BlackTulip109

Dear Toshi

 

I appreciate the Bio info about yourself and your family.

I came back into the hobby over a couple years ago because my 9 year old son wanted to start building models the passion returned and has been instrumental in more Father Son time together not to mention the "mental health and relaxation". One of the side effects has been the reduction a few points in my blood pressure which my Doctor noted and wondered what I was doing different lately. AND I told him. He laughed and then told me he used to build too !!

I had a HUGE collection of enamel paints by Precision and Compucolour all stashed away.

They are EXTRAORDINARY paints and dead on accurate. But since returning to the hobby I wanted my son to be safe and discovered that acryllic paints have become exponentially better than they were back in the late 80's and 90's.

Vallejo and Tamiya are really outstanding. Hatacha(?) from Poland look to be really nice too. Anyway I still want to use some of my enamels and like you can't spray outside once Winter comes to the midwest. That spray booth looks very interesting where can I purchase one similar?

The Spit looks great. You have a wonderful teaching style easy to follow and please DO NOT underestimate yourself you are a very good modeler!!!! I learned a long time ago to have fun enjoy this great hobby which gives us so much joy!!

 

As for the paint booth, I purchased mine from eBay, you can also Google TCP.  They sell every thing needed for airbrushing including the very same paint booth I purchased.  

Your kind words in reference to my building skills is much appreciated, it's members like you that drives my ambition to get better in every build.  Thank you for sharing as well as the read and reply!

Toshi

patrick206

Toshi - Glad you like your spray booth, If you didn't get it as part of the booth, I saw that they have an accessory available that offers a flattened discharge tube that allows placing it in a door opening, or window slightly opened. That would be a great help in positive evacutaion of fumes and smells from your hobby area. Just a suggestion. 

I'm 74, love jazz from 60's, faves are Poinciana, from Ahmad Jamal live at the Pershing album, next Brubecks Take Five. 

For some time in the sixties I was based in L.A., often took in live shows at Shelly's Mann Hole, then in Wa. D.C., went to see Charley Bird at the Showboat. Fun times.

Love how the 'Spit is coming along, really nice work. Although I do kind of miss the "new model every 24 hours from Toshi" forum. (:>)

Thanks for the post and photos.

Patrick

 

Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

scottrc

I had to drop in and say HI Toshi and watch you build one of my favorite aircraft, the Spitfire.

Your builds somehow reflect that of a jazz muscian, like jazz, you play to some structure and a set of rules, but jazz allows you to express, go all out with what you want to do, you show that you have freedom to experiement and test your abilities yet come out with a beautiful piece of work.

I played jazz as a drummer, and enjoyed being able to be expressive, yet stay in that structured musical pocket.  I enjoy model building the same way and many of my builds resemble the music Ilisten too.  Many have artistic license that drive the reality judges nuts but were fun the build and in the end, a pleasure to look at.

Keep having fun, I really am enjoying your Spitfire build.

Scott

 

Do you still play the drums?  At MENTIS, my therapy facility, I've been urged to start up my musical career once again.  I told the therapist that when the time comes...

Playing jazz allowed me to travel all over Europe and the east, with my band, "Jazz Attack".  As for music and model kits, as I stated above, everything was relevant.  This is the only other reason why I became a executive chef.  To create!

As for models, the art of artistic vision comes to mind.  As you correctly stated, having fun is the key mantra, there's already enough drama in the world and I wish not to add anymore to it.  Thank you sir for your wonderful reply, I truly enjoyed it! Take care my friend.

Toshi

Dear Toshi

I appreciate the Bio info about yourself and your family.

I came back into the hobby over a couple years ago because my 9 year old son wanted to start building models the passion returned and has been instrumental in more Father Son time together not to mention the "mental health and relaxation". One of the side effects has been the reduction a few points in my blood pressure which my Doctor noted and wondered what I was doing different lately. AND I told him. He laughed and then told me he used to build too !!

I had a HUGE collection of enamel paints by Precision and Compucolour all stashed away.

They are EXTRAORDINARY paints and dead on accurate. But since returning to the hobby I wanted my son to be safe and discovered that acryllic paints have become exponentially better than they were back in the late 80's and 90's.

Vallejo and Tamiya are really outstanding. Hatacha(?) from Poland look to be really nice too. Anyway I still want to use some of my enamels and like you can't spray outside once Winter comes to the midwest. That spray booth looks very interesting where can I purchase one similar?

The Spit looks great. You have a wonderful teaching style easy to follow and please DO NOT underestimate yourself you are a very good modeler!!!! I learned a long time ago to have fun enjoy this great hobby which gives us so much joy!!

Toshi - Glad you like your spray booth, If you didn't get it as part of the booth, I saw that they have an accessory available that offers a flattened discharge tube that allows placing it in a door opening, or window slightly opened. That would be a great help in positive evacutaion of fumes and smells from your hobby area. Just a suggestion. 

I'm 74, love jazz from 60's, faves are Poinciana, from Ahmad Jamal live at the Pershing album, next Brubecks Take Five. 

For some time in the sixties I was based in L.A., often took in live shows at Shelly's Mann Hole, then in Wa. D.C., went to see Charley Bird at the Showboat. Fun times.

Love how the 'Spit is coming along, really nice work. Although I do kind of miss the "new model every 24 hours from Toshi" forum. (:>)

Thanks for the post and photos.

Patrick

I had to drop in and say HI Toshi and watch you build one of my favorite aircraft, the Spitfire.

Your builds somehow reflect that of a jazz muscian, like jazz, you play to some structure and a set of rules, but jazz allows you to express, go all out with what you want to do, you show that you have freedom to experiement and test your abilities yet come out with a beautiful piece of work.

I played jazz as a drummer, and enjoyed being able to be expressive, yet stay in that structured musical pocket.  I enjoy model building the same way and many of my builds resemble the music Ilisten too.  Many have artistic license that drive the reality judges nuts but were fun the build and in the end, a pleasure to look at.

Keep having fun, I really am enjoying your Spitfire build.

Scott

To my fellow forum members,

I had a hard time getting to bed, I ended up watching the OSU vs VT (Ohio State University "Buckeyes" versus Virginia Tech "Hookies") game last night.  I'm not a huge fan of NCAA College Football.  I just had it on as I'm anxiously awaiting for the first game of the NFL season.  It's this Thursday on the NFL Network, Pats vs Steelers (New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers) I have not always been a fan of football.  Actually of any sport.

I grew up playing Jazz at a very young age with my dad and I was always watching a National Geographic and or The Underseaworld of Jacques Cousteau show.  Remember those iconic programs?  The sitcoms that were my favorites were All in the Family, Good Times, One Day at a Time, and so on.  Of course I would watch the all American cartoons that only played on Saturday.  Remember that as well forum members?  Their was no CTN (Cartoon Network) back in the day, and the three TV stations (ABC, NBC, and CBS) used to sign off at midnight playing the National Anthem.  Not 1000+ cable channels playing 24/7 like we have today.  I used to watch PBS just for Sesame Street, Mister Rodgers, and The Electric Company.  Those were the days!

I felt sports was a waste of my time as my music became my life long endevour.  It wasn't until 2009 that I became a rabid fan of the NFL.  You see, as I raised my family, anytime my children wanted to play a instrument, I would try to steer them away from music, especially jazz.  Don't get me wrong, I would never trade that part of my life away, it's the lifestyle of a musician that can literally destroy ones physical, mental, and spiritual soul.  Ah, the nightlife! Ah, the female companionship!

Because of this, my children ended up in sports.  Except my daughter, I told her as long as she played in band just for fun, I would support her decision. Ohio is a very strong NFL or NCAA football associated state.  Really!  Only the NFL HOF (Hall of Fame) is located but an hour away from my home in Streetsboro, Ohio.  The HOF resides in Canton, Ohio.  I had to learn the various sports my children played in so as to be able to support their efforts. 

My son played football, cross country, and wrestling.  My daughter drove me crazy!  She was the school newspaper photographer, yearbook photographer, DJ at the schools radio station 88.9 alternative rock eventually making her way as the musical director, concert band, marching band, jazz band, cross country, track and field, basketball, was a courtesan in the prom queen's court, and a soccer player.  Of course it was all Mrs. Toshi and I that needed to provide her with transportation (Soccer mom and dad) and being there as a support group.  

I fell in love with the NFL!  It was a game in 2009 between Minnesota Vikings vs Greenbay Packers.  That game was special to me, here was a gray haired old man playing quarterback for the Vikings being the oldest QB ever to play in the league.  Of course his team, Vikings won the game.  This QB became an inspiration and motivation for me.  If this guy can play football at the age of 40, there's nothing stopping me from doing what I wanted to do.  This idol of mines was none other than Brett Favre, I was hooked!

Till this day, I'm still a Favre fan.  If you reside in Northeast Ohio, you must be either a Cleveland Browns fan or a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.  I just happened to be a huge fan of all 32 NFL teams.  What does this have to do with model making?  It's all relevant with FSM forum members DNA.  No matter what type of builder you are, planes, tanks, cars, and so on, it's our passion that drives us to exceed not to mention having a member that you hold up on a pedestal as the king/queen of model making.  

Building these models over the last 6 months has taught me that not only is this a form of therapy in fine motor skills and cognition, this new hobby teaches me in that I must have patients as well as discipline in finishing My model kits, this is what playing jazz feels like to me.  It was Brett Favre that inspires me everyday to do better than the day before.  Most importantly is knowing, understanding, and execution of the secret to life!  

living life and having fun at the same time is a life secret that continues to permeate every inch of my body.  Life is way too short not to, thank you so much forum members in allowing me to not only post my builds but also sharing my stories to you all.

Toshi

As you can see from the photo above, I'm trying to mimic what the pro builders are depicting in the Tamiya handbook in regards to a additional scratch build method.

As far as fit being a concern, there are no issues nor concerns regarding the 1:32 Tamiya products as they are exceptional.  What you see below is a quick dry fit of the cockpit prior to glueing everything down and finally cementing the two halves of the Spitfire together.

Just a quick FYI, I hopefully am planning to make this model with a weathering effect for the interior as well as the exterior, a first for me.

Gamera

Looking good Toshi! I've tried filling the lightning holes in areas like the seat with a black wash but drilling them out does look much better. 

Good luck with you cool new spray booth and I like your choice on finishing- the shark mouth Spits had to be the most best looking of all. Trust the British to build a beautiful fighter but leave it to the Aussies to put the final totally badass touch to it!  

 

Today, Mrs. Toshi had to go to work, so I'm at home assembling the spitfire.  Currently AB within the confines of our condo is just great.  I can't imagine how well the paint booth works. I can't smell a thing!  I'm also cooking up dinner as well.  Tonight's meal is Japanese style curry with chicken Katsu.  Desert is deep fried Malasada.  Malasada is a well known after dinner desert in Honolulu, Hawaii.  It's basically soft bread dough deep fried and rolled in sugar to be eaten hot.  

between cooking and modeling, I'm somewhat fatigue so I figured to take a few more build picks and fill everyone in on the Spitfire build, please see the Mk. VIII below.  Thank you forum members and please be safe on this beautiful holiday weekend today.

Toshi

I'm finally breaking the paint booth in for a test trial.  Not only does it look cool, it definitely does it's job beyond the call of duty!

Here are the sides of the canopies being assembled.

Looking good Toshi! I've tried filling the lightning holes in areas like the seat with a black wash but drilling them out does look much better. 

Good luck with you cool new spray booth and I like your choice on finishing- the shark mouth Spits had to be the most best looking of all. Trust the British to build a beautiful fighter but leave it to the Aussies to put the final totally badass touch to it!  

Really looking great Toshi. The belts look fantastic. 

Today, Mrs. Toshi and I had our all American breakfast of Bacon and Eggs.  We basically chilled out then left to my son in laws home to celebrate a day early and eat a very late lunch, early dinner.  

Upon our return home, I immediately went straight to work on the Spitfire.  I'm at the point of simply installing the cockpit and closing up the fuselage.  Of course as we all know, things almost never turns out that easy.  The rest of the work will resume tomorrow and as always, I'll be doing a step by step building process.  

Please see my efforts below.  Thank you forum members for your support. 

Toshi

I saw this technique via the "How to build a Spitfire" schematic, unfortunately I broke the smallest bit in my pin vise tool kit.  I'll be ordering one from eBay this evening.  

I tapped drilled these small holes just to show some depth.

Bish

That's the same one I have Toshi. Its my first Spray booth and I find it a really nice bit of kit.

 

Toshi

BrandonK

I actually have two hooked together for my booth. Works great and room for big builds. You will love using it.

BK

 

 

Toshi

I actually have two hooked together for my booth. Works great and room for big builds. You will love using it.

BK

To my fellow forum members,

My paint booth just arrived today via Fed Ex.  As advertised, it was sitting in the box in it's suit case carry mode.  After I opened it, it took a few simple steps to assemble the paint booth.

I did not even read the manual.  Once I plugged the paint booth in, I could feel the pull of the fan.  All the proper extensions were available.  There are three types, Type 1 with no extension hoses, Type 2 with all the proper extension hoses, and type three comes with a LED light.  

You can actually purchase two booths and connect them both, it will make for a large massive paint booth.  Upon my next step which will be the use of a actual spray session, I'll keep forum members up to date.  Thank you all, and have a safe holiday weekend.

Toshi

allan

Personally, my favorite time to build models is late at night, when everything is dead quiet. Did that until a couple of years ago when my back got a little worse, and I started dozing off at work. Lol. So it's perfectly normal to want to build at 1:30 am.

following this thread, Toshi.

 

 

 

Toshi

Personally, my favorite time to build models is late at night, when everything is dead quiet. Did that until a couple of years ago when my back got a little worse, and I started dozing off at work. Lol. So it's perfectly normal to want to build at 1:30 am.

following this thread, Toshi.

Jay Jay

Your coming right along nicely with your Spitfire Toshi.  Getting a book on modeling the subject  was a fine idea and with your postings, we will all benefit from it.

You will probably turn your caregiver into a modeler as well  lol

 

Thank you,

Toshi

Lookin great, Toshi.

BK

Your coming right along nicely with your Spitfire Toshi.  Getting a book on modeling the subject  was a fine idea and with your postings, we will all benefit from it.

You will probably turn your caregiver into a modeler as well  lol

Here is what I did at 1:30am.  Oddly, I can't just quietly go to sleep.  So I decided to do a few things here and their.  Here is my results.

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[URL=http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/hayn0824/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-09/CCE2F01E-AC6B-49B5-B9C2-60C609DA78E5_zpszd3yuwxk.jpg.html][/URL

BrandonD

Very nice start, Toshi! I can't wait to see you go through this one. I like the scheme, too. Those Grey Nurse shark-mouth Spitfires are way too cool. I built one of the Eduard ones earlier this year and had an absolute blast with it. It's still my favorite finished product.

-BD-

 

Toshi

plasticjunkie

Toshi

Don't sell yourself short there buddy. Your builds are very good and it doesn't matter how long we have been modeling, we still learn new things me included. I have been building since the late 60's and I have learned many new techiques from other members here and I keep gathering intel for better builds. This is an ongoing process.

I know it gets cold up your way but man it's freaking hot here in Central Florida, and even worse in my neck of the woods down in Miami. I can't wait to get cooler weather!

 

Toshi

patrick206

Friend Toshi -

Never ANY need for apology about either your modeling skills or writing, you make everything quite clear and very understandable. You get really high marks for your persistence and discipline focused on your rehab, what you have encountered is quite tramatic indeed, TBI is something that needs that devotion for a successful recovery. I'd say you're well along the way.

True story, your model building skills have advanced MUCH faster than mine did when I got started. I believe you have only to look at your earliest build, then compare it with your last completion and you can very well see how rapidly you have advanced.

Only my personal input, but I see much more clarity of thought in your writing abilities now as well. I can relate to your thoughts of replying to members as being of good therapy. I'm among those enjoying seeing your WIP reports and all of the photos, it's not easy to organize all of that and you do it very well, plus I really like communicating back and forth with you.

Looking forward to seeing this 'Spit get the Toshi treatment, and happy to learn you now have a paint booth, a wise investment indeed. (I'm sure Mrs. Toshi will also be happy you have that booth.)

Be well, Buddy.

Patrick 

 

When I receive my paint booth, I'll snap a photo and share it with you all on FSM forum.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

Very nice start, Toshi! I can't wait to see you go through this one. I like the scheme, too. Those Grey Nurse shark-mouth Spitfires are way too cool. I built one of the Eduard ones earlier this year and had an absolute blast with it. It's still my favorite finished product.

-BD-

Toshi

Don't sell yourself short there buddy. Your builds are very good and it doesn't matter how long we have been modeling, we still learn new things me included. I have been building since the late 60's and I have learned many new techiques from other members here and I keep gathering intel for better builds. This is an ongoing process.

I know it gets cold up your way but man it's freaking hot here in Central Florida, and even worse in my neck of the woods down in Miami. I can't wait to get cooler weather!

Friend Toshi -

Never ANY need for apology about either your modeling skills or writing, you make everything quite clear and very understandable. You get really high marks for your persistence and discipline focused on your rehab, what you have encountered is quite tramatic indeed, TBI is something that needs that devotion for a successful recovery. I'd say you're well along the way.

True story, your model building skills have advanced MUCH faster than mine did when I got started. I believe you have only to look at your earliest build, then compare it with your last completion and you can very well see how rapidly you have advanced.

Only my personal input, but I see much more clarity of thought in your writing abilities now as well. I can relate to your thoughts of replying to members as being of good therapy. I'm among those enjoying seeing your WIP reports and all of the photos, it's not easy to organize all of that and you do it very well, plus I really like communicating back and forth with you.

Looking forward to seeing this 'Spit get the Toshi treatment, and happy to learn you now have a paint booth, a wise investment indeed. (I'm sure Mrs. Toshi will also be happy you have that booth.)

Be well, Buddy.

Patrick