Harry P.

Jim, that's the stuff! Can't beat it. It' a 10 to 1 ratio–10 parts putty to 1 part catalyst (hardener). Obviously there's no easy way to actually measure, so you eyeball it. The ratio isn't super-critical. I go by color... after it's mixed it should be a light pink. Too white and you don't have enough catalyst, too red and you have too much catalyst mixed in and it'll set up on you really fast. As long as the mix is pink, you're ok. A tad too little catalyst, there's no real harm done... it'll just take a few minutes longer to set up. And oh yeah... Jim, that model is super-cool!

Most auto parts stores sell it. And like Bill said, it's available from tons of places online. http://www.google.com/#q=Bondo+professional+glazing+putty&safe=off&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=y-6PUc2OKYKMygHsh4Ew&ved=0CIEBELMY&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46340616,d.aWc&fp=81b22e225e828830&biw=1267&bih=723

In regards to one-part vs. two-part putty... here are the facts. Fact: One part putties harden, or "dry," the same way that paint does: the liquid part (the solvent) evaporates away, leaving behind the hardened solid part. Since all one-part putties harden this way (via evaporation of the solvent, leaving behing the "putty" part), they by definition shrink as they dry– because they lose a part of their volume (the solvent) as they dry. This is an irrefutable fact. Fact: Two-part putties (the kind where you have to mix the resin and the hardener) don't dry via evaporation. In fact, they don't "dry" at all... they set via a chemical reaction between the resin and hardener, the same way epoxy sets. Once this reaction has finished, the putty is as hard as it'll ever get, and it won't shrink two months down the road. There is no loss of volume because the putty has hardened via chemical reaction, not evaporation. However... that's not to say you can't get perfect results using one-part putty. You can, if the putty has completely dried before you prime and paint. If you laid it on thick, after a while it may seem dry, and even sand well, but deeper down the solvents have not all evaporated away, and in a case like this you will see evidence of shrinkage marring your finished model down the road. That's the pitfall of one-part putties. They do shrink (and crack if applied too thick). If you know what you're doing and have had experience using one-part putties, and you know enough to let the putty dry completely before finishing, yes, you can get good results. Many modelers, especially beginners, don't know that, and they're the ones most likely to have the problem of visible shrinking down the line, after the model is finished. And of course, there's nothing you can do to fix it at that point. Since two-part putties don't have this problem to deal with, IMO they're the better choice. A two-part putty, if mixed in the correct ratio (approx, 10 parts putty to 1 part hardener) will not shrink or crack, ever.

Click on Edit, then click on "Use Full Editor." That will let you edit the topic title.

Like Casey said, the section is just a few days old. Let's see how it plays out. I might move it up into General, I might leave it where it is. Give it a few weeks to settle in for everyone and we'll see where we're at then. BTW... Skip, I did move a couple of the topics you mentioned back into General. And Casey moved the Michael's topic back. So you're 3 for 3! They could have gone either way, but I don't see any problem with them being in General.

Alternative energy sources are in their infancy as far as infrastructure. But just wait. It won't be long before they are more than a viable alternative to the "old way." Our grandkids will learn about the days when we used oil and coal for power and have a good laugh. Like I said before... you don't have to spend billions to explore and try to find wind or solar. It's right there for the taking, it'll never run out, and we don't have to buy either one from countries that control prices–and don't like us. People used to ride horses to get anywhere. Along came cars and the world was changed forever. People used to read by candlelight or gaslight. Along came the incandescent light bulb and the world was changed forever. People used to travel overseas by ship. Along came the airplane and the way we travel changed forever. Alternative energy sources are going to be as big, if not more so.

3% is better than 0%.

When you click "View New Content," you have the option of filtering which new content you want to see (or not see). This forum software has all kinds of options for you to customize things the way you want them. All you have to do is make use of the features instead of complaining about stuff.

It's possible to produce so much electricity via solar and/or wind, that a private residence could actually create more electricity than the family needs, and can sell the excess back to the utility. You could actually be paid by the electric company instead of you paying them! Of course, the upfront costs to install the systems would be high (and your house would have to be situated to take the best advantage of the sun and wind), but with government subsidies, I guess that after some years you'd make up your initial investment via lower electric bills... and from then on it's a free ride! Wouldn't be practical for everyone... but for some, it's feasible.

The temperature of the air doesn't have any direct correlation to wind speed. You have wind all year long, regardless of air temperature. A wind farm would work as well in Alaska as it would in Hawaii, as long as it's sited correctly. And the fact is, perfectly calm air (zero wind) is not that common. It's not like any wind farm would sit idle for days on end with absolutely no wind.

Right. Batteries are storage devices. Wind or solar-generated power sold as a utility to the end user would not need any storage devices (batteries). Just as conventionally-produced electricity doesn't need batteries. It's transmitted from the generation station to your home (in several steps), but no batteries are involved. Whether you would get your electricity from a coal-fired plant or a solar array, the power would just "be there" until you flip the switch on to use it.

Even the tiniest grass seeds will grow into full-scale grass...

I agree with Bill... price will continue to drop as more and more solar and wind sources come online. Like I said in an earlier post, harnessing the sun and the wind (two sources of energy we'll never run out of) is just too logical to ignore. And even better... we can use our solar power and our wind power. We won't have to buy either from countries that don't like us! And in the meantime... let's get that darn Keystone pipeline built!

$8995 for an option??? I remember when you could get a whole car for less than that...

Please post questions in the question and answer section.

And if you don't go down there, it still is.

And by my estimation we have a perpetual source of solar and wind energy.

You guys are making me really hungry!

Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this thread? Lots of great commentary, good information, etc. Thanks to all involved. And Bill... if you don't knock it off, you run the risk of greatly impressing me!

Unfortunately, no. I could kick myself for not having my camera with me when I took the Hoover Dam tour. It's an absolutely awesome example of human ingenuity and engineering. I highly recommend seeing it in person. As awe-inspiring a natural wonder as the Grand Canyon is, the Hoover Dam is just as awe-inspiring as a man-made wonder.

Well, all I can say is, if I was CEO of a big oil company I'd be using whatever power I have to get my company actively involved in solar and wind in a big way. You don't have to spend billions to "explore" for solar or wind, it's right there for the taking. And yes, T. Boone Pickens has been a lonely voice for common-sense alternative energy. Too bad there aren't a lot more influential people pushing this. It seems ridiculous to me that the "most powerful" or "greatest" country in the world isn't embracing these energy sources more enthusiastically.

The "car guy" magazines also gave the car very good reviews.

One thing that I really don't understand is why we aren't pushing harder for wind and solar power generation on a mass scale. I don't mean Joe Hipster with his solar panels on the roof of his house, I mean using solar and wind (to whatever extent it can be used) to generate electricity for mass consumption in addition to the ways we already generate it. The technology exists, solar and wind works. And I know that there are windmill farms scattered around the country, but not too many. But it seems we're hesitant as a country to go full speed ahead with these methods of power generation. For example... why wouldn't a big oil company, seeing that our dependence on oil won't last forever, get into solar or wind power generation in a big way? The feds own literally millions of acres of vacant land that's not being used for much of anything... wouldn't it make sense to lease some of that land to private companies to build wind farms on? I know that the bottom line in all of this is $$$. But to me, solar and wind just seems so completely logical that I can't see why we're not pushing these methods much harder.

I've been in the Hoover Dam generating room. It's pretty amazing. The whole dam is amazing. Standing there at the top, on that road that makes up the top surface of the dam, and looking straight down the side of the dam... that's a view I'll never forget!

This is one of those "agree to disagree" things. Refining oil creates pollution. Generating electricity creates pollution. But a gas-powered car creates pollution in addition to the pollution created by the process of providing that car with its fuel (gas). An electric car does not create pollution in addition to the pollution created by the process of providing that car with its "fuel" (electricity).