Holiday Modelling or the lack thereof....

I've had this last week off as my parents are over from New Zealand visiting. I did have intentions of spending a few days at the bench trying to finish the F-2. Unfortunately this hasn't eventuated .

We did go to Canberra for a few days, and whenever I'm there I like to check out the Australian War Memorial and its associated Museum. for any overseas readers or those who have never visited Canberra read on. For those who have been to Canberra , you're dismissed :-)

Here's a shot of the Memorial taken from the roof of the Australian Parliament on the day before. The white building is old Parliament house, and road behind it is ANZAC parade which has various memorials for conflicts and service along it's length .

That the politicians can see the memorial from the parliament is supposed to remind them of the costs of sending people to war.
 

Oh, note the nice weather.

About 24 hours later, that's my old man in the doorway of the memorial looking back down ANZAC parade to the parliament, which is hidden by the miserable weather 

 
 
Below is a shot of the memorial with the names of the fallen on the walls in the areas under the arches

What is interesting, from a aircraft modellers perspective, is (obviously) the collection of aircraft, and that some including the Me-109 and Me-262 are still in there original paint schemes. Those that know my modelling taste know I'm not that into "losers planes", that said the physical condition of these 2 aircraft shows how rough, and weathered aircraft were during the late stages of the war.

The museum is quite dark (as many of these places are) so I've used high iso and the flash to capture these images

 

If you presented a 109 or 262 weathered like this in a modelling competition you'd probably not do that well. the panel lines on the 109 are also quite significant in places.

It is a pity that access to the 262 is quite limited , hence the sameness in the perspective of the images

There is also a Me-163, I'm not sure if this has been restored as it looks like it is in very good condition. You have to winder how effective these really were and if all the resources and ingenuity spent on developing them could ahve been better spent elsewhere.

 Of course the museum also contains the Lancaster g for george which has been restored and is the centrepiece of an excellent audio visual display that tries to simulate a Bombing raid over Germany . The 109 and an 88mm Flak gun are also part of this. The Flak gun is in it's original paint as well

This turret is in another section of the museum.

There is also a excellent World war 1 audio visual presentation produced by Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings/Wingnut Wings Fame) there is also a original Albatros D.Va on display

For me, the Spitfire is really interesting as it is a Mk IIa and is still in its original paint. 

The Sky spinner is quite green, greener than Tamiya sky to my eye. And the codes aren't the same as the spinner (although I'm not sure if they are supposed to be at this time frame). The light grey underside is also lighter than I envisaged.

 

I just wish it was wasn't up high so we could get a better look at it. It deserves better.


There was also a Kubelwagon on display and 25 Pounder.

The aircraft hall also contains complete P-40, A Sea Fury from the Korean war along with a Mustang, Mosquito and Zero (which I couldn't get decent images off)

The post WW 2 section of the Museum has some interesting stuff these are the only decent Pictures I got of the larger displays.

The Vietnam Huey diorama is really well done, the figures are very lifelike

Australian SAS Long Range Patrol Vehicle damaged by an IED

HMAS Brisbane's Bridge and 5 inch Gun Mount. You can get in the bridge from the inside of the museum and experience a recreation of her operations during Desert Shield/Storm

And Australian Centurion Tank, in Vietnam configuration (IIRC). I would have got more photos of this but it was hosing down at the time

For me, the only disappointment (and its minor) is the lack of AFV's on display.

Maybe this is because the Australian Army didn't operate much armour in WW2 as post 1942 they are committed to the Pacific where armour wasn't as prevalent as in Europe (feel free to correct me if wrong).

The AVM does have another facility which contains a large collection of stuff they can't display in the main museum, this is open once a year and is worth a visit if you get a chance.

If you are still with me, that's about it for this post. I promise I'll do the soldering PE thing soon