Well-earned break?

When you work it home it's hard to make a break from work, and it brings whole new meaning to the term 'staycation'. The break turns into a spot of work here and there, but mostly on the things that you really enjoy doing. Here's what I've enjoyed doing over my 'break'.

I've just finished this Fine Molds A7M2 Reppu 'Sam', and very lovely it was too. It has the full cockpit and engine treatment, though the interior was a little patchy. It was a large and unusual model, and I think it's quite something.



Coming up behind the 'Sam' is the B5N2 'Kate'. There are some makes of model that if you merely built them from the box, you would be disappointed with the result. Hasegawa are not one of these, and give you a proper kit. The three-crew cockpit, for example, is so convincing it inspires the builder to do his very best to bring out all that lovely detail. More on this interesting project later.

Last, but by no means least is the Mystere IV from Fonderie. Having overcome the obstacles it presented this far, the model is now being prepared for its bare metal finish. The tactical masking will bring out the subtle metal 'tones'. This promises to be a very bright and eye catching model when complete. Aircraft from this era have always been of interest to me, partly for their bold colour schemes.
So it was a pretty good break, all in all.

It's a Mystere to Me

If you were contemplating the Fonderie Miniatures Mystere IV for a forthcoming build, you might find the following of interest.

The kit features a number of photo-etched and resin parts. They are not all overflowing with detail, but what detail is present is quite sharp, and fits in place very well. The ejector seat is excellent. Getting the fuselage and wings together must be done with great care and you need a lot of patience. Check out my earlier blog on this regarding the Super Mystere.

With the main assembly complete, this is what the builder is faced with. Most joints are ragged, some have heavy flash. The jet intake and exhaust have big steps in them due to the mismatch of the fuselage halves. Nothing that can't be overcome though.


Although the kit features engraved panel lines, the fuselage is quite pitted and needs rubbing down - yes, the lot!


I've completed the rubbing down and replaced the panel lines lost in the process. It is now starting to resemble a Mystere IV. It still remains for me to thin out the thick plastic sited at the exhaust and intake areas.

I think it's great that an early Mystere is now available in 1/48 scale, but to build it successfully you must have plenty of modelling experience, and really want one!

Painting comes next - a natural metal finish will transform this model.

New Year's Resolution

I don't smoke, so I can't give that up, and I don't drink enough to warrant stopping - so that doesn't leave a lot to resolve. I could diet, but the lure of chocolate would be too strong - there has to be SOME vice in life.

However, last week my wife found a stash of old stored photos on a couple of CDs at the back of the desk drawer. It turned out to be quite a trip down memory lane. Before I went onto aircraft full time, I used to be a regular builder of AFVs. Figures, dioramas, the lot. Here are some of the photos we came across. It's amazing how many builds you can amass. More to come at another time.



So my New Year's resolution? More armour, I think.

Tales from the North pole

Well of course it isn't really the North Pole, it just feels like it. But the Arctic conditions on the outside have not interfered with the Christmas cheer on the inside. And I have enjoyed not just seasonal jollifications but also those of the plastic variety.

To illustrate this, here are some views of the North Pole (our street and back garden)

And here are some views of the inside fun. This is the recently completed A-7E Corsair in 1/32 scale.


An ongoing project is this 1/48 A6M7 Reppu 'Sam' from Fine Molds, currently drying after its coat of primer. More on this one later too.



Right now though, there are parts of me I must press against a warm radiator.