Eric

Well I just spent two weeks in Dallas next to the DFW airport. I had asked the same question just before I went and the only one that was mentioned is M-A-L Hobbies 108 South Lee St., Irving. He does have a website for his hours. The owner was a very nice gentleman. He does not have a huge selection but he does try and get some new kits and he has some older kits on consignment. He does have alot of new aircraft titles in stock. That's it for specific hobby stores, there are some hobby lobbies and hobbytowns around but didn't make it to them. If you get a chance check out the Cavanaugh Flight Museum at the Addison airport. Pretty good collection of aircraft and the CAF's Fifi is also based at the airport. I think you can go see it thru the museum but it was out of town when I went so I'm not sure how they work things out to see it. Eric

Well my two have been done as a vac and resin but not in plastic 1/35 M-103 US heavy tank 1/72 B-32 Eric

Sorry guys, Chris is apparently in NY for work, so I wasn't able to pass the word on. Eric

I should see Chris tonight at our meeting. I'll let him know. Eric

Neat bust, who's the manufacturer? Eric

Working on Tamiya's P-51D kit right now. I know that the top of the wing was primed and painted at the factory but I was wondering about the lower surface. Of the one or 2 photos I can find of WW2 era P-51's it's hard to tell. I think the whole wing was painted but if not where was the demarcation line for the upper to lower wing? Any ideas. Eric

Pappy, Yes, Future is a gloss coat. You can add Tamiya flat to it to make a flat coat (never done it, so you will have to do some experiments). The other choice would be to use an water base flat coat like PollyScale or Testor Arcyl. The oil base wash will not effect the paint job if you have a water base flat over it. Eric

Having judge in a lot of contest (mainly our local contest and others in the area), I've seen quite a few models with info booklets. If during the judging one of the kits that has a booklet makes the finale cut, we usually look at what he's done. Most of the time though we never have the time to look thru it, there are just to many kits to look at in the time we have. As someone who wonders the hall before or after judging I do like to glance thru the info booklets, as long as they are reasonable in length (I remember one book that the guy took a photo every step of the build). Just my two cents, Eric

Spitfire Eric

What I think is a good hobby shop is not the shop itself but the people who own and run the shop. If they are interested in their customers, answer their questions and welcoming to just modelers hanging around and talking, then to me that's a great hobby shop. If it has a good selection of kits and books so much the better. I've been to Brookhurst in So. CA and I think it's call Colpars in Denver, CO. Both have a big selection of kits and books but at both I did not feel welcomed. The workers talked with people who seemed to be regulars but did not bother to say hello or ask if I needed help as I walked in and wandered around. Just my two cents, Eric

Anthony, Sorry I don't know but have you tried some figure specific forums (www.timelinesforum.com is the one I mainly check). They have members around the globe and someone might be able to help locate the figure. Eric

Well according to the photos in Squadron's new walk around book they look like they are silver. But this might be a restored aircraft, so it might be wrong. Still I would probably go with silver. Eric

Mike, I believe there is something in the rules for the IPMS National contest about kits attached to a base. I find at my local club contest it helps when judging armor, we can turn the kit around and view it from all angles without touching the kit. I've mounted some of my armor kits to bases. As to aircraft I don't think it's a problem to judge unless it has very little ground clearance. Some judges might think you're trying to hide a flaw. My two cents, Eric

Tamiya's 1/48 P-51 D Mustang in PTO markings. Eric

I keep trying to get that figure. The only luck I've had finding it is on E-bay. Never had a winning bid on it. Eric

Mark, I don't of any in Vallejo but if are driving and coming from Southern CA, then you might want to check out Ace Hardware in Berkley. I know "A hardware store?", but my understanding is that the owner wanted a loan to start a hobby store. Could not get one but could get one for a hardware store. So he opened a hardware store on the first floor and a hobbystore in the basement. It has your general current kits but also some unusual aircraft and armor kits. Eric

Well for armor I've got Dragon's 1/35 M-16 Halftrack just about ready for paint and Tamiya's 1/48 Austin Tilly about 3/4 done. Eric

Hi Brian, I don't think the question "Why do you model" has been asked before. Anyway, I started probably around 6 or 7. I think the first kit I got was at a Cub Scout Christmas party. Anyway just started building whatever kit I could get in my younger days (with my mom thinking it was a waste of time and money). I stuck with it because I like working with my hands and it gave me things to do in the evenings. Now I model to try and get rid of all the kits I've bought . Actually I find it relaxing. I prefer building US WW2 armor and aircraft but will build just about anything as long as it interests me. Eric

I can't say if it's a new tooled or just an updated kit but there were photos on Armorama site of the kit and spruces at a Japan hobby show. Eric

Dick, I just picked up a bottle of "Pledge with Future Shine" to dip some canopies. Worked just like Future did, dried nice and clear. Dreamsof51, What stores have you checked. I checked my local Safeway and they didn't carry it but my local Lucky's did. I am in Northern California, so not sure what markets you have around. Eric

WOW in stealth uniforms :P . Sorry couldn't help myself but can't see any pictures. Eric

PMMS on their "New Kit News" is the list of the new promise kits from DML. One surprise to me was the announcement of an M-3 75mm GMC. Also on Missing Lynx site Steve Zaloga posted a photo of his preproduction kit he had built. Looks great, now if they would only release the promised M-3 Halftrack kit. Eric

Dreamsof51 (interesting name, what's the meaning) Are you sure you arn't mixing SNJ up with Metalizer? It's been a while since I used SNJ but after it dried I had no problem masking or handling it unless I had use the powder already. As to what I am building, it's the NMF parts on a Tachicoma (from the anime "Ghost in the Shell"). Eric

I just used it for the first time last Saturday. Was dry to touch by Sunday evening. But I am not happy with it. I've never been too good at spraying glossy paint jobs and sure enough some parts are glossy but most are not smooth. Not a good thing with NMF paints. I think my next one will be sprayed with SNJ, at least I don't have to prime with that brand. Eric

Flipping channels last night and saw Quantum Leap. I would add that to my list also. In the fantasy area of television shows I would throw in The Muppet Show. Eric