Agent G

Right on! I took the time to peruse photos and discovered that the kit mirrors were representations of what the real vans came with back then. Not good representations, mind you, but they do resemble the actual mirrors. I decided no amount of stripping, carving or filing would do this any good so I made some. I used some .040 sheet, .020 rod, 3/64 rod and 1.2mm angle to replicate the mirrors. I then sprayed them Tamiya silver leaf and added BMF faces. Not totally accurate, but a far sight better than what came in the kit. G

Nice. G

No rain and 100 degrees? Jim, who did you guys in Florida p' off? G

You can have all you want kind sir. 21 swift water rescues Thursday alone, two known dead and scores of auto accidents. Folks who have lived here for a long time want to see rain! Hell, they worship the rain. All us transplanted Midwesterners could care less. I see clouds and the tell tale green tint to the sky and immediately think of flying monkeys, spinning houses and an ex wife riding a bicycle......... G

Thank you gentlemen! G

G

Silence whenever possible. G

Here are some glamor shots of the almost completed van. The partially completed light bar. It's a refugee from my parts box. I think it came from an old Yodel kit. The chrome was bad. I stripped it and sprayed Tamiya Silver leaf over all. I used BMF on the rotator bases. Weather here has been abysmal what with torrential rain and humidity. It took three tries to get a smooth gloss black undercoat on the siren speaker. Alclad topcoat will be next week. I plan to scratch build mirrors as the kit pieces are ridiculous. I may forego Alclad until the mirrors are built and basecoated gloss black. G

Slow and steady progress. I spent the morning filling in the areas where Tamiya chose to leave huge gaps for parts locators. Scrap styrene and some Mr. Surfacer to the rescue. Hatches on. No need to be neat, you won't see these again. G

Son, I cannot remember what I ate for dinner much less three years ago. G

Holding out on us eh Jonathan? Using multiple copies of one kit to produce your ambulance is, in my mind, the best way to go. Adding sections of body, chassis and interior floor to me seems easier. The doors could be replicated by seam filling and scribing new panel lines. Using the spare hinges as Jonathan did is, again IMHO, the best bet here. Now if you want opening doors and detailed interior, there will be a lot more work. Do-able but strap in for a long wild ride. G

Sitting in the office and the phones been fairly quiet. Trouble is, with all the recent media hype I have had to stage my tactical gear and be ready to go. Rifles and shotguns are ready as well. Darn shame. G

Gee, Danny you know me too well........................ Bill, I have always liked that airplane. The thought of placing one of the biggest radial engines available in the smallest possible air frame is mind blowing. More please. G

Post a list! We won't be shy. G

Between recent world events effecting my job, extreme weather and health issues I have finally managed to get some spare time and have begun. Here's the base kit. Not one of the most detailed out of the box but as you will soon see, it's good enough. Some of the additional items required. Tissue paper and thin basswood sheet. The starting photo. I'm filling in all the mounting divots for the tools and other equipment carried on the hull. They will not be used. I'll scratch build some of the tie down loops from thin rod or stretched sprue as go along. I always use some spot putty to enhance the cast texture of certain parts. I mix Bondo spot putty with Tamiya extra thin cement and stipple it on with an old brush. G

Ok, I have been immersed in work and life issues but it's time to kick this off! I will start with a Tamiya 1/35th scale M4A3 Sherman tank, but, as always, there's a twst....... G

Log? Anyway, I like the creative photos, just don't sell your work short by only posting them. You build good stuff. G

Yeah, that's just, uh, well ................................. Male bovine excrement? G

NICE!!! G

Thank you all. I have made additional progress on this, but have yet to photograph it. More to come! G

I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Unfortunately, that is the dangerous part of the business. There isn't a day goes by I don't thank the man above for keeping me alive throughout my career. . G

I'm thinking he is an inspiration. Obtaining that look with craft paint, well holy roadwheels Batman. That's a nice one! G

Figures always put the size of the vehicle into perspective. Your TC really conveys how big that beast really is. Looking good sir. G

No source like an old source! Progress. I had the door shield decal custom made something like 9 years ago now. I cannot, for the life of me, remember who did it. The remaining numbers and letters I printed with my inkjet printer on decal paper. I'm searching for a good shot of a vintage license plate to print as we speak. G

More officers were killed in the line of duty in auto accidents than gunfights. That trend continued nationally for about ten years, ending only recently. Since that photo was taken, St Louis has lost three to auto accidents and one to gunfire. It's still considered the most violent city in America though. G