Harry P.

Or to put it another way: If you use the "blade" side, you're actually cutting, but not removing, the plastic. If you use the back side, the squared-off shape of the blade actually acts like a tiny gouge or plane, and removes plastic, creating a groove that's the width of the blade's thickness. Doing it this way serves two purposes: One, you remove the plastic that's in the body's molded-in panel lines, giving you an accurately-scaled opening between the body and the panel you're removing (door, trunk, etc.), and two, you actually have more control using the back side of the blade... it won't tend to "jump the groove" as readily as if you were using the sharp side and cutting the plastic.

I've imposed a new rule on myself: every time I see a post with no name in the signature I PM the person. So far the response has been very good as far as people doing as asked. It'll take time for me to get to everyone, but it is underway.

And kudos to you for noticing! Maybe my work isn't all for naught after all...

The part that asks for "required imformation" isn't your signature. We ask that you have your full name in your signature.

It really is. The way it came about is that Mark Gustavson originally wanted to create a big, high-profile contest that would theoretically draw the biggest, most well-known modelers to sort of a model contest version of an All-Star game. It was basically a flop, and the big names that he had assumed would enter never did. So in his model magazine column at the time, he fired off a scathing editorial blasting those modelers for not showing.. he referred to them as "national luminaries who shall remain nameless" in his column. So those "nameless national luminaries" decided to put together their own event... an "anti-contest"... no judging, no awards, just showing their models and hanging out. That first "NNL" caught on, and that's how the name came about.

Do I see a contradiction there? If the whole original point of an NNL was that it was a show and not a contest (no judging, no voting, no awards)... then why is it not correct to say that that's what an NNL should be? These days there are tons of events that call themselves "NNLs," but they give awards for best this, best that, etc. Sure, there are no "judges," but the awards are determined by vote... which is just another way of judging. If there are determinations of which model is best this or best that, doesn't that fly in the face of what an NNL is supposed to be... a non-competitive event?

There's no one diagram because different headers look different! Depends on the engine, and the brand/style of headers you want to recreate. A google image search is your best friend...

"Does anybody really care?"

It's amazing how something you think looks so cool when you're 25 looks so lame when you're 45!

Cranky is a fantastic talent and a great guy. We're very glad to have him here!

V, you're confused. I'm on your left!

There are over 6,000 members here. It's going to take me some time... but as Gregg said, the rules are the rules, and we're going to enforce them.

You have it backwards. The place that asks for "first name" is for your first name. Your full name is supposed to go in your signature.

Looks more like you're making a quick getaway!

Woulda looked coooool with a white vinyl top...

One of the rules you all agreed to when you became members here is to post your real, full name (first and last) in your signature line. If your screen name is your real name, no problem. But if your screen name is not your real name, you need to put your real name in your signature. If you don't know how... here's how: There's a dropdown menu below your screen name at the top right of the page. Click on "My Settings." Then under "Your Options" click on "Profile." Then click on "Change Signature" and go from there.

I'll bet he won't mind hearing it again... B)

Peter, you take model building from a hobby to an art. I'm very impressed.

Probably fake is right.

You mean always late... I've tried lighting a fire under Gregg. Many times. Apparently he wears asbestos shorts...

I never clearcoat over BMF. I have 30 year old models with absolutely no foil problems whatsoever.

Any brand is fine as long as you use the appropriate thinner and thin the paint to the correct consistency. Anything more than that is just a matter of personal preference. I prefer lacquers or acrylics over enamels... but that's just me. Others will have different ideas.

Ditto to what everyone else has said. That's a real beauty, nicely done!