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Post by general on Sept 7, 2014 17:22:16 GMT 12
Sparkling job, Ernie. I wouldn't be surprised you're happy with that. I would be.
Regards
Rossky
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Post by general on Sept 7, 2014 16:16:15 GMT 12
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Post by general on Sept 1, 2014 17:33:24 GMT 12
Thanks for the compliments, Johnny and Baz.
Baz, are we talking about the same Kevin? Chap I'm building for is in Rotorua. He travels south on occasion and stops by the house - the 'manor' - to visit. :-)
Cheers
Rossky
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Post by general on Aug 31, 2014 20:33:10 GMT 12
Rattled me dags last week. Kevin emailed to say he'd be in the manor Friday. Decals for the Blunty's Sqn flashes arrive next week, so I'd at least have the A-4K ready for him. Re-read his e-mail later in the day, he actually wrote "Sept 5th". D'oh! At least it motivated me to add the last dangly bits. Regards Rossky
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Post by general on Aug 30, 2014 0:40:42 GMT 12
Love the Rhino.
The pilot wouldn't be Steve Moore, would it? Heard a bit about his adventures when I was in, during the 80s.
Regards
Ross
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Post by general on Aug 5, 2014 17:28:36 GMT 12
Gentlemen. Once done trawling thru the morass of procrastination and indecision the last three-colour went on without a sniffle. If you look at comaparison shots you'll notice the boo-boo on the port rear. I misread the paint T.O.s, had to reverse the Mid-Green and D/G on fin and tailend. There's a trap for young players. You're not wrong, Flyjoe. Three-colour is getting to be something of a routine now. Spent donkey's ages working out masking regime so I could keep things tight and avoid major touch-ups. These are the worst for hangar rash and a general deterioration of the pristine first coat. Also getting into the groove with weathering and fading each shade as I go. A whole new skill set! Who'd'a thunk it I cringed at the idea of an SEA scheme? Now they're kind of fun. So, out with the auto gloss today. First sign of trouble was white specks on the wing. Oooops. Simple deduction, from the symptoms, was not enough thinner. This stuff dries really quick and it was powder when hitting the surface half the time. On previous kits it worked perfect, because I thinned well. Never mind. Fine-grit paper and TLC, should avoid major re-spray. Thnx for looking. Regards Ross
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Post by general on Jul 31, 2014 12:54:36 GMT 12
Don't pass by Ashburton (Sth Canterbury - that's in the Sth Island, below Christchurch). Nice wee museum there.
McD's in Taupo (Nth Island) has a DC3 on pylons alongside. Minus engines. Check out the mountains in the Central Plateau (my 'backyard'). 30-min drive from Turangi, and I can have lunch for you when you get in. Waiouru Army Museum, Nth Island, is about 45 mins south of Turangi. If you're one of them strange folk what likes tracked/wheely things.
Other than that, don't dilly-dally too much in the tourist traps. The distances can be deceptive. Auckland - Wellington is 8+ hrs driving. Picton - Christchurch is 4 hr. Christchurch - Wanaka is a comfortable 5 hr.
Then there's the "Oooh-aahh!" factor, as you're driving. Could add an hour or two to the drive.
Anyhoos, hope this helps.
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Post by general on Jul 22, 2014 12:05:41 GMT 12
Picked up a nice concoction earlier this year. Add to runny honey chopped ginger and lemon slices. Steep for 10 days. Add two to three teaspoons to a mug, pour in hot water.
It's good for sore or scratchy throats.
Alternatively, make up a litre or so and chill for Summer. Supplemented with soda or fizzy lemon it's a rather sulubrious beverage. :-)
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Post by general on Jul 10, 2014 21:06:27 GMT 12
Getting there, getting there. Mostly done on the three-colour. Rear demarcation is being difficult. Minor work still to do. Now comes the fine AB and time to smooth out the patches. Regards
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Post by general on Jul 8, 2014 22:06:13 GMT 12
Painting, painting, painting . . . Wrong green. (Don't ask.) Right green. And more of the greens. A section at a time is whole new kick in the pants. Especially doing a tricky SEA scheme. Regards
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Post by general on Jul 5, 2014 13:45:47 GMT 12
Finally. Some progress. Started shooting the light grey using the 0.25mm tip. Took the slowly-slowly approach to gradually build up opacity. That left a subtle shadow from the pre-shade. Added some plain white to some panels on the stbd, to accentuate. It's not obvious in the lighting. Left the tail unfinished for comparison. And . . . those finnicky &^%$#-ing sway braces. Stretched some sprue. First bit: Held one end against a candle flame then quickly squashed it with tweezers. C-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y drilled out the small disc, starting with my smallest drill bit then working up about 5-6 gauges. Go too quick and it twists the round bit off the stalk. Second bit: Held the end against the candle flame and let it mushroom. Once cool I held it in tweezers secure against the mushroom end and gently filed it flat against an emery board. To install, I drilled holes in the pylon and CA'd the braces. Slipped the 'bolt' pieces, with extra length, thru the holes in the braces without glue. Press-fit the tank, adjusted the 'bolts' to rest against the tank then CA'd secure. Removed the tank and trimmed the lengths. Natch, the light grey on the tanks picked up seams and pits. Had some minor puttying to do. Also need to add D/G to the pylon leading edge and upper camo to the tanks. Still, the undersides look purdy. Regards
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Post by general on Jun 13, 2014 22:26:31 GMT 12
Great film. Strange to see agricultural and logging vehicles in the central city. Goes to show how long ago arterials and bypasses were introduced.
Regards
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Post by general on Jun 5, 2014 21:11:49 GMT 12
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Post by general on Jun 2, 2014 20:00:19 GMT 12
Dad, J-Force, with two buddies. White webbing and puttees so they're security detingent by then.
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Post by general on May 31, 2014 12:38:28 GMT 12
Dave, you're a credit to journalism. The 'real' story of servicemen is a rare find, especially of NZers. Many thanks for all your diligence and work to produce the series.
Regards
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Post by general on May 29, 2014 20:22:02 GMT 12
Great news, Kerry. Much appreciated. I've PM'd him. The café sounds my kind of place!
Regards
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Post by general on May 29, 2014 8:51:35 GMT 12
Yep, indeedy, Joe. I've dragged the heels too long and decided to get her rolling. Whire plastic adds to the work. A grey or black primer coat aids the scribing. When I sand off the primer and I'm back to white I scribble water-based felt-tip pen along the scribed lines, then wipe away the excess. Simple and quick "datum" to check shape and depth.
In re: the Blunty. It may look a lot but there's not that much filler req'd. It only looks serious because I've smeared it on without tape guides. Those wee fairings inboard of the MLG doors are slightly narrow, and also have sink holes. Most of the fault lies with slightly off mounting slots. The wing mounting tabs are a little thick. I had to file them down to fit, whilst keeping them centralised. Stbd one still ended up a little low.
Otherwise, joint faces are actually very clean and precise.
Regards
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Post by general on May 26, 2014 19:12:56 GMT 12
Quote: Craig O'Dwyer now lives & works in London, in fact the same road i work in myself!! He owns a very successful cafe & vintage scooter business, rusty Lambrettas & strong coffee are all the vogue at the moment.
Thanks for the update. Wanganui! Please let me know the name of the road. :-)
He and I hung out a bit. I remember his re-muster from sumpie (?). After he banged out and went to Richmond Av College I'd sometimes get a call from Omaka. Wx had socked in on a X-country and I'd fetch him, so he'd doss in the units o/night.
Last thing I'd heard from him he was in Italy restoring scooters, then I lost touch. Quite successful then, too!
Justine is a nice lady. Hung out with her mad bunch here 'n there.
Man, some of those photogs are waaaayyy back when.
Basil Kananginis was on my RACS, 4/84. Paul Stein, when he was based Woody. Chip Dale, R1/85. I roomed with his mate, Todd Monaghan, during 4TTS.
And a few others . . .
Have to flick thru the journals, now!
Regards
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Post by general on May 26, 2014 13:52:28 GMT 12
Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey. Time and energy comes and goes. I must admit I've been happily distracted by my little Airfix F-4B/J. It's a nostalgia build and nudged the Blunty aside for a little. Meanwhile, I bit the bullet and put on the rest of the resin. I'll leave off the towel rail antenna until painted. Added dowel struts to provide clearance and protect all the protuberances. The last seam work is holding up paint shop. Regards
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Post by general on May 13, 2014 20:55:15 GMT 12
Really pretty Twotter. I've been fond of the blue/white for ages. Very clean build.
Regards
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