Hunter/Meteor Sqn.
Fuselage bar markings transfer quite so well to the nose of a Lightning. Maybe I should Look at Vampire decal sheets for Sqn. for Markings?

Regards
Keith

[The Wooksta!]

8 Sqn?  The arrow head that they wore on their Meteors is quite attractive AND they were traditionally a middle east sqn.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Euro-Decals-GLOSTER-METEOR-FR-MK-9-Decals-Royal-Air-force-WW11-RAF-ED72116/153136709833

It's also on an old Modeldecal sheet.