VonL

NICE! But...does this mean I have to actually finish something...?

That decal film solution may be the same thing as Micro-SuperFilm. If I only suspect that a kit's decal sheet may be old enough to have dried out as you describe, I'll take a wide, soft paintbrush and attempt to cover it in one stroke. It goes on thick, but flows out nicely and dries very thin, clear and very flexible. Multiple coats only make it thicker and less flexible...just keep the pet hair away from it. Love this stuff and I always apply a coat to protect newly printed, homemade decals, too. Have never used a clear-coat for this application, with concerns about its flexibility when dry. The comments from Nick & Gil above seem to allay these concerns, so...here we go... Am a huge fan of that very aggressive setting solution Solva-Set, in any case!

How early is early? I 'discovered' IPMS as a kid, c.1973 and first went to the Nats in DC, 1975. Can still remember some of the inspiring models from that one. And was stoked to get the Hasegawa 1/72 T-38 at the brick-n-mortar Squadron Shop on the way home, probably using a show coupon. I think that bird is still in a parts-box, somewhere nearby.

Otay...It's July 3rd and still no sign of the MAY/JUNE issue. How late does it go, before we need to relabel as the following issue and just kick everybody's subscription out a month...? Usually the late ones show up the day after I whine about it, so I'm working that superstition here, too. Cheers!

Fantastic piece of work!

That is just too cool!

Had lotsa fun with the pinhole lens in a previous lifetime:

Looking for a 1/144th B-36 model kit, preferably a later variant. Partially built models and generally intact, derelict hulks OK, too. Gotta be 144th scale, however. That 1/185 retro-Revell kit won't do. Anybody wanna get rid of one? Whatchya build? Maybe we can trade somethin'. Yeah, those Hobbycraft kits came & went and I just...didn't...grab...one... Thanx for looking.

Ha - I like this idea! The Andromeda Strain notwithstanding, how does that usually go for your club? How many typically for auction? Who buys them?

Not seein' nuthin' at all (insert Looney Tunes disappointment music).

Way cool - classic, Cold War spookiness!

I'm not worthy! A couple of quextions: 1 - Is the Coke Van 1/72th? If so, who makes it? 2 - Given the clay-boundaries you use to mask the aircraft camo, I kinda expect to see a softer edge between colors. Is it just so fine that the pix don't show it? Or is the hard edge intended?

Oops - I meant a comparison to the new HK kit.

Hmmm... the pix from that unit, (36 FDW & 461st Fighter/Day Squadron at Hahn AB), sure look like NMF to me. Thanx for the look, guys.

After yet another fascinating conversation with an old friend who flew these jets, am stoked to do the 1/72 F-100C conversion from Obscureco. The Xtradecal sheet with my desired markings states that NMF Huns were actually painted silver (given the exposed exhaust areas, etc unpainted, etc.) Hard to tell from the period pix. Does this silver paint apply to these late 1950s USAFE air defense birds too?

Schweet! My brother flies for those guys...

Well played, sir!

Ditto the Duke's comments. Absolutely fantastic. Inspired me to try some LED lighting in the future.

Woof - awesome model! Love the heat effects on the exhaust.

Wow - You got all of that one. I like the way the cockpit detail subtly pops out. Beautiful piece!

There are jeep-markings experts out there. I am not one of them. However, as an airplane modeler who's researched this issue for flightline dioramas, my solution is to look at as many flightline vehicle photos as you can, especially pix of that unit, or similar units in that same theater of operations. Attached is an example from the 8th AF in England. On the front bumper, you can see: "8 (star) 398 BG 600" which translates to 8th Air Force MAJCOM, 398th Bombardment Group, 600th Bombardment Squadron. Some jeeps followed all that with an individual vehicle number (one or two digits). The jeep experts have some sort of Ouija board for the serial numbers, but I've no idea how that works. This one is also covered with red-and-white, or maybe black-and-yellow checkers for hi-vis in the stinky English weather. Check out the Harleys, too! Suggestion: Find some pix of that Saipan B-24 airfield/unit and look for their jeeps. They may have had jeeps in use with all services, SeeBees, etc. You may have some pretty cool artistic license, there. If there's just no data available from AAF Pacific bomber units, then I would default to the 8th AF format and at least call out the unit names you know, for that tribute.

I did look. Have got a 1/72 TOAD sheet, but they're all active duty units from about 20 years ago.

This is just awesome. I want one. Suggestion: Add a piece of human gear, like a hat, or a toolbox, or some piece of B-29/mission gear, to visually establish the size/scale of the weapon; or maybe a display base with a backdrop photo. Most people will have no idea.

Love it - looks great! Have had one of these kits 'seasoning' in the stash for ages (next to the Jenny) and this inspires me to break it out...unless the 1/72 gets done first. How did you do the brass prop-edge guards?

Did you ever score these Utah tanker decals? If not, I'll go look in the stash.