dmthamade

You have the rest of your life to open your reserve chute.

You grow old once, you can grow up any time you want. Don

Follow the money Don

Just found this, excellent post!! Happy wife, happy life. Don

In Toronto Canada, they recently banned Electric bycycles form the transit system(subways) in winter due to the batteries on some not being sealed from salt/enviromental concerns, have had fires on the underground trains due to the batteries catching fire. Don

Well, something to think about. We have customers with EVs that stay overnight or longer, and we do work for 2 bodyshops, sometimes EVs that have been in accidents. Can't say if we've ever thought about the possibility of something going bad... Don

Seems there is a fairly common thing in the posts, that being physical health, medical appointments. Healthwise i'm doing ok, but if i could talk to my younger self, i would say "look after yourself!! Take a walk!! Put that second/third cheeseburger down!!" and on and on...Any younger modellers reading this thread, you can see what's coming, be ready. As Bette Davis said, "Old age ain't no place for sissies". Don

100%!! Seen both sides. Can't ever let the mind shut down. Watching someone you know stagnate then go downhill, tough to see. I do have things to do in semi retirement then fulltime retirement, should be okay....flipside to all the warnings and fears, lets relax, have fun and enjoy retirement. Don

1971 Buick Riviera boattail, black/black/black, Factory mags, options, lots of chrome, 455ci. Don

Timely subject!! 65 YO, i've been in the auto repair trade for 46 years, licensed for 43. Starting to slow down, the summer past with the heat was a real killer for me, tire work in winter is tough/body killer. Not stopping cold turkey, but easing out of it. Doing 3 days a week or as needed, helps keep me active, keeps mind active, gives me a bit of money. Financially i'm in great shape, health wise i have typical aches and pains, but that's it. Going reduced schedule will help a lot, will help me get mind prepped for full retirement, time to figure routines. Always have enjoyed working on cars, doing it this way lets me keep active, use my mind, interact with the other guys. Hobbywise, i've downsized the bench since i moved, almost impossible to do the 1/32 aircraft i've done for a long time. Cars though, are far more manageable, usually did one or two before, can see more in the future. TV....lots on the tube, easy to kill too much time, I find Youtube shorts are addictive...taking the Drs. orders to "put the damn Doritos down and go for a walk, for gods sake". Seen too many examples of people who let their mind go to idle let the mind go soft, health won't be far behind. Don

Man, it would be great to see some Pro Mod kits, actually any modern drag race cars. Don

To me, this looks like RLM 02 gray, a WW2 luftwaffe color. Most all paint makers have this. Don

Sorry, premature enter key. Pic shows a F-104 that went bad after the clear flat coat, shows pic mid strip, then finished results. This was done by wiping the pain away with a paper towel soaked with the Mr. Color Leveling thinner, Guesstimate took 20 minutes. This was painted with Tamiya spray bombs and AK Real colors Lacquers, stripped off easily with no harm to plastic. Also, because i didn't soak the build, i didn't have to worry about the cockpit or gear wells suffering. End result

Primarily an aircraft builder, had a few i had to strip. I use Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. I don't soak the build, i soak a paper towel with the stuff and wipe away the paint and decals. It will stril Tamiya Lacquer bottle paint and spray bombs. It DOES NOT harm the plastic!!

MEK. Don

I.ve had to strip builds before where i used Tamiya sprays/AK Lacquers/Tamiya spray primers. Used Mr. Color Leveling thinner. This will not attack the plastic, i simply soaked a paper towel with the stuff and wiped away. Use outdoors, vapors are pretty brutal. Don

Never going to do masking like the above interiors(fantastic work btw) but for other masking tasks, i've used these tapes bu Aizu and Jammy Dog, https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/2413/0/1 http://www.jammydog.com/ Don

Thank you, guys!! The last step it is. Don

Hello all!! Finishing a car project finally, and not doing much in the way of Bare metal, need to know if you apply it before the decals and final clearcoat, or at the end when all else is done? TIA Don

Just used it this weekend for the 1st time. Have to say, possibly the nicest gloss coat i've done. Letting it harden to sand/polish next week. Don

Thanks for the fast replies, guys!! I figured my first thought was good to go, but what i think is right often clashes with the real right way to do something. Did manage to get the color coat down and the clear coat. Looks OK, and i think a very light sand and polish it'll be good to go. I was under the impression the Testors clear is a lacquer, but i found the fumes had little smell compared to Tamiya spraybombs, actually reminded me of an Acrylic clear. 3 light coats followed by two wet, looks good with a slight peel on two areas and no sags. Thanks again all. Don

Hello all!! Starting back into cars again, at the finish of the build. I have the color coat down, Tamiya spraybomb. At this point, do you guys apply clear gloss, sand and polish, then apply Bare Metal foil, or do you apply Bare Metal foil, clear gloss, sand and polish? I'm thinking the first method. The clear i'm using is Testors Extreme Lacquer Wet look. Any hints on best way to apply? Light coat X2 then a wet coat? Don

Tamiya primer is like Franks Red Hot, if you get what i mean... Don

Look pretty typical for drum brake backing plates. Use the bottom for the rear, they have the dimples where the parking brake cables would enter the plate. Don

Now that's just silly sez i, flying around in my F-15 or P-51, or X-Wing, doing flybys.... Don