Martian

.I decided to start the King Stephen diorama by tackling the hardest part first. Chopping up a 1/700 3D printed steam trawler in order to try and make a representation of a steam drifter of the period. Had I chosen to do the diorama in 1/350 scale, my task would have been a whole lot easier but that would have meant trashing a Takom kit for the Zeppelin wreck. Still, I pressed on and here are the results of nearly a whole day's work at the bench. This thing is tiny, about two inches long at most and the close up on my camera is really struggling with it. I will ask Mrs Martian if she can get any better results on her phone camera. Thanks for looking Martian 👽

Where to next indeed? Fret ye not, I have a cunning plan that cannot fail! First up, I came across a series of pictures in the Bundesarchiv of Zeppelin L.11 in camouflage colours. Given that they seem to have been taken at the same time and from all sides, I suspect that the ship was trialing a new scheme. Whatever the reason, a Takom kit has had its hull glued together and flying surfaces and control surfaces prepped. I will just provide pictorial updates as when I do something different on the model. stand by for an update on that front as I have hit on an idea as to how to make the grab rails on the gondolas easier and neater. I have got hold of a 3D printed 1/700 steam trawler and have started to convert kit into the King Stephen drifter fora diorama of her abandoning the crew of the downed L.10 to their fate. I have a couple of Mark 1 Models 1/720 P and Q class hulls and will use one of them for the L.19 wreck. In this scale I think we can live with the slight difference in scale. One thing I would ask is that, out of respect for the victims of this thoroughly unpleasant incident, we keep the usual banter away from discussion of the construction of the diorama. Other than that, the usual highbrow discussion can continue unabated. More soon. Martian 👽

A spanking! a spanking! Mrs Martian (allegedly) 👽

I suspect that Madame CC has long since given up trying to keep track of CC's stash additions. When asked to comment by the Belgium correspondent of the Martian Times, she was quoted as saying "le wibble". Martian 👽

He has indeed, I think the silver option may have to be plan B and perhaps do a second kit as a US Navy boat. It's typical Martian. I always fall for the most awkward subjects. Martian 👽

Thanks Ed. I really just want to do an approximation of a Dutch Mariner rather than a really involved build as a bit of relaxation from the Zeppelin project that has so far taken up two and a half years of my modelling time. Any pictures you do have of the blue Dutch cabs would be of great help. Mind you, it sounds as if the book you have should be on my bookshelves as I am very interested in post war Dutch naval aviation. Martian 👽

Thanks Pete, I have the Naval Fighters book on the type and the Dutch Decal sheet / I have two pictures of blue Dutch Mariners dangling from a crane but that is a. A few more general shots of them in the blue scheme is all I really need to get started. Martian 👽

I have just picked up the Academy PBY-5A Mariner and fancy doing it as a Dark Sea Blue Dutch Navy example. Most of the Dutch aircraft were finished in overall silver but at least two were delivered in the blue scheme. The problem is that I can only find two pictures on line of the blue Mariners in Dutch colours. Is there any kind soul out there in BM Land that can help with a bit more info on these aircraft? Hopeful of Mars 👽

Best keep the French Fancies quiet, I am given to understand that Lady Melchett doesn't know anything about the General's secret hareem that he keeps locked in the dungeon, aka "The Rumpus Room" at Melchett Towers. There were some very strange noises indeed coming from there the last time we visited! Martian 👽

Good luck with the surgery Bill, I have all my tentacles crossed for you. Martian 👽

⚠️I refer the member for Cambridgeshire to Baldrick's idea of chocolate in the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth. ⚠️ Cautionary of Mars 👽

Yes but having to get some of the world's finest brains to decipher the waffle is going a bit too far. I much prefer the kind of waffles you can eat. Drooling of Mars 👽🤤

Wibble! Martian 👽

Interestingly, the L.34 was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Max Dietrich, who was apparently the favorite uncle of Marlene Dietrich. Quite a lot of the L.34 was washed ashore, along with many of the bodies of the crew. I have been trying to obtain a small part of this airship for a few years now, sadly without success so far. Thanks for trying to translate what the General was trying to say, I think he has been around @corsaircorp too much. Still,if you are wrong there is always Bletchley Park that his Generalship is always banging on about. From the somewhat garbled post, am I to take it that you like it? and more worryingly, are you turning into CC? Vary concerned of Mars 👽

Thanks Loren, the pictures I have of the L.59 show her in darkish colours and in the absence of any colour pictures I mixed up a dark tan as being a logical choice for the mission for which she was specially built. Martian 👽

Excellent model, very well presented. Martian 👽

Stunning! Martian 👽

That is simply beautiful. Well done! Martian 👽

Thank you. The model is fractionally over 12inches long. Martian 👽

Finished this morning, my rendition of the L.59,known as Das Afrika Schiff due to the purpose for which she was build; to re-supply General Paul Vorbck-Lettow's forces that were fighting the British in East Africa. Model is from two Mark 1 Models R Class Zeppelins with a section from one added to the hull of the other to give the correct length. Thanks for looking. Martian 👽

Finished this morning and for @general melchett's impatient perusal in particular, Das Afrika Schiff L.59. as camouflaged ship next methinks, more specifically the P Class, L.11 as I have a complete set of pictures from the Bundesarchiv showing this particular ship from all angles. Given the number of pictures taken of her at the same time, I suspect that she was trialing a new camouflage scheme. Thanks for looking, more pictures in RFI. Martian 👽

Any shrink that has the General and his entourage as clients must be madder than they are and should be treated with the utmost suspicion. Thank you kind Earthling. Try telling that to Mrs Martian and see what happens! Martian 👽

Yes @Pete in Lincs, @LorenSharp, and @Galligraphics, I need my head testing. I am sorry to have to inform you that it has recently been tested and the shrink gave up on me. Wibble! Bonkers of Mars 👽

I had trouble getting to sleep last night and ended up counting the extra parts I added and it came to 309 on this model. I got off to sleep quite quickly after that! Anal of Mars 👽

Thanks Dave, I think I can do better though. Martian 👽