Will it ever end?

The modelling I mean, not the shopping trip to Eindhoven we went on today:) Now I remember why I gave it up, takes aaaages..

But today decals were added and as is usual on kits these days, no tail swastikas, I know the reasons for this of course but its bit sad that the powers that be feel that putting accurate symbols on model kits might somehow cause the return of the Nazi's. I do have a stock of swastika's in my decal collection but I'll leave it off as I decided I was going to build this kit out of the box with no extras.

Disaster though...the gunners cannon fell into the cockpit and there's no way I can get it out short of removing the cockpit and fishing for it..not a good plan after paint and varnish is on..I'll leave it, and worse I dropped the center sliding canopy which then got broke. I've only been able to find half of it, either the dog or the carpet monster has swallowed up the rest. I may break my OOB rule and scratchbuild a new centre canopy...we'll see how I feel.

Anyway pic, and notice of an important event, this month has the highest post count of any so far...must have had a lot of drivel to discuss...oh yes...I did didn't I!

Anyway..here we go, just after decals applied. I used microscale micro set to place the 1st couple but it seems the gloss coat was just too impermeable and the set just formed bubbles on the surface so I stopped using it after the top crosses.





The decals were quite thick but the film was clear and transparent so I didn't bother doing a lot of trimming on the excess. Micro sol was then used to soften them into the panel lines but due to the thickness it barely worked, so several dabs were applied. Since the bottom crosses partially sit over slat supports I focused on those and it seems to be forming ok. We'll see tomorrow.


Tomorrow, some paint touch up on wheels/rads, application of dive brakes and decals, slat balancing horns, exhausts and carb covers, tail supports, pitot tubes and intakes, another coat of gloss, then a wash, then a matt coat then finally add the antennae and wiring....then decide on the canopy!


fun fun fun...if you're a sad geek that is.


Ahthankyew

more modelling "fun"?

My damn samsung camera is still not doing the biz..5Mpixels but I've yet to ever get a decent pic

Anyway, before I add the decals, I did a bit of metal work..to simulate a plane that had been through the mill a bit in a desert environment. The paint used to strip off every time they took off and landed with the big prop essentially sandblasting the airframe every time. Again this is overdone (though not that clear on the pic) and the addition of decals which will also be distressed along with a suitable wash to pick out detail should calm the shininess down.. Probably tomorrow now as I managed to pick up some gloss clear coat at the model shop, but I don't have my decal setting solutions which are on teh way from the Aviation Megastore (great place in Holland for model bits)






Ahthankyewy

Another sad hobby

Don't want this blog dominated by certain matters. so time to wheel out another sad confession, I'm a scale modeller..yes yes I know who Airfix, Revell,Academy and all the others are.

I have a massive interest in aviation from 1935-1950 which was a time of massive technological advancement and also just pure artistry in aircraft design. That interest easily led into collecting information and of course models of aircraft from that period. Dominated by WWII which saw a move from the last of the biplanes to the 1st of the jets with masses of weird and wonderful designs in between. They lose their appeal after the 50's when the sciences of aerodynamics and jet propulsion started to dominated the development of aircraft rather than the 'if it looks right it is right" approach so often seen before hand.


But though I did have a bit of a dabble early in the year when I bought some kits and paint materials from a local model shop, I've not really had time to indulge myself in my hobby. I like to take time to research my subjects and make a proper attempt at a full representation which eats time. I used to have a pretty massive collection of books/photo's and research material as well as a massive stash of unbuilt kits. I still have the stash (down in the cellar) but the reference materials have long since gone...Lucky there are many other geeks like me on the internet so all the resources I need are easy to find.

But this Christmas holiday, with a bit of encouragement from my colleague Martin at NHTV who is also a closet modeller, I got out my glue and files and made a start on a simple kit and have been having a great time. I don't really have all the tools and bits I used to have when I last took this up in anger, but no matter, I need to get some practice in, so throwing something together works wonders.

Oh but age has taken its toll...I found at one point I really could not see what I was doing and had to resort to borrowing Bina's reading glasses...they worked, but now the image of me slumped over the table with reading glasses on the end of my nose is one thats going to be hard to shake.


Anyway its better than sitting on a computer all day, and I still do my hour or so's guitar practice, a very relaxing way to spend a few hours so I'm making more effort to fill my spare time with fun things.

I'm building an Italieri model of a Junkers 87, not a bad little kit at all, though lacking in detail it went together well with no real problems and I didn't have to sand it to death like I often do, I've whipped out the new airbrush bought in my earlier dabble and have made a start on its basic colourings, time to get decals and weathering done and see how it works out.

some pics..this is the base colours only



and now some detail colour added, the belly demarcation cleaned up and the canopy masking removed, not happy with the demarcation line on the tail hoop so that will need a bit of work once the white is dry.

Next step is a gloss coat, decals, then a bit of weathering followed by a wash to pick out panels lines. But since I don't have any gloss clear coat in my paint box that will have to wait till tomorrow




Ahthankyew

Still an ever more sanctimonious prick.

Still unable to email me about MY blog...and then has the cheek to continue to attack me via email to Bina. You're not going to get a response from her, so stop mailing her.

Heres the reason I don't like you Dave...you're a fucking abject coward...now stop using Bina, Jodie and Celia to fight your battles.

Your miserable attempts to get a rise from me, will be better served by contacting me direct, where my only reply is going to be..nothing. I really don't give a damn what you think about me, my relationship with my father or my so called hate issues and again with the laughable bullying comment....Your sad attempts to use these "issues" and other peoples feelings as justification for your indignation shows you for what you are.

In every day life I would happily ignore pointless people like you; sadly due to Jodie, I have to have some limited contact...I suggest for the benefit of all, including Jodie, who is more than aware of how I feel about you and therefore has no need to take sides, we limit our contact to when, where and how Jodie will be collected at the airport.

I will repeat for the record....everything on this blog are things that amuse me or are a record my events in my life, and my feelings about those events, its all true, If you don't like it...don't read it!




Ahthankyew

Still a santimonous prick

Ah well, it had to happen eventually, Jodie has now discovered my blog and in typical teen fashion has taken offense to some of the items posted (while it seems, telling all her friends about it, at least according to the new hits I'm counting)

This is a shame since the whole point of this blog is to document how "I" feel about things and the events that occur in my day to day life. Also, in doing so I provide an outlet for some of the negativity that can be quite crushing and keep my friends and family up to date with my life.

Rather than realize that certain actions have caused certain feelings to manifest and treat this as a simple report of those feelings, certain people choose to focus on the reporting of the events, well I'm not going to apologize for that, I will put down my thoughts as I see fit, and that does include the absurd dealings I have to have with all manner of people.

Including of course Jodies dad...who has the gall to mail Bina complaining about my blog.

Grow a pair of balls, if you have an issue with my blog, you need to contact me...though of course my response will be fairly predictable. Otherwise...you have no reason whatsoever to hassle my partner.

Jodie..you also need to learn that sometimes you have to listen to what other people say and its not always about you, you've done bad things that hurt us deeply, and good things that make us so very proud, you need to learn to focus on the things that make us proud.



edit...oh in his mail to Bina, Dad suggested that if you google Jodie and Flatulence (eh...why the hell would you??) then my blog is right at the top...riiiiiight!!!

I'm now VERY proud to say that if you also google "sanctimonious prick", it also takes you here as the top post...I can't tell you how much that made me giggle.


Ahthankyew

Merry Christmas

Don't think I need to elaborate on that do I?

no...didn't think so!

Ahthankyew

I'm Melting Mel......

Well there is a thaw on, but its only expected to last today, if it freezes tonight all this water everywhere will turn into nice slippy ice :D

Bina and Jodie have (un)wisely headed off to Schipol this morning to catch a 5pm flight. Since the trains are still very hit and miss the trip is by no means certain and I'm worried that Bina might not be able to get home tonight..we'll see.

OMG as I am typing this I just noticed out the window it has started snowing again!!! Perhaps not quite as warm as I thought! Though as I watch it does look a little bit sleety so perhaps we might get some rain to clear away the snow and get things moving again.



Ahthankyew

Wrong kind of snow?

Well actually more a case of just too damn much of the white stuff.

Like most of Europe, Holland has been hit with severe snow falls, and this as badly disrupted the trains.

Normally not a problem for chez Beuken and occupants who only use trains for school trips, but since Jodie was supposed to be on a flight at 8-40pm to the UK (along with her father who had to fly to Schipol to collect her due to him booking her on a no "under 16" airline).

We tried to get to the airport, Bina was prepared to take a blind punt on heading to Rotterdam where the trains were going, but the railway staff advised her that after that there was nothing heading North.

Never the less, she bought tickets and we stood on the platform to start a journey to ......wherever it was it was stopped by a phone call, Jodies dad called with news that his flight to Amsterdam was cancelled.So even if by some miracle we could get her to Schipol, the lack of suitable adult to accompany her back to the UK meant the trip was off. She was gutted. In that way that kids think everything can be fixed but actually can't be, gutted.

So we trekked back home dragging a somewhat suspect over limit suitcase through the snow back to the apart to await the inevitable fallout.
Fortunately it wasn't too bad, though the killer came when Bina got an email from dad asking for us to contribute to Jodies fare as he'd had to spend so much in fares already. Hmmm maybe checking she can travel unaccompanied next time might save you a few bob, and also allowing for the possibility of a cancellation. Damn cheek...never pays a penny towards her upkeep or education but expects us to fork out when he hits a snag on Jodies travel!!!


Ahthankyew

chilly

We got our 1st snows yesterday and temps have dropped to a staggering low -11c expected tonight.
But there's a least 1 "person" who's pleased about the snow



I got a nice pressy for my Birthday yesterday. When we were in town last weekend, we walked passed a posh art shop and I was quite taken with some mad sculptures I saw there.

Well..Bina took note and bought some for my Birthday...Next year, the weekend before my Birthday we need to go for a walk around the Ferrari garage.

btw..I have no idea who this barefaced fat bastard is in the photo playing with my art, but the dog looks familiar!




Ahthankyew

happy birthday to me

yeaaaaahhhhhhh 46yo today.

Its my birthday (Dutch time not UK)....and I feel great...pissed, and slightly incontinent, with a few twinges here and there, but great.

I live in a lovely apartment, in a fantastic country, with a wonderful woman, a greatly improving daughter, with another lovely (but somewhat quiet..hint hint) independent daughter in the UK. A miserable auld bag of a mum who keeps out of my way and I love to bits, along with 2 great brothers who also keep out of my way and let me get on with my life without sily family squabbles over ....nothing. Fan bloody tastic.

I have a great job, with great colleagues, fantastic students, and a growing group of friends.

I can't express how fucking fantastic my life is.

roll on the next 46 years.

time for cake.


Ahthankyew

Brrrr part 3

-7 last night...not the best time to decide to shave off my beard...but I did anyway.

That is impressively cold, thankfully our apartment is very well insulated so the heat we generate from our gadgets and body heat is keeping the place livable, that and a small fan heater is keeping the room temp at a reasonable 20deg.

Got a bit of flash programming to do this morning before I head to work, I teach a programming course for artists, its all quite simple stuff, a 7 week taster to get a feel for programming and Flash allows them to get stuff up and running pretty quick.

Not my favorite language I have to say but I guess I will have to improve my understanding of it. Last year I knew nothing of it and was learning with my students, which was on occasion quite embarrassing as my lack of knowledge was frequently exposed. This year though I have done a bit more research and found some excellent basic "shootorials" at www.Kongregate.com which provide a good base level to build on by getting the basic understanding of putting something on screen understood so I can then add some proper coding concepts to that. Last year, despite a few teething issues my artistically inclined students managed to produce some really nice things so I'm hoping this year with some better teaching from me we'll see something better.





Ahthankyew

Brrrr prt 2

Still no heating, and temps last night went down to -5c...-5c??? and its expected to be the same the next couple of days. Snow is expected soon too....
Repair man is coming on Thursday...thankfully




Ahthankyew

brrrrr

Well its sods bloody law innit. The 1st hard frosts of winter arrived this morning, and our heating packed in last night.

I say packed in, its been sounding alarms on and off for the last 2-3 weeks. Usually I unplug it and switch it back on in the morning, that seems to work. But last night I decided to try to get the incomprehensible menu system to display the cause of the alarm. I didn't, instead I seemed to reset everything, and as a result now there is no heating at all.

Doh!

I've sent a mail to the landlord to come and get it sorted, it really is a stupidly complex underfloor/remote sensor type of thing but I have no idea how to make it work so need to get them to come and help...either that or find a 5 year old who can program a video recorder.


Ahthankyew

Mine...all mine....

Ok so here they are, all my guitars (apart from the bass which I never use much)
I've finished my reworking of my guitar collection, and this is what I have now,




From the Back L-R 2008 Breedlove AC250/SM12, 2005 Fender Strat Custom Delux, 98 Gibson 355 Lucille, '87 Gibson Les Paul Studio, 2007/8 Breedlove AC25/SR+
Middle flat, Roberts Skeleton
Bottom
2008 Granada Classic, 2006?? Rodriguez Model B

:D

Nice eh!!! Guitar porn on a budget is possible after all.

I play them through a Marshall Valvestate 50 amp or a Cheetah 30W pracice amp, usually clean via a suitable Zoom multi Pedal (one for acoustic and one for electric)

I posted this pic on a couple of sites I frequent and drew lots of admiring comments :D (and a funny about how homo erotic it is that people are posting about the quality of wood they hold in their hands??)

ok the Les Paul is a recent extra addition and I said Lucille was my last, but honest that really is the last one. Lucille is a very special guitar and I don't intend to take her out and about much, home use only, so wanted something with humbuckers to take out to my jam sessions/whatever and it was a good price for a near vintage Studio so that completes the line up.

The Granada is for sale and most likely so is the Roberts...maybe....it is just such a fun guitar to practice on quietly at night?





Ahthankyew

you plonker

1 day

I had it one day....and I put a dent in it.


1 bloody day


What a pillock, i took her out the case and as I was doing so the lid dropped and the latch put a small ding in the body.....12 years without a mark and I have it 1 day...am so pissed off with myself.

I can probably polish the worst of it out when I get some wax but unlikely to remove it totally.


I just hope the guitar cruelty people don't hear about this.

Ahthankyew

She's here....

:D

OMG...she's in perfect condition, aside from needing new strings and a bit of a polish. She even has the plastic still on her electrics cover at the back and on the varitone cover..(took that off though). Not a dent on her, a few plectrum scratches and the expected tarnishing to the gold...but just perfect condition...Clearly owned previously by a light home user who's kept her tucked away in her excellent condition original case.
Can't believe my luck in getting such a good condition '98 Lucille for that price. Customs did sting me for 295 quid though...no idea how they got that figure, but I guess it could have been worse.

I tuned her up with the crappy strings and perfect perfect perfect. Not a buzz or a rattle to be heard, low action and the smoothest neck ever. I will polish up the gold and get new strings on her this weekend.

ok course we need pics

whats in the case, whats in the case


ohhh original Gibbo shroud!!!



I just made a mess in my pants



and in her full glory...damn my samsung camera..I'll get better pics soon




ah this is better



Ahthankyew

ohhh the anticipation

Finally, the USPS site has updated after nearly 3 weeks of no news...She's out of customs and on her way, I expect her tomorrow.


Out of Foreign Customs, December 09, 2009, 3:03 pm, NETHERLANDS
International Dispatch, November 20, 2009, 8:43 pm, FOREIGN CENTERJERSEY CITY NJ 099
Arrival
Acceptance, November 16, 2009, 1:48 pm, SPRING, TX 77380




Ahthankyew

Jammin' Practice

Bina's over in the UK with Jodie at the Birmingham Clothes show, so I've been having some guitar fun in the lounge (will put it all away soon dear)

On Thursday, I booked a rehearsal room at the Mezz, one of our local concert halls, for a guitar jam session. I was joined by several students and colleagues from work, nothing too mad, but it marked the 1st time I've really played with other guitarists/bass players and we had an awesome time. We deliberately restricted it to beginners/intermediate players to avoid anyone overshadowing anyone and the tactic worked well. Quite a lot of incoherent noise was made with an occasional recognizable tune popping up from time to time.

We're definitely going to do it again and perhaps regularly, its not often I get a chance to get my guitars playing at full tilt, and I think it pushes you forward.

Oh a few pics from the "event" on my crappy samsung....so don't expect too much








Ahthankyew

Ransom demand!!!

Lucille is not lost....but she is in the hands of bad people...Dutch Customs.

They sent a letter today asking for details of the contents and value (gulp) and of course they want to charge me for her...

phew....at least now we know where she is...I'll have to fill out the form and send it back, hopefully next week she'll be where she belongs.



Ahthankyew

Unaccustomed as I am...

To wearing a suit in front of 3 or 4 hundred students, parents, faculty and university management...I had to give a short speech last night as part of our student foundation awards ceremony. Wow that was nerve wracking.

I was aware that I had to give a speech but thinking it was going to just be a hello, thanks for coming, here are the guys type of thing, I never wrote anything down. So when Rob from work got up to give the 1st speech and proceeded to have the whole crowd in stitches with his long and slightly mad but very funny speech comparing IGAD survival to getting through WWI, I realized I was in deep shit.

I got up, improved a bit about how I'd started at the same time as the guys on stage with me and this was as much an event for me as it was for them, so if no one minded I wanted to take note of it...and then tried to take a picture of the crowd with my camera phone....this got a few giggles I'm happy to say, but my damn stupid samsung camera phone refused to take the pick so while the gag worked well I didn't in fact get the photo I wanted to post here. That would have been awesome.

Never mind, there were a few photographers taking pics of me for the event so I'll try to post a few when they go up.

I cocked up the presentation a bit too, I didn't realize the certificates were all named specifically, and the lads had come on stage out of order so I gave the 1st 2 to the wrong people....more laughs..this time for my idiocy ;) But I got my revenge; The school also gave every student a small (and a bit tacky) snow globe as a reminder of the event...I gave all my lads a pink one...bwahahaha

ahh... some links to pics




no....there is no news on the Lucille front.




Ahthankyew

I love this

The chap who does this is called David Thorne, and he's either the most irritating annoying prick in the world or a comedy genuius who has discovered a whole new use for the interwebs....I suspect the latter.


The site has many many of these real life exchanges as well as musings on life and whatever from the viewpoint of a man with a mental age of 4....brilliant (especially the spider drawing)



no...but he said he's check...and he hasn't and no it hasn't

dont' ask!!


Ahthankyew