ghodges

That's a LOT of eye candy! Your detail painting and wash skills are topnotch, making all of that work really pop. Really enjoying this! GIL

VERY nicely done! Those tie downs are a simple but very effective way of enhancing its presentation too. Congrats, and thanks for letting us ride along! GIL

The problem with this isn't whether or not it's a part of our hobby, it's how to handle 3D printed items in a contest. I agree with Jim in that currently "3D parts" are like any other parts for a model. They can be judged on how well they are painted and assembled for the MOST part. However, even there, you can start getting into some gray areas....what if flexible "individual link" (working) tank tracks are produced? What if you can't tell at a glance between them and actual individual linked tracks that HAD to be assembled? If the builder denotes which is which, then judges CAN make a determination on which one is "better crafted" by the BUILDER on the model. But what if they don't? This is ALL about how to judge these things. We're a group of people who take plastic kits consisting of many parts and assemble them and paint them into (usually) as authentic a replica as within our skill set allows us to. The degree of craftsmanship displayed in successfully doing that determines who wins what. The more something is done FOR us, the less individual craftsmanship on the part of the MODEL BUILDER is involved. As long as those differences are noted by the builder, the judges have a chance to make a determination on them. What happens if the builder stops denoting what's used AND they become indistinguishable? My concern with 3D printing is that we will cave to including a lot of items that severely lessen the need for craftsmanship on the part of the builder. At this time, that's just "parts", and we can certainly adjust to and handle those. But, 3D printing is in its infancy right now....by the time it's matured I see it as becoming the new "die cast" model. If we open the door for 3D now, especially FULL models, it might become very difficult to close that door in the future. GIL

You sir, are a master of understatement! That is a fantastic year! Wish you lived in the south...I'd love to see those in person at our Jaxcon show. Is there a way to post them so that we can get a closer look at some? If you click on it, the entire page enlarges instead of the individual pic. GIL

I guess I'm an exception that proves the rule.....I don't have one. I've only thrown out 2 models in my entire life. The first was a 1/32 Revell F-4J Phantom I was attempting to build as a teenager back in 1975.....and it was too warped and I was too inexperienced to overcome it. The second one was one of my first major vac attempts: the 1/32 Combat P-6E Hawk biplane. It was just so ill-fitting that I couldn't complete it either. Other than those two, I've completed every other model I've ever started. There has only been 1 true "shelf-sitter" in my collection, and that was a 1/24 Combat vacuform P-51B Mustang. I made a "tactical" error in construction and let a small problem halt my progress. I set it aside fully intending to come back and solve that problem after a few days and it sat there for over 10yrs....BUT, about 3-4yrs ago, I dusted it off and finished it. I currently have one car model that is painted but not finished, and it's been that way for about a year. It'll get it done this year. A "shelf-of-doom" seems to be the norm for most modelers; and I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, if you have one, I'd simply look at it as a project you have a HEAD START on when you get ready to try to get something done! It's not a shelf of potential failure, it's a shelf of potential time-savings! Here's 3 pics of that 1/24th P-51B...2 of where I stopped its progress, and the other is after I got it done. GIL

Super looking work, and a great tip on the athletic tape for fabric. Bet that would work for some seat belts too! GIL

The Duke makes a good point...as most "professional" conventions that are held in a single place yearly eiither compensate the employees that go there, or the costs are written off as a part of the business. Either way, it is more affordable for many of those types of conventions goers. On the other side of the ledger, there are several highly prestigious hobby shows that are held in the same place every year, and are extremely well attended both in numbers and with a lot of "regulars" who make it yearly. The Chicago Miniatures show and Wonderfest are two prime examples that immediately spring to mind. While Chicago is certainly a "hub" and centrally located for much of our population; Louisville KY does NOT fit that profile, although it is very "drivable" for many in the eastern half of the USA. As I've said, there are pluses and minuses to making a change, or keeping it the way it is now. All I'm saying is that the IPMSUSA National Convention could certainly establish itself as a prime attraction for modelers even IF it was held in the same place every year. It already has a certain prestige, and if it was run well, that prestige could grow. That said, the current system is still working. It should take some sort of HUGE savings, both to IPMSUSA and the attendees, before we should seriously consider a major change like a single location, unless the current system finally breaks down completely GIL .

I've got some "old" stuff that I've had for decades, though not through any plan for anything special. I know most of the 1/48 Hawk/Testor's race planes in the stash have been there for 30yrs or more.... Gil

Right you are Nick! That's why SO many other organizations have their annual conventions in the same place every year.....because they're deceiving, uncaring, and decidedly unfair to their own people too! Perhaps besides accusing me of being deceitful, you'd like to comment about my mother too? My OPINION, as I have logically tried to argue above, is that IPMSUSA would survive, adapt, and the Nats be attended in much the same way as it is now, IF we had it in the same place every year. You may disagree with my conclusions, but how is that argument being deceitful; or do you not know when you use the word "sophistry" you're accusing someone of purposely lying? And as for finding a hotel chain that'll cut us a break? If you'd actually paid attention to Ron Bell while he was in charge of the Nats for over a decade, you'd realize that as hard as IPMSUSA tried to get such a deal, it was NEVER going to happen. We're just too small of potatoes to them. IPMSUSA has tried that; repeatedly. So the reality is what's left: keep on the way we have (probable, until FORCED to change); or look at other options like a single location that might give us the best in affordability, location, and accessibility to MOST of IPMS. Rusty: I have no desire to dig into all of the nuts and bolts of putting on a Nats (which you are very aware of yourself), but you HAVE to stop thinking of how it's been done up til now. That's the first mistake almost everyone makes by asking: "how can we do it like we always have, but in the same place each year?" You can't! You have to make changes. My point was that some of the problems that stood in the way in the past are now already solved, such as a viable year to year registration system. As for labor, many Nats have (and are) using a lot of volunteer labor so they're NOT dependent on the local club's limited pool of people. If you also start incentivizing volunteering by (say) comping their registration fee for Xhrs of work; then that pool of people might remain steady or even grow. IPMSUSA is already footing much (if not all) of the bill for every Nats. In fact, I'm betting that the Eboard is already grumbling (behind closed doors) about having to split half the profits with a local club that's doing MUCH less work than in years past. How long before they change that? And if IPMSUSA seems to be clearing $20,000 (before splitting) on a Nats, SOME of that might be able to be spent on labor, IF IPMSUSA saved the same or more in other areas by staying in one place. I can live with it as it is now. However, I'm also willing to at least consider using a single location. There's pluses and minuses to both. But I'm not going to outright dismiss a change just because I don't like it. GIL

Love it! Your version may be more correct...it makes sense the tail planes would more exactly match the fuselage band. And...I broke the EXACT same I strut! Glad you didn't struggle with it as much as I did. Thanks for sharing your build! GIL

Very cool! I didn't know anyone made such a figure. I suppose you could put lots of "schemes" on it, seeing as how many countries phlew the Phantom! I like the way you've done yours. I see you're in Grove City! I lived in Columbus for 20yrs....are you a member of the Rickenbacker club? GREAT group of guys! Thanks for sharing your work! GIL

The only reason "fairness" ever entered onto it was because IPMSUSA used to rotate the bids across the land. So, there was an EXPECTATION that the Nats would "roll around" to your area every 3yrs or so. Thus, when a region (like the west) didn't bid, and IPMSUSA opened bids up to anyone, the MISSED expectation was what made it seem unfair to those who got passed over. That ended quite a few years ago now. The bids have been open to anyone for a while now and there's NO expectation that the Nats will "roll around" anywhere. While I'm sure that the Eboard takes into consideration which area of the country has been longest without a Nats when they consider the bids, there are no guarantees that the Eboard will pick the one that will help the region that's been starved for a Nats for a while, IF they get a bid from that region in the first place. The point I'm driving at is this: Once you decide to use ONE permanent location for every year, there's no expectation to wait til it comes to you. Thus, it's not "unfair" and no one is getting "cheated". Will some people always be closer and others always be farther? Sure....but then those who seem to attend EVERY year do so no matter what the distance (so no change for them); and those who only attended once every 3 or so years when it came to them could save money for 3yrs and afford to go JUST as often as under the old system (same as before for them too). There are lots of things that would have to be ironed out, but then many of those have already actually been done. The rest is merely adapting to change and putting our heads together to make it work; as we've always done anyway. I don't look for this to happen until the Eboard stops getting bids, or unless some city/hotel chain makes us a deal we just can't pass up (unlikely); so there's no need for anyone to get bent out of shape. GIL

Interesting that you've left the deicing boots til last...I did that on my B-24 too. I also made a note to NEVER do that again.....it's much easier to paint the black and mask off the boots than to try to mask around the nacelles and fuselage and paint them on later. You'll get it done, but I think (like me) you'll find it more difficult. Looking forward to you bringing this one together! GIL

It takes me longer to drive from Jax, FL to either P-Cola or Miami, than it takes a Brit to drive from London to Glasgow....and I don't even leave my state! GIL

Absolutely superb craftsmanship! The closer you get (in those pics) the better it looks! From the burnt look of the exhaust ring behind the engine, to the raised lettering on the tires, you nailed it! Thanks for posting it here! GIL

That's an ambitious project....I can't help with any images, but if I were you, I'd get a Willaims Bros 1/32 kit of the Gilmore Red Lion and look at how they did their interior. After all, it's the same "heritage" of airplane, and probably VERY similar. You might use some of their parts, since you're building in the same scale. Best of luck! GIL

Have to agree...that's a masterful looking MiG! Love the counter-shading you did. Thanks for sharing! GIL

Ummm....I think that Sherman is trying to compensate for something.... GIL

Don't know what troubles you may have had, but that looks great to me! Congrats on clearing one from the "moldie-oldie" pile! GIL

Very nice haul indeed Duke! GIL

Sweet! That old Aurora mold has seldom looked so good. You also did a fantastic salvaging the decals! Congrats! Gil

They go right in the middle of the top of the wing, and as he said, the were a reinforcement to keep the main gear leg from punching through the top of the wing. Essentially, it goes directly above where the main gear leg is in the wing. Hope this helps. Gil

I can't say I'll do it with every build, but I'll try to once in a while. Lord knows I need the practice! Gil

Doesn't appear to have been Vol.7 of the Journal. I paged through all 6 issues and didn't see anything about P-47s at all. I looked at the covers for Vol.8 and saw no references to "decals" or the P-47 Okole Maluna. Granted, I could have missed it, but it seems the info you're seeking may be elsewhere. I also went to the '"Journal Index" on the IPMSUSA page, but it's not a true index, but just several articles referenced there. I scrolled through the last 4-5yrs of the Quarterly index (a true index); but saw nothing helpful there either. I have just about every issue of everything since 1977...so if someone can point me in the right direction, I may be able to help. GIL

It's what your wife took away from you after she caught you in the hobby shop again Mark.... GIL