Aaronw

I'm sure it goes by other regional names as well, but you know the light paint scrapes caused by driving through brush, that can usually be fixed with a little rubbing compound and a good wax job. I'm sure someone has done this on their 4x4 or rally car models, but I don't recall seeing a method for it. I'm particularly interested in seeing something that would work over decals. Thanks

Cheap aluminium foil and gold leaf adhesive also works well and is probably much thinner than the tape. You want to buy the cheap foil as a BMF alternative because it is thinner, but some of the good heavy duty oven foil would probably be better for picking up and holding textures.

Building a Mack N from the AMT kit has been on my to do list for some time, but it just got easier. I was just over at the AITM site and he has added a Mack N conversion. This should be an easy swap with any of the Ford C cab kit. http://www.aitruckmodels.com/pages/ck60macknmodel.html

Since I use acrylics I was worried a BB might corrode over time, so I bought a bunch of small plastic balls, but same idea. I don't know that it really makes much difference, acrylics seem to gunk onto the bottom more than I remember enamels doing. I usually just use an old piece of sprue to stir it up, then I'll throw it on my paint shaker if it seems to need more.

They do, it is down at the bottom under policies. Basically $8.95 up to a $50.00 order, then add another $2.00 for each $50.00 after that.

You can buy glass powder to add to paint, it is usually used with traffic paint to make the lines on the road reflective. I've never seen it used elsewhere, but I would imagine it would provide an interesting effect on a car, although it would be much rougher than a regular paint job.

I've bought from them many times, and always had great service. It's good to see they finally modernized the website, the old one worked but I'm sure having to cut and paste the order form and email the order was costing them some sales.

There were at least two Sterling trucks. One was a medium duty based on the mid-late 90s Ford Louisville, the other a heavy duty truck based on the Ford Aeromax. Obviously the conversion I was looking at was the medium duty Louisville based truck, but you are correct the Aeromax was used for the heavier Sterling. In both cases the Sterling and Ford it was based on were very similar. The problem with converting the Louisville has to do with the fact that in the mid 90s Ford put the truck through a major overhaul, so the kit shares little with the later truck (or the Sterling).

Our roads department has the older Ford LN like the kit as well as the later Ford / Sterling so I took some measurements from both with the idea of converting the kit to the later truck. What I found is there is little in common between them, about the only thing useful would be the chassis and perhaps interior tub.

They are all 1/72.

Very nice, it looks like they raided a quilting bee to fix the plane. It does a great job dealing with my biggest annoyance with WW1 allied aircraft, most had rather bland paint schemes.

They kept a bear from trashing my overflow stash. We had a bear break into the garage last year, it made quite a mess, even tried to eat a can of varnish. The rubbermaid boxes got knocked around a bit, but they didn't pop open or break so the kits were just fine and still safe from the pesky squirrels. We eventually figured out what attracted the bear, the stupid squirrels were stashing acorns in the garage (but not in my kits ).

Exactly, I pay for 9 issues, I get 9 issues, no problem just part of the MCM mystique. Many magazines are on time, and may even appear "professional" (and really I think MCM matches or beats most model magazines in actual appearance) it's charm is the fact that everyone involved in the magazine actually builds models and is approachable. Also that it really is possible for the average reader to submit an article and get it published, assuming they can write and follow the submission guidelines. Gregg et al, are very approachable and it shows. Look at the photo areas at your next show, the other magazines will have a clinical, very businesslike area, MCM has a happy go lucky gaggle of modelers hanging around, checking out the models he is shooting, and just generally enjoying the show.

You might have a look at 1/32 semi-trucks, I've seen people use the wheels for 1/25 1-ton trucks and they seem to look right.

I don't worry too much about the kits stored in the house, but I keep all the models in the garage in stackable clear rubbermaid boxes which do a good job of keeping the critters and elements out. Since they are clear I can still see what is inside, making it much easier to find a kit when I want it.

Nov 20 will be 11 years for us, we've been together a total of 12 1/2 years. We got married at the Tombstone Courthouse, and there was a hangman's gallows right outside so I did have other options.

I usually use a brush, I rarely have brush stroke problems but I have used an airbrush when I really wanted a smooth finish. I haven't tried it but supposedly adding a little simple green to the Future will give you a very glossy finish, but it also becomes a dust magnet until dry. This is the best article I've found for using Future. http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

More of my rescue helicopters USAF H-19A with floats, it is the 1/72 Italeri kit. The Air Force used the H-19 for a rescue helicopter during the Korean War until the late 1950s. US Navy HUP-1, this is the 1/72 AModel kit. The HUP-1 ordered as a helicopter the Navy could operate off of its smaller ships. It was widely used to rescue pilots that had to ditch in the sea and was used to recover some of the astronauts during the early Mercury missions. USMC HRS-2, this is the 1/72 Italeri HO4S-3 kit, the USAF and Army called the helicopter the H-19, the USMC called it the HRS-2 and the Navy HO4S-3. The USMC used this helicopter during the Korean war to move troops, rescue downed airmen, and evacuate the wounded.

I got onto a rescue aircraft kick a few years ago, this is my current fleet with several more in progress. USCG HH-65A Dolphin, this is the Revell of Germany / Matchbox kit. The HH-65A was an earlier version of the USCG's current medium range rescue helicopter. This was also the kit responsible for my helicopter madness. I had to make a few modifications as the kit does not build an accurate HH-65 so I built a winch, removed some extra windows / doors and modified the tailboom. USCG HO4S-3G (late), the USCG also used the H-19 as the HO4S-3G from the early 1950s until the early 1960s. This is the Revell of Germany kit which provides markings for the later paint scheme adopted shortly before these helicopters were retired. USCG HO4S-3G (early), this is the same helicopter but with the earlier chrome yellow scheme. I used the Italeri HO4S-3 kit with decals I designed and printed.

I guess its time I drag out some of my stuff. The RE-8 was a mid war (WW1) bomber / observation plane, it acquired the nickname Harry Tate (a popular entertainer of the time) because when you say RE-8 with a thick english accent is sounds similar to Harry Tate. This is the Airfix RE-8 kit, the plastic was stamped 1958 so this was one of the first kits Airfix made, although this was a 1980s re-issue. While it was not my first WW1 plane it was my first attempt at rigging in 1/72. I have since started to go back and rig earlier models. The rigging is .008" guitar string held in place with epoxy.

The 222 is a great looking armored car. Was this the re-issue from a few years ago that added a PE set? The 222 was one of the first kits I built when I started modelling again 8 or 9 years ago.

It looks good, I like AA vehicles. From what I've read few have been very good at their intended role of shooting down aircraft, but they do look neat. I got a Sgt York, Gepard and ZSU-23 a few years ago but never got around to building them.

I got your ignore right here [sticks fingers in ears] la la la la I can't hear you la la la la la

I went to an antique machinery show a few years ago and they had some small motors like that, with open bowls for the gas and oil. On the other end of the scale someone brought a steam donkey and sled the size of a short semi trailer that was powering a portable sawmill. It was really fun to see all the stuff actually running. The engine is neat, it may not be accurate, but it looks right. If nothing else makes a great piece of random farmyard junk for your pickup.

I know the diesels are supposed to be a 0000 series instead of a 000 series but I've seen lots of diesel C-cabs that had the 000 series badges, so changing the kit is very optional. I don't know for sure but I have a feeling that was something Ford did for a limited period when diesels were not so common.