Hi Everyone,

How is everyone?  I hope it is going well.

This evening I managed to get some more work done on my garden.

Ken

Hi, Ken,

Glad to hear you're getting close to finishing your basement. Some relaxing time in the garden is just what you need .

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, Ken,

Glad to hear you're getting close to finishing your basement. Some relaxing time in the garden is just what you need .

Cheers,

Russ

Thank you Russ.  I would rather be modeling, but if I don't get the garden done soon, there will be no vegetables this fall.  I am hoping to get it done by the end of this week.

Ken

Here is a bit of a WIP...

castelnuovo

Here is a bit of a WIP...

Hi Castelnuovo,

That looks like a great start!     

Ken

Yeah CN, nice job there- those Soviet Cold War tanks did have a pile of tool boxes, fuel tanks, and other hardware stored all over the fenders.

Hey looks like a nice beginning to Soviet war machine. I think the extra tools were considered a necessity by the Russians as their equipment may not have been the most dependable. It certainly wasn't over-engineered though like some of the western nations. I think the Russian idea has usually been "crude but effective"!

mikeymize

Hey looks like a nice beginning to Soviet war machine. I think the extra tools were considered a necessity by the Russians as their equipment may not have been the most dependable. It certainly wasn't over-engineered though like some of the western nations. I think the Russian idea has usually been "crude but effective"!

I agree with you Mike.  From what I understand the Russian's equipment seems to be capable of being dragged through the dirt and still keep working.  I saw one documentary that talked about how the Russian MiG could handle runways that were in really poor condition.  Our jets were made with so much precision that they required the runways to be completely clean. A small amount of foreign material could render the engines inoperable.

Also look at their AK-47.  Another weapon that could be buried in sand, picked up and brushed off and would still work.

Ken

I always think about all that stuff stored on the outside of the tank and how something could be lost to even small arms fire!

Ken, did your Kittyhawk Voodoos arrive yet? I see Sprue Brothers had them and sold them out already!

Well, the fun begins! I get to work tomorrow (Saturday) and I already have worked 50 hours this week. We are only about 3 or 4 weeks away from implementation of this system! It does away with paperwork and everything is controlled by RF scan guns. In the meantime, there are something like 8,000 labels that will have to be put up on bins and shelves.

Another big plus, is that with my level of responsibilities, dealing with shipping errors, returns and other inventory related issues, I have about 10 hours of training to complete next week, in addition to my regular duties!  It doesn't help that I took Tuesday off to get my 6 month check at the doctors - they have to watch my BP and blood sugar. The rest of the day, I plan to visit several banks to close some accounts still open in Mom's name. Can't do it by phone as the want POD's and all that crap.

In the meantime, I need to hit the sheets early, but I will share a few WIP photos.

First off, here is my CLEAN worktop! A sight I haven't seen in some time!

Makes it so much easier to work on a project like..... decaling!

Do you like my base for holding my solutions? I made that after knocking one or both of the bottles over, the last time resulting in some ruined decals. The recesses in front hold the bottle caps where I usually poor a small amount. I also color coded the bottle caps so I won't mix them. Blue is the setting solution and red is the solvent. (Think blue = cool and red = HOT!)

And yes, doing decals! The canopy looks lighter that the rest of the fuselage. They were painted at the same time, but I think that my washes of just my handling of everything darkened the paint. Gues I will have to "handle" it to make it match.

Well, my eyes are closing so off I go! Wish me a great time working!

Jim

jimbot58

I always think about all that stuff stored on the outside of the tank and how something could be lost to even small arms fire!

Ken, did your Kittyhawk Voodoos arrive yet? I see Sprue Brothers had them and sold them out already!

Well, the fun begins! I get to work tomorrow (Saturday) and I already have worked 50 hours this week. We are only about 3 or 4 weeks away from implementation of this system! It does away with paperwork and everything is controlled by RF scan guns. In the meantime, there are something like 8,000 labels that will have to be put up on bins and shelves.

Another big plus, is that with my level of responsibilities, dealing with shipping errors, returns and other inventory related issues, I have about 10 hours of training to complete next week, in addition to my regular duties!  It doesn't help that I took Tuesday off to get my 6 month check at the doctors - they have to watch my BP and blood sugar. The rest of the day, I plan to visit several banks to close some accounts still open in Mom's name. Can't do it by phone as the want POD's and all that crap.

In the meantime, I need to hit the sheets early, but I will share a few WIP photos.

First off, here is my CLEAN worktop! A sight I haven't seen in some time!

Makes it so much easier to work on a project like..... decaling!

Do you like my base for holding my solutions? I made that after knocking one or both of the bottles over, the last time resulting in some ruined decals. The recesses in front hold the bottle caps where I usually poor a small amount. I also color coded the bottle caps so I won't mix them. Blue is the setting solution and red is the solvent. (Think blue = cool and red = HOT!)

And yes, doing decals! The canopy looks lighter that the rest of the fuselage. They were painted at the same time, but I think that my washes of just my handling of everything darkened the paint. Gues I will have to "handle" it to make it match.

Well, my eyes are closing so off I go! Wish me a great time working!

Jim

Hi Jim,

Very sorry to hear about all that overtime you have to work.  I know that has to get old fast.

Yes, I ordered two kits of the Kitty Hawk Voodoo and they arrived just fine.  I will build one as a F-101A and the other as a F-101C.

Great idea there on the base for your decal solvents!  I will have to make one of those for myself.

Your Voodoo is looking great!      Really nice job on the decals and the wash.  It is going to be a fantastic looking Voodoo when you get done.

Ken

Jimbot, mighty envious of your work shop!!!  Don't you love all that 'mandatory' overtime to get the job done?  I'm definitely going to 'borrow your solvent base idea.  Had one of those mishaps before too with similar results: none of it good!  Lesson learned, but not followed up on....yet!  Another great benefit of this forum!

You're Voodoo is looking pretty boss there, can't wait to see it finished.

Ken, glad to hear that life is heading back to normal with your newly renovated basement.  Hope that this means more quality bench time!  Those Voodoo kits sound awesome!  I may have to rethink my idea of grafting the Koester recon nose to my Monogram F-101-B to make a legit Vietnam recon bird.  Thanks for the inspiration.

As a former mech infantry guy, I can vouch for the preponderance of gear strapped to the outside of your armored vehicle.  The gear has to go SOMEWHERE.  Remember, that the inside of a fighting vehicle is a confined work space in which the crews have to do complex tasks to load main guns, track targets, and win a gun fight.  If your sleeping bag, ruck sack, or bailout bag is in your work space, it could potentially get you killed.  So, when you add the extra goodies to the exterior of your tank/AFV kits you should think about its location the same way the crew would.  

- make sure the turret can rotate fully and that the gun can elevate and depress through the full range of motion.

- clear the line of sight for all main optics, back up optics, and supplemental weapons systems.

- keep important, 'gotta have' items close to crew hatches, things like boxed ammo for crew served weapons on the turret, like the M2 Browning MG or Russian equivalent. Boxed drinking water or a Soldier's individual load bearing equipment, 'web gear' or 'kit' could also be close at hand should he need to dismount.

- NEVER leave unattended weapons on a tracked vehicle, unless you are modeling a unit that lacks discipline or the crew has been wiped out.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure that weapon is within arm's reach of a Soldier.  (Yep, that was our rule of thumb in real life as well.....God help the guy who lost accountability of his weapon.  That would be 'deep kimchi" for sure!"

I get to go back to work light duty Monday after stomach surgery....not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.  I think I'd rather be at home building a model or checking in here!!!!

Dave

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Tal Afar Dave

Jimbot, mighty envious of your work shop!!!  Don't you love all that 'mandatory' overtime to get the job done?  I'm definitely going to 'borrow your solvent base idea.  Had one of those mishaps before too with similar results: none of it good!  Lesson learned, but not followed up on....yet!  Another great benefit of this forum!

You're Voodoo is looking pretty boss there, can't wait to see it finished.

Ken, glad to hear that life is heading back to normal with your newly renovated basement.  Hope that this means more quality bench time!  Those Voodoo kits sound awesome!  I may have to rethink my idea of grafting the Koester recon nose to my Monogram F-101-B to make a legit Vietnam recon bird.  Thanks for the inspiration.

As a former mech infantry guy, I can vouch for the preponderance of gear strapped to the outside of your armored vehicle.  The gear has to go SOMEWHERE.  Remember, that the inside of a fighting vehicle is a confined work space in which the crews have to do complex tasks to load main guns, track targets, and win a gun fight.  If your sleeping bag, ruck sack, or bailout bag is in your work space, it could potentially get you killed.  So, when you add the extra goodies to the exterior of your tank/AFV kits you should think about its location the same way the crew would.  

- make sure the turret can rotate fully and that the gun can elevate and depress through the full range of motion.

- clear the line of sight for all main optics, back up optics, and supplemental weapons systems.

- keep important, 'gotta have' items close to crew hatches, things like boxed ammo for crew served weapons on the turret, like the M2 Browning MG or Russian equivalent. Boxed drinking water or a Soldier's individual load bearing equipment, 'web gear' or 'kit' could also be close at hand should he need to dismount.

- NEVER leave unattended weapons on a tracked vehicle, unless you are modeling a unit that lacks discipline or the crew has been wiped out.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure that weapon is within arm's reach of a Soldier.  (Yep, that was our rule of thumb in real life as well.....God help the guy who lost accountability of his weapon.  That would be 'deep kimchi" for sure!"

I get to go back to work light duty Monday after stomach surgery....not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.  I think I'd rather be at home building a model or checking in here!!!!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Very sorry to hear about your stomach surgery.  I hope you make a full recovery.

And thank you for sharing your knowledge about the tanks.  Very informative.

Ken

Gamera

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Great looking choppers! I like the detail with the stretchers on the Blackhawk.

As to distracting backgrounds? I'll see your water heater and raise you a B-B-Q grill and a trash barrel!

(I'll even kick in assorted patio furniture and my shed!!)

We all do the best we can with what we got!

Gamera

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Hi Cliff,

I know we are our worst critics, but those choppers look great to me!      Great job!  Do you have a favorite for each one picked out for the front page?

Ken

Hey guys thanks!!!

Jim: Only issue I have with your distracting background is that BBQ grill makes me hungry!

Ken: I think I'll go with these two unless you have others you like better:

Love the work you're doing on that Voodoo, Jim!  Sorry to hear about your increased workload. You know, Americans work harder for less benefits than just about anybody in the world. I remember Germany and Holland - they got off work about 4 pm every day and rarely worked any overtime. And they have work holidays just about every month, sometimes two in the same month.

Beautiful choppers, Cliff! That took a lot of work. I know the museum's going to be happy with them.

Dave - Bummer on the stomach surgery. I had to have surgery for a stomach ulcer once. Not fun and the recovery sucked - or rather belched :D.

Cheers,

Russ

Hey guys, to all of you fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!!  I hope that you've had a good one!!

I appreciate everyone's well wishes; I'm recovering pretty well and go back to work light duty for a couple of weeks, starting tomorrow at 0630 hrs.  Wish me luck!

Wanted to get a start on some kits this weekend, but have been majorly bummed out about the situation in Iraq.  I spent a year in Tal Afar training an Iraqi Army infantry battalion.  They were a good bunch of men.  The unit was composed of Shia, Sunni, Kurds, and Yezidi Soldiers.  The battalion commander was a Kurd and he made the unit work through all the sectarian BS and they were an effective outfit.  I'm not sure if they are still alive.

Cliff, great job on the choppers; they came out great.  I got the Minicraft medivac and was surprised to see the two M249 door guns.  Glad to see that you caught that I squared it away with the stretcher rack.  Nicely done!

Hope to get crankin' on my own builds after the funk lifts and I get my feet back on the ground at work.

Take care fellas!!

Dave

Thank you gentlemen. Here are few more WIP on this bad boy, it is all dry-sort-of-fit, hence the gaps. This is my first modern-ish tank, the rest is all WWII. Russian stuff is definitely  built to last...a long time. Not only that I have seen T-55 in action in former Yugoslavia, there were T-34s as well.

Great job on those helicopters, I was always a bit sheepish of building aircrafts as the mistakes can't be covered with dirt, equipment etc

Tal Afar Dave

Hey guys, to all of you fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!!  I hope that you've had a good one!!

I appreciate everyone's well wishes; I'm recovering pretty well and go back to work light duty for a couple of weeks, starting tomorrow at 0630 hrs.  Wish me luck!

Wanted to get a start on some kits this weekend, but have been majorly bummed out about the situation in Iraq.  I spent a year in Tal Afar training an Iraqi Army infantry battalion.  They were a good bunch of men.  The unit was composed of Shia, Sunni, Kurds, and Yezidi Soldiers.  The battalion commander was a Kurd and he made the unit work through all the sectarian BS and they were an effective outfit.  I'm not sure if they are still alive.

Cliff, great job on the choppers; they came out great.  I got the Minicraft medivac and was surprised to see the two M249 door guns.  Glad to see that you caught that I squared it away with the stretcher rack.  Nicely done!

Hope to get crankin' on my own builds after the funk lifts and I get my feet back on the ground at work.

Take care fellas!!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Don't get me started on our current President's handling of Iraq and Afghanistan.  I knew he was pulling our troops out way too early, but he did it solely for political reasons.  It is exactly the same bunch of bull that our government pulled in Vietnam.  "Vietnamization" is what they called it back then.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamization 

All those troops that lost their lives and were disabled was for nothing.  Our leaders only think of themselves and their political party.

Ken

castelnuovo

Thank you gentlemen. Here are few more WIP on this bad boy, it is all dry-sort-of-fit, hence the gaps. This is my first modern-ish tank, the rest is all WWII. Russian stuff is definitely  built to last...a long time. Not only that I have seen T-55 in action in former Yugoslavia, there were T-34s as well.

Great job on those helicopters, I was always a bit sheepish of building aircrafts as the mistakes can't be covered with dirt, equipment etc

Tonight I'll hit the tracks...after I watch the world cup game. Go England go...wait, they lost...oh well, still...

Hi Castelnuovo,

You are really moving along on that tank.  It is looking really nice!     

Ken

Hey thanks guys!

Dave: I"m glad you're feeling better!

CN: Very nice clean work! The T-55 came into service in what- 46-47 I think, so it's almost a WW2 tank. I've done some work on a Trumpeteer Type-59 the Red Chinese version.

Ken: If it's ok with I'll start again on the Eduard F6F Hellcat and HobbyBoss F4F Wildcat I dropped when I started the choppers if it's ok by you?

Awesome work on those helicopters. I know what you mean about the hellfire's. It doesn't half look mean with a full load.

Cliff, the choppers look awesome. And talk about some very appreciated troops. The medical people have a stellar history in combat and no one knows that better than those who relied on them to get out of a bad place asap.

Ken, sounds like life is finally returning to normal for you. Very glad to hear that. And yes, the Russians can sure build some robust equipment. I've read the Germans loved captured stuff from them for that very reason; the PPSh-41 being a prime example. That's one big reason they redesigned the MG-34, the thing was almost too good!

They always say "history repeats itself," a sad shame....

Hey thanks guys!!!

Gamera

Hey thanks guys!

Dave: I"m glad you're feeling better!

CN: Very nice clean work! The T-55 came into service in what- 46-47 I think, so it's almost a WW2 tank. I've done some work on a Trumpeteer Type-59 the Red Chinese version.

Ken: If it's ok with I'll start again on the Eduard F6F Hellcat and HobbyBoss F4F Wildcat I dropped when I started the choppers if it's ok by you?

Hi Cliff,

Of course that will be fine!  No problem what so ever.

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I am still trying to get caught up on things here around the house.  I finally got all of the vegetable plants planted in my garden.  I need to still plant the Marigolds around the parameter to help keep the insects at bay.  Then finally put down the mulch and it is done.  I hope to have it done by this weekend.

Ken

Thanks Ken, and good luck with all that yard work!  

BTW: I did grab some new car photos over the weekend. Chevy Camaro SS, 6.2 liter engine, leather everything, convertible roof. Yeah, it was expensive but I drove my last car twelve years- as I see it if I can get ten years out of the this one I'm willing to cough up the money. And I'll be all set for my mid-life crisis car...  

And at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va: