Fishwelding

Originally, I purposefully kept a rail out from the lower front of the bench, because I figured I'd kick it all the time. Now I'm coming around to seeing that you're right. Like a good bar rail, I need something on which to rest a foot occasionally. I'm also considering some sort of wall-mounted spicerack-style thing for bottles. That stuff looks awesome, and I may buy a few things like that. But I'm really trying to learn to build stuff myself. I'm not sure this strategy will even be a lot cheaper, but I need the experience with construction, for other purposes (home improvement,

Over a course of two decades, I noticed about myself that I often build or paint models standing up, even at tables where it doesn't really make sense. I don't know why this is; I don't use a trendy stand-up desk at work. But the trend made me think: if for whatever reason I instinctively stand up while modeling, why not build for it? So this bench is about 41-42" high (I'm 6' exactly.) So far I love it. I have more space to build, so if I really decide I don't like to stand all the time while building, or change my mind as I get older, I'll build a sit-down space, too.

Today, I built a new workbench. It's crude, consisting right now of cheap 2"x4" frame and a plywood top. It's not finished; I'd like to add a fascia to keep splintering down, some amount of tempered glass surface, white sidewalls to make it a light gathering booth, and some other things I haven't thought of just yet. The experienced carpenters among you might justly yawn ("neat, Fish.") but I'm a little proud of myself. I've never been much of a carpenter at all, but I've now built several heavy-duty shelving blocks, and this bench, all since the New Year. Until now I've never tailored my

Watching this with enthusiasm. Having done some science fiction and World War II subjects, I'm eager to get back to Cold War stuff. This is just the thing to motivate me.

I dig their MT-LB based kits. Not usually into full aftermarket kits, but I might have to try one of those.

Hi Ian, As Ken suggests, Tamiya's old "Modern U.S. Accessory Set" #35141 is still widely available across the internet. This contains 105mm ammunition for U.S. users of the L7 (M1, M60 tanks). Veterans or experts could tell you how accurate (or not) these rounds and their cases are. Recently, Tamiya repackaged this set with some infantry. This kit can be confused with Tamiya's "Modern U.S. Military Equipment Set" #35266, an even-more-modern accessory set that does not contain these rounds. 35141 is "modern" in the 1980s sense; I have a ton of 'em because I mostly build in that era. Ad

Any thoughts on how to reproduce those quarter panels, just behind the doors? If it were just solid canvas (or some other ripstop fabric material) it would be much simpler, but the clear plastic window material makes it a special challenge. If I attempted it, I'd really only try it (this time around) with the quarter panels behind the driver, and then do garrison-improvised plywood doors next to the front seats. Right now, my thinking is to make the panels out of thin clear plastic. Possibly wrinkle them by heating them over a flame, and then shaping them somehow (?). Or, make them out

Appreciated Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Johnny Frost, but I thought the guy who played "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin really overdid things.

This is a build-up of Bandai’s old 1/72 VF-1 Valkyrie. It is in no sense Macross/DYRL or Robotech canon, and is modified in various ways: I added parts from various places. Most prominent are from Hasegawa’s Macross weapons set. Lots of stock styrene and parts from various kits, Wave and Kotobukiya detail sets (sold for Gunpla and related) were used to augment the armor and packs. With files and sandpaper I rounded a lot of hard edges, because they didn’t appeal to me. Lots of decals from various sources. I didn’t include all that I initially planned, because I burned out, especiall

Give 'em a chance. Take some time to go to public forums, or even just ask to speak with your kids' teachers. Ask them what they think their problems are. Ask 'em what you should be doing as a parent to keep your kid on track viz. their class. You may not agree with what they say, and that's cool, but you may acquire some perspective on how they think. You're probably in a job where you get frustrated by people who, if they only knew the burdens of your gig, it might make your job a little easier and give you a chance to do better by them. And you probably believe that the "customer"

Keep fighting the good fight. Many of us here support you. I studied and, since 2005, taught American History, in community colleges and schools whose Roman Catholic orientation meant that practically, I've had kids in my class from quite well-to-do, largely Euro-American backgrounds, as well as a lot of poor minorities, and everything in between. I also teach and support fellow faculty in how to use the internet. In teaching and learning I've discovered that broader contexts, largely ignored in the day-to-day politics within or surrounding situations, matter a great deal. I should have

Good stuff! Having begun mocking up the Miniart cafe parts, I'll have to think smaller shop, for sure. I also might put Miniart's "German City Building" next to the shop, but haven't figured out what sort of business that will be. Miniart makes their money by suggesting buildings look at least a little war-torn, since diorama builders tend to focus on World War II. I might need to fix that one up a bit to represent West Germany in the 1980s. For both buildings, I think I"ll need to cut the ruined sidewalls to present a clean appearance back to the diorama's rear edge.

Awesome tip! I think a Tante Emma Laden is probably what I'm looking to do! Thank you! I was recently in Ireland and the UK, and saw SPAR stores, myself. The trouble with using chains, generally, is that today's chain stores might not be those of the 1980s, or they may look very different. At least in the United States, companies have changed so much that stores I remember as a kid here often no longer exist. That's why I'm probably going to go with a family-run place. Yes, that's the idea, Holmes. Might have to pick up a verlinden grocery kit for the stuff out front, though I need

So I'm considering an armor diorama set in 1980s West Germany, probably toward the south. It involves as part of the "story" what we call in America a convenience store, or a small store that sells groceries, often but not always built into gasoline or petrol stations. This one would probably be in an older village or town building, represented by Miniart's French Cafe. Basically, one of the "characters" in the scene, will be coming out of the store with a bottle of milk. In short, what should the sign read? Is there a German word commonly associated with this kind of store? It doesn't

It is fashionable to blame social politics because our current political system, increasingly modeled on professional sports fandom, likes such slogans as rallying cheers. But this is just cheap rhetoric. I suspect our educational problems stem from an old problem reinforced by a somewhat newer problem. The old problem is that for over two centuries many Americans, having democratic (small "d," not referencing current political parties) tendencies, have always had contempt for teachers and education. Because there's something vaguely undemocratic about educational achievement, when you b

I teach in higher ed, but have a "day job" on campus, too, so I only get a little more time on nights and weekends during the summer. (And so far, that's eaten by chores. My lawnmower was much happier after an oil, air filter, and sparkplug change today). Among full time faculty teaching history, I know of none who really have a true summer vacation, because they're still teaching, developing new courses, catching up on administrative work, or doing research and writing. I can't speak for other fields, though. Generally, about the best that can be said around here is that summer is quiete

I dig it! Really like the multi-layer mud mess.

That was key with DML's first generation armor kits (at least those I saw in the USA). Fit was so-so, and some had wonky features (ex. the hinges on BTRs and BRDMs). But they put 'em in pretty slick, robust boxes with little printed-cardboard compartments. The whole thing had a serious look n' feel to it, so that you didn't feel like you were buying assemble-it-yourself toys. Tamiya was halfway there, but a lot of their line still had less parts, evidence of previous motorization, and cartoons in the instruction sheet. Meanwhile, Revell, Monogram, and other kitmakers' quaint (and, in re

Interesting question. Was it an event or an evolution? Monogram in the United States, and perhaps Airfix in the UK or Italeri in Italy (I'm not as familiar with their lines from the era) were steadily making better and better kits coming out of the 1970s and through the 1980s. By the '80s, Monogram's 1/48th line of jets was pretty hot stuff, with good shapes and fairly complete cockpits, when compared to the toylike stuff produced by many makers in first few decades of plastic kits. The Japanese certainly introduced new levels of quality and (I believe) basically transitioned the hobby in

The belief that "people today are lazy bums" led to a great deal of hard-heartedness and armchair economics during the Great Depression, too. The trouble is generalizing on the basis of generations. Read social history (which is what 11bee was citing above) and you quickly come to realize that even with serious research and ample evidence (which doesn't inform much of this thread) it's very difficult to generalize. I've read stuff written by pretty serious research historians that's compelling, but even subject to counterargument. For instance, there's a set of related theories that boil

Ph.D.s are special cases. ;)

Just wait another 30 years. You'll get there. Then you can retire and spend your days passing around conspiracy theory emails with subject lines in ALL CAPS! EDIT: hmm...upon further reflection that last joke may not translate well. Do other parts of the world feature retirees who pretty much dominate Facebook and pass along tons of wonky email? Or that basically just the U.S.?

Thanks for the help, Lance! I did see those videos in my searching, and was especially intrigued by the white nose-numbers. Lots and lots of cluster bombs in those clips...

No. Violent crime, poverty, taxes, death, leprosy, ignorance, and ridiculous TV situation comedies all existed before mobile phones. Indeed, the only true nuclear warfare ever committed took place before even the transistor. If it wasn't for mobile phones, we'd still be living in trees. :blink: Kidding aside, anyway you slice it these issues - especially concerning education or work conditions - edge close to politics, which is a worthless pursuit, here. I do admit, though, that I can't hold parents 100% responsible for how their kids turn out. Generally I think parenting matters bi

Hi Bjoern, I agree with you that fast food is basically garbage, and the United States is justly infamous for unhealthy (over)eating. But the problem is more complex than it may appear, and many of us actually do care about ourselves. We end up buying unhealthy prepared food because it is quick, and we don't feel we have time to spare. In the United States, a lot of us are now working more than our supposed national-standard 40 hours a week just to make a living. So making every meal ourselves, while having time for things like plastic modeling, too, can be tough. I do it by having very,