smhardesty

Picked this up on eBay. It has been on my "want list" for a while. I just hadn't seen one priced as reasonably as I thought it could be. Got this one for a song.

Ditto. My builds will all be displayed in individual display cases with hoods down and doors closed. It just makes sense to me to put my effort into perfecting my skills at detailing what will be seen when on display. If the kit comes with an engine I'll build and install it, but under hood and chassis details won't even be seen.

You're pretty much dead on. I got fairly good news yesterday. First, the aneurysms haven't grown much at all, so nothing to do there except go back in three months, get another CT scan with contrast, and keep monitoring them. That was a big relief. I was afraid one of them might be growing at a rate that triggered surgery. As to the passing out (they call it Syncope), the problem is neurological. It seems that my brain and my heart aren't working together the way they are supposed to. The exact cause will never be determined, but either the heart sends a wrong message to the brain first, or vice versa, then the opposite responds in the wrong way. For whichever reason, my brain sends a signal to my heart to slow way down, but that's the exact opposite of what the heart really needs to do. This happens during a period when the heart actually needs to speed up and pump more blood to make sure it gets to the brain. When it does the wrong thing and slows down there isn't enough blood getting to my head and BANG, I get dizzy and pass out. The good news is we now know what the problem is. The bad news is that there is no treatment for the condition. I can help reduce the number of events by making a few changes. I need to increase my intake of water. When I get up from being horizontal like sleeping or lying on the couch watching TV I need to stop in the sitting position for about 30 seconds before standing up. My outdoor activities are going to change, for sure. Heat is a definite factor causing the episodes. At about 82 degrees I need to make definite changes in what I do. At 85, if the humidity is high, I need to consider putting off any strenuous activities. Above 90 and I'm severely limited. And above 95 and I'm no longer supposed to leave air conditioning. Then there are some diet changes along with reducing any and all stress as much as possible. Hopefully I can make the changes and reduce the number of these episodes. It'll take some getting used to, but I think I can manage it.

I have to say that the care in this area has improved in the last couple of years. There are still times when I get a little PO'ed, but all in all I'll say my care is fairly good. As for the 'white squirrel place", I happen to be in Olney, IL. There are a couple places in the States that claim to be "home of the white squirrels" and at least one place in Canada. Doesn't matter to me which one, or ones, happens to be right. Seeing snow white squirrels running around is pretty neat.

I've got an appointment with a new cardiologist today. I receive medical care through the VA. Saw one cardiologist already, but he couldn't figure out what the problem is so I get to start all over today with a new doc. First thing we're going to discuss are the two aneurysms I have. Second thing will be the passing out I've been doing since April. You'd think they might at least be able to find out why I just get dizzy and pass out. This doc I'm seeing today is supposed to be one of the best, not just in the VA, but one of the best in this part of the country. I hope all those good reports I've gotten about him are true. I know I'm in for a battery of tests and procedures, but that's fine if he can just figure out what the problem is and get me back on track. And I'm hoping the aneurysms haven't grown too awfully much. One of them is close to the size that demands surgery right away. Don't really want to consider surgery before Christmas.

That's really great to see. I've got 2 of those pens. I played with them a bit and it looked pretty decent to me. Looks real good on your build.

Looking real good, Jeff.

I can easily recall the time that I could have woke up, had a couple cups of coffee, then had ALL the prep work done by about 10:00 or 10:30. Then a long lunch and could have primed the whole bathroom before supper. Sadly, those days are long gone. And oh do I wish they weren't.

I'm no sure what color you were trying for, but to me that color looks more like "Green Go" than it does "Sublime". Here is s photo of a "Green Go" challenger.

I guess I don't really hate the actual painting. It's the prep work I hate. I've been working on getting the master bath ready to paint after the contractor got done. It's mostly just cleaning and taping. Today I got the top edge of the back splash all cleaned of drywall mud and taped off, ready to paint. The position I had to put my back and neck in limited me to doing that one, little task today. That's about as much a problem as the work really is. When your body won't cooperate it makes it really hard to accomplish much in a day. Next step is to clean the Satin Nickel tile edging on the shower. The tile contractor got tile mastic on the wall and edging on one side of the shower and the drywall contractor manged to get mud on pretty much all the edging. So I'll tape off the wall next to the edging and start cleaning it next. Then I'll get the mastic off the wall and tape off the tile edging, and I think I'll finally be ready to wipe the walls down and start painting. The good news is that by the end of nest week I should be all done priming and painting and I can get the contractor back in to install all the trim, caulk the back splash, reset the stool, and then do any other mop up that needs done.

Looking real good, Joe. Nice job on the engine, and that blue paint looks smooth as glass.

Good to know piece of info. I think I'll try and keep mine thinned down a bit.

Looks really great. Love the color and the fact you decided to NOT make it a vinyl roof job. I see way too many vinyl roofs on Chargers and IMHO I think the car looks better without it. Nice detailing in the engine compartment too. Job well done.

I had that thought too. never considered it before seeing this build, but since it was a color offered on both Dodge and Plymouth cars I guess I should consider at least one example in my collection.

Any gasser build has my attention. Never saw the SW&C in person, but watched a small army of other gassers in my day. Looking forward to seeing the photos.

They were varnished. I'll be sanding, then washing with TSP, then primering prior to painting with latex.

I feel the same way about concerts. No way I'm paying the outlandish prices for everything involved including the tickets. And I have added going to the movies to my list of things to never do again. The last two times we went I felt like I'd been robbed. Both times we had complete and total inconsiderate jerks sitting very near us. Talked loudly throughout the whole movie, refused to quiet down when we asked, and this last time the couple kept throwing popcorn at each other. Nope, never again.

OK, Jeff. I'm not a big "Pro Street" fan, but I am a MOPAR fan and I certainly appreciate a good build of any kind. I'll be following along on this build.

Good news, and work news. My contractor finally got everything done in the master bath for us to start priming and painting. We've been a LONG time getting to this point. So I'm going to be busy, busy, busy, for a while. The wife has been pretty good throughout this ordeal, but I think her patience is growing pretty thin. Tomorrow I'll start doing all the cleanup in preparation for the Kilz primer. Everything gets a coat, walls, ceiling, and cabinets. Then there are 3 different paints to finish up. We've been in this house one year and one week. In case you haven't read before, the first contractor really put the screws to us. Some of the most shoddy work I've ever seen. The guy came with some pretty impressive recommendations so we're not sure what happened. We had them completely and totally gut the master bath, then put in a low threshold, walk in tile shower, new tile floor, new cabinets, counter top, sink, stool, etc, etc. Literally everything. And literally everything in that new bathroom has now been removed and all new done all over again. The expense has reached a point I'm considering having a TV put in there with a cot so I can just live in that room. But, the good news is that we've gotten past that and we're ready to paint. Not sure how long I'll be able to work each day and how many days it will actually take me to get it done, but sooner or later I'll have the contractor back in to put the molding and baseboard on and it will be finished once and for all. Which leaves nothing major inside the house to do except prep and paint the kitchen cabinets. The wife saw a kitchen remodel job on the TV that she kinda fell in love with so it's paint instead of stain and/or varnish (polyurethane). I do have to admit, the remodel on the TV did look pretty danged good and so far all the work and painting done in the kitchen looks darned good. I told her just the other day that I'm going to get this house remodeled for her just in time for me to die and leave it to her, but she'll be happy anyway.

Coming along nicely, Steve.

Mikhail, A good friend of mine, who is NOT a modeler was just here. I showed him your Avanti and he was totally amazed at how detailed and great looking the car is. The detail of the interior and engine compartment really blew him away. So even guys not familiar with the hobby appreciate your work.

Looks like you did real justice to that ride for him.

Yeah, it's kinda sad to read or hear about hobby shops, or any local Mom & Pop shop, closing down. Trust me, you'll find ways to compensate. I live in a County, yes County, with a population of only 16,000. The nearest hobby shop is an hour and a half drive, and there is only one. Like it or not the future of modeling is primarily the online shops. I believe in supporting local businesses, but when it comes to modeling I believe in being loyal to a select group of online businesses. I want to see the places I'm doing business with thrive. I need to be able to look forward to a continued association with the places I do business with now. Just my 2 cents worth.

Picked up these 2 kits today for cheap. Decided to try the jeweler's magnifier to see if it helps me.

Truly remarkable. This is a level of skill and workmanship I'll never achieve, but I sure do appreciate seeing it. Fantastic work!