Softscience in 2022 and Beyond

[JamesPerrin]

Catching up after a week away for work. Lots of great progress Ralph and the builds are going well. Excited to see some colour on the Beest.

[Softscience]

Just random musings, but this year is shaping out to be pretty interesting as far as modeling goes (and real life too, I suppose). As we close roll into spring, I have two shelf queens completed (beaufighter started early 2023 and beaufort started late 2022) , and one more almost at the finish line (Roland CII started late 2019). There is a fourth, but I'm not sure is going to work out, so I haven't been posting on it yet.

I also have the a sudden burgeoning interest in aircraft used in Southeast and South Asia during WW II and also in biplanes; both spurred by my Vildebeest project.

I know I don't stick to modeling (or any) plans very closely, but right now the next few projects will probably be two or three from the following piles.

-Finish the Vildebeest
-Tropical flying boats (!!!)
-Austro-Hungarian weirdness (!)
-mid-1930s RAF weirdness
-Yellow winged biplanes
-LARGE scale dogfights over Malaya
-More Roland

[JamesPerrin]

We live in interesting times

[Softscience]

We live in interesting times

Ooof! Ain't that the truth?

[iggie]

-Finish the Vildebeest
-Tropical flying boats (!!!)
-Austro-Hungarian weirdness (!)
-mid-1930s RAF weirdness
-Yellow winged biplanes
-LARGE scale dogfights over Malaya
-More Roland

That's a varied list and no mistake!

[Andy Dighton]

Lots of varying stuff to look forward to.

[Lone Modeller]

Good news on the real aeroplanes front!

[Softscience]

I think the Roland is ostensibly done. I just need to step back from it and then review for any spots that may need touched up or final adjustments.





More pics in the aviation gallery here

[B4en]

Superb!

[Andy Dighton]

Stunning. That's all I can come up with.

[iggie]

The Roland looks fantastic!

[Stuart]

First off - both the Roland and the Vilderbeast look excellent - very nicely done.

Stuart. I'm not sure I'd ever say my work is going any one way. I get bursts of intense interest in a particular thing, but then along the way, something else grabs my attention and I go on a tangent.

Right now I'm still on my Malaya Campaign kick, and a biplane kick, but next week who knows? Maybe it's going to be antarctic explorers. Hmmm...should check eBay for a Ford trimotor..

I also have the a sudden burgeoning interest in aircraft used in Southeast and South Asia during WW II and also in biplanes; both spurred by my Vildebeest project.

I'm the same in some ways, I'll start down down one path, see a build or GB or something that inspires me, and then go off in a completely different direction.

I've you on the South East Asia thing, I've been reading these two rather interesting books about the air war over India And Burma, a subject I admit I know nothing about - Like you I find myself wanting to learn more and build more about that theater. The Hurricane IIC I've just finished I had intended to build in SEAC markings, but alas they didn't turn up - but since putting it in African Markings, I've been reading about Neville Duke's adventures in the Desert Air Force and I find myself wanting to learn more about that campaign too. But the war against the Japanese - that's very interesting. It's part of the reason I'm keen to get past the C-130, as I want to build a lot more WWII subjects, but those that are a bit different.



I can recommend both, although the Mohawk book was hard to get at a decent price - my wife spent a few months monitoring various old book sellers before she got me a copy. But really interesting. one thing I learnt, was that before the installation of Radar in India, the RAF was using converted single seat patrolling Hawker Audax Biplanes as early waring of Japanese raids. I also didn't know that the USAAF were flying B-25's out of India.

And biplanes! Man, I really want to build biplanes, although funnily enough I find myself much more interested in those used in the late 30's and WWII.

Anyway, I'll shut up!

[Stuart]

Oh and Trimotors - fab idea! I'd love to build some trimotors, especially on skis!

[Softscience]

I can recommend both, although the Mohawk book was hard to get at a decent price - my wife spent a few months monitoring various old book sellers before she got me a copy. But really interesting. one thing I learnt, was that before the installation of Radar in India, the RAF was using converted single seat patrolling Hawker Audax Biplanes as early waring of Japanese raids. I also didn't know that the USAAF were flying B-25's out of India.

And biplanes! Man, I really want to build biplanes, although funnily enough I find myself much more interested in those used in the late 30's and WWII.

Anyway, I'll shut up!

Holy freaking cow! This is a blast from the past. I remember getting Mohawks Over Burma from the school library, back when I was in the 8th grade. This would have been 1992 or 1993. My interest in aviation and WW II was just beginning to bubble back then, and I remember entertaining thoughts of being a military pilot (my crap right eye would force me to give up that dream, and drive me into near suicidal depression a few years later, but that is an entirely different story) and when I read that book I imagined myself up to similar adventures. If I recall, I had to return the book before I was able to finish it, and for some reason was unable to rent it out again. Maybe I had just moved on to something else then. I remember reading James Howard's biography and a fictional book about WW I pilots at around the same time. But it was instrumental in shaping my interests for many years to come.

[Stuart]

Holy freaking cow! This is a blast from the past. I remember getting Mohawks Over Burma from the school library, back when I was in the 8th grade. This would have been 1992 or 1993. My interest in aviation and WW II was just beginning to bubble back then, and I remember entertaining thoughts of being a military pilot (my crap right eye would force me to give up that dream, and drive me into near suicidal depression a few years later, but that is an entirely different story) and when I read that book I imagined myself up to similar adventures. If I recall, I had to return the book before I was able to finish it, and for some reason was unable to rent it out again. Maybe I had just moved on to something else then. I remember reading James Howard's biography and a fictional book about WW I pilots at around the same time. But it was instrumental in shaping my interests for many years to come.

Same - I applied for NCO Aircrew back in the 90's and whilst I passed all the entrance exams and technical knowledge requirements - I failed miserably on the eyesight requirements - I'm still gutted to this day.

That's awesome though that you've read bits of it - I'd never heard of it until I happened a 2nd hand copy at my local aviation museum for stupid money. Sadly it's never had a reprint, so the 80's copies are all there are - you can pick them up from the likes of ebay, but the cheapest I've found was £40 - £50. I feel rather lucky to have this copy. I think there is an on-line PDF copy somewhere.