The Modeling Hermit

There are several of us on the island that are pooling ours to help low income families to get heating fuel.

It might be a good idea to contact Dean or Mark and ask what works and didn't work in their endeavors. You might be thinking of too limited of a market. I could see a museum of miniatures; open to a much wider audience, expanding out to include model railroad, doll houses, military, and ships. I'm attempting to do something similar here on the island. There aren't enough model car/truck builders to form any type of a club, so I'm starting a miniaturist's guild, that will include all forms of modelers. It's interesting to see how much we have in common. Remember also, that there's strength in numbers. Including others gives a much better chance of finding that "golden" person who has connections to the right building and funds. The museum itself will be a draw in it's own right, but think of how much more interest can be gained by including areas where people can display their own work. This not only shows the hobby in it's infancy, but also shows where it's gone and what we've learned from it. I'm a retired history teacher, and one of the things that has bothered me about museums is their way of showing the past as disconnected from now and the future. What you might consider is to show how they are connected, and what service they provided. I think you've got a great idea, and I'd like to see you succeed. Go for it. There's no such thing as failure; there's only do or don't do.

I'm a retired history teacher, and have a degree in archeology, though I only use that for fun. In years past I worked a tow truck driver, and in a window factory in Iowa. Now I do some volunteer work at the local museums.

I do wish that they'd place these items back in the kits. That's what made them fun. I'm sure that over the years, that they've probably lost all of the molds for them though.

My main transportation is a 2006 Specialized bicycle. My play vehicle is a 78 Ford F150.

Rob, it's interesting that you should mention that. I'm setting this truck up for a lawn care service. It's going to haul a brush shredder that I'm scratchbuilding.

I'm sure that someplace way back in history there was some woman that said to her husband, "Grog that wheel will lead to nothing but trouble!"

I've got several polishing kits. The set that I use on models is from LMG enterprises, and goes from 1800 to 12,000 grit and there are 8 pads. Be sure to get the soft mesh material type, as they're gentler on the plastic serface. There is a version that's basically on a paper backing, and it just doesn't conform to surfaces as well, and it doesn't last as long. There's also a version that's on a sponge that I use in my woodshop. It has the same grits, but is better adapted to use on the lathe. I not only use it on exotic woods, but I also use it on acrylics and plastics, for such things as pens and other desk type accessories, and it works great for these. The LMG kit makes a huge difference on plastic models. I've used it for years when restoring old kits, especially on the window glass. I've taken glass that was so badly scratched that one couldn't even see through it, and turned it crystal clear. I've used these for hobby and professionally, for a good many years, and I wouldn't be without them

I use the coffee stir sticks from MacDonalds as paint stir sticks. The end with the logo is good for small bottles such as Testors, and the larger end is good for taller bottles.

Within four months this thread could get buried. Is there some way that a "sticky" could be arranged for us to post on?

This is my first attempt at posting a photo here. This is a Ford dump truck that I built from an incomplete kit.

That's one of the nicest builds I've seen of that kit.

I have a large collection of old car ads. I have no problem with scrapbooks and acid free sleeves for the National Geographic sized ads,; around 8" X 11". My problem is with the larger ads which run around 11" X 14". I've been unsuccessful in obtaining anything to display or scrapbook them. Does anybody have any ideas for tem?

I agree with Dave. I'd like to see some detail pictures.

I do like that new International Lone Star truck. It just has that Art Deco Science Fiction look to it. Another International that would be cool to model is the City Star line. I'd like to see it with a garbage truck unit. I could also go for a good grain hauling trailer, and if we're talking twenty-first century here, how about some container trailers and containers? Another truck that's being overlooked, but I find cool is the Mack Rawhide. Do I think that I'll ever see any of them in model form; probably about the same time that my children beg me to let them do the dishes.

I got some AMT ads from 1961 and 1962. Actually it was 2 days ago, but I just found the thread today.

Here in Kodiak it costs $4.14 a gallon, or at least it did the last time my wife gassed her mini-van. That lasts her about a month. I ride a bicycle (Specialized with saddle bags and such), so I hardly ever gas my 78 Ford F150. I usually only use it to go out in the back country.

I'll take you up on the offer.

Is Dan's Model Truck site down? All I get is some thing from Yahoo that says that the site no longer exists or something like that. The other strange thing is that I don't even use any of Yahoo's services. Doug

This looked like a good place to see if I got myself signed up correctly.