peteski

Alps MicroDry printers can do all sorts of tricks as far as multiple ink layering, keeping the paper in perfect alignment. They also print white and metallic colors in spot color mode. Perfect for making decals. Unfortunately they have been out of production for several years, but there are still plenty of people using them (me included). These printers aren't perfect, but are the best there is for hobbyists and cottage inductry decal manufacturers. The consumer grade color laser printers (like Micro Mark sells at a huge markup) have very limited capabilities. They can only send the paper through the paper path once, so they can only apply the color toners in the order they are installed in the print path. As far as graphic software, I have been using the Corel Draw suite for decades. It is similar to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, but less expensive.

I sure hope that someone (hopefully professionally) will be recording a video of this once-in-a-lifetime for posterity.

If every physically and mentally fit human being is capable of doing something "more satisfying", then great. But I have feeling that not all humans fit that mold. Plus , I much rather speak to a human operator when I call some company, rather than going through a large tree of stupid "artificial intelligence" computer menus. Give me a human being please! Only the time will tell how this new paradigm works out.

I think that the last couple examples have strayed a bit too far afield from the original subject: weird *CARS*.

Yes, but it is very shortsighted (by those greedy executives replacing humans with robots). If we make humans obsolete, nobody will be buying the products those robots manufacture. Plus, who will fix them if they break.

Neah, remember that kids already live in a virtual reality world full of electronic gadgets and AI (and with their noses in their smart-devices). They'll think that seeing robots is quite normal. It is the old fogies like us who will have nightmares.

You must have uses one of the naughty words forum censors. The world has lost another funny lady. We all aren't getting any younger.

It might have something to do with the way your monitor is adjusted (like picture brightness). Of course, once you know what to look for, you cannot unsee things to verify whether brightness setting makes a difference.

Interesting. Makes sense (but regardless, not something that should be tagged in a text message window, and especially causing the forum software to puke out 404 error). IIRC, the other forum has problems with things like "(print", or something like that - not just bare words. Poor coding if you ask me.

I suspected all along that some combinations of text in posts was interpreted as code. This problem never existed in the days of simple BBSs using plain text. I frequent another online forum (using different forum software) and they have similar problem.

Yeah, looks sort of like small claw-less lobster.

A wicked jumbo shrimp?

That is odd. Polystyrene is a type of a resin, and even with additives (like pigments or plasticizers), its basic chemical properties are still the same. So, strong solvents like acetone, MEK or methylene chloride (either of which is used in liquid cements for styrene) should soften or melt it (which is how those glues weld parts together). If those types of cements are not working properly, I wonder if JoHan used some sort of different type of plastic?

In New England the last weekend was the 1st rain-free weekend we had for months! It seems that rain would arrive just in time for most of the Summer's weekends (and we often had some during the week too), but not as bad as other parts of the U.S. It has been a very wet Spring and Summer here.

I should clarify me response. I stated that I use an Ad Blocker, which is not quite correct. I don't use an Ad Blocker per se, I use NoScript Add-On in my browser which blocks browser scripts from running. The effect often is that it will block the ads (or many of them).

I thought it was just the opposite. Lacquers are the ones which can be dissolved after they dry, and enamels (after they harden) cannot ever be redissolved, as their chemical properties change. So they come off in sheets. Example: if the solvent mostly evaporates from a bottle of lacquer, adding more solvent (thinner) will revive it, so it can be used again. But if the solvent mostly evaporated form a bottle of enamel, the remaining binder/pigment turns into a rubbery "goo". Adding more thinner will not reconstitute that "goo" it cannot be redissolved. Even if you mechanically breake it up and stirr it, it will still be floating in chinks in the thinner, not a homogenous paint that can be used. BTW, thanks for expanding on what I mentioned - not many modelers understand the ins and outs of paint chemistry. But they should, since they use paints all the time. Understanding paint chemistry (even if just the basics) makes them better modelers.

Interesting . . . And I love that shrimp on a Barbie image! But isn't it really supposed to be "prawn", not "shrimp"? I thought Aussies use "prawn". ??

Yeah, that custom Volga is prety sweet looking! Going back to the original, as a kid I was fascinated by the really cool transparent speedometer in those cars. It was a transparent blue half a dome located on top of the dash (you can see it in the photo), with the numbers printed on a clear plastic sheet. I thought that thing was a cat's meow! IIRC, one of the Ford T-birds from the '60s has a similar speedometer.

Nothing personal Tom, but "dizzy" sounds really silly to me. One of those things I hear which makes me roll my eyes. I know, it takes 6 more letters to type in "distributor", but still . . .

I make my own precision applicators by cutting off the part of the eye on a sawing needle (using a Dremel tool), so it looks like a miniature fork, then inserting and gluing the sharp end into a handle made from 1/8" acrylic rod (but a dowel would work too). Micro-Mark sells similar tools, but mine are *WAY* cheaper, and I can pick my own needle sizes. These are perfect for applying small amounts of CA glue. If the glue clogs up the forked end, I just scrape it clean with a hobby knife. Others just burn the glue off using a flame from a lighter. I also use Micro Brushes - they are perfect for applying small amounts of CA accelerator.

I bought few bottles few years ago. Did a test-spraying onto a spoon. The paint dried fast but never hardened. Even after few months I could easily put a mark in it by pushing the edge of my fingernail into the paint. I contacted Jameston and he said that if I used hardener, the paint would get hard. He send me a bottle of hardener with instructions on the mixing ratio. But I ended up working on other projects and (still unopened) hardener hardened solid in the bottle. So if I ever get back to the original project, I'll have to order a fresh bottle of hardener. To me this seems like too much trouble. I rather use single-part paints. But that's just me . . .

Problem here is that things aren't as simple as a token "enamel over lacquer is ok" statement. There are many different pain formulations (both lacquers and enamels) and different solvents used in all those paints. In some cases, you can get away with breaking the rules, and in other paint combinations you will not be so lucky. Then how do you know for sure whether certain paint type or brand is enamel or lacquer? Often that fact is not mentiones anywhere on the can or bottle. If you ask the "expert", they might not be correct either. Bottom line is that the best way to check compatibility of all the paint layers you will apply to your model is to do a test spraying on something like plastic (polystyrene) spoon or soft drink bottle. Spoon is the same, or similar plastic used in a model's body - plastic soda bottle is not quite the same.

Interesting. I wasn't talking about high power laser - just a small laser cutter, like ones cottage manufacturers and some hobbyists use. Like a 40W CO2 laser. It has enough power to cut plastic and wood, but not metal. I was just speculating . . .

Ah, I get it now! LOL!

That might be so, but if the man says (in his blog) that is is not taking orders, I take his word for it.