Super Bowl 49

As a Seattle-area resident since 1985....

#worstcallever

A proper start

After vanishing for months after my festival of whining last summer, I was all prepared to burst back on the scene with a new series of blog entries once we made it to the new year. And almost as soon as the calender clicked over and I began to get serious about the upcoming work -- I had a computer meltdown. Yes, I will own up to it being self-inflicted. One glass of iced tea too close to the laptop, and you can fill in the blanks yourself. The problem was that the laptop keyboard gave up the ghost, and decided it would be best to input random keystrokes instead of what I intended to input. Granted, I use an external keyboard and mouse - never really liked laptops but SWMBO does - but once the input actually gets to the motherboard you're hosed. 

So off to the repair shop I went. The procedure was actually fairly simple: some minor cleaning and a disconnect between the laptop keyboard and the motherboard. But the shop was still dealing with a holiday upsurge in business and it took 3 or 4 days to work my way through the queue. 

So I took a short journey to the 1970s, before we had all these wonderful computer items to squander our time. Sort of like when our power goes out, but at least there were lights on and I could turn on the stereo. But no blogs, no forums, no email, no commerce. You'd think that would be a perfect time to catch up with my modelling tasks, wouldn't you? Yes, a wonderful time. Ahem. 

But even if my workbench remained uncontaminated by the presence of in progress models, I did at least give some thought to my next series of projects. Most are just getting back up to speed with things that are already in motion (some Spitfires, P-1106, Ju-87, B-26) but one new project was inspired by a decal sheet I picked up sometime in the fall. Here is a hint. 

A wish for a happy 2015

Although the vast industrial might of the 72 Land production line have been pretty cold and bleak in 2014, we are hoping for a great revival in the new year. Even if we are still feeling like this at present: 

Not mine, but he seems to embody the mood quite well. 

I have been prowling around the stash looking for new victims. Plus I'm trying to retrieve some items from the Shelf of Shame. Keep an eye out for a new early RAF B-17, a whif B-36, and a number of projects from the earlier parts of WW2 (most by Airfix). There seem to be mostly prop types under consideration at present, but jets will no doubt figure into the queue eventually. 

In the meantime, I'd like to wish everyone who has been keeping an eye on the 72 Land Blog this year a very happy and prosperous 2015.

Canopy prep

Not much happening in the modelling dungeon this week, but I did have a chance to get the canopy of the P-1106 masked and attached to the model. A few more things need to be done before it enters the paint shop: it needs some minor seam work and the landing gear doors will need to be added.

I seem to have found many reasons to delay my return to airbrushing. I'm sure this is discomfort due to my understanding that I'm not terribly good at it. Until you put on the paint the model you are working on is still the best thing you've ever done, after all. The fact that I was having actual mechanical problems with the brush itself earlier this year doesn't help. They seemed to be improving (when I added a new O-ring to the nose) before the summer season hit, but we'll see when I get around to an actual session.

Here is a shot of the current state of the Huma P-1106. I still think it is a great aeronautical shape, no matter what the flight characteristics were projected to be. 

Setting up some airbrush time

When it rains. Somehow I've managed to destroy my lower back doing something strenuous (like, k'now, standing up). So you'll have to imagine me at a 45 degree list as I type this. It's either laugh or get committed around here sometimes.

I'm working on setting up for my first airbrushing session in quite some time. There are already a few items in the queue, including the two Tamiya Spitfires I discovered half started while trying to sell them at the Spring Show and a Hasegawa B-26C that I just never was satisfied with the NMF I had originally applied. Shortly I will be masking off the lower surfaces of two HobbyBoss Hurricanes. And then, finally, I will be masking the canopy and doing some seam repair on the Huma P-1106 that I recently started a  mojo ignition project.

As I was taking a leisurely stroll through the decal box the other day I ran across some potential decals for the 1106. Tim is quite right (see comments for 9-28-14) that a projected Marseilles aircraft would be perfect for the type, but I'm trying to stick with items on hand as much as possible. I found a partially used Aeromaster sheet for Bf-109s from JG27. This is sheet 72-073. It is the third example on the first page, an F-2 Trop flown by Eduard Neumann in Libya in the winter of 1941. Well, mine will be a few years later and will assume that the Germans had not gotten chased out of North Africa before the new experimental jet aircraft started to arrive. But it is very similar to the paint scheme I found on the net, with a yellow nose and rudders, and a white fuselage stripe and wingtips. One requirement was to have the JG27 unit marking on the nose. 

50,000

I've just noticed that my page-read counter has gone over 50,000. This would be a good time to give my heartfelt thanks to all the readers who have spent the time to take the occasional look at whatever weird stuff I spew out. Or at least that one guy who looked at the first page 50,000 times. 

My entire purpose in beginning this blog was to try and present modelling in a forthright positive light. There is so much negativity on some of the forums that I frequent. I wanted to show that models could be built, that if they aren't perfect it is not the end of the world, that enthusiasm can sometimes be shown to take the place of talent, that 1 mm is not a dealbreaker for everyone. I really am serious about being comfortable being a Profoundly Average Modeller, and will try to evangelize the concept where and when I can. 

Of course even I violate those principles on occasion (see recent rant), so, again, I appreciate everyone's patience and forbearance. Back to the bench! 

Airfix in 2015

We're just a few weeks out from the annual IPMS-UK Nationals. Although most kitmakers announce their new releases at intervals throughout the year, Airfix is one of the few manufacturers that tries to hold something back for the UK show. We all have types that we want someone to produce - so what 1:72 kits would I like to see from Airfix in 2015?

Imagine BBSS.

Fairey Battle. An important early war type that will fit in well with 2014's Blenheim and Do-17. Might even get the nose correct this time. 

HS Buccaneer. Something of a long shot, but it really is needed and is in line with their longstanding policy of redoing popular ancient kits.

Avro Shackleton. This has been rumored since the Nimrod was issued. And there is a tale that Airfix staff were measuring a restored example in the UK. Sometimes this is mentioned as a Lincoln. I'd go for either one.

Supermarine Scimitar. Another long shot, but if their research said a Swift would sell, this should be a natural.

And if they want something with less effort, just scale down the CAD file for the Javelin and cut some metal.

Despite being a Yank, Airfix is dear to me. I loved most of their 2014 program (Tiger Moth, ragwing Hurricane, Blenheim, Do-17, DC-3, Swift) and will likely be at least interested in whatever they release in my scale. Well, ok, if they come out with a line of F-16s that might cause me to go catatonic. Hopefully we'll get some answers at Telford this year.

Discuss amongst yourselves....