Hajo L.

Nice subject! HAJO

This is a model *builder* forum... 😉 HAJO

I have a couple of 1/72 equipment sets like tent rolls, backs, rucksacks, rifles, radios and other stuff. I´m pretty happy with them, but some small items like rifles have been damaged in their box. HAJO

Well, no, I can´t. HAJO

Very nice, I also like the idea with the stand! HAJO

Good thing, but I can´t see any pictures...? HAJO

Very nice! Sorry to divert a little bit, but what´s the story about the grey-grey-camoflaged F-18? HAJO

Oh my god! I´d never dare to fly this; I would always fear something (or the whole thing!) would break! Outstanding work! HAJO

I´m sure I have to start with a german language session before I continue here. You probably asked already "what is a Bedenkentraeger?". Well, the german word for "Aircraft Carrier" is "Flugzeugtraeger", from the two words "Flugzeug" (aircraft) and "Traeger" (Carrier). So, a "Bedenkentraeger" is a carrier of concern ("Bedenken" - concern, doubt, resvervations). And, now to the lesson of german foreign policy (very short version): After we have been quite "successful" in shaping the international system some decades ago (wasn´t there something about a War that finally came to an end 75 years ago...?) the german foreign policy has always been more reluctant since then. In fact, after we have been the undisputed masters of (world) war, we became masters of peace, and pacifism is our mantra. However, at least after our re-unification at the beginning of the 1990ies, the international community expected us to step forward and take over more responsibilty, which we did - not always, usually never in the quantity and quality we have been asked to, but we did. But we still struggle every time when there is an international "call to arms". And that is when the following caricature was published (in this specific case it was during the 2019 Iran crisis, but it does fit for a lot of other situations): https://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Tr%C3%A4ger_340772 For copyright-reason I only post the link, the caption says: "Oh great! The Germans are sending a 'Bedenkentraeger'!" Since I do personally believe that we should take over more international responsibility, and contribute also with our military, instead of just raising concerns and finger-point on others, I laughed a lot when I saw that caricature and the idea was born to make a model of it. Nations gain international power with their diplomacy, but more over with their military might. Each nation has different means to make their voice heard in the international concert. France has their nuclear "force de frappe", Great Britain is still relying on their former position as colonial world power and their language as "Lingua franca", and the USA have their "90.000 tons of diplomacy", represented by their aircraft carriers. But now we Germans can join this exclusive club, we don´t have aircraft carriers, we have the Bedenkentraeger! Our Bedenkentrager is a sharp and clear sign of our moral and simply better approach to all challenges of our world. His main weapon system is the index finger. Raised to a vertical position it performs the function of the (eternal) admonishing and doubting and reminds everyone, that there are always other (peaceful) solutions, that many aspects have not been considered yet, that it´s still necessary to have another meeting... In horizontal position the index finger can be used as an indicative, accusing symbol, although this utter offensive means have never been used in anger. With such a powerful main weapon system such primitive and conventional things like combat aircraft are not needed on board the Bedenkentrager - it would have been a complete waste of money anyway. In principal it is possible for the Bedenkentraeger to serve as support unit for international partners and cooperations, as you can recognize at the angled-landing deck. Partner aircraft could be re-fueled and re-armed here. But the identification code at the runway threshold is a telling sign, since we all know the meaning of "Foxtrott Uniform" (in case you don´t: "F*** You!"), and therefor most partners have lost any interest in getting a negative response to their requests by the Bedenkentraeger... 😄 Well, if you´re into ships, you probably recognized the french "Clemenceau" that I have been using here. I used a sheet of styrofoam for the water, cutting in an opening for the hull. After test-fitting I painted the water, using a brighter black, and added some lighter touches with grey on the still drying black color. With bright blue I highlighted the water directly around the hull and the rear. With Acryllic Gel I modelled some bow waves and also smoothed the profil of the styrofoam, which I think was intended to be used as ceiling isolation. The Acryllic Gel always looks "white" when applied, but when dry is clear and hard. With a brush I drybrushed white spray and foam for the waves, along the hull and the rear. Finally I added three coats of clear coat to make it look "wet" and "deep". HAJO

Will follow with interest! HAJO

Here is a quite lenthy, but IIRC informative WIP of Chico the Gunfighter: HAJO

Wunderbar! Great idea! HAJO

What´s the story behind all those camels on the kill-marks? HAJO

I will follow this, as I plan to build a B-57 soon myself. Would ove to do a "special" version, but it will be most likely a conventional bird. HAJO

So many... Brothers in Arms by the Dire Straits, to name something that most people here know. HAJO

Weren´t Battleships designed to take a beating with heavy artillery? I have my doubt that with their armor, they would be crippled by a singe Harpoon. Also, "only some 20mm" for a destroyer seems a bit "light" against a warship designed to fight and survive in a WW2-battle. HAJO

Just a former paper box of one of my kits. Sits in my closet, so it´s dry, not too warm and not too cold. Also, to play it safe, I put in two small pieces of Silicca Gel that once came with some electronic stuff. I think they absorb humidity and that´s a good thing among my decals. Of course due to this method of stashing I have no order whatsoever, so I have to check my whole box every time I need something. But this gives me a fairly good idea what´s in my decal stash, so I mostly start my search with the thought of "...last time I *think* I saw XY..." HAJO

Yep, here! My second "moving bush", a 1/72 Dragon Humvee converted to support SpecOps-Snipers: Started at march 7th, finished on march 14th. The Amodel Bo-105 in 1/72, started cosequently on march 15th: The kit was a bit disappointing, you better save the HOT-launchers for an Airfix-Bo-105 and add a Roco (1/87 scale) weapon sight. Done on march 25th. My third Gun-Truck, but this time a "missile truck", converting Academys excellent M977. Started on march 28th. Finished on april 8th. Then I had a "secret model" (you will see pictures in some days), from april 9th to 11th. On april 12th I nearly didn´t found anything to build, but then grabbed the Italeri HSS-1 from my stash and did it as German Naval Aviation H-34G: Finished after a week, on april 19th. HAJO

Great looking Tonka! HAJO

JackMan, you are welcome! Mostly I have the feeling that good books can be recognized by the irritation they cause in your brain when you read them - "is that something I just read in the book or something I just saw in th enews today?" I had this strange feeling of mixing fiction and reality a lot during the last years, which is not a good sign concerning our situation in international relations... 😉 HAJO

Very nicely done! What I do find remarkable is that the A400 looks like about the same size as the C-130 - maybe I should build one finally, since I do have 7 C-130s already... HAJO

I propably should have already read it here, but do the LBs now have 6 main rotor blades? HAJO

Anybody know if Sprue Brothers are curently shipping overseas? I put some order in yesterday (nothing important, just some stuff I´d like to use one day), and I´m curious if they can ship, concerning the current situation. HAJO

Am I good to go with this mask? 😉 HAJO

Habu2, thank you for your statements here, much appreciated! HAJO