10thumbs

Guys, great to read about those who are enjoying and not looking back, great stuff. What's helped me with the transition is that I was able to slow down beforehand. Getting used to private life has to be learned, my opinion. The feeling though, of not having to do much of anything if I don't want too, is strange. There are things to do for sure, just right now I'm taking my sweet time. I like the empty mailbox at home, since I don't read the lying newspapers anymore, I feel real good.

Thank you guys. A year and a half ago I started winding things down. I had a few folks that were easily available for a newer workplace, and I was able to get my mind settled to the fact that I was already retired, just a time frame for actually getting out was foggy. Last pre-Christmas days, very busy, let me know the time is near. I'm tired, don't want it anymore. The last decades have been a constant up and down, the retirement monthly payments were never easy, sometimes earnings were weak, sometimes strong. Luckily I had a window that I could jump into retirement, and I jumped with both feet. There's a good plus on the account, but the IRS (meaning the Germany IRS) has yet to do the last 2 years, so I'm happy they have a bag to draw from. Azzholes. Anyways, I'm happy to have survived a working life, to be of good health, and to be able to live further with a retirement kind of life. I have hobbies, and do not think at this time that boredom will be an issue. Thanks for the replies!

Guys, Big day today. I closed the door at my shop for the last time. The rooms are empty, the shop lights have been dismounted, the floors swept and I closed the shutters for the last time. The plan was to do this work, after retirement age, for as long as I felt like it. Well, I don't feel like working anymore. Bye, bye work, hello vacation. Been doing this stuff for a long time, and now my key chain bundle is a lot lighter. I like the feel. I'm happy to be able to decide when I can quit. And what I can do from now on. Michael

Wow, excellent model. Now I know I'm wrecked. AA....I read A Altered. I am happy though the car is as it is shown, very nice.

I recently watched a scientific-type documentary, oceans. I love the oceans and their explorations. So this time around was about the vertical mass wandering. What goes on daily, and in this case nightly in the oceans from bottom to top. This mass creature movement stops about where sunlight ceases to penetrate water. So, we're talking still deep. It's just simply amazing, the creatures that exist, and we know about as "zero" what the deal is. Nix. As good as nothing. I follow Dr. Robert Ballard. The Titanic guy. In a new life, I would like to study Oceanography. I wish I had the time.

Ha! The 1st pic looks like a mask, love it. 2nd looks photo shopped. The deep oceans are amazing. New life found every time we go into the dark. We know so little, and seem also to be too stupid or unwilling to learn more about the oceans.

Russ, don't worry about it. Look, hobbies are just this, doing something you like to do on your own free time. This is your own time. A man has time for his family, time for his work and necessities, and time for others. A man has to have time too for his self. The more hobbies you know about, and like to do will only benefit you when you have more time available for such. Anything you can do now can only benefit you later on,when you have the time. With luck, you'll reach the time where you know what you want to do. Easy huh?

That's a big, tough looking truck. Love it.

I saw the movie again recently, looks pretty good to me. Hey Steve, let me just ask you a question. Now I used to do model railroading, I liked the steam locos from the 40's- 50's era. I've seen enough of them too, in real action. The things were often filthy. What I liked to do with the spoke drive wheels and sprung under carriages was to thin out some black glossy paint and let it just run it's way down the spokes and coils. Looked great. Whatcha think about making that dripped oil on the tank look a bit more wet? Just a thought.

You did good JT. I like too, the dog gets special attention! The way it oughta be. Man, that's a looong rig.

Excellent work here, and nicely presented. I like it.

Compliments KJ, not only well built and following a real life them, but greatly photographed as well. A real treat to see. The trailer kicks butt, without a doubt. Very, very fine!

Lots of TLC shown here, very nice job!

Wow, look at this old turd! Fantastic, love it. Excellent weathering.

Great looking, I like flatbed trucks.

Great looking displays guys! Pavel's display cabinets are only mediocre....when compared to his models! Top notch.

@Andrew, those are some mighty fine looking trucks. Heavy duty, and super cleanly built. Compliments.

Hi Dan, thanks for looking in here. No truck in the works at this time, I have the last touches on a Fuel Altered car, and a AA Fuel Dragster, all in metal yes. My next truck will be just the motor, all cast in metal, this time around too, with all the correct fuel lines and filters. Maybe even the drivetrain with just the rails and running gear. Maybe an different approach to truck modeling. I will say this, after the 359, there's no looking back. Trucks are just plain good, period.

I fully agree that brass is a wonderful way to build excellent models. A whole new world opens up, and Charles, Chariots of Fire makes about the finest brass models that you'll find on the internet. Brass frames are an excellent idea. Strong, they look real, and quickly learned.

Hi guys, I've been out to lunch for half a year or so. Retirement does have advantages. Ken, that's good info. That Peterbilt 352 kit does look good to me, and it looks like I can bash this one too. The rivets do pose a problem for me, the AMT 359 needed some body work too and dodging the rivets was a testy adventure. Thanks for the feedback, Michael

Wow, now that is a 'big tire' car. I'm a little confused with the chronology though. Is the car now white, with black wheels, or black with shiny wheels? Good job too, you're pics are getting a little less blurry. Keep up the great work.

Well I'm reading this and still can't believe its serious. Today the 1st of April, maybe a joke? I do insist the wife has an automatic, she'll drive otherwise all through town, uphill and downhill, in 2nd gear. I hate riding with her for this reason. Her gas mileage shows she doesn't do any different anyways, even when I'm not in the car. But she doesn't turn lights off either when she leaves the room. If we had 10 TV's they'd all run probably 24 hrs. Still. I just can't believe what I read.

Could you explain? Do you mean the green Duster is pre-painted? Then you just added some racing stuff, like wheels? Did you build the model at all? Just curious. Very and extremely cool. Love the stance. Any details about the build? Like the front end. Very curious. Again, what a cool model. Any insight?

RIP? Questionable. Well, a music contributor, yes. A criminal, yes. A kinky toilet pervert, yes. I won't miss him.

Hi Anthony, What scale do you have in mind? Some of the pics just above show a large scale model, like 1:8 or something. If you want 1:25, then the easiest way is to use 2mm solder wire. Super easy to bend,and these pretty much are a scale 2" pipe used for big block motors. Just you'll have to dip the solder core wire in hot water for a few minutes to let the flux leak out, then with an appropriate bit (read small) drill the soft metal end to seal the flux holes. Otherwise, in a warm environment, the flux will eventually leak out and the ends start to get really gummed up. A real mess. I've had great success with 1:25 header pipes using this method. Look here, several years back, still good; Hope you find what you're looking for.