TXCajun

Loved that show and your model nailed it!

This one has run it's course, and is laying on the BBQ grill. Stick a fork in her, she's DONE :D Darn shame about the Sharpie on the MiG. I've seen some judges do some crazy stuff. This one has got to be in the top three. When I judge, the reading glasses go on and if I want to point at something, I use my itty-bitty mag light to point it out to the other judges. It leaves no marks, plus you can make really cool Star Wars light saber sounds as you are playing the light over the model. Hummmm-mmmm-mmmm-WHOSH! :D

If we start rating models based on the number of bells and whistles applied, then it becomes a contest of who can afford the most after-market do-dads on their models. I remember when the whole resin/photo-etch craze started models that used the stuff were bringing home the gold. Then, some wise individual (or group) stopped for a moment, gave it some thought, and determined that the best and most objective way to judge was to judge the quality of the build vs. the quantity of stuff you glue on it. I like it that way and maybe that is why I especially like the "box-stock" category. That is o

Beautiful job on the '76 jet. I love it. Love the harem of kitties, too!

A buddy of mine just sent me some really cool B&W shots of Canadian aircraft carrier ops during the Cold War. I was particularly fascinated by the pics of Canadian Banshees. Does anyone have or has seen color profiles of these jets. I think that would be a really cool scheme to do. Thanks, Stew

I you are talking about the clear carrier film, then yes (potentially). However, there are several factors. At one time, white paints were notorious for yellowing over time and that could show through a decal and affect the color. However, many modelers stick the decals and or models that have yellowed in a sunny window for a couple of days and the yellow bleaches out. With proper surface prep, decal application, and sealing (with a non-yellowing clear top coat), the yellowing affect should be kept at a minimum.

It has raised panel lines, and thus isn't of the same caliber as their modern releases. However, it is still a very nice model and still the only Lanc in 1/48th. It is definitely worth diving in to.

I think I have something like that in the pantry, brother! I should put it on E-Bay, shouldn't I!? I'm thinking of marketing it as "Stew's Wonder Decal Glue Solvent" I could charge $10 a bottle! Modelers could pour it into a bowl, heat it up for a couple of seconds in the microwave, and place decals into it for about 20 seconds before attempting to slide said decals off the backing paper and onto their models! Genius! Stew (3:17)! Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack. Just trying to bring some levity into play.

Per Mike's OP: I seriously think it is a typo. I love to get the Squadron sale flyers, but I find that there are typos in just about every issue I get. For clarification, I go to the web site, punch in the stock number, and see what it says. If the price is still in question, give 'em a call. In the US, it is toll free. Or, just drop Mackie an e-mail. At the same time, I am finding that I am purchasing fewer and fewer models retail... and yes, I am also thankful that I have a decent stash. Now, you want a rant? How about the price of Testor's Model Master enamels? My LHS sells them for $3.

Hi all, I recently bought a Trumpeter "Hobby Line Engraver" (a panel line engraver for those who are not well versed in Chinese-to-English translation. I have several engravers, but when I tried one of these that a friend had, I was sold. It is perhaps one of the best for doing straight lines I have ever found. So, I was using it to re-scribe some lines this weekend, and about 1mm of the tip comes off. Now, I was deftly scribing in common styrene - nothing too hard or anything. On top of that, it didn't snap off, it just kind of came off. It was almost like it had been broken before, and som

You really captured the Lakota. Excellent work!

Just sickens me to see historically significant aircraft rotting in the sun. So many museums are begging for stuff like this, and that F-106 definitely should be in someone's museum. Shoot, drop her in my back yard and she'll be WELL taken care of!

JMan! That's great news on the job front! So glad to hear things are looking up for you. Drop a line any time. Stew

For one not owning an airbrush, I'd say you did a stellar job!

Good point, Derek. However, I have developed a strategy with Squadron. First, NO hobby related purchase for me is a "I gotta have it now", purchase. I don't do this as a money making venture, so I can afford to be patient and wait for the good deals. When I get their monthly flyer, I note those items that are highlighted in yellow. They are the items that are significantly reduced and offer a great bargain. Generally, I restrict myself to those items. Besides, when I buy from Squadron, I am supporting the economy of my home state (Texas) vs. sending my spending dollars to China. So, call i

The especially sad part about it is that it says "China" under the date vs. "USA".

Being a Cajun originally from South Louisiana, I'm thinking that this would go well with some potatoes, smoked sausage, onions, corn, and about five pounds of Zatarans crab boil in a 30 gallon pot! Aahhh-yi!

Footnote: Great start, but if I may throw a wrench in the works: The Revell/Monogram SNJ kit is of the earlier Texan, whereas the actual one shown has the later canopy. The Italeri/Occidental kit has the later canopy style. So, you might want to get that kit and swap parts or build this one for yourself and the Italeri kit for the museum, since it better represents the later model. Either way you decide to go, I'm sure the effort will be top-shelf. Stew

I built this kit back in the 80's for the Louisiana National Guard Museum at Jackson Barracks. It was a real nice kit and your effort is definitely doing it justice. Not to many people building this kit and showing it in contests. Darn shame. All of those hot-rod ace pilots in P-51's, P-47's, P-38's, etc, cut their teeth on the likes of the T-6/SNJ and the BT-13. Stew

What happended to Mecha Hawaii in Waikiki? They have mostly sci-fi/mecha/transformers stuff - all the Japanese genre, but still there are some neat things there, too. "Armchair" is packed to the gills with neat stuff. Litterally. Navigating through the aisles was like tackling Everest, but OH the goodies!!! Isn't it somewhat near Best Buy? Nothing on the North Shore that I found.

Telly's got a good point. Unless someone is feeling exceptionally benevolent, they're probably not going to sell you fairly new-release kits at a lower price than it would take them to replace them. What you might do is keep an eye out in the Squadron sale flyer. I have periodically seen these go on sale - not dirt cheap, but at a decent price - 10-15% off of retail. Another place you may be able to find some of these kits at a great price is estate sales or from model show vendors who are looking to dump kits. At the San Antonio Model Fiesta this year, some guy was selling 1/48th scale H

If I may offer a few points: - Simply having the mix it too thin wouldn't cause spraying problems. If it did, then spraying pure thinner would do so as well. You don't say what pressure you are using. I find that my Iwata HP-CS doesn't like higher pressures (20-25) as much as lower pressures. When I spray, I am thinning the paint down to the consistency of skim milk and spraying at 8-10 psi. - My Iwata seems to be very finicky about being clean. There are times when I think I have cleaned it well, and yet I still have spraying problems. This is only corrected when I tear it down completely

Per the green: Note also the color of the assembly surrounding the TADS (?). Must have been some type of depot parts-swapping. In one of my former jobs, I inadvertently inflicted some battle damage on a Chinook (LONG story). The sheet metal guys just patched that area and repainted it. So, it ended up being a slightly different color. Maybe they did a small bit of patching on the '64 and just painted some CARC on it to the pane lines for short-term corrosion protection, then it got the gray later.

I generally have only one of each type in my stash, but Phantoms are an exception. After my efforts to reorganize my stash this weekend, the number of 1/48th Phantom kits was EIGHT. Plus, I have one in progress. I thought I had a lot. I was sorely mistaken!

Agree. They really should be displayed indoors. I've seen what the elements did to the Saturn V at the Museum in Huntsville. Really sad. Thankfully, they have been restoring it. Imagine the space shuttle on the launch vehicle displayed in the "missile silo" area at the AF museum! That would be SO cool!!!