Ace-Garageguy

Minutes pass like hours when you're waiting for the results of a biopsy, but it's a good time to reflect on the fact that nobody gets out of here alive... so make the best of whatcha got.

Country living appeals to my preference for privacy, the farther from 'civilization', the better.

FWIW...I've used some Rustoleum and other big-box and hardware-store paints and some no-name el cheapo bargain-store rattlecans for model work, usually for things like engines or particularly bilious colors that you might have seen on a '50s Earl Scheib job, with just fine results, but never ever ever ever without shaking the jello out of them, and testing prior to committing to use. But the reason I'm such a repetitive advocate of testing is because I've had some real disasters, where hours and hours of work were spoiled by using an untested product that was "supposed" to be OK for what I wanted to do.

I don't get it. Why? I can see aspiring to own something like a GT40 or a Porsche 917 or a Ferrari GTO or a McLaren M6, even a Bugatti type 35...but the late-model hyper cars that really aren't about performance anymore but only screaming LOOKIT MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! leave me cold. Maybe it's sour grapes on my part...? Nah. I don't have a problem with people who have money to burn. I just don't understand the need to burn it.

Good looking metal shaping.

Bands of red-(touches) yellow-black colors identify a venomous coral snake in the US, but a similar red-(touches) black-yellow is probably a non-venomous king snake.

Hare-brained schemes abound at even the highest levels of industry and gubmint, among people who don't posses particularly impressive critical thinking skills.

Flavor enhancer MSG is claimed to cause headaches and other adverse reactions by some people, and has fallen out of favor somewhat as a result.

Ibuprofen is a wonder-drug for arthritis and back pain. I try to only use it in moderation, but some days it's the difference in being functionally crippled and being able to get the job done. Like today.

Yup, the oh-so-much-mo-better-digital-everything-age. Good luck.

Much as I agree with you in principle, when I was a lad, failing the pre-induction physical got you out of serving. HOWEVER...I'm kinda thinking that a mandatory 2-year period of some kind of service for everyone could be beneficial as far as teaching respect for legit authority, respect for others' boundaries, working in a 'team', etc...and take their phones away from them for the entire period...or at least severely restrict access. But it'll never happen.

"Mussolini" sounds like pasta with mussels in a nice buttery, garlicky wine sauce. https://seasonedandsalted.com/pasta-with-mussels-and-garlic-white-wine-sauce/

Stew of meatballs and sauerkraut is on this coming weekend's menu.

Yup. Indeed.

Subject yourself to things that push your limits, even if it hurts sometimes.

In general, yes...unless you elect to model the uber-rare twin-plug head. OR...depending on the period. Mallory made a high-performance dual-point distributor in-period for these engines, below, and more photos here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115594004767 : Electronic "pointless" distributors are also available for these, and are a little different visually from the stock unit. Stock appearance below: Kinda stock-appearing electronic aftermarket: Pertronix electronic style : HEI style with integral coil:

"Ground" on the positive side of some vintage British car electrical systems could result in unexpected fireworks if you weren't aware or just weren't paying attention.

Exceptionally clean work. Very nice.

Past lives haunt me late in the evening...

Probably going to ground the broom-flying witches for the foreseeable future too, eh?

I've always said "there's good, fast, and cheap; pick any two". EDIT: And if one of the ones they choose is cheap, I usually tell 'em to go to the next shop on down the road.

Agreed...as long as the danger you cause is only directed at yourself. I've done a whole lot of risk-taking, but rarely with anyone else's life or property. Maybe because I know first-hand exactly what it feels like to have something I worked long and hard for...or on...destroyed by some idiot's instant of thoughtlessness. I don't want never wanted to be the guy who does that to someone else.

While we're risking punitive action, it might be time to mention that only about 25% of today's USA youth can pass the requirements for military service without a waiver, so there's that...

For what probably sounds like the bazillionth time, TEST exactly what paint product or combination thereof BEFORE you commit to putting it on an actual model. AND...shooting stuff on 'spoons' is fine for color checking, but the plastic that spoons are made from is different from kit plastics...usually...so do your testing on part of the model you want to use whateveritis on so you'll encounter any weird reactions that might occur and avoid possibly ruining an entire model. ALSO...this is doubly important because kit plastics can even be different from issue to issue of the same kit, depending on how many grains of rice of profit the manufacturer was trying to sneak out by cheapening the plastic composition, and paint manufacturers are well known for changing the chemical makeup of their products with no notice too. Bottom line: what worked two months ago might not work today, and following advice from random people on the internet is pretty much a recipe for disaster...though we're fortunate here to have some guys who actually DO know what they're talking about, and the quality of their work backs up what they say.

I honestly think the '30 coupe is the best model for a variety of technical reasons, with the open-topped Ardun-powered T and the derelict Mopar tied for second. The big Mopar and the tall T have a lot of, call it 'emotional' appeal.