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SkyKing

IPMS/USA Member
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Everything posted by SkyKing

  1. I agree 100%. The same could be said for the uniformly flat finished military aircraft models. I'm inclined to think that most of today's modelers of aircraft have never seen a real one close-up, but just build according to a formula they read somewhere once.
  2. The only possible justification I see for this is the re-creation of crime scenes for jury trials.
  3. Possibly a new IPMS category: "Die-oramas." http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hold-these-tiny-crime-scenes-in-the-palm-of-your-hand
  4. I am having trouble with airlinercafe.com. All of a sudden, I'm getting a message that I have an ad blocker in my browser and must upgrade to a "First Class" membership in order to access the site. I do use an adblocker program, but it is disabled for airlinercafe, and the site is whitelisted. I cannot log in, and I cannot even contact the site administrator about this issue because the adblocker prevents me from doing so. This is happening in both Safari and Firefox. Help!
  5. You're partly correct. Originally, the Coast Guard was under the Treasury Dept. during peacetime and the Navy Dept. in wartime. In 1967, it was moved from the Treasury Dept. to the newly formed Dept. of Transportation, an arrangement that lasted until it was placed under the Dept. of Homeland Security in 2003. It can still be transferred to the Navy in time of war.
  6. This is more like greedy capitalism at work. Nothing remotely "progressive" or "communist" about it.
  7. This letter from Lewis Nace, President of Minicraft Models. appeared in the July 2016 issue of "Beaver Tales," the e-newsletter of IPMS-Canada: “Some months ago we exchanged messages about the threat of licensing demands by the US Military. It is now official that the first of the US military licensing demands have been made, the first being the US Navy. “Last year this topic first came up because a container shipped to a Minicraft customer (MMD) was seized by US Customs because a model kit had a decal representing the seal of the US Coast Guard (it was a Trumpeter container not a Minicraft container). That situation did not affect Minicraft because we do not currently offer a kit with US Coast Guard markings, but the lesson was obvious – the US military branches are by way of US Customs starting to enforce “new” trademark laws. Minicraft will no longer consider marketing any subject that requires reference to the Coast Guard going forward. “However, given the nature of the Minicraft line, I have a minimum of 2 military licenses I must contend with, the US Navy and the US Air Force. In the past we often offered optional markings in kits but that will no longer happen. If we were to include markings for a Navy and an Air Force airplane in the same box we would be subject to licensing both branches of the service. The US Army, US Marine Corp, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard all have a SEPARATE license all with separate procedures and royalty requirements. We cannot triple our licensing cost. “If modelers wonder why their selection has narrowed this might help explain it. The cost of licensing? Licensing costs are all pretty similar for Ford, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrup-Grumman, Cessna etc. It looks like the US military licensing fee will be the same and this will effectively double Minicraft licensing costs. EACH licensing authority will need to approve the product and each have their own special requirements all of which adds to the time it takes to develop new product. Many licensing groups are starting to require the use of an “OLP” hologram and we are expecting to have to reserve space on the box to line up the OLP holograms! Manufacturers will have no alternative but to increase the price to the consumer. “If model enthusiasts are unhappy about the state of the industry invite them to contact their Congressional representatives. Model kit manufacturers now need to wade through licensing agreements, pay royalties and follow accounting requirements and not only pay manufacturers for designs and license holders for ships tanks and airplanes the US military used decades ago, but now also pay each individual branch of the service depending on the decals included in the kit. “Incidentally legal advisors have also recommended removing any reference to crews or pilots because doing so presents the risk of yet another licensing demand. Ever heard the story about the “estate” of Chuck Yeager? His heirs have successfully demanded licensing of any kit bearing his name on the airplane. “Say goodbye to the hobby we once knew.”
  8. The general rule is: "Acrylic" (i.e., water-based) over enamel (oil-based) over lacquer (lacquer-based). NEVER enamel over acrylic and NEVER lacquer over anything. This is a rule which I have obeyed for years, and it has never let me down. Having said that, however, there do appear to be some modern "acrylics" that are robust enough to stand up to the application of enamels over them. I can't tell you which ones, because I shy away from "acrylics." I put "acrylics" in quote because "acrylic" means different things to different people. There are water-based "acrylics" (which are technically enamels), and there are "acrylic lacquers." The latter are lacquer-based but their pigments are acrylic polymers. You can use Tamiya primer for just about anything without fear. And enamels need not be restricted to pre-shading; you can apply enamels over enamels without any problems. And you can also pre-shade with water-based acrylics if using them for your base colors. Ron's advice is good. I usually allow any paint I apply to dry/cure for a week before applying more paint on top. If you can still smell paint on your model, the paint still isn't dry/cured.
  9. So now my question is: What's a good source for photoetch seatbelts of various styles? I once had a bunch, but they seem to have been lost in several moves over the years.
  10. You can also carve away the not-quite-cured filler with your hobby knife.
  11. Ideal tape for seat belts: Available in the following sizes: 0.4mm x 8m 0.7mm x 8m 1.0mm x 5m 1.5mm x 5m 2.0mm x 5m 2.5mm x 5m
  12. My stash count is about twice my Humbrol paint count. I need to get busy!
  13. I have 333 tins! Most of it new old stock, purchased on The Bay Of E. Including some discontinued but still useful colors, such as Eau de Nil (No. 1) and Yellow (No. 8), and several sets of Humbrol Authentics. Many duplicates/triplicates, some opened and partially used tins, but all still fresh as the day they left the factory. There's nothing like the sweet, oily smell of vintage Humbrol enamel to get your modeling mojo working! And yet, among all that Humbrol paint, there's not one tin of Gloss Black. Go figure.
  14. Does anyone in IPMSLand know what is going on with this Nashville on-line retailer? They were my go-to source, and a reliable one, for White Ensign Colorcoats enamels, but their e-store has been closed now for some time, and their main Interweb page says only "Exciting news coming soon!!!"
  15. From my experience, the lack of interest in group builds is due to the individualistic and independent nature of IPMS-USA members. It's been hard enough to reach a consensus on subjects for group builds within my local chapter.
  16. Verrrrry nice! Love the classic airliners!
  17. I like this approach. However, current leadership of my home Chapter seems to think it's "immoral" to attempt to put any restriction on a seller. They have no expressed concern for the health or future viability of the show. For my own part, I have taken the position that if we are going to allow our IPMS Regionals and locally-sponsored contests to become nothing more than markets for bulk sellers and bulk buyers, then I refuse to support them in any manner whatsoever, and that includes that of my own chapter.
  18. Long-time IPMS member and retired McDD engineer Ron Downey has posted scans of the official Douglas factory display model drawings for the DC-1, DC–3, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, and DC-9 aircraft on his blog: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.ca/ Follow the link in his blog entry to see a thumbnail gallery, then click on the thumbnail of the drawing you're interested in, then click on the "full size" link to see and copy the full size drawing. We all owe Ron our thanks for posting these. There's a lot of other good stuff on his blog, too!
  19. Incorrect. The following Humbrol colors have recently been discontinued, according to reports from the UK, although most if not all seem to be available from Hornby USA: 36 Matt pastel green 42 Matt violet 44 Matt pastel blue 58 Matt magenta 111 Matt field grey 112 Matt field blue 156 Satin dark camouflage grey 157 Matt azure blue 167 Satin RAF Barley grey 168 Satin hemp 187 Matt dark stone 195 Satin dark green 225 Matt middle stone 230 Matt PRU blue 234 Matt dark flesh 237 Matt desert tan 239 Gloss British racing green 240 Matt RLM 02 grau 241 Matt RLM 70 schwartzgrun 242 Matt RLM 71 dunkelgrun 243 Matt RLM 72 grun 244 Matt RLM 73 grun 245 Matt RLM 74 graugrun 246 Matt RLM 75 grauviolett 247 Matt RLM 76 lichtblau 248 Matt RLM 78 himmelblau 249 Matt RLM 79 sandbraun 250 Matt desert sand 251 Matt RLM 81 dunkelbraun 252 Matt RLM 82 olivgrun 253 Matt RLM 83 dunkelgrun 1325 Clear green
  20. http://www.procedurecollective.fr/fr/redressement-judiciaire/1177645/heller-joustra.aspx This is apparently an issue over ownership. For more, see here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234997937-heller-joustra-gone-into-receivership/&do=findComment&comment=2284401
  21. Mike, How can you question the wisdom and expertise of the federal government? They are protecting us. it is my understanding that the airlines, through their international trade association, are to blame for enamels no longer being shipped by air. And who regulates the airlines? In this case, themselves.
  22. Mike, How can you question the wisdom and expertise of the federal government? They are protecting us. it is my understanding that the airlines, through their international trade association, are to blame for enamels no longer being shipped by air.
  23. But why is it that some lacquers (I.e., Mr. Color, AKAN) are easier to get here in the US than some enamels (Xtracolor, White Ensign). Aren't lacquers more volatile and "nastier" than enamels?
  24. Having attended many shows and contests in recent years, I have come to the conclusion that "subtlety" is not in the vocabulary of today's modelers and that most builders of model aircraft have never seen a real aircraft close-up.
  25. According to a post on the Britmodeller forum, the following Humbrol colors have been discontinued, as confirmed by their deletion from the trade order forms: 36 Matt pastel green 42 Matt violet 44 Matt pastel blue 58 Matt magenta 111 Matt field grey 112 Matt field blue 156 Satin dark camouflage grey 157 Matt azure blue 167 Satin RAF Barley grey 168 Satin hemp 187 Matt dark stone 195 Satin dark green 225 Matt middle stone 230 Matt PRU blue 234 Matt dark flesh 237 Matt desert tan 239 Gloss British racing green 240 Matt RLM 02 grau 241 Matt RLM 70 schwartzgrun 242 Matt RLM 71 dunkelgrun 243 Matt RLM 72 grun 244 Matt RLM 73 grun 245 Matt RLM 74 graugrun 246 Matt RLM 75 grauviolett 247 Matt RLM 76 lichtblau 248 Matt RLM 78 himmelblau 249 Matt RLM 79 sandbraun 250 Matt desert sand 251 Matt RLM 81 dunkelbraun 252 Matt RLM 82 olivgrun 253 Matt RLM 83 dunkelgrun 1325 Clear green So get 'em while you can.
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