SkyKing

I subscribe to his channel. Some good stuff.

I have often wondered how both Airfix and Revell could have screwed up their 1/72 P-51D kits from those years so badly. They look almost like some kid's badly drawn version of the airplane. Surely there were some more accurate references available back then. Your model turned out far better than that kit deserved.

I have som 60-year-old Humbrol paint that is as good as the day it left the factory. If you make sure the rim of the tin and the inside of the lid are clean before putting the lid back on, and apply a little pressure to the lid to make sure it is sealed, there is no reason why Humbrol won't last indefinitely.

Besides aircraft of the Texas Air National Guard, how about decals for Texas Highway Patrol vehicles of various vintages (1/24, 1/25)? The Texas Highway Patrol have also operated various aircraft, including a Navion (1/72). Some of the smaller, lesser known Texas-based airlines might be good subjects (1/72, 1/144); the major ones are commercially available. I'll see if I can stir up some photos. The Department of Public Safety was very helpful when I was looking for a photo of the car my late dad drove when he was a License & Weight Inspector, and they probably have more in their archives. Here's a list of ships with Texas-related names: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_States_Navy_Texas-related_ships

1/48 scale 500-lb bombs have been produced by Squadron (TD48503), Eduard (EU648081), and MK.1 Design I (catalogue number unavailable). Between these and Nick's offer, you should be able to find what you need.

If you have access to a lathe, you could turn the bomb body from acrylic rod. The fin assembly can be make from sheet styrene. But I think you have miscalculated the 1/72 dimensions. The overall length of 90.4 in would be 1.25 in (90.4/72) or 31.9 mm (90.4/72 x 25.4) in 1/72 scale. Length of bomb body would be 0.97 in or 24.7 mm in 1/72. Diameter of bomb body would be 0.32 in or 8.2 mm in 1/72. A 500-lb AN-M64A1 General Purpose bomb has an overall length of 59.16 in or 1.24 in or 31.5 mm in 1/48 scale, and a body diameter of 14.18 in or 0.30 in or 7.5 mm in 1/48 scale. So I think you could use some 1/48 500-lb bombs as substitutes for 1/72 2000-lb bombs. The differences are probably too small to be noticed by anyone without a micrometer.

I logged on at about 3:30 CDT and had no problem.

I've long thought that OOTB has outlived its usefulness, given the advances in kit design and manufacturing since the category was established way back then, and given the exceptions which are allowed which have really turned it into "OOTB+". I'd like to see it eliminated. Redefine OOTB as strictly OOTB: Use only what is in the box, built per kit instructions with no major modifications to the parts (rigging and antennas allowble if suggested by the kit instructions). Put OOTB entries in the same categories as the others. If only the basics of construction and finishing are judged, then it's entirely conceivable that a well-done OOTB entry can beat a poorly built super-detailed model with a lot of aftermarket stuff. Perhaps a partial solution is to create new categories for older kits: "Classic kits" (those over 25 years old), "Antique kits" (those over 45 years old), and "Vintage kits" (those over 60 years old), and allow whatever improvements the modeller wishes, from none to an all-out maximum effort.

Those of you familiar with the Dallas-Fort Worth area will know of M-A-L Hobby shop in Irving, which has been at the same location since 1948 and which has also been a vendor at many past IPMS national conventions. I just learned this past Saturday that owner Ed Seay Jr, was diagnosed with dementia a little over a month ago and is now in a long-term care facility. The business had apparently been affected by his condition for some time. Another local modeler reports that the building has been sold and will be transferred in phases. The N-track railroad club which is in one of the 4 or 5 store fronts will have 18 months to make other arrangements. Local modelers and friends of Ed have been working there for the last four Saturdays cleaning out the back warehouse and have found lots of old new stock items which either Ed Sr or Ed Jr put away and forgot. A hundred or so Squadron In Action and Detail & Scale books will be going to Half Price Books, with the proceeds to go to support Ed’s care. A lot of original material has been donated to the Frontiers of Flight museum in Dallas. I had not seen Ed in about 6 weeks, and he seemed to be his usual self then, so I was stunned and truly saddened at the news when I visited the shop last Saturday. Back in the '70s, I and other modelers in Wichita Falls made regular monthly visits to M-A-L. Its closing marks — for all of us who knew Ed and his father and mother — the end of an era.

Tamiya Fine Surface Primer, White. Use from the spray can or decant for airbrush use. When it's fully cured, polish it to a smooth, satin finish. Apply decals, then a final semi-gloss or gloss coat.

Found at a local hobby shop's going-out-of-business sale: A KP Il-10 kit sent to Jim by a Czech modeler during the Cold War. (Photo by Scott Copeland)

It's a sticky problem. https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a28172758/how-to-remove-super-glue/

After acquiring the Pactra and Floquil brands then discontinuing them, and more lately discontinuing most of the Master Model enamel line, Testors has apparently decided to get out of the acrylic paint business as well. The following are the Testors acrylic paints listed for discontinuation, according to an email I received from one retailer: TES-4399 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic II Fantasy Figure Sullen Grey TES-4604 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Skin Tone Shadow Tint TES-4605 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Burnt Umber TES-4608 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Raw Sienna TES-4609 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic British Crimson TES-4611 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Cadmium Yellow Light TES-4612 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Cobalt Blue TES-4613 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Napoleonic Violet TES-4614 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic German Uniform Feldgrau TES-4625 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Clear Orange TES-4631 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Italian Red TES-4633 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Stop Light Red TES-4646 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Kandy Scarlet TES-4651 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Pearlescent Purple TES-4664 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Teal TES-4676 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Jet Exhaust TES-4687 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Blue Angel Blue TES-4691 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Navy Gloss Grey TES-4692 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Gloss Gull Grey TES-4693 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Aircraft Grey TES-4701 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi-Gloss White TES-4703 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Fluorescent Red TES-4707 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Earth Red TES-4708 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Field Drab TES-4722 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Random Tan (Radome Tan?) TES-4723 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic US Army Helo Drab TES-4727 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Green Drab TES-4729 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Euro I Dark Green TES-4739 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Pale Green TES-4742 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Insignia Blue TES-4744 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Intermediate Blue TES-4746 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Medium Grey TES-4749 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Engine Grey TES-4750 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Euro I Grey TES-4755 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Dark Gull Grey TES-4759 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Light Sea Grey TES-4766 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Camouflage Grey TES-4767 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Aircraft Interior Black TES-4770 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Grau TES-4771 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Gelb (Yellow) TES-4779 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Schwarzgrau TES-4780 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Schwarzgrun TES-4784 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Graugrun TES-4785 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Grauviolett TES-4786 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Lichtblau TES-4789 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Sandgelb TES-4805 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Panzer Interior Buff TES-4807 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Russian Armor Green TES-4812 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic US Army/Marine Gulf Armor Sand TES-4813 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic British Gulf Armor Light Stone TES-4840 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic RAF Sky Type S TES-4846 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Dark Earth TES-4849 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic RAF Dark Green TES-4850 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic RAF Interior Green TES-4851 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Yellow Zinc Chromate TES-4860 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Field Grey TES-4862 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Panzer Olive Green TES-4863 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Light Grey TES-4864 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Pale Blue Grey TES-4865 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Haze Grey TES-4866 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Ocean Grey TES-4867 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Navy Blue TES-4868 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Hull Red KMS TES-4869 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Dark Grey RN TES-4870 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Semi Gloss Light Grey RN TES-4871 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Black Detail Wash TES-4873 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Reefer White Flat TES-4874 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Aged White Flat TES-4877 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Earth Flat TES-4879 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Reefer Yellow Flat TES-4880 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Caboose Red Flat TES-4881 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Boxcar Red Flat TES-4882 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Oxide Red Flat TES-4883 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Signal Green Flat TES-4884 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Roof Brown Flat TES-4886 1/2oz. Bottle Model Master Acrylic Reefer Grey Flat

Those of us who used Floquil paint wrung our hands and gnashed our teeth when (1) Testor's acquired Floquil, and (2) Testor's discontinued Floquil. Now there's a company in the UK (Archive-X) reproducing some of the Floquil colors. There are only two drawbacks: (1) it is frightfully expensive (£12.00 for a 30 ml bottle!) and (2) being enamel, it cannot be mailed to the US. However, for those interested, here is the relevant Interweb page listing available colors: https://archive-x.com/collections/all-paints Most available colors seem to be either railroad or ship colors, but elsewhere on the site is an implied intent to eventually reproduce the entire Floquil line.

You're not alone; I'm having the same problem. I thought at first it was my ISP (TimeWarner/Spectrum), but this is the only site I frequent that seems to have got stuck in a vat of molasses.