jcorley

Over on SteelNavy there was a discussion about the camo on USS FREEDOM (LCS-1) In the thread there was a kink posted that I immediately bookmarked http://www.milspeccoating.com/Federal-Standard-595-Colors-s/41.htm This is a complete listing of all FS colors in the current catalog. The color swatches are digital, but they can be used to import into your favorite art program to create more accurate representations of FS colors and, if your printer can reproduce the colors accurately, mix your own paint.

Bill, which aircraft on that sheet?

It's still cheaper than drugs or hookers! Just tell her that If that doesn't work, add in GOLF!!

The easiest way, if your camera will allow manual mode, is to close the f-stop all the way down (higher number = smaller opening), this will greatly increase your field of depth to allow more closer & farther details to come into focus. As for macro lenses, many of the smaller cameras are threaded for attachment of filters. there should be a marking with a Phi followed by a size, this will tell you the threading in mm. Φ 37 = 37mm threading (sure hope the html code for Phi comes thru) Well, that didn't work. A P{hi is a small zero with a slash thru it

FWIW, I have a 3D model of a cage mast (from "blueprint" plans out of NARA) drawn adn await the delivery of my 3D printer. If all works out, I will be able to offer custom printed resin cagemasts in at least 1/350. The fineness needed for 1/700 may be below my abilities. Here are the machine specs: Technology:Stereolithography (SLA) Build Volume:125 x 125 x 165 mm 4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 in Min Feature Size: 300 microns (0.012 inches) Min Layer Thickness: Z Axis Resolution 25 microns (0.001 inches) at 12tho the legs of the mast look a little thick on screen, but I'll have to print it out to be sure. Plus I might be able to push the specs to the smaller side, as the 25 micron thickness can work in my favor if I build it on the proper axis

I did managed to get a 1/32 727 at the Anniston show two years ago. It was a lobby model in a previous life, for Northeast I was told. I did start filling the chips and reprimed it, but now it's just sitting there as I wait for it to get warmer cuz the beast is toooooooo big for my model desk!

Art, The top of the Revell sail measures 1.831" or a nominal 476" long. That would scale out to 6.612" in 1/72 THe Revell kit has always looked about 3-4' too short to me tho. The real one is in New London... ROADTRIP!!!

Thanks Art, I forgot that one!

My senior math project involved proving a hyperboloid could be projected into a flat shape, a question I asked my professor because I wanted to design a better cage mast in photoetch. After 6 weeks I turned in my research and informed the professor I had failed. A week later, I got my project returned with a grade .... A!! It seems I proved enough to him what he knew already. It is physically impossible to project this onto a flat surface. I managed to do the best I could when I designed the ISW cage masts. Now I am working on a 3D drawing of a cage mast to produce in resin when I get my laser stereolithography machine in a few weeks. I'll be making custom formed cage masts for the BB guys out there, in 1/350 and 1/700... possibly even 1/200 but I don't theink the machine will be able to produce one that large.

I am almost finished with the project. Down to moving things by the 1/1000" margins now. Basic layout is done. You can preorder the wood deck, cut on microthin Blonde Apsen wood with ADHESIVE BACKING now!! (Yeah, I do listen to people from time to time) To honor the anniversary of the launch of BISMARCK, the preorder price will be $100 until Feb 15, 2013!! Regular price will be $125 after that. The decks come on two full 8x24" sheets, a lot bigger than the Arizona but not a lot more expensive. I have now completed my preliminary adjustments. Now I'm just waiting for my new wood order to arrive so I can make the self-adhesive versions of the decks. These were made on some other wood I did have, slightly thicker as I bought this wood with the intent of making 1/32 and 1/48 WWI aircraft interior panels, and still will get around to it some day.

sweet! maybe an Israeli Crocodile?

Chris, If you want any of the ISW kits in waterline, just tell Ted. He'll cast the hull as a waterline and cut you some off the price. Are they time intensive? Yes, but then again I know guys who'll spend hundreds of hours on injection airplane kits. Einstein was right, time is relative.

Just damn... that's all I can say. I hope to see it myself in February!

one of my favorite planes of all time. I built a r/c version back in the 80s. I can understand why there would ever be any need for the channel in a jet version, eyond it looking cool in a game. Chris, if you have more than log books I'd be interested in seeing them!

I am now confused. Was Jim a "member" of the club formed in Seattle at the time? Why would a move from Seattle to DFW change which chapter was first?

Dave, are you saying you can't or he shouldn't?

good looking built of a great subject in the best markings!

The cage mast was constructed of 24 sets of concentric pipes beginning with a 2-1/2" diameter at the base tapering down to 1" diameter at the top (on a full-height mast; the fwd mast found on the Big 5 were the same from the top but only used 1" & 1-1/4" pipes, IIRC) The outer circle made a 90* twist CW, while the inner made the same twist CCW. These were held together with iron bands at key levels. The height of each band varied from class to class, and the exact placement isn't needed in scale. Just measure it and get it close. Dave is correct, they reduce to 20 pairs about a third up, then to 18 pairs for the upper third. To do this in 1/350 has proved nearly impossible, but I would suggest you ignore the reducing diameters and build the mast in the inside & outside cones separately up to the point of the minimum construction. Then join them together at the base and insert your iron bands as spreaders to achieve the proper hyperbolic shape. That is how I built one in 1/72 scale. I was incapable of repeating the task with good result in 1/196 a few years ago but your skills are different than mine - good luck! I did a study on these while in college for my engineering degree. It was part of my advanced math coursework and I asked my prof how to do a flat projection of it. He graciously assigned it as my project for the course. After 8 weeks of studying and trying I went to him in frustration and told him there was simply no way I could figure out how to do it. He asked to see my work. After reviewing it, he then smugly told me I got an A because it was impossible and I had sufficiently proved the theory! Argh!!!! Perhaps I should try again

I will endorse Rusty's opinion with my own... Grandpa is about the best around

The hull problem comes fgrom Trumpeter copying the Blue Water Resin kit (They boith have the same hull, and tankers had more graceful lines than the model, BTW) The best solution is to combine the Trumpy & Waveline (Tamiya?) kits. Or get the new Tamiya 1/700 Yorktown if you want a newly retooled early war kit. The Waveline/Tamiya kits are both only waterline though, and you'd have to blend a cruiser bow into the "tanker" hull of the Trumpeter to get a decent full hull kit. You might be able to fill the Trumpeter bow lower hull with resin and match the hull lines of the Tamiya kit, too, with a boatload of sanding. Either way, I agree with you that there is not a decent full hull Enterprise out there.

Dates for 2014?

Gil, bring the "kit" with you, I'd love to see it as is

John, I still have an excellent excuse to build closed canopies - I HATE DUST!!!! and have you priced the costs of 1/48 and 1/72 scale dusters lately... outrageous!

I was told about this, and it's kinda neat. Great resource for what they gotten done already! http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/explore/exhibits-and-collections/cockpit-panoramas

There is one aircraft everybody has failed to mention, a plane used by every single air force pilot trained in the USAF from the late fifties until just recently.... The T-37 Tweety This aircraft is the one the guy asking should suggest. Yeah, I know there's dozens of planes I'd personally like to see more, but this is the missing link in major types with the widest market appeal.