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FROM WAY DOWNUNDER


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Hello from Downunder,

Well all this Luffwaffe stuff has got me going so at the risk of crossing some unwritten rule, I recently purchased several 21st Century Toy 1/32 models to use as a starting platform to get back into the fray. I figured the cost of these kits is low enough that if I stuff up it will be at a minimal loss.

 

If I’m permitted to join in, the attached image shows the two kits I’ll work on for this group build, the JU87B-1 and the Me109 G-14. What you see here is about an hour’s work to put the two together straight from the box. I was really just interested to see how long it would take as I’m really impressed something this size costs so little - this has to be a great way of bringing youth back into the hobby (sorry ex Cub and Scout Group leader...) .

 

Also, you’ll have to forgive the 1/33.86 scale DJ class loco that just happens to be sitting in the background, I couldn’t resist showing the real modelling passion of my life (there’s a 50ft x 20ft – 16.5 x 6.8 m - modular layout stacked away in the basement on which we run these sorts of trains at public display, they are mostly brass, zinc, plastic, bog and powered by Philips 9 pole dialysis electric motors running through plastic chain driven drives).

 

Oops, back to the aircraft, they won’t be detailed builds, rather just knocked up to practice my airbrushing and weathering. The Stuka appears to accurate in outline, but I haven’t researched the Me109 as yet. However, I must say it would be the first Me109 kit that I’ve seen which actually sits right on its undercarriage, not only are the legs spaced correctly but they appear to be angled forward correctly as well. Look forward to updating again soon.

 

Regards Brent :)

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Hi Brent.

 

That is a spectacular looking DJ.

I also love to build a bit of NZR but in a slightly smaller scale (1/160). Scratch-building model rail is excellent practice for building Large scale planes.

Wish I had time to do either right now.

 

Looks like a great start with the 21st Century kits.

 

Keith.

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Thanks Keith, :blink:

 

Have to fess up, the DJ (which is in need of some repairs having travelled the length and breadth of the country with me over the last 10 year), is over 20 years old and was made by one of your fellow Aucklanders, Terry B, but was the only thing I had available to 'sneak' into the back of the image, all my railway modelling gear is packed away.

 

As for the kits, they are now unassembled again and I've already seperated the flying surfaces (except for the Me109 ailerons), hopefully I'll get an hour or two today to do a little modelling today and then I'll update with a couple of images tonight.

 

Regards Brent :lol:

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Sun Night,

 

Notice the Dj loco has been replaced with books for study - dang! So, in between bouts of 'Strategic Culture', I disassembled the basic wings and fuselages I through together the other day (could get used to the screwing aircraft together) and got into cutting off the flaps, elevators and rudders etc for both aircraft, these will be at lowered, drooped and canted off respectively.

 

I'm not going to do much with the 109 cockpit, but will add some basic detail to the Ju 87s as can be seen by the white 'blobs'. I'll make a new pilots seat this week, replace the armour plating behind the pilot with something a little thinner that would be more representative of what was actually there (if the seat and armour plate where scaled up to full size, it would doubtful that the aircraft would actually get airbourne that alone carry a bomb load). Also will add some wiring in the cockpit.

 

There's a couple of foreign bits there, the ailerons and dive brakes are from the Hasegawa G-2 kit and there are some resin exhausts for the Stuka as well.

 

Well that's me, the iron beckons to flatten a uniform for tomorrow, so until the next update,

 

Take care

 

Regards Brent

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Brent,

 

Nice work man. I love the paint job on the loc...it would look great in a dio. If you want feel free to post some additional piccies in general discussion.

 

Cheers Matty

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Hi Matty,

 

Am feeling a little guilty actually, I'm running out of time to complete the last paper of a Masters degree and on top of another couple of unexpected challenges thrown at me haven't been able to do any more modeling on the JU87 and Me109, although both looking at me forlornly just waiting for another part to be painted and glued...

 

I'm only looking at the site as I'm lounging at Auckland airport waiting for a meeting to start that is now running two hours late so thought I'd take a we peak to see what happened over the last week in the modeling world.

 

As for the DJ loco, it is actually over 20 years old and has had a rough life in travel having been (and still is) part of a modular layout exhibition circuit, so the weathering affects are half deliberate and half natural.

 

I'll take up your offer and post some images of the layout, it has a huge amount of potential but there is a lot of work yet. I'll post these over the weekend.

 

Thanks for the comments,

 

Regards

 

Brent

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Hi Gents,

 

Apologies re my lack of modelling progress on these projects but I've been run off my feet for the last two months with five weeks out of town and two training sessions while back here in Wellington. What little time I have had for modelling was taken up preparing the 50ft x 20 ft (16.5m x 6.2m) modular railway layout I've obtained and with a group of fellow modellers we publically display.

 

So having just got my blessed feet back on the ground - apart from three days in Melbourne next week - I'm a free man in the evenings from next Thursday so will just have to finish the two model (aircraft) and post them on the general build as I'm not going to make this Saturday!

 

Have posted a few images of the layout as it was set up in Palmerston North over the weekend of 19/20 Jul. To gain a perspective of its size, the scale is 1/33.86 or 9mm to the foot, the steam loco J1226 is 600mm long and the railcar RM108 is 988mm long. The layout itself has been in storage for about 10 years so there is a bit of work to bring it back up to a reasonable standard, something we are doing bit by bit - there is a long way to go yet though but we are having some fun while doing it.

 

Take care,

 

Regards

 

Brent

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This is the first public display we did in Wellington last November, they could only fit half the layout up as we were a late call-up, a fun weekend - that's me leaning across the layout - the fat controller!

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Last one ever I promise, excuse the blur, it just illustrates the other side of the layout which represents the Kaikora Coastline north of Christchurch, the loco gives an indication of the size of the bridge noting this is only half on the rear side...

 

Thanks for looking, Rgds Brent

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Wow...nice one

 

I've been making bits n pieces slowly for a train/FW190 dio for a while now...long term project. Those dios just make me want to get into it ( pah...more renno's to do first).

I just downloaded the Burt Lancaster film 'The Train'. I recall how he made a bearing from babitt metal in the film. Not that I'm hugely into trains but I found lots of good movie shots of trains, rails etc in the film.

 

Cheers Matty

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