bobss396

I use metric for anything I do in 1/25 or 1/24 scale, close enough for me. 1" /25 = .040", which is 1mm. How much more obscenely simpler can it get? Bob

Same here, I figured it was a plug (no pun intended) for a colon cleanse product. Not that I need it. Bob

I have a low opinion of all Testors products in general. It looks like they still utilize those horrible spray cans. They must get a "truck" load of them for almost nothing. I would let it dry and try to sand it out before I'd strip the whole works. Bob

I should be there for the day, live too close to justify a stay over. I like the deal that its a month later than usual, but you know I'll be down to the wire on a couple of projects. Bob

Raw MEK is one of the top "to avoid" chemicals known. Unless you're into bladder cancer, liver damage, etc. Not that the brushable glues are thet much better for you. Tenax is good, but Ambroid comes in a bigger bottle WITH a brush for the same $$. Ambroid caps/brushes can be used with Tenax if you shorten up the tube a tad. Bob

I was too busy cooking but caught some of the 1/2 time show. My liking for Bruce has somewhat faded with his involvement in politics but from what I saw it was a good showing for him. The game itself was pretty exciting with a couple of twists in it. Bob

Be safe and get back soon. Until then, keep your back to the wall and your powder dry. Bob

I'm staying home and having about 10 people over total. I'll be making 2 batches of chili, mild and wild. Also getting some bags of store bought wings, hot and regular. Making coleslaw, crab and shrimp quesadillas, the wife is doing pulled pork which is always awesome. Got a 42" TV with HD so that should work. I'm going to try not to eat like I have a 3rd hand, I was way too stuffed last year. We will have a football pool going, the standard 100 boxes. I tried to get people to go for $1 per box years back, but all I seem to be dealing with is tightwads (they eat my food, drink my beer, fart and go home..) so I struggle to get them to cough up 25¢ per box. I finally figured out why they call it super BOWL, because that's where you wind up camped out on the moirning after it. Bob

I would guess that I have around $300-400 of paint around at any given time. This includes primer, thinners, etc. I probably blow about $25 on every car that I paint. Bob

My model area is located in my basement where we have an apartment that is no longer rented out. I have the whole kitchen to myself. I had to do a major clean up before the holidays and did find a bunch of things I didn't know that I had. On a good note, I tossed out a bunch of things that were cluttering up my work table, consolidated all of my paints and put away things that I wasn't using right now. I put projects into those stackable show boxes and labeled them. So go for it! You may lose a few things but it'll make you a leaner and meaner modeling machine. Bob

I agree that they have just about ruined the market, everyone thinks that they have a BJ car that they're selling. But the thing is going the other way now, evilBay auctions with over-priced cars are not moving. I see the same cars relisted 4 times or more. Prices will come down in time when people get a reality check about the market not as hot as they think it is. I watch the auctions once in a while, mainly to put myself to sleep or kill an hour or so. The "car guys" on the show don't know their a$$ from their elbow about cars. Their spiel is "wannabe" rhetoric that they regurgitate on a predictable basis. Bob

This thread should be cut. It reminds me bickering on other boards that I have fled and hoped this one would be different. Is there a moderator in the house? Bob

Oh yeah, HOK doesn't play well with too much unless it is also a lacquer product. I have very little paint problems, I keep it simple and try a sample on something scrap if I have my doubts. I secretly get a kick out of people who post about "lacquer over enamel" woes. Call me sadistic but it gets me through the day. Bob

What shows are covered in it? I have a streak going of being in model car magazines and only 3 days to keep the consecutive streak alive. Bob

I should pick up one of those myself. I have a Clausing that I have to set up at home soon. I'm well set up for it with various tool holder and other accessories. With the small lathes, you have to be able to change tools quickly so I'd suggest a small turret or something that allows you to take pre-set tools in and out quickly. Micro Mark has some good small lathe tooling, I'd start there. Then you have to have a means of sharpening tools. Carbide is great put requires a special grinding wheel, high speed steel is pretty good and sharpens well on a regular bench grinder. You'll want a coarse and fine wheel with some sort of dresser, or buddy up to someone who works in a machine shop. Think of using tools that you can combine uses. Like a tool that can do facing and part off. Knowing how wide the tool is essential, so you can face the part, dial off to a specific number and do the part off. Try to do as much as possible in one operation. I like to use a water soluble oil for cutting fluid. The mix ration is something like 50:1 so a little goes a long way, again a buddy in the business is good to have. PM me if you want some, I'd be glad to send you some to get you going. I get most of my stock from McMaster-Carr or MSC Direct. I have work and personal accounts with both. I also grab any scrap cut off lengths of anything round 1" in diameter and under. For aluminum, 6061 is pretty good, so is 2024. 7075 is a true aircraft grade, a little harder to machine and not as easy to get as the others. You should have a set of collets that will take dimensional stock, like 1/8", 3/16" and so on. Bigger stock you can turn in the chuck, even turning a "handle" on a bigger piece and finishing it in a collet and cutting off the handle later is good to do. You can make up "blanks" that can be worked on in stages, if you want to make multiple parts or the same thing. Best of luck with your new asset! Bob

Thanks! I'm leaning towards a Tamiya metallic green or a HOK green. The interior will be either a lighter green of a combo of that and a lighter cream. I dislike 2-toning interiors though. Bob

Based on the Flintstone resin body, '66 T-Bird interior and hood scoop from a donor kit, '68 Charger 383, Modelhaus wide whites, Lincoln steering wheel, custom made exhaust. The tailights are different now, body is about 90% done. Firewall is .012 thick aluminum sheet. Hope to work on it over the holidays. Bob

I build to wow the chicks. Bob

What really "stinks" is that there is now a FINITE supply of NA$CAR kits for whoever wants to build them. I personally use them for kitbashing and have a decent amount of stock on hand. However, any time I see a $3 or $5 kit around, I'm grabbing it. Bob

IIRC, the old (soon to be reissued) double T kit has one in it. They are slightly different from the 332-427 Ford FE line and deffo look better in hot rods. Bob

Polish it up, slap some BMF on it and call it done. Overall. it is probably more valuable as a collector piece left as is at this point. Bob

It keeps me out of the 100 proof Smirnoff and nose candy! Besides, I like cars and don't have the time of $$ for the real ones right now. Bob

It did cross my mind, but would open other cans of worms. Plus my bro is a Christian and it would go against his beliefs. It was a defining moment and let everyone know what she was all about. I actually wish her a LONG life since she has so many health problems and is in constant pain. Bob

I belong that other "Traditional Hot Rod" group and see that it is being torn apart by what is traditional and what is not. Which is not cool. There is a fine line between a RR and HR. I'd say give the RR fans their sub board. I'll check in with the group later today, I see that there is a poll going on which may be used as a deciding factor of which way the group goes. Bob

What an incredible bummer, I feel the pain myself. In 1991, my model collection dating back to 1964 or so was thrown out by my step mother. Everything was stored at my Dad's house in the basement since I was doing a big renovation project at my newly acquired house. They announced that they were selling the house and could I please get my model stuff packed up and moved out. I went over on a Monday night, looked over how much was there and said I'd be back Wednesday night with enough boxes to accomplish the task. Wednesday comes around, I'm there with the boxes and everything is GONE. My brother took a bigger loss with a complete pickup truck and his prized 327 Chevy engine in the bed which also vanished. She couldn't (or wouldn't) tell us who took the goods away. Needless to say, this and an array of other unpleasantries over the years has put a serious damper on our relationship and also unfortunately with my Dad. I could go on, but it wouldn't be in the best interest of modeling. My take on step mothers since then is, avoid them at all costs! I've recently told my kids that is anything ever happened to their Mom, I'd never hang the step mother albatross around their necks. I'd rather opt for high priced hookers if I wanted any close female companionship from that point on. Messing with anyone's models or anything that they care about is a total affront to who they are. I am the models, the models are me. Bob