iggie's modelling table

[iggie]

Nicely done Zero and some great canal shots. I'd heard canals were quite shallow but as most of them are a bit murky it's hard to tell from the tow path. I thought they might be a bit deeper than that though, what's the average canal depth in the UK?

It depends on the actual canal, but most are around 3-4 feet, slightly more in the centre and less at the bank. We draw about 22" at the stern, and we have touched bottom near the sides (usually when avoiding hire boats ) on a couple of occasions. Lock chambers are the really deep parts, potentially up to 16' or so when full; that's when falling in is really dangerous and is not recommended! Although I've not fallen in (yet) myself, I have fished one chap out, and the mud stuck to his legs was not pleasant!

[iggie]

OK, a new project while I wait for warmer weather to get on with painting the Fortress, and before the Cargo Haulers GB to start
Is an oldie but the parts count is not excessive so what could go wrong?

[PGAS]

The Zero looks a treat to me Iggie. Its funny but the colour seems darker now that it is done. I really like the yellow leading edge with the green. The two colours really stand out. I forgot about this paint scheme. Very fine job!

WRT the Albatros, how are you planning on doing the wood paneled sides of the fuselage? With those wood panel decals?

Some nice pictures of the canal. Looks like a fun trip.

On a side note, the remove before flight tag is just the post that marks the edge of the driveway under the snow across the street.

[Stuart]

Nice canal piccies Iggie - They seem to drain one section of those locks every year (it was the one under the road bridge last winter if I recall correctly).

That Zero looks great.

[ShaunW]

The Albatros is a good choice of subject Iggie, I rather like those old Revell WWI kits. Although the question has already been asked, I thought I'd repeat it anyway, what are your plans re the wooden fuselage? I know there are specialist decals out there but I like to DIY with kits wherever possible and I think I'd go with something like Tamiya earth brown plus an overcoat of their clear orange, casually ignoring any sort of timber grain given the small scale, as a kind of lazy man's wood effect

[iggie]

I'm afraid I'm going to cheat with the wood and use more decals
This time I'll use the 'fine' grain pattern and also the correct scale too While looking for the fine grain pattern I realised that I have used 1/48 scale grain on the B-17! oh well, it looks OK through the glass

The top lock at Stoke Bruerne was drained last year for brickwork repairs and to replace the cill timbers. The Canals and Rivers Trust also opened it for the public to go inside the lock and see the engineering up close. The rest of the flight had some minor work done until the stoppage this year.

[iggie]

More work on the Albatross while I wait for the weather to warm up enough to spray the B-17 and the Cargo Haulers GB to commence
I decided to use some replacement machine guns as the kit part was laughable At top of picture, AM parts below

And the replacements completed; the cooling jacket on one is twisted but as it is now CA'd in place it'll have to stay that way..

I decided to add a floor

and an IP (decal is from an X-wing fighter! )

Various lumps on the wings have to be cut and sanded off

Fuselage buttoned up and aluminium painted around engine covers

Pilot in progress!

and at close of play last night

[ShaunW]

That wood decal is very effective and I always find it amusing to use instrument decals from jet fighters or whatever in prop planes (I'm sad that way) and the results can be very effective. The twisted cooling jackets will probably be less apparent once mounted on the fuselage and largely hidden by the top wing. It's annoying when stuff like that happens but the replacement guns still look light years better than the kit efforts!

[iggie]

Cheers Shaun!

I'm even more impressed with the wood decals now though; this is the progress from this evening after applying individual pieces to the panels as shown on the box artwork; I scribed them yesterday (another first for me!) very roughly and cut sections of wood decal to match
The fuselage with a coat of Revell wood colour, roughly brushed to give it some variation

The first section goes on!

Port side (I'll touch in the Aluminium after the decals are dry and cut out the cockpit)

Starboard side

[ShaunW]

Very effective Iggie, that is a better idea than my lazy man's suggestion - I find wood difficult to simulate in plastic but then again I don't get chance to practice it very much as most of my models are of post war jet aircraft.

[TobyC]

Wow. I'm liking this a lot. You've done a great job with the wood grain. Very effective.

[iggie]

Cheers Toby!

As at this evening; lots of painting, wings on etcetera etcetera etcetera.......

[Migrant]

That looks superb Iggie. I might have to get me some of those wood-decals. I like the camo on the upper wing too, not seen that particular colour combination before.

[iggie]

It's an unusual scheme ain't it?!

In other news, the B-17 has finally been on a trip to the garage and had a coast of rattle can black all over as an undercoat for AK Interactive metallics; I'm going to use Duraluminum and then maybe go over some panels with a different metal finish for variety! (Our maybe not...... )

[Stamford]

Never heard of wood decals - now I have to have some! Like the idea of the spaceship IP in a biplane too - you´re a naughty boy.