DrGlueblob

..Got a nice new SENCO air rig for my spray booth. Had to go to Home Despot and grab some NPT fittings and some Teflon tape, but I'm good to go. the compressor is sewing machine- quiet, and I added a remote regulator to the bench so the little SENCO can sit on the floor outta the way. This thing is really nice. I have three other (LOUD) compressors and a Co2 tank setup, but this is the way to go. Won't wake the Mrs. and I don't have to hunt for Co2 refills as often.

We lost the REAL Hobby Lobby (A mom n' pop LHS owned by Mr. and Mrs. G) some years back after about 50 years in Glendale. Corporate HL had to buy the name from them, and I hope it was for huge $$$$$$ too. And the unmentioned LHS in Tempe.. well, the new owner is a great improvement over the questionable ethics of the original guy, IMHO. He builds nice model cars, BTW. His prices are still higher than a cat's patootie, but give him another chance, his name is Dick, the old owner's name is Mud. Things change fast here, but we adapt. We have a Cadillac Plastic, a zillion Dollar Stores, Auto Paint Supply stores (Space Age is still there in Mesa, and highly recommended!) ..places where you can get materials for any project. There are still plenty of places in the Valley where you can find most of what you need and if not a LHS, then rest assured Glendale is still served by UPS . Give it a chance Russ, ya just got here. We all still build at a more-or-less furious pace -And if ya need something, it can be found.

Yep, I have that one. You can also find some drink stirrers on Amazon that are basically the same tool.

Hmmm.. I was just using a tinlet of Humbrol gloss black and it seemed runnier than my other Humbrol tins. I have a battery powered stirrer and it gets used on all my paint jars/tins/bottles. Sometimes that's all it takes to get the thicker mixtures workable.

Yep, thanks Jim. The straw was less messy but now Krylon's gone to a different spray nozzle. Of note, keep in mind that Krylon still makes some sprays in enamel. You don't want to spray a lacquer over enamel. The cans with lacquer will say ("Dries in 10-15 minutes or less").

Been away awhile, what happened to the Copperstate contest?

Just shoot into a Dixie cup and right to your airbrush. Works a treat. Before they went to the new spray nozzle, I kept a WD 40-type setup for just this. You don't need to thin it any more, just use it as is.

Very clean! I've got one I started back in the 90's.. It's on the "build soon" pile.

Family car I like.. The Manson Family..

Carpet Monster Killer -Put a layer of panty hose over the shop-vac intake.. Part stays at the mesh

7.90 an hour. And way too many fellows I know make that or close to it here. Disability doesn't pay squat, either.

..who makes a grand a week? more like 300. around this barrio here. Me? I buy what I CAN.. I BUILD what I want.

..They've said 98 Weds on Weather Underground, which is Chamber of Commerce-speek for 100.. ..Gonna be Snowbird Barbeque time real soon.

Let it completely dry, sand it out. I'd try 1200 grit to start.

..Predictions are 100F by this Wednesday, here we go...

I use tight plastic boxes (Sterilite brand) for decals and such. Keep them in a shaded cool and dry place. I have decals from the '70s that are still good.

-Styrene kit? Body looks like resin. Es Mucho?

If you haven't done a diorama before, this would be a good starter. The scale won't drive you crazy, parts from SE, Ken Hamilton, Larry G Scale and others will keep you busy for a long time. Yes, it's big, but not huge Diorama-wise.. I've built some aircraft ones that would fit on top of a pool table.. Cool thing is.. You never really get done with one of these. It's like having an endless project. Scary to some, but fun to us others

Yeah, that's it.. Words just fail me... Being a proud owner of several Moto Guzzi motorcycles, I can really dig it when the Italian engineer that built that Ferrari replica says, "It's music".. The world's a better place due to Master Craftsmen and Craftswomen like this.

.2nd most incredible model I've seen. There's a whole Ferrari out there on YouTube(?) some maniac built years back.. With a running fuel engine.. Yes, it snarls just like the real thing, and about 1/8 scale IIRC. A.M.S. -squared, gawd.

Russ, A window AC can be had for around a hundred bucks at Home Depot. At your age, I'd consider it a necessity. Go to the 99. Store and get some aluminum-backed window shades for the car. A lot of us out here leave the Flivver in the sun, no biggie. Keep anything out of the car that'll melt, though. Been here all my life. It's doable

I keep the majority of my kits indoors now, but I used to "collect' plastic ice chests from Goodwill, yard sales, and the occasional Walmart sale. I kept a lot of kits minus the decals, tires.. in gallon Ziploc bags in these things sealed away from bugs (scorpions!) and the heat. we have little rodents everywhere out here that love cardboard too.. I included the box top and instructions in the bags and tossed the rest of the cardboard. With gentle packing I can get a dozen car kits in one average ice chest. I now keep the ice chests indoors but all the kits survived for two decades out there without any warpage. I did keep them in the shade and away from any metal walls. Dark and cool is your friend. One other thing to consider is theft.. Lots of property crime out here. Might want to go find a broken freezer or fridge at a yard sale and toss a lock on it? ..Carports and tweakers mix all too well. AZ and especially the Valley are also hit with monsoon storms, bringing mucho dust (fine sand) to our area as well as decal-destroying humidity, so plan accordingly. As stated before, keep your decals, paint, chemicals, resin, tires, and all INDOORS. Be nice to your Wife, but be firm about that.. Welcome to Arizona!

Another thing.. Remove the Carpet Monster from your work area. I have a white tile floor in my silversmithing shop, and a light wood floor in my model room.. Close enough. Get rid of anything that looks like a carpet or rug.

Good luck kiddo. Tune the World out when you model. No rush, no worries.. just you and your thoughts and the skill in your hands. Its been therapy for so many of us.

Thanks Tom, just ordered one.