Fairey Barracuda Mk II (1:72)
21Nov21 21:41 Filed in: Hobby
And on it goes: the Fairey Barracuda of the Royal Navy FAA (fleet air arm) fits exactly into the timeline of my story "Hunting the Tirpitz".
This torpedo bomber got the takeovers "the ugly beast". And the kit lives up to the name, at least as far as the word "ugly" is concerned. As a model builder, I was challenged in a number of areas. But there is only this kit from Special Hobby and I absolutely need one.
Some Barracudas, exactly 9 of them, were equipped with special bombs (1600 lb) during the attack on the Tirpitz on 3. April, 1944 in the Kaafjord. My model was fitted with such a 1600 lb bomb and flew in the first wave (830NAS) starting from the carrier HMS Furios.
The model is now fully built (photos in the album). For the bomb I drew the decal myself.
This torpedo bomber got the takeovers "the ugly beast". And the kit lives up to the name, at least as far as the word "ugly" is concerned. As a model builder, I was challenged in a number of areas. But there is only this kit from Special Hobby and I absolutely need one.
Some Barracudas, exactly 9 of them, were equipped with special bombs (1600 lb) during the attack on the Tirpitz on 3. April, 1944 in the Kaafjord. My model was fitted with such a 1600 lb bomb and flew in the first wave (830NAS) starting from the carrier HMS Furios.
The model is now fully built (photos in the album). For the bomb I drew the decal myself.
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Control a QuickRoute replacement
The highlight of the last week: I routinely search the internet for a Mac version of QuickRoute, the GPS analysis tool for orienteering. And this time google tells me about an app that works for iOS. It's called Control and runs on iPads, iPhones and Android devices. The website doesn't give much more. But the whole thing interests me so much that I keep looking and then find what I'm looking for; especially an interview with Petri Tilli the developer and that the app will soon even be available in a macOS version.
I already have that app on my iPhone and I love it! Control - or Total Control, the paid app - can do everything I used to need QuickRoute for. And even on an iPhone with its small screen and finger control it is a pleasure to work with. So I can now retire my virtual Windows machine (VirtualBox) on the Mac. For all three 'windows-only' applications (QuickRoute, WebsiteX5, Condes) I now have counterparts in the Apple world, some of which are newer and also better
I already have that app on my iPhone and I love it! Control - or Total Control, the paid app - can do everything I used to need QuickRoute for. And even on an iPhone with its small screen and finger control it is a pleasure to work with. So I can now retire my virtual Windows machine (VirtualBox) on the Mac. For all three 'windows-only' applications (QuickRoute, WebsiteX5, Condes) I now have counterparts in the Apple world, some of which are newer and also better
teacher at the GBW
09Nov21 20:31 Filed in: Computing
During the last few weeks I've been 'on the road' more and more with regard to computers and the web. I have once again taught a course at GBW!
I also keep track of my documents for this. It was interesting this time to see how the sitebuilders have developed in comparison to desktop-CMS programs.
Site builders are now dominating the business with easy selfmade websites. With desktop CMS, on the other hand, one provider after the other is disappearing (eg Weblica). But there is also a newcomer there: mobirise. And this one is indeed interesting; it is running on Windows, macOS and Linux.
In addition, mobirise has a significant advantage over the previous WebsiteX5 program; it is much easier to integrate into GBW's IT environment. Now I have changed my handouts and I will do the exercises and examples with mobirise.
I also keep track of my documents for this. It was interesting this time to see how the sitebuilders have developed in comparison to desktop-CMS programs.
Site builders are now dominating the business with easy selfmade websites. With desktop CMS, on the other hand, one provider after the other is disappearing (eg Weblica). But there is also a newcomer there: mobirise. And this one is indeed interesting; it is running on Windows, macOS and Linux.
In addition, mobirise has a significant advantage over the previous WebsiteX5 program; it is much easier to integrate into GBW's IT environment. Now I have changed my handouts and I will do the exercises and examples with mobirise.
X5, Royal Navy X-craft (1:72)
24Oct21 16:53 Filed in: Hobby
A detour into the water; more precisely a submarine it should be. As part of my (planned) "Hunt for the Tirpitz" series, the Royal Navy's X-class midget submarines belong at the very beginning. During operation 'Source', three such X-crafts placed their explosive charges under the Tirpitz on 20. September, 1943. The successful operation in the far north of Norway put the battleship out of action for six months.
So I really wanted to build a 1/72 scale model of an X-craft. However, it should not be presented on a stand in the classic way, but rather in its traditional element, i.e. in the water. After a few attempts with casting resin I then 'sunk' my X-Craft model. With a cast model you can see all sides in detail. The whole story of the construction is recorded in the album.
So I really wanted to build a 1/72 scale model of an X-craft. However, it should not be presented on a stand in the classic way, but rather in its traditional element, i.e. in the water. After a few attempts with casting resin I then 'sunk' my X-Craft model. With a cast model you can see all sides in detail. The whole story of the construction is recorded in the album.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat (1:72)
25Jul21 15:47 Filed in: Hobby
The Covid pandemic is (unfortunately) not over yet and when the second lockdown was loosened at the end of June, orienteering races could be held again. Therefore, my model building activities have stalled a bit. But now I have just finished another model.
This time it is a US Navy fighter that has mainly used in the Pacific; a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. It is a Profipack kit from Eduard in scale 1:72. With this one I also wanted to try the special positive rivets from HGW. These are attached like decals and they are raised. In addition to the chosen variant, which was stationed on the carrier USS Bunker Hill, it was painted in a plain seablue color. To get a model that is still appealing, I have modulated the color in different shades. There is a photo album of the finished model and its various construction stages on Flickr.
This time it is a US Navy fighter that has mainly used in the Pacific; a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. It is a Profipack kit from Eduard in scale 1:72. With this one I also wanted to try the special positive rivets from HGW. These are attached like decals and they are raised. In addition to the chosen variant, which was stationed on the carrier USS Bunker Hill, it was painted in a plain seablue color. To get a model that is still appealing, I have modulated the color in different shades. There is a photo album of the finished model and its various construction stages on Flickr.
Saab J-35 Draken (1:72)
11Mar21 13:26 Filed in: Hobby
Saab built the famous Saab 35 Draken in the 1950s. This was later replaced by the Viggen and today the Grippen is the standard fighter aircraft in Sweden. Tarangus released a high-quality kit from Viggen in 2018. There is no such thing (yet) of the Draken. I bought a Hasegawa kit and some additional parts such as the cockpit, engine exhaust, wheels, pitot tubes and all the armament. With some additional effort, you can also make a nice model. My version is the J-version ("J" for "Johan"), which was the last operational version of the F10 Ängelholm unit. The photo album of the Saab J-35J Draken model is uploaded to Flickr.
Saab Lilldraken (1:72)
06Mar21 13:16 Filed in: Hobby
Sweden has its own aviation industry which has produced some remarkable products over the years. One that particularly fascinates me is the Saab 35 Draken. This aircraft has a special design with its double delta wing. To test this concept, Saab has built a version reduced to 70%; the Saab 210 "Lilldraken" (little dragon). There is also a model kit available; Planet Models sells a resin kit.
To immediately see how small this aircraft is, I built it with the landing gear retracted and a pilot in the cockpit. And to present it in an appealing way, a friend from Sweden organized an original SAAB badge for me, one with the airplane on it. There are already photos of my Lilldraken on Flickr.
To immediately see how small this aircraft is, I built it with the landing gear retracted and a pilot in the cockpit. And to present it in an appealing way, a friend from Sweden organized an original SAAB badge for me, one with the airplane on it. There are already photos of my Lilldraken on Flickr.
F-102A Delta Dagger (1:72)
19Feb21 22:07 Filed in: Hobby
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, "Black Knights of Keflavik" 57FIS, MENG Models 1:72
During the last weeks I've worked through various 'long-term projects'. I absolutely had to have a model of a Convair F-102A Delta Dagger. It is one of the reasons why I have model making as a hobby at all.
When I decided to do start a Delta Dagger model a few years ago, there exists only a relatively old Hasegawa kit. A few months after I bought one of these on ebay, MENG launched a new kit on the market in 2013. I then had to buy one of them as well. Both models have now been built.
It is interesting to compare both models side by side; the differences between 50 years of model making are clearly visible. MENG offers the model in several variants, in particular with the wing versions "case X" and "case XX". The case twenty version has the wing tips bent downwards.
During the last weeks I've worked through various 'long-term projects'. I absolutely had to have a model of a Convair F-102A Delta Dagger. It is one of the reasons why I have model making as a hobby at all.
When I decided to do start a Delta Dagger model a few years ago, there exists only a relatively old Hasegawa kit. A few months after I bought one of these on ebay, MENG launched a new kit on the market in 2013. I then had to buy one of them as well. Both models have now been built.
It is interesting to compare both models side by side; the differences between 50 years of model making are clearly visible. MENG offers the model in several variants, in particular with the wing versions "case X" and "case XX". The case twenty version has the wing tips bent downwards.
New Year and a look back
Strava knows everything, or almost everything... 
there are a few forms of training that remain 'secret'. I don't want to say too many words about the Corona year 2020. We wish and hope that the new year will be better.
The Strava application is actually not my primary training diary. Nevertheless, I find it interesting when it compiles a summary of my sporting activities at the end of each year. Although I only competed in four orienteering competitions, there were still a few training kilometers.
there are a few forms of training that remain 'secret'. I don't want to say too many words about the Corona year 2020. We wish and hope that the new year will be better.The Strava application is actually not my primary training diary. Nevertheless, I find it interesting when it compiles a summary of my sporting activities at the end of each year. Although I only competed in four orienteering competitions, there were still a few training kilometers.