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ipmsusa2

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Everything posted by ipmsusa2

  1. ipmsusa2
    Gil, there was probably a couple of thousandths difference on the elevator root, but the bigger problem was the tab hole. The top surface of the horizontal was some .020" lower than the top edge of the elevator root. Thus the need to shim the tab and enlarge the tab hole.
  2. ipmsusa2
    Installment #11 of my Williams Bros C-46 build series is now available in the Builds Sub-Forum. Comments welcome as always.
  3. ipmsusa2
    Hey all, Here we go with the next installment. Last time the wing fillets had been puttied and then sanded smooth. Close examination showed a few little pits and cavities that needed attention, so that's were we begin: The starboard wing had the most flaws. Not surprising since it required the most corrective work. The port wing wasn't near the problem. More sanding followed by a light coat of primer and the starboard fillet is finally looking good. Same for the port fillet. Progress! All that's needed for a complete airframe is the canopy and horizontal tails. The port horizontal goes on without a problem. But the starboard horizontal is another questiion. In this case, the horizontal sits about .020" too low, so it needs to be raised. I started by shaving around .020" off the top of the horizontal tab opening. Note that it doesn't have to be perfect. A piece of .020" styrene is added to the BOTTOM of the horizontal mounting tab and trimmed to match the tab shape. Done correctly, it should be a snug fit.,
  4. ipmsusa2
    Gil, there's a lot of truth in what you say. However, there is still a market for specialized how-to publications that pay. There'd better be since that's how I make at least part of my living! I would suggest that print publications will ultimately transition to e-mags...as you predict...when a way can be found to make money from them. As for all the free build series out there, they are great and have all the advantages you describe. But I would suggest that there is still a place for an expanded ebook version...that carry a price... of many of those build series. This is because there is much more information that can be described in writing to support the build series photos. Case in point is my series on the Williams Bros C-46, If I tried to add all the text to go along with the photos, instead of 10 installments, I'd be up to 20 or 25. And let's remember something else. The IPMS is always looking for ways to expose the Society to modelers who have never heard of us.. What better way than to have a promo for IPMS in a how-to e-book that focuses on a single subject! I'm planning that for my C-46 e-book as well as several other e-books in the planning stage. Print publications...books & magazines of all types....will never die because there's something about kicking back with a good book or favorite magazine that simply can't be found with a digital publication. But they will become rarer and less popular. Finally, my eleventh installment of my C-46 build series will be online shortly. In a couple of hours with any luck or tomorrow at the worst. Don't hesitate to post comments and I'll be sure to respond.
  5. ipmsusa2
    Michael, you may be right regarding Texas law. But I wonder if your Hobby Lobby is dropping Model Master enamels the way mine is here in Fort Worth. Also, I just noticed that Squadron carries NO Model Master at all and only a limited list of enamel and lacquer from Tamiya, Testors and Humbrol with most of the colors being automotive and in spray cans. By contrast, Sprue Brothers has a very large list of both Testors and Model Masters in bottles. Robin, I could do exactly what you describe up until a month ago, Texas law notwithstanding. It'll be interesting to see if that changes in your neck of the woods.
  6. ipmsusa2
    Dave and Ron, I understand what you're saying. The reason the Hobby Lobby behavior struck me the way it did is the fact that the last time I was there...less than a month...none of the spray cans were locked up and never had been. This was essentially an overnight change. As for the tube glue issue, there was a time when it was so bad that fathers were being arrested for the simple act of buying a bottle of paint or tube of glue and then giving the same product to their son. I believe the charge was 'transferring a controlled substance to a minor'. This was also when attempts were made to produce and market an 'environmentally safe' tube glue for plastic models that was made with a citrus base. Didn't work, of course, and didn't last very long. I tested a tube of the stuff and wouldn't have had it on a gold plated platter!
  7. ipmsusa2
    Dave, I can only assume that your primary focus involves model cars. If there is that much negativity in your particular circles of activity, then I would agree the hobby has a serious problem. Negativity exists in every endeavor. We wouldn't be human if it didn't, but what is really important is how it is handled. In the local contests I've been around, as well as the one IPMS National I was able to attend, I saw no evidence of the negativity, whining and complaining that you describe. I've spent 50 years as a freelance writer/professional modelbuilder and I have yet to see the intense level of problems you list. As for the magazine problems...particularly the print magazines...the simple fact is that writing/publishing is a cutthroat business. Always has been, always will be. Titles come and go like mushrooms after a rain. I used to write for numerous print publications that no longer exist and finding publications/publishers that actually pay for the type of material I produce is tantamount to a snipe hunt. So what am I doing? For the most part, self-publishing in the form of how-to e-books and aviation history/photo gallery CD-ROMs, along with build-up commissions. Regarding "...the insatiable desire for recognition", everyone wants to be acknowledged for what they do. This is simply human nature. Of course, if you prefer not to be recognized, that's your choice.
  8. ipmsusa2
    Rusty, I'm well aware of the liability problems you describe. I have no problem with spray paint being locked behind glass doors. It's when you are standing less than 12 inches from the paint shelf and the employee is standing less than six inches from my left side and I'm prevented from so much as touching a paint can until it is handed to me that I'm referring to. As for me looking younger than my age, I actually do and I appreciate your compliment. But I don't look that much younger.
  9. ipmsusa2
    I was in Hobby Lobby yesterday (Dec 6) looking for two spray cans of paint from Testors/Model Master to finish a car model for a client. Flat Black Enamel and Gloss Black Lacquer. The open Testors paint rack is now limited to a single rack that is 90% 1/4 oz square bottles. What Model Master bottles that exist are ordinary colors similar to the square bottles. No FS colors exist, not even flat black. The spray cans? They are all locked behind sliding glass doors. Upon finding someone to unlock and open the doors, I started to reach for the desired cans and was prevented from doing so. The employee actually required me to point out the can I wanted, then he picked it up and handed it to me!? Granted, they had a sign stating that they could not sell spray paint to anyone under 18, but being born in 1942, I think I do look a tad older than 18. As it turned out, they only had one color...Flat Black...which then forced me to drive another ten miles to a Hobby Town where I found the Black Lacquer. BTW, Hobby Town carries everything Testor/Model Master still makes, so the Hobby Lobby situation has to be a corporate decision. Was I overreacting to feel insulted/offended by the employee's behavior? I don't think so, but then you be the judge.
  10. ipmsusa2
    Gil, Rusty and Noel, I also wrote for Challenge Publications and the stories about them are legion. Not only did I write for Scale Modeler, but also Scale Aircraft Modeler, Military Modeler, Scale Ship Modeler, Scale Auto Modeler and a couple of other 'Modeler' titles that I don't remember. It was a constant battle to get my money, some of which I never received. The only reason I made enough money to continue writing for them was agreements with kit manufacturers for $XX per page whenever an article featuring their product appeared. That kind of agreement doesn't exist anymore since most kit manufacturers are overseas. As anyone who freelances in the hobby field knows, not only will you not get rich, you frequently wonder where your next meal is coming from! The MCM situation sounds like they're between a rock and a hard place and being squeezed tighter with every issue.
  11. ipmsusa2
    Glad you're enjoying it! Hey, maybe that means I'll sell more than two or three copies of the ebook when it's ready! :)
  12. ipmsusa2
    Hey Gil. With all the sophisticated, specialized tools and techniques that we use today, ain't it interesting how some of the old, simple methods work best?
  13. ipmsusa2
    Installment #10 of my Williams Bros C-46 build series is now available in the Builds Sub-Forum. Comments welcome as always.
  14. ipmsusa2
    Hey all, After time out for Thanksgiving and a visit to the E.R. for pneumonia, I'm back and making more progress on the C-46. Things are beginning to speed up and with any luck at all, it'll be completed and shipped to my client before Christmas. So, let's see where we are: Shown here is the port wing fillet area that's been roughly coated with Squadron White Putty. Believe it or not, it was simply smeared on with my finger. The starboard fillet misfit was the worst one, so a lot more putty was needed. Just as I did with the fuselage centerline, blue painters tape was used to protect the rest of the wings from the sanding I would be doing. More putty on the belly joints and more blue tape to control the sanding area. Finger application was used here as well. After sanding with 320 down to 600 grit, as well as sanding sticks. the starboard fillet is starting to look pretty darn good. And the port wing after the same sanding treatment. Finally the belly seams. It won't be long now before we have a complete aircraft on our hands, except for the landing gear and props, which are waiting in the wings.
  15. ipmsusa2
    Mark, thanks for your kind thoughts. And however you solved the wingroot problem, you did an excellent job on yours. Gil, after they read this build series, everyone will be the wiser! Keep in mind that this series will eventually be expanded and turned into an ebook, so there'll be no hiding my solution.
  16. ipmsusa2
    Installment #9 of my Williams Bros C-46 build series is now available in the Builds Sub-Forum. Comments welcome as always.
  17. ipmsusa2
    Hello all, Sorry for the delay but I've had to deal with a death in the family (sister-in-law) and an upper respiratory infection. Now, back to the C-46. Once the cowls were mounted on the wing, I used a 3/64" (.095") bit in a pin vise to drill out the prop shaft hole. Then a short piece of .095" brass tubing was installed. Later on I'll create a prop shaft from .0625" (1/16") tubing and end up with removable props. Definitely an aid when it comes to shipping the model. At this point you'd think things were about to pick up speed. Not so. In fact, the worst...and hopefully last...major problem was about to rear its head. When you start to mate the wing assembly to the fuselage is when you discover that the wing stubs integrated with the fuselage halves are not symmetrical. The starboard stub sits several thousandths higher than the port one. While that doesn't sound like much, it makes for major trouble as you're about to see. Align the wing center section with the bottom of the fuselage and the wing/stub joint won't line up. Align the wing/stub joints and the fuselage/wing alignment will be cockeyed...and you'll have major filling to do on the fuselage bottom. I chose to align the wing with the bottom of the fuselage and modify the wing/stub joint. This photo shows the port joint. Believe it or not, this is the better fitting one! The starboard joint is the real nightmare. Worse is the fact that the wing airfoil doesn't follow the airfoil contour of the wing stub. Fortunately that error, which is uncorrectable, won't be noticeable when all's said and done. That gap on the port joint is fairly easily resolved. I shoved a piece of .020" plastic into the gap, outlined the wing contour with a pen, removed the plastic, cut the piece off and reinstalled. Then added a little Squadron White Putty before an extended sanding session. Now for the starboard beast. After filling the gap with plastic, I still had a major step to deal with. I cut a narrow strip of .010" or .015" styrene and glued it down on an angle running from the top of the wing stub to the top of the wing. It's that stage you see in this photo. Then that was followed with multiple applications of solvent slopped on to get the styrene good 'n wet. Then White Putty and more sanding...putty and/or plastic where needed....more sanding...and more sanding...and..... Incidentally, if you're wondering why I'm using Squadron White Putty, it's because it doesn't crack when slightly stressed.
  18. ipmsusa2
    Bill, No chance. The short area is at the rear of one side. This forms part of the fuselage and then extends forward to the side window that is a separate piece. There are also two hatches on top of the canopy. If it was my model I might try it, but not for a client's. Appreciate the suggestion, though. Richard
  19. ipmsusa2
    Robin, I also relied on MM for the majority of my paint needs, along with Pactra 'Namels and Floquil for certain colors. Then RPM bought Pactra and Floquil, eventually killing both brands. But MM was still there, so I really didn't have a problem. Since I build as a business and hobby, I needed a paint that produced the professional result that I required and MM did that. Now, from everything I've seen, read and heard, it appears that Tru-Color will wind up being my go-to brand in the very near future. I prefer solvent based paints, am used to them and have no desire to convert to acrylics.
  20. ipmsusa2
    Martin, while I can't say exactly when, I will be sending photos for your consideration.
  21. ipmsusa2
    Hello Martin, glad to see your post here. I've already used a little of your paint on an existing project, though I couldn't use it for the entire project. However, I like what I see. As you know, I will be using the Viet Nam colors on three 1/48 F-105s as soon as I can get a backlog out of the way. Am definitely looking forward to using Tru-Color for that project.
  22. ipmsusa2
    I spoke today with Merit International, the U.S. distributor (the only one in the U.S.) for Kinetic kits. I learned that my canopy short shot was not an isolated occurrence. They have at least another four requests for replacement canopies with the same problem. Mine makes five. How many exist in unopened kits is unknown. However, according to Merit, Kinetic appears to have some significant quality control issues. Merit currently has no kits in stock, nor any spare parts from broken kits. Replacement canopies have been requested from China but when they will arrive is unknown, though Merit is suggesting a month or more. I have emailed Kinetic with my own request and have heard nothing from them. But their website states that they will have no spare parts for a particular kit until they do another production run and they ask those needing parts to "be patient". I would suggest that anyone with an E-2C 2000 kit in their stash open it and check the canopy carefully to see if they have a short shot. If so, call Merit and add youir name to the replacement list. It also wouldn't hurt to go to the Kinetic website, http://kineticmodel.com , find the parts replacement link and send an email request directly to them. It can't hurt and might help.
  23. ipmsusa2
    Everyone, The E2C that i'm building for a client has thrown me a very large curve. The canopy has a short shot on the starboard side just aft of the side window. It's too short in height and also curves in at the rear. No idea of where my client bought the kit and I need a canopy ASAP. Does anyone know an importer who could provide a spare canopy? BTW, I'll also suggest that everyone with one of these kits check the canopy for a possible short shot. Any help y'all can provide would be greatly appreciated since this model is supposed to be delivered before Christmas! Also, rather than posting here, I'd appreciate it if you would reply to my personal email at tennexican@gmail.com Richard
  24. ipmsusa2
    Installment #3 of the Kinetic E2C 2000 build series has been posted in the Buids Sub-Forum. All comments welcome.
  25. ipmsusa2
    Thanks, Gil. It'll be interesting to see your 48th C-46 when you're done with it.
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