Lindberg Douglass X3 Stiletto Review

Texgunner

I enrolled at Texas A&M for the spring semester 1995, I was 42.  The reason I was there was because it was a doable commute from my hometown.   I graduated in Dec. 1997 with a BA in History, 3.915 GPA.  And every damned semester that I was enrolled, the crazy Aggie administration pulled some crap that only Aggies could do.  They've earned their reputation I assure you.

Now, for some somewhat seasonal Aggie humor:

**Two Aggie roomates were talking in their apartment one late November evening.  One said to the other, "You know, I think we should get a Christmas tree for our place.  All our neighbors are doing it and I think it would look cool!"

His roomie agreed and asked, "But, where could we find a Christmas tree?"

His buddy said, "They grow wild in the country.  We could drive out of town Saturday and cut one down."   So a plan was made, and when Saturday rolled around, it was cold and rainy.  The two drove out a country road and crossed into the woods.  They walked for hours, getting wetter and colder all the time.  It was getting late, and darker.

One turned to the other and exclaimed, "Damn, I never knew it would be so hard to find a Christmas tree!"  His roomate said, "Me neither.  I say we cut the next one we see...whether it has lights or not."**

bada bing!!

Hey folks, I'm here all week!  Try the veal, they tell me it's great!

 

LOLROF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, there were these two Aggie boys who graduated together, and decided to truck vegetable crops from the farmers to the market.

So, they got a new Ford pickup (no chevvy dealers near there), and they bought tomatoes at $1.00 a lug.

Then they sold them for $1.00/lug.

After a while, the guy in charge of the books found out they were not making money, or "profit".

So they worked on the problem all night, and the driver said, "You know what, we need another pickup-truck!!"

---------------------------------------------------------------

Been married to a Tyler Rose for over 40 years.

Dad-in-law been widowed twice-cool guy, looks better then you, former IBM employee, still in Tyler, and has a new lady-friend!-can you top that?

I mean I wouldn't want to!

BTY, mine's a 9x18 Makarov Tu-Tone-more then sufficient, as he has actually helped me more then once

Tom T

I enrolled at Texas A&M for the spring semester 1995, I was 42.  The reason I was there was because it was a doable commute from my hometown.   I graduated in Dec. 1997 with a BA in History, 3.915 GPA.  And every damned semester that I was enrolled, the crazy Aggie administration pulled some crap that only Aggies could do.  They've earned their reputation I assure you.

Now, for some somewhat seasonal Aggie humor:

**Two Aggie roomates were talking in their apartment one late November evening.  One said to the other, "You know, I think we should get a Christmas tree for our place.  All our neighbors are doing it and I think it would look cool!"

His roomie agreed and asked, "But, where could we find a Christmas tree?"

His buddy said, "They grow wild in the country.  We could drive out of town Saturday and cut one down."   So a plan was made, and when Saturday rolled around, it was cold and rainy.  The two drove out a country road and crossed into the woods.  They walked for hours, getting wetter and colder all the time.  It was getting late, and darker.

One turned to the other and exclaimed, "Damn, I never knew it would be so hard to find a Christmas tree!"  His roomate said, "Me neither.  I say we cut the next one we see...whether it has lights or not."**

bada bing!!

Hey folks, I'm here all week!  Try the veal, they tell me it's great!

Texgunner

 

 

T_Terrific

Very nice!

Thanks for the link.

Now, when you say "you're an Aggie" you're not trying to bestow upon me the distinction of being an Honorary Aggie, are ya?

TomT

 

 

 

 

Thanks a lot!  And, you're welcome for your compliment.

No, see, I was just trying to show you the difference between "you're" and "your".   Geez, didn't you engineer-types ever learn anything useful in school?

Gary

 

LOL!

Honestly, they did't make it easy, since lab and math courses and the sciences didn't worry about ''perfect spelling". unlike more practical educational cirricula, such as Social Studies.

By the way, thanks for letting me "off the hook" and not making me  an Honorary Aggie. You had me worried there for a while.

Tom T

Tom T

T_Terrific

Very nice!

Thanks for the link.

Now, when you say "you're an Aggie" you're not trying to bestow upon me the distinction of being an Honorary Aggie, are ya?

TomT

 

Thanks a lot!  And, you're welcome for your compliment.

No, see, I was just trying to show you the difference between "you're" and "your".   Geez, didn't you engineer-types ever learn anything useful in school?

Gary

Very nice!

Thanks for the link.

Now, when you say "you're an Aggie" you're not trying to bestow upon me the distinction of being an Honorary Aggie, are ya?

TomT

Uh, I believe that would be "you're an Aggie".  Sorry, but that A&M education just creeps up on me sometimes...

http://imodeler.com/author/garybrantley/

Is it the paint thinner, or the solvent cement, or the "Hoppe's no. 9" gunpowder solvent, that rrequires I explain the obvious, 'shooter?

Oh, that's right, your an "Aggie"!

You see, there were these two aggie grads (that's Texas A&M for the uninitiated) who decided to go into business buying and selling truck-crops. And...

Oh, sorry, back to the subject:

What is your scale model genre'/experience?

Tom T

Post Edit

If you like, I can finish the joke sometime, or I can do the punch-line for "Do you know how to tell a Texan?"

Guess what, I am still married to one.

T_Terrific

 

How about you, Tex?

Tom T

 

How about me what? 

Tanker

Use Google Photo. They are a known outfit.

Upload pictures to Google photo. That's Step One.

That works like most uploads.

How this 'Insert picture' works on this forum is a mystery to me.

It's just a blank box that's titled 'Source'. What does that mean?

Thanks!

Okay ;

 So you wanna put me in the hotseat huh ?

 Here you go . Did my first proffessional model , for what it's worth at eighteen . I am now 73 and on my way to the next one . Have done models for the most well knowncompanies in this country although I didn't know that they put them into museums  . Found out years later .

 As far as pictures go I have never learned how to do this . Many have tried to help , but after many failures I am giving that a rest . I came close but still didn't get that coveted Havana ! If you choose , Send me an address and I will gladly mail you some of the many copies I have .  T.B.

Modelers

Watched a little of "Towards the Unknown" with William Holden.

He walked by the X3!

Apperently the Air Force thought it would be a good idea for it

to be in the movie!

X3 is glossy white. Didn't catch wing color. Tail had yellow patch on it.

Model Maker

Tom

I have a Hall of Shame story.

Tossed out Walmart Testors paint sets!!

They were old. Getting dried out because they were 6-8 years old.

Now I'm equipped with Testor's Acrylic Thinner so probably

could have save some of them.

Live and learn!

Bob

Hey Tex,

Are you a "tanker" too?

As for grade level, yeah I got some built armor stuff as well. I tried some again a while back, was just like when I was in elementary school.

For me, the reasons the armor stuff is not the challenge aircraft are:

1. Missing a headlight, damage the hole and chalk it up to battle-damage.
2. Cover damage to finish from glue-runs with fake mud, zimmerit, whatever.
3. Actual interior details not there, no issue, no windows to look into.
4. No need to consider the underside, as we do in aircraft-nobody sees the belly of a tank as we do usually do see the bird's underside first at any air base-so it can be full of sinkholes, recesses for axles, etc., but who cares?.
5. No flaps, alerons, elevators, rudders, gear doors, bay doors, etc. Only a couple of hatches, maybe a turret to swivel if it is not an SP gun, howitzer, tank destroyer,etc., then you have nothing but the gun that moves up-and-down-

So, as far as what grade, I got bored with typically two-dimensional armor stuff long before I graduated High School to next go on to obtain my degree in engineering.

How about you, Tex?

Tom T

Hey Maker,

1. Dull the model's surface with a fine grade of wet/dry sandpaper like the kind I get in Testors sandpaper packs.
2. Then you go to a flat white, as a primer coat.
3. Then go to a clear-coat for a final gloss finish!

All the above can be done with the Testors products as sold at Hobby Lobby (I prefer Testors clear coats over messing with floor polish), whether you spray or hand-brush.

Now notice, whenever you want a gloss finish from any flat paint, then simply clear-coat the flat color.

That also generally takes care of all my gloss-paints issue for water-based acrylics including the light-grey fuselage of the Sparrow Hawk kit I built from a Williams Bros. kit, many years ago that also was molded in white.

By the way, for that kit, I literally used a basic Testors Acrylic paint set I got from Wal-Mart many years ago. The main fuselage is the flat Light Gull Grey, gloss-coated.

Tom T

Tom

Using acrylic paint in an internal mix airbrush is a Bozo no-no.

Got it!

Good thing my Testors Mighty Mini and Badger 250 are external mix.

Badger 250 is even needle and cone free!

Paint siphons out little opening and away it gets blown!

Spray paint cans are out for the present.

Even have a can of Testors Red Metal Flake 3 oz right here for car model.

Getting back into hobby just want to take things one thing at a time.

Thanks!

OK, a word of caution about acrylics.

Both my Sparrowhawk and Stuka were hand-brushed with water-based acrylics.

This is because the typical airbrush is designed for typical enamels, lacquers, etc. I have lost perfectly good airbrushes to the fact the acrylics can form a permant hard-coating inside the airbrush, messing up the precision internals, that cannot be flushed out with any kind of cleaner, once it sets up.

Now the acrylics can be just as hard on bristle-brushes, but since you can get them by the package-full for a lot less then the cost of the typical airbrush/compressor combination at Hobby Lobby art department, who cares? 

That's why I also suggest the Testors Model Master Auto Lacquer Spay, again sold at Hobby Lobby, that comes in spray-cans, as well as their white primer. It is a two-step finish system where you also use their gloss clear-coat as well as the color. Again, cheaper, and less trouble then the care and feeding of an airbrush set-up.

By the way, Phil, what is the second color? The one in the museum is all-white, wings and all. A bit off-white from the clear lacquer coating aging, but still all the same color.

Now I've seen kits built with blue wings, but I believe that was from someone mistaking the blue-sky reflecting on the high-gloss white wings illustrated somewhere to be a different color.

Tom T

Phil

I'm still finishing 1/32 model car and hand painting is the way to go for

that. Lots of small surfaces.

Maybe when I'm done and take a new look at airplane kit

spraying may look better to me.

I'm not in a hurry to get it finished.

Thanks!

model make

I will be hand brushing the body with Testor's Acrylic White which should look okay.

Actually, with only two colours and a sharp demarcation line (in other words, easily masked), I think it's a perfect candidate for airbrush practice.

Tanker Builder

Thanks for glue suggestion.

Weldene and Plasti Weld are solvent cements.

Solvent cement dissolve a little of the plastic and weld parts together.

I think Testors is probably special formula of sticky glue and solvent cement.

I think the key to it is not to overdo it.

I have heard CA glue models fall apart after a few years.

We don't want that!

Model Maker

Tom, you're a curious fellow.  I have to ask, what grade are you in?  Do many of your young peers build scale models too?  I bet you guys have fun in study hall!   Keep 'em coming dude.

Gary

edit to add:   Oops, I'm sorry Tom.  I see from your profile that you're retired.  Sorry dude.  I'm retired too, and love every minute of it so far. 

Then model on!

gb

Lessee, Tank,

as you stated above "after over fifty years in the business", would easily put you past 70 years old!

Unless you were the age of majority, there is no way you could be legally hired in this country, and your avatar don't look 70+.

I got plenty more photos, you got any for proof?

Try again

Tom T

Yes, my issue with Monogram is their half-baked "profile" engines that they still are very proud of.

Here is a very good example, typical of what I built as a kid when Revell first brought out the Skyraider:

and, guess what?

I currently have two more, unbuilt, that I can ressurect, one Navy and one USAF Sandy.

Whereas, with my '32 scale F4F and Revell F4U Corsair, I can remove the cowlings and see my completed engines any time, whereas the Monogram 1/32 scale F3F, has the typical  "profile engine". Under-whelming.

Not excited when they do not want to go slow, nor go fast, but half-fast. 

As for the paints, the only big deal about Tamiya paints, from my actual experience is that their container which, by the virtue of a plastic lid, which is better then Testors metal lid for the water-based acrylics because it doesn't rust into the glass bottle after opening after using.

So, Tank, since you have nearly 100 years of experience, plus recommendations for various products, why can't we see pictures of your stuff?

Tom T

Hello !

 You know , after over fifty years in the business ( Professional Model Builder ) I recently changed to TAMIYA'S liquid in the two types , Orange label and Green label . Love them both .Testors is still used though , Like it's workability . Tanker - Builder

         P.S. I have used the other so called Proffessional types and prefer  Plastruct " Weldene " for general use , Especially if there might be ABS present . ( Plastruct products for years were ABS in nature . ) Now the other I use Is T.A.P. Plastics out of Dublin Ca. house labeled ACRYLIC Cement .These fill out my glues except the Super Glues .

You Do Know ?

 Monogram Did a fine 1/48 T.B.M. Avenger with all that and the proper folding wings too . Don't you ? I replaced the engine with a scratch built one that looked more real inside that cowl though .   T.B.

Oh, by the way, here is my Lindberg He-111 all done with Testors' products, hand-brushed, etc.:

Yep, I just checked and she still hangs there!

Retractible gear with operational gear-doors, removable cowlings to show detailed engines, etc.

Tom T

That is why I am suggesting that you stick to Testors products for plastic models.

One result:

I do think I know what I am talking about

Done with all-Testors products, actually bought from the local Wal-Mart at the time!

Yes, blue-tube glue, acrylic paints, etc.,OK?

Tom T

Post-edit

She still hangs from my cieling, baby!

Tom

Okay. Stay away from the Testors wood & metal for plastic models. Got it.

Found a can of Flat white Walmart 97 cent spray paint and

a can of primer which will do for grey on wings.

Two cans of primer. One is light and one is dark somehow.

Might still stick with hand painting.

One reason is there are a lot of curves on this fuselage and

I can see it getting runs pretty easy.

Model Maker

Yeah, the wood and metal cement is just the thing if you like sagging/partial collapse of the fuselage wherever you use it!

When I built a 1/48 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-7 BKL Fitter, I used that kinda stuff to fix the ballast in place for the nose-gear, and now he has a "sinkhole" in his left cheek, that actually occured after I painted, decaled, etc., and put him on display.

I mean the tube did say "Metal", the ballest is "metal", obviously the right choice, eh?

Are good hobby supplies that hard to get where you are?

If they are not, well let me know by PM, and I will do what I can.

Tom T

Tom

Thanks for the reply!

It's going to be Testor's Model Cement in the red tube this time.

Tossed out the safe Testors in the light blue tube when it got old.

Do have some Testors liquid cement in a black square bottle with

thin nozzle. I will see if it's still good and use it too.

Have a green tube of  Testors wood and metal cement.

I will see if it's still good and  if so use that too.

Thanks!