In Ze Navy....

....you can sail the zeven zeas!!

Just a quick one. I work on the North end of London Bridge just opposite HMS Belfast which often has visiting vessels moored up next to her. This week it was the turn of F216 of the Deutsche Marine, the Schleswig-Holstein which is based in Wilhelmsaven.

Always of interest is how a modern Frigate is only a touch smaller than a WWII Cruiser that reguarly made the Northern supply run to Russia. Makes you think about what really went on back then!

No yolk

Afternoon.

As I've recently bemoaned I simply haven't had any brush time or motivation recently. Last month was a big fat zero for painting points, which is the first time ever. Bit bothered but not massively.

So, not that I'm grasping at straws or anything but here are a couple of painted eggs, actual eggs that is, that I sorted out for the missus. Not claiming any PPs but it was an interesting experience / process.

Having painted many, many figures of varying scale and size I was fairly confident of doing a good job. A quick spray and base of foundation colour was easy enough followed by a bit of masking tape for striping was easy enough but getting sharp, straight lines was rather difficult. Probably because figures already have them for you to follow I suppose.

With figures I'm less than great with flat detail and free handing designs but struggling halfway through the project this proved to be my saviour. I had tried various stickers, transfers and sharpie markers but they just weren't working so with little option it was freehand time only to amaze myself with the results.

Hard to explain the reversal of what I thought would be easy / difficult but I'm guessing that its all to do with the size / scale involved. Interesting......inspirational almost :)

Lost in Translation?

Not a lot of posts recently, which I'm sure you've lamented at great length but this has been for too main reasons.

Firstly my laptop's power lead has died. Maplins want £65 for a new one, thanks for that but I think I'll pass. The little repair place can do £35 but not for a couple of weeks. Must be cheaper online, if only I could access it!!

I've also been to Brighton for the weekend and spotted this! The shop to the right was full of spangly accessories and as such bought me some drooling time.

MG42. I tried to explain the significance but quickly gave up recognising that initial error in record time and thankfully didn't try comparing my fascination to that of the afore mentioned shop next door. Learning!

I was intrigued by the stamping near the stock and wondered if it was original not expecting anyone to ruin it's market value intentionally. I had thought that it might have been made by a satellite state, maybe the Czechs, but a colleague of mine who's just been there on a family holiday says not and that bottom line looks Russian to just about everyone.

Possibly a captured piece, there must have been plenty, that ended up in a museum in and eventually onto a gun shop in Brighton? Operation Sealion the long route??

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