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niart17

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Everything posted by niart17

  1. Pretty sure that is an "E" with what looks like a VERY COOL load out. Anyone have any idea what is on the wingtips? Looks funky........which is cool. Bill Edit: Nevermind, found the wingtip thingys. They are ALQ-218(V)2 receiver pods according to Combat Aircraft magazine.
  2. I got to meet the actor Merlon Olson in Colorado in 1986 or 87. He was there filming a documentary in Central City. Great guy, down the earth.....tall. Anyway, nothing to do with the blues, but interesting. Glad to hear they are continuing on though. Bill
  3. thanks for the response guys. So I guess the next question is, does anyone make Blue Angel decals with the number 7 included or at least who makes the best sheet of the blues? I have the revell kits with the decals, but I'm not sure how accurate or even good these are. They also don't include the 7 so i'd have to make my own no. and hope to be able to match the color. Again, any help would be well.....helpfull. Bill
  4. Hey guys, I'm not sure what to do. I have this 48th scale hasagawa f-18b that i had always planned on doing the no.7 Blue Angel. inlight of the tragic accident, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to go the route that seems inevitable. I know many people will be doing tribute models and paintings and films and what not, I just don't want to come across like someone jumping in for the heck of it. So what do you all think? Should i hold off on that build? If i do go ahead with it, should I try to build his jet when he no. 7 or just take whatever decals i can find? Any opinions on this would be welc
  5. ahhhhhh yes.....the helmet that was famous for saying "you could have had him man, you could have had him!" any takers on the scene trivia? Bill
  6. I have to go with the wife's hair. Perfect for small scale rigging. Although I have had some funny looks from friends because of the hemostats/clamps I use. I think they are under the impression it's really used for some other "hobby". Sucks when you are a drummer, everyone goes straight to thinking drugs...... sorry, hadn't used it yet, I just love that one! Bill
  7. One of the drum instructors at my nephews school actually used a hair dryer to get to sleep. He said that the noise was soothing and the slight glow of it calmed him down to sleep. He claims it was safe because of the auto shut-off thermostat.........it's a good thing he can really play drums.....rocket scientist he ain't!!!!
  8. My bro. in-law is a retired pilot from the AF, and is up for a position "flying" (controlling) UAV's. He's pretty bummed about not flying, but at least he definately has the real flight experience. I don't know details, but I guess they use civi. contractors as well?
  9. Okay, so who wants to explain to my wife that by buying this, I'm NOT buying another model to store in the closet, but I'm actually buying something to help me get one more model out of the stash!! Fantastic looking work man!! I must have. My recommendation is to sell the canopy/nose/intake lip in one set, and sell the intake with the lip already attached in another set. I realize that would mean people would have an extra lip if they got both sets, but it seems to me that if you buy just the intake, it wouldn't really fit without the new lip. That way, people who just want a seamless intake,
  10. I've had success adding circumficial panel lines on 72nd scale PT-boat torpedos by using a K&S tube cutter. You have to be really careful not to put too much pressure on it, otherwise you will cut thru, but with the lightest amount of pressure, I was able to get pretty good panel lines. Obviously, this only works if you don't have the fins mounted already. I suppose if you wanted to get really fancy, you could rig up some sort of mini-lathe system and use a scribing tool. I think Dremel actually makes a lathe attachment for their rotory tools. Just some ideas Bill
  11. As to the roundels, I think what would work would be a swivel-knive chucked in a drafting compass. Swivel knives are used by airbrush artists to cut curves in masks. It has a really small sharp blade that can rotate freely as you cut. I believe Hobby-Lobby carries them. You could use a circle template instead of the compass so you don't put a small hole in the center, i just find it harder to cut with the template. I haven't tried them on decal paper but it cuts frisket paper easily, so it should work fine. Good luck Bill
  12. When I have that problem (usually on darker subjects) I'll just print two of each decal and double up the decals. It does make it harder to get a smooth surface, but I think it works fine. Bill
  13. one thing i've used prismacolor weathering on is very small oil streaks coming off of rivets and what not. I've seen F-18's with these streaks around the tail plane area. Also I've used them to show the small paint touch-ups around panel locks and rivets that are real prominant on carrier planes. I find it easier to control than trying to airbrushing, and much quicker than oils. also on camo planes, they make great panel line accents, because of the wide range of color, sometimes I think it's more effective than just a grey or brown wash. I do recommend using after the gloss coat, and probably
  14. of course if you do serious rust, don't forget to add the "holes" that rust makes. you know the eaten away parts. I saw a dio of an old KATE (IIRC) with rusted engine compartment. The color was right, but the holes are what made it really believable. and oh yea, very very thin plasic around the holes. just a thought. Bill
  15. If I understand the question, IMO, the best actual spacecraft is the space shuttle hands down. Plane cool looks and it's longivity of service.....Best im my book.....so far! as for sci-fi ships.....hmmmmmm...I like the new BSG vipers. Mean looking and they fly like how I think a real space fighter would fly (of course that's more credit to the effects team than the design) I also like the looks of the Nostromo from alien.....very believable as real working space craft. Model-wise....I like the special hobbies X-15. (although debatable as to space craft or not) My 2 cents Bill ahhhhh...edi
  16. one effect I've seen done (enter at your own risk) is the spray with milky white as suggested, but also to very lightly "crack" the plastic. Not so much that it really cracks, just to the point where you get those tight stress lines that plexi can get from sun damage.....It looked amazingly real. The guy who did it said he just heated it in hot water and lightly pushed til it got the look. I'm too scared to try, and i'd recommend testing first. Bill
  17. I've heard of pilots getting a good @$$ chewing but that's a little extreme don't ya think? Seriously, awesome pic and story, thats why they will still be flying for many more years. Bill
  18. I agree, very good work. Top notch. btw, all artists are amateurs til you sell ONE piece. Then they are starving artists.
  19. Dude!!! you just graduated high school????? You have a great talent, good eye for detail, and a really mature touch for your age. I graduated with an bachelor of arts degree and a degree in drafting, I don't think I'm THIS good. Keep up the great work! Bill
  20. Yes, Prismacolors are the bomb!! Not only are they the best color pencils for art, they work very well for weathering, and detail work like you mentioned. But Prismacolors aren't powdery, they are more like "creamy" almost waxy but not like crayons, and they sharpen very well. I also have never heard of karismacolors or colored graphite......but hey, I learn something new everyday. I would look for Prismacolors, hobby lobby sells them individually sometimes at 35 cents a piece on clearance. Otherwise, they can be quite pricey. Bill
  21. I don't have a pic because I'm in the process of moving all my stuff to an outside shed/hobby room, but i've been using a hollow core door and two sliding closet doors for my work bench top and shelves. It works great cause it's light, pretty sturdy, stays flat, and I use to hole where the knob was as a pass-thru for all the electrical wire and such. I think I'm gonna put the hinge pins back on the "front" of the desk to use as hanger locations for my airbrush and rotory tool. I'll try to get pic soon, i just have to finish building the room first. Bill
  22. I know a ex-air force pilot who applied to fly with the CIA and was told the CIA doesn't have any aircraft, so you must be mistaken.... :) ;)
  23. I think I'm just gonna set my ac to kick on around 80 to 90 degrees or so. That shouldn't take too much electricity, but still maintain a reasonably safe temp for paints and plastics and such. Another thing my father-in-law suggested (I hadn't thought about it) is to not crank the ac up too high too fast. That will help cut back on unwanted condensation. Gotta love the father-in-law, smart fellow good luck. Bill
  24. Sure, maybe the new airframe may be better, save time and tax payer money by standardizing the platform, and it may perform better, but think about how boring an aircraft carrier model is going to look now! :( And THAT's what really counts! Look, it's a f-18 there.....and oh theres one there...and another there......and sheesh..... Bill
  25. Cool Dave, I had wondered about that technique. I THINK I remember your article on building the cockpit, and seems like you said you'd get back to explaining the CRT screens, but I could never find the explaination. I thought maybe "ancient Chineese secret" or something. Just from the photos, some of the best looking screens i've seen, accurate or not, they look maauvalous. Bill
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