ghodges

All right! Another old-skool plastic masochist is on the loose! GIL

Hey Joe.....where ya goin' with that model in yer hand......(sorry, too easy to pass up!) Although I haven't used it myself, there is this stuff called RenShape foamboard, which I've seen a lot of scratch builders rave about. Here's a link to one manufacturer: http://www.freemansupply.com/RenShapeModelingan.htm You can also Google Ren Shape and go from there..... Supposedly its available in all sizes, including blocks big enough for fuselages, sands and carves like balsa but has no grain to fill, and leaves less residue too. You'll have to see how expensive it is, but if you hate balsa and bass wood, this might be an alternative. Outside of that, there are plenty of epoxy putties that are clay-like when first mixed and dry rock hard. Plumbers epoxy, pool repair epoxy, and marine repair epoxy are all available at hardware and department stores. Miliputt is another possibility, although as a hobby putty it's more expensive for the same amount. If you use these, I strongly suggest you make your fuselage master up with a lot of plastic stringers and bulkheads, and then fill between all of those with sheet plastic to a point JUST below the "skin". That way, you can smear the epoxy putty on like the skin, but slightly thicker, and then sand back down to the outline of your bulkheads and formers. In fact many of them can be shaped and smoothed with a finger and alcohol until they set up, which can cut down on the sanding needed. I'm sure there are other ideas, but until they show up, I hope this helps! Best of luck! GIL

Glad to have you here with the rest of us inmates Derek! I look forward to seeing ya here ion the forums! GIL

Looking good Duke! How do you plan to display the train once you complete it? GIL

Yea, it was his 3rd book, as I recall. The plane was being used to transport battleship shells modified with biological warheads when it goes down and due to the secrecy of the flight, is lost. When it's discovered Pitt finds that some of the shells are missing from the wreck, and investigation leads them to find they may have been bought by a terrorist group, who also coincidentally just bought an old battleship that we sold for "scrap"! There's a lot more to it than that, of course, as Cussler writes good books. The main drawback to this is that I don't like to build in 1/72. If someone ever makes a vac 1/48 C-97 Strato-freighter though..... GIL

Welcome Vince! Glad you decided to add your voice to the forums. I build aircraft mostly, but I'm also currently stripping (for the SECOND time) a Lindberg '32 B model Ford Roadster. This inability to paint a gloss finish on a car is why I build planes! You mentioned your compressor; having problems with it? I'm not familiar with that type, but if you describe your problem, many people here may be able to help you. Best of luck! GIL

I haven't built one, but have been sorely tempted to do one as the MATS transport "Vixen 03" from the Clive Cussler book of the same name. GIL

That's a real eye-catching scheme! What did you use for the bright orange? I look forward to seeing with the markings on. GIL

Don't ya just love the incongruity of going to the trouble to paint it green to help it blend in and then putting those nice, bright, circular bullseyes on it!? And y'all wonder why we call 'em targets..... GIL

She is assembled! Got the first round of sanding done. Hope to have the first primer coat on in a day or so. Cheers! GIL

Nice lizard scheme on the Herk! Is that the Italeri 1/72 kit? GIL

I really like models with everything hanging down and flapping in the breeze! Gives them more "character". Hope to see this Thursday night at the meeting! GIL

Slow progress continues...... I decided to keep it simple with the light housings, and drilled a hole for an MV lens. The clear cover will be done with packing tape at the end of the build. The interior is painted too. The belts/buckles are pre-painted Eduard RAF items. All of it is now buttoned up in the fusleage. Now it's back to more filling and sanding chores! Cheers! GIL

Great work Noel! Did you free-hand or mask the camo? That's a cool looking scheme! Gil

Phil, I think you mentioned the best reason to take the ride; a DEEP appreciation for what those guys went through! I came away with the exact same feeling after my ride. It was tough to move about the airplane without bumping into something that would bruise or cut you, and all we were doing was flying low, slow, and steady, without the worry of being fired at! Add the cold at altitude, the bulky flight gear, the need for oxygen, and flying with evasive maneuvers and it was tough just to man a position! Also, a quick glance tells you just how exposed they must have felt, with nothing more than some aluminum that's not much thicker than coke cans between them and shrapnel, bullets, and cannon fire. It's not a cheap ride, but you will come away with the experience of a lifetime, and a better understanding of how much courage it took just to climb in and take off, let alone go to combat in one of those bombers! GIL

Welcome Noel! Remember to give us the early "scoops" on those new Trumpeter kits y'all get to review! GIL

Congrats Phil! I can relate as I had a B-24 ride a few years back, and it was definitely worth it. For those of you with an interest in history and flying, I highly recommend it if you get the chance! GIL

Nice pics! I think my favorite is the NMF PanAm DC-3. GIL

First effort? Ya done yourself proud Chris! I too will "ditto" the comments on the cleanliness of the scene. What's missing (to my eye) is the "rabble" quality of the rebels this late in the war (old tattered uniforms, less consistency in appearance, no shoes, etc.), which would also (IMO) apply to the battle flag. With all of the campaigns listed on it, it would probably be a bit more tattered too. The scene depicts the action very well and the figures are extremely well painted. What's needed are subtle touches that convey the desperate circumstances of the South at Petersburg. Great job! GIL

Wow! Sharp model! That big wing gives it a sort of "bat like" quality. GIL

My guess is the 1/48 Hobbycraft kit? All I ever heard about it was soft interior detailing, no "super-fox" late model intakes, and the main canopy isn't sufficiently "blown" (which no A-4M kit has). Great looking camo! Looks like an Israeli Tinkertoy to me too! Love the intake covers! Did you buy them or build them? GIL

Hello Weymouth! Paints can drive you crazy, even with experience! Try the following things to help overcome your troubles... 1) Try to use the manufacturer's "brand" thinner. If you're using Model Master enamels, try to get the MM thinner. Other thinners may work, but the "brand" thinner should work best with the same "brand" paint. 2) Do NOT thin paint that you plan to airbrush with IN the original bottle. Instead, use an empty bottle, or a bottle cap to mix up the thinned paint for your airbrush. If you add thinner into the original bottle, it may upset the mixture and shorten its shelf-life. 3) When thinning, think "consistency of milk". You want the paint thin enough that it drips off of your stir stick easily, BUT thick enough so that if you touch the stick to the inside lip of the bottle, it will leave a strong "tail" of color as it flows downward. Different colors and different manufacturer's batches will require differing amounts of thinner, but the "milk" analogy seems to get it into the ballpark. Hope this helps, and welcome to the funhouse! Gil

Progress made on the wings.... This closer look shows off the tip light and the leading edge light housing a bit better. I also got the cockpit painted interior green, which you can see some of on the top center of the wing. Questions, critiques, and comments welcome! GIL

Looks like a win-win to me! GIL

SHHHHhhhhhh......... You tryin' to blow my DEEP cover and waste all these years I've been infiltrating IPMS? Besides, I shaved my beard.......it was the only way to get a flight to Omaha... GIL