Luft46's Blog

This arrived in the mail today from Uschi van der Rosten in Augsburg Germany or at http://www.uschivdr.com. It is a set of two A4 sized sheets of thick paper on which are enough parts to make up two sides of a workshop with the other two being open. One side of the workshop has a large window and the other side is a closed door. As well you ge a concrete floor with grates. Colours look quite good and other inclusions are a clock face, some oil drums. The web site includes instructions on how to turn this into a very 3D diorama though accessories including some of that plastic card board to provide bracing for the walls. Now here’s the kicker myine arrived a bit bent because of my strong mail box flap and an overzealous postie. I will be providing feedback on this score. It is now off to sit under some heavy books. Below is the second sheet or check out the website.

Ok so the dicky 5 1/4 inch floppy in the top right means I want to publish something, glad they told me this when they changed things around. That symbol is just so last century…. I am well and truly myself but so what.

The photos are pretty average but the Tornado in RLM 66 on the top seems to suck light, three lights on it didnt help last night. Even for a resin kit this kit was an arm wrestle all the way. I have shots somewhere of an ordinary power drill bit well buried in the pulse tube as I tried to hollow out the exhaust. This and other tragedies like the many pinholes, the supports that either wouldnt stay glued or if they did were at the wrong angle made this an unfun build. Deciding to use Lifecolor paints through an airbrush didnt help either though I solved this in the end by not using them, subsequent research has shown I am not the only one struggling in this regard. Anyway it is now finished so onto something more pleasant.

Ok so WordPress changed things around, why…….. Who knows so this is the pithy version, went to this model show had a good time, bought a few magazines, found two old model catalogues for $1.00 and got some wallpaper for a current project and some ral artificial dirt from Mig. Had a good time, saw lots of models and took lots of photos. This show is going very well and entries are up so much they have added a third row of contest tables this year. Much better organised and nicer people than the Sydney version.

After many years of fighting the carpet monster I have finally vanquished him. I had been increasingly unhappy about the lost items as well as the occasional red back spider ( google it if you are foreign ) in my garage modelling area. I was discussing this with my wife who suggested carpet tiles that would have a relatively flat pile eliminating the grasping tendencies of the carpet monster. After moving my work benches a bit, solid construction equals bloody heavy, I removed the four rolls of carpet, but not without finding a half dozen redbacks and one with a million babies. Carefully squashing these got rid of the problem, the red back may have been downgraded from lethal recently but I hate them, mind you I am the only one who will shepherd the Huntsman spider outside when they come inside in summer. The above mess on my second bench is the result of a little garage tidy up, well that and half the house. I should be back to modelling soon.

This just arrived in the post today, I would do a more extensive post but every man and his dog have already done so. One for me and one for a friend. OTOH I am already having whif thoughts about different radar fits, just can’t help myself at times thought this is the most modelling I have done in weeks.

I’ve been working on too many real world projects lately including helping children with tests. Also putting in a path in the backyard and applying for a job so little inclination to model despite a four day weekend. The Tornado is now painted but needs a final touch up and the last parts added, maybe this week.  Below are shots of that and my workbench, note the real world intrusion on the right!

The desk has just been coated with raw umber oil paint and will need a few days to dry. The beige had two coats and as per advice the raw umber was applied with a bit of a kitchen sponge, due to the awkwardness of some shapes I used two brushes to apply this first on some parts and then finished off with the sponge. I am away for a few days so this will stop me fiddling with the oil paint while it dries.

After a rather long break I have been modelling again. Have slipped into doing a long planned vignette called ” But it’s refence material dear ” based loosely on figure painters, ok very loosely, it’s more of a pastiche than anything. I am also intending to spray tonight on the Tornado.

At the front is the desk with its first coat of Lifecolor Light Stone or beige  with to the left a computer monitor and to the right is my female figure and behind that is the office chair.

The end result of all this tidying up. Compare the cupboard to my first post.

The desk

FW Einsitzer w/ BMW 802 from Planet. This kit suffered a mishap today but is essentially nearly paint ready after a bit of work.

105mm Flak gun – just needs a bit of reassembly, will do over the weekend.

LWS on Steroids. This 1/72 resin kit from Milicast? Destined for a diorama set in John Baxters Luft46 universe. Following on from the 2009 issue by Hobby Boss of a 1/35 version I wanted to add two torpedos to the side, more Machine Guns etc for the Second assault on Stalingrad or the Volga or similar. This is set in the Volga boat strike story in his first book but from a different perspective.

Kora Panther Flak guns – this is stalled due to my slackness in getting some detailed Flak guns for this project that I need from Schatton Modellbau in Germany unless someone else does them in 1/72. Base vehicle is the Revell kit and I will do both versions  ( early and late ) in the same camo so I can swap them out as desired. Just need to restart this one.

AR E 377A manned version. This is a rather still born project to convert this plane over to a piloted version. It foundered on the lack of a suitable canopy and has been doing nothing for years now. Interestingly it does have the landing trolley parts so these go back to the He162/Ar E 377 project to help finish that one off. The rest can be a donation. On the right is what I want and the rest in the box can go.

B-17G for Germanified from Revell. A rather big undertaking this kit, not really many chnges to do, the bombs are now the equivalent German type and the ball turret will be replaced by a remote controlled one. This is for my Munchen 48 universe if it gets finished though it could be used elsewhere.

Seehund at Speyer. This 1/35 diorama is an attempt to reproduce this scene from 1988 and was started soon after. Unfortunately as the real sub on display is a somewhat mutilated version of this sub it has chewed time like nothing else. I am now using the Bronco plastic version after trying with the Verlinden resin one and it is still frustrating. Maybe if I went easier on myself this would get finished.

Lippisch P13B from Anigrand. the canopy on this one doesnt fit so I need to pivot it and detail the cockpit a little then paint. Not really much to do.