Greyhound

I do not know if this is a Convention Decal or not. It is dated 2007 and made by Cartograf in Italy. I would be interested to know what this is designed to go on?

The Lower left Coast NNL Model Car Contest is coming up. It will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2012 , 9:00am to 3:00pm. This year it will be held at The Carlsbad, California, Senior Center at 799 Pine Street, Ca. Darryl Gassaway, Associate Editor of Model Cars Magaizine, and Kurt Wilson will again be putting on this event. Darryl will be taking photo's for the magazine again. It is also supported by the San Diego Model Car Club/IPMS. Darryl and Kurt have been putting on this event for Four years as a Benefit Fund Raiser for Victory Junction Camp for Kids. This was founded for Kids in Honor of Adam Petty. Entry fees are $10, Juniors free [up to 10 models] and Military Free [up to 10 models]. Although this is a NNL there are some awards including Adult Fab Five Awards, Top 3 Junior Awards and several Special awards and picks. There will be a full complement of Vendors including me. This event always has a great bunch of Raffle prizes, 50/50 Raffle and Silent Auctions. We normally have modellers from LA, Las Vegas,Phoenix and even Mexico attend. A lot of you have been watching the Discussion on Model Car Builders Involvment in IPMS, come to this show and you will meet many IPMS members that are also Car model Builders in what is basicly a Non-competitive event. Dan King

Richard - Although I am not a Ship building modeller I have found the 2 part article by Joseph Bossert in July/September Fine Scale Modeler very interesting. Fine Scale also has bonus on-line material for this build on thier web site. It does show rigging of the Alabama in detail. Dan King

Matt - I would really like to see a Star Trek Model of The DEV Eagle Valley, a Federation DY-950-class Starship used for planetary colonization of "The Ficus Sector" in the late 22nd Century. In 2183 this ship was under the Command of Captian Dan King. This vessel appeared on jean Luc Picards monitor and on a wall plaque in TNG episode "Up the Long Ladder" . It also mentioned Captian Gary Loes of SS Hatteras. When this appeared on Next Generation I was Nationial marketing Manager of Sony Computer Displays and Gary was Senior Application Engineer. Micheal Okuda contated me to see if we could adapt our very new and advanced High Resolution Trinitron Computer Monitors to be used for on screen filming on the Bridge set of the USS Enterprise. Gary was able to engineer a method to this and we prorvided many Monitors to Mike Okuda that were modified for this use. It enabled them to have actors interact with the scrren without using expensive "blue screen" post production special effects. Gary and I were able to spend many hours on the Star Trek set. He thanked us by doing this "OkudaGram" on Up the Long ladder epoisode. So I guess that makes me an Official Star Trek Captian, but I try not to let it go to my head! I have been waiting patiently for years for someone to do a model of DEV Eagle Valley, but so ar no luck. I guess I may need to scratch build a model of my own StarShip one of these days. You can find info on this on www. ex-astris-scientia.org under " Civilian Federation Ship Classes", there is picture on plaque with my name on it. Dan King

Guys - I orginally posted this on 20 September, 2011 when I was very new on this Forum and I really did not know very much about how this works [ not that I know much more now]. Eric and Dennis were very nice to give me answers to my question and I do appreciate that. However since then there has been several additionial post's added to this that talk about people being kicked off the Forum and other very serious issues that are somewhat confusing to a new member like me. I feel that I am being pulled into and associated with these negitive issues. I have tried to do my posting in such a way to be as helpful or positive as possible, with exception of a couple on "Bull Pin" where I think it is ok to be more direct about things. I have enjoyed being on this forum and would like to continue to take part in some way. Dan

Mark - Space is a real Problem at this show. It would be a good idea to contact Show coordinator Rich Durham or our Prez, Rex McCoy tp make arramgments. Thier contact info is on the IPMS San Diego web page listed on IPMS Nationial home page and go to "chapters". I hope you can show this, i would love to see it! Dan

Mike - There is no entrance to the grounds of the Air Show from Kenney Street [ it is on the "wrong" side of the Airport] so we have never had a serous parking problem with the Model Show. I do not remember how many years the Air Show and Model show have been on the same weekend [ maybe 6 to 8?] but I have never had a parking problem. The Air show has a huge parking lot on the south side of the airport and is close to the Airshow entrance. The drive from the model show to the airshow is maybe 3 minutes, you could walk it if you were in good shape [ that leaves me out!]. Dan

Hi all - The San Diego Model Expo and Swap Meet is coming this Saturday June 2nd, 2012 starting at 8am vendor area, Model Regisration starts at 9 am. It is located at The San Deigo Air and Space Museum Annex at Gillespie Field, 335 kenny Street, El Cajon, Ca. 92020. This event is put on by San Diego IPMS, San Diego Model Car Club and San Diego Air and Space Museum. There will be 15 Car Model classes as well as all the usual IPMS Military classes. Special Themes are 100 years of Marine Aviation and 100 years of Chevrolet. In addition to all this the Wings over Gillespie Air Show is also this weekend and you can view the Air Show from the Model Expo or you can drive a short distance to the Air Show entrance. This is a great show with a lot of both Military and Car Model Vendors with a Air Show for Free! Dan King

I am a member of both the San Diego Model Car Club/IPMS and the San Diego IPMS. These 2 IPMS Club's are very different, but they have joined togather to put on the San Diego Model Expo and Swap meet! Actually the Swap meet is put on by The San Diego Air and Space Museum so this event is actually done by 3 seperate groups. Although this is just the 2nd year that the San Diego Model Car Club has been involved with this contest it has been working very well. They have added the following categories within the contest: Automobiles: Juniors, Production/Replica, Street Rod/Hot Rod/ Street Machine, Custom, Competition/Non-Drag Racing, Drag Racing, Large Scale, Low Rider, Motorcycles, Out of Box; as well as Best Car Model, Best Car interior and Best Finish. In addition the SDMCC has 100 Years of Chevrolet and the SD IPMS has 100 Years of Marine Aviation as special Themes. The SDMCC raised money for category sponserships and will provide Judges for these areas. These two groups are very supportive of each other and should be a model of how this can work better even at a nationial level. Incedendently the San Diego Model Expo and Swap Meet is coming up on Saturday June 2nd at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Annex at Gillespie Field [335 Kenny Street, El Cajon California, 92020] from 8 am to about 4:30. One neat thing about this arrangement is that we get both Military and Car Model Vendors at this event. Those of you that are discusing this issue above should try to come to this event and actually talk to the orginizers and particepents to see how this can actually be done, not just talked about. Dan

Tim - There is a full build article in the October 2011 issue 192 of Tamiya Model Magazine Internationial on a pair of Simil"R 1/24th Ford Focus RS WRC 2010 kit # 121001. The article is by Eric Evain and is very well done. These kits look to have a lot of detail including photoetch parts included. The paint job on these WRC cars and on the LMP cars look to be very compicated! Dan

Phil - I have used "Goo Gone" in the past to do this, I have always had problems with Liquid Masks and nearly always damage paint getting it off. Nowdays I use "Silly Putty" to mask irregular shaped items [ usefull in engine compartments and Chasses where detail is molded in]. I have been able to buy the large egg shapped containers of Silly Putty at Toys-r-us and usualy buy 3 or 4 at a time. You can reuse the Silly Putty a few times untill it gets to dirty from paint. Save the "eggs" they are useful to hold small parts or for use to make "Egg" planes,cars tanks or anything your imagination comes up wth. On word of warning about removing Liquid Mask in general, always try to remove it as soon as possible and if paint is totally dry, cut around edge of Mask with a very sharp [fresh] #11 blade if possible and it will not lift other area of paint. Test the "Goo Gone" 1st just to make sure it does not damage paint. Dan

Gary - congratulations on a job very well done! The amount of scratchbuilding and engineering problems solved in this one small model is amazing. It shows that if you decide you can build something, no matter what it is, you can. Dan King

Mark - Dave Fletcher did a great job on the photo's. The ART of Model Car building is certianly alive and well in the Great Northwest! The white Mobius Hudson Hornet with the Allison engine is one of the neatest models I have ever seen. I noticed Mike Pearsall's model and that he is from Gresham Oregon. I went to high school in Gresham [class of 1967] and started to build car models there. There was always a lot of great model builders there and you could see thier work at the Portland Roadster Show. I do not remember any clubs or orginizations then but models were displayed in local hobby shops and car shows. Dan

Tim - If you can get your hands on a copy of "Special Forces in Iraq" by Eric Micheletti [published by Histoire & Collections - isbn # 2-915239-64-9]. there are a number of photo's of LMTV's in full use with all the gear that Special Forces carry [ enough to start a war!]. Also in that book check out the LRPV's of the Australian Special Forces. These are wierd 6 wheel vehicles made from parts of Land Rovers and other vehicles. This book really gives you a full color view of uniforms, vehicles, aircraft and equipment of Special Forces from a number of countries. With the ISBN Number above you should be able to track it dowm. Dan

Al - Here is my photo of the ARVN Armoured Car I mentioned in reply to your post. I do not know the exact model of this but photo was taken near Soc Trang Vietnam in 1973, the year I worked for the South Vietnamese Air Force. . I may have a few more photo's of this but will need to look for them. Dan

Al - I have always liked this Armored Car and although I have a few of the Hobby Boss kits I have not had a chance to build one. After seeing this that will have to change! I spotted these all the time in Vietnam and actually got to see a few of them in full action- very impresive. Here is a photo of a ARVN Military Police unit, not sure of the actual model, but year was 1973 [ I worked for VNAF in Soc Trang that year]. Oops, Sorry I cannot figure out how to attach a photo in this "reply to this topic" screen. I will do seperate post? Dan King

Mike - Thank you, this is very helpful. Sometimes this Forum can be a really useful! Dan

I am building a Italeri 1/72 UH-34 D as US Marine HMM-362, Vietnam 1962 to go into a Diorama at the Flying Leatherneck Museum at Marine Airstation Miramar to Commemorate " Operation Suefly", the first Marine Air Operation in Vietnam. This was the first Marine Combat in Vietnam and first Marine's Killed or Wounded in Action. It is hard to believe it has been 40 years! The instructions call out 1712 Model Master F.S. Field Green for exterior color, but I would like to paint it Tamiya TS Paint. I have been on Tamiya's US web site but cannot find a color conversion chart from Model Master to Tamiya paint. Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you.

Gary - Sorry it took me a few days to reply. The Distinguished Flying Cross Society is holding it's National Convention in Seattle August 19th- 23 at the Seattle Airport Marriot. We are still on the fence about going due to costs and other issues. I will let you know if we are going and hopefully we could met up in Tacoma? They have arranged for a VIP tour of Boeing's Everett Wash. Wide Body Assembly Plant and then to paul Allen's Flying Heritage Museum. Is that new Automobile Museum in Tacoma open yet? If so it may be another reason to come up there in August. Dan

Gary - It is nice to see an update to this project! Is this something that a person might see at next years GSLMCC? Mary and I are already making our plans and hope to see you there. Dan King

Thank you both for the reply's. The tip on Model Master paint is very helpful in that I am sure my LHS carries these colors. Prepainting in NATO Green camo and overspraying in Light tan is interesting idea. I would need to do a test on this first. Some photo's I have found of this Vehicle would indicate that they came from the factory with the Desert Tan in place? Vehicles in Iraq or Afganistan show the usual "bleaching" of the color by the sun. All the photo's I have seen show fairly clean, not very weathered vehicles. Since these are used by maintence units, maybe they keep them cleaner that front line units can keep thier equipment? Dan

I just purchased Hobby Boss's new M1070 Truck tractor and M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter Semi-Trailer at my LHS. This kit is in the catagory of " Lunitic Fring" modelling, and I mean that in a good way. I would like to paint this in typical US Army Dessert Tan and the color call out that Hobby Boss show's is Mr. Color Sandy Brown H19 and they show no matching color under Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya or Humbrol? My LHS does not carry Mr. color and I was wondering if any of you have a suggestion as a replacement color for this? Most of the kit review's lately on wheeled military vehicles have complained about the "rubber" tires in those kits [ plastic tires seem to be the preferance]. Those reviwer's are going to love this kit with 51 rubber tires to chose from! As primarely a car modeller I am very comfortable with this type of tires and just think -that is 51 more items you do not have to paint on this kit! dan

Bob - I know you have had this post up for some time, but I have some new hopefully helpful info. The February 2012 issue #70 of Model Military Internationial has a great Think Tank referance article on "The Stryker Family" by Stuart Ransley. This included a color photo of the Mine Plw Vehicle in action. One interesting thing it shows is that the Mine Plow makes the entire front suspension sag down almost to the ground! This article is followed up by a full detail build article on a M1126 Stryker ICV by Andrew Judson using the AFV Club's kit. One cool thing about these vehicles is the amount of "stuff" hung all over them and Andrew does a great job modelling that in a very relistic way! I buy this magizine at my LHS, but it is available on Squadrons web site. Hope this helps. Dan

Hi all - The Brewer brothers are putting on a 2 day show a the Yanks Air Museum, at the Chino Ca. Airport on Sat. January 21 and Sunday January 22. The show will be from 9am to 4 pm both sat and sunday. In addition to the Contest and Swap Meet there will be many other activities including a number of Presentation by WW-2 to current Military about thier service. Your truly will be one of the speakers, talking about my experience flying Helicopters in Vietnam. the speakers will be on Saturday. Hope to see some of you there! Dan King, Greyhound 10, Vienam 1969/70 and VNAF Contrator 1973 . You can get more info from www.yanksair.com see "events"

Glen - I just picked up Panda's M-ATV MRAP and to say the least I am very impressed. I am primarily a CAR modeler and have built a number of very complecated kits such as Fujimi Enthusiast Kits and even a few Pocher kits. This kits ranks up there as a very complete and detailed kit. Of coarse as a car modeller I would have liked to see a complete engine compartment, but I am sure the aftermarket will pop-up with something soon. One suggestion that I would make to people who buy the kit is to open it right away and remove the rubber tires from the bag with the main body parts and put them in a seperate bag [ i use zip lock snack bags for this purpose]. In some cases long exposure to rubber or vinyl tires can cause plastic to melt and also damage the tires. Some old Revell kits were infamous for this problem! I am not saying these will do the same, just better to not take a chance on such a nice [and expensive] kit. If I get started right away on this I might have it done by July or August. I will try to take photo's and post as I go along. A group build would be great but it would need some time for people to track these kits down and to build them. I look forward to more Panda kits - Maybe a 1/35 scale Buffalo would be a nice campanion?