Gamera

Ken: Hey again great work there! You've really brought that cockpit alive! And very cool looking museum, I've been to about a dozen aircraft museums and never get tired of seeing vintage aircraft.

Rich: Thank God I've never had to work tech support! I love the story about the guy who got fired after he told the customer: 'Do you have the box, packing material, and receipt?  Well, return it to the store you bought it- since you're too @##@(Y% stupid to own a computer!'

Of course that was after he was on the phone with the guy for over an hour trying to figure out why the computer wouldn't work and found out the guy hadn't plugged it in.............

Mike: Nice work there, and congrads on the tools. I only bought a pair of sprue cutters some years ago and wonder how I ever got along without them!

BTW: Just for kicks here's the Sasquatch I painted on Christmas!!! More photos at the click here.

Thank you for the compliment Cliff.

That is some awesome work on that Sasquatch!  You really did a great job making the detail come alive!

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I guess I just don't know when to quit on this cockpit.  I decided to add a few placards and paint the red trigger buttons on the control sticks.

Here is the port side wall with a couple of placards added:

 And here is the rear cockpit control stick with the trigger button painted red:

 And here is the front cockpit control stick epoxied into place with placard attached and trigger button painted red:

Ken 

wow, how do you see that? even blown up on the screen its hard for me to see.

Well, there was a small break in the weather, so i hastily masked and painted. Sorry about the poor lighting.

Havent painted the port wing yet. And theres ALOT of touchup work to do. Its times like these i really wish i had an airbrush. But im sure ill get there eventually.

Nice work Scorpio Mike!  You are doing a great job using rattle cans!  Yes, when you can get your hands on an air brush, you will be really glad you did.  But of course you need the air compressor, air hose, regulator, water trap/filter to be able to use it.  It is an investment, but with the amount of building you do, it would be worth it.

By the way, thanks for the compliment!  I use a lighted magnifying glass.  I ordered new glasses today to replace my old ones, so I am hoping I can see even better when they show up!

Ken

Well gang, here's the update: the dog has not gotten any better. I think it is only fair to let her go. It's going to be esp. hard as Mom was so attached to her and I feel that it's another part of Mom that will be gone. We found the adoption papers and Mom got her in 2002. We estimate her age to be at least 14, which is a long time for a dog. I guess 2012 wasn't through with me and thought it would give me one last kick to the gut.

Oh Jim, I am so sorry.  There are no words I can say that can express how bad I feel for you.  I am so sad to hear that.  I wish there was some way I could help you through this.

Ken

Oh hell Jim. Im really sorry to hear that.

I am sorry to hear that Jim.  14 is a ripe old age for a lot of breeds.  Think of the fact that she will no longer be suffering.  This hasn't been a good year in general, and you seem to have it particularly bad.  I really hope 2013 works out better for you and your family.

Rich

jimbot58

Well gang, here's the update: the dog has not gotten any better. I think it is only fair to let her go. It's going to be esp. hard as Mom was so attached to her and I feel that it's another part of Mom that will be gone. We found the adoption papers and Mom got her in 2002. We estimate her age to be at least 14, which is a long time for a dog. I guess 2012 wasn't through with me and thought it would give me one last kick to the gut.

jimbot58

Well gang, here's the update: the dog has not gotten any better. I think it is only fair to let her go. It's going to be esp. hard as Mom was so attached to her and I feel that it's another part of Mom that will be gone. We found the adoption papers and Mom got her in 2002. We estimate her age to be at least 14, which is a long time for a dog. I guess 2012 wasn't through with me and thought it would give me one last kick to the gut.

Very sad to get that news. Make sure you hold her real close to you as she passes. i get a bit sick in my heart thinking about it, but we've had to let them pass a few times now, and there's no getting around the shock.

Really sad you are losing a old friend.

Dom

Very sorry to hear that Jim, I'm happy you did have those twelve years with her.

Guys.  Do any of you know of a way to unyellow old decals?  

Rich:

My understanding from FSM is that taping the decals silk-screen side out, on

an inside window,

to the sunlight works pretty good. The UV does the opposite to what it would do

to a newspaper. I guess you check every hour or so in bright sunlight conditions.

Dom

Bockscar

Rich:

My understanding from FSM is that taping the decals silk-screen side out, on

an inside window,

to the sunlight works pretty good. The UV does the opposite to what it would do

to a newspaper. I guess you check every hour or so in bright sunlight conditions.

Dom

Just be sure to put them inside of a clear sealed bag so that any condensation that may form on the window does not get the decals wet.

Ken

Now he tells me.......

I have the coolest looking Bay windows a model guy ever saw.....

Dom

Bockscar

Now he tells me.......

I have the coolest looking Bay windows a model guy ever saw.....

Dom

I hope it is a set of colorful decals and not a bunch of stencils!   

Ken

It's the set that came with my Otaki F6F Hellcat.  Other than the decals, she is finished.  But I don't think I can salvage them.  I looked at them under my magnifier, and there's crinckling and cracks all through them, so I'll have to pick up some AM ones.  Thanks for the window idea though, I have a couple of other sets that I think that may work on.  The Hellcat itself came out pretty well, I even managed to get some rudimentary/passable weathering done on it.  I also did small areas of uneven paint to make it look like it has been in service for a while.  I also finished my Cutlass.  I just have to wait til everything dries for a day and then put on Glosscoat.  It came out pretty good as well.  I wish I could send some pics up.  Maybe with our tax refund in February.  

Bockscar

Now he tells me.......

I have the coolest looking Bay windows a model guy ever saw.....

Dom

I hope it is a set of colorful decals and not a bunch of stencils!   

Ken

LOL

I tried to put some on, and the decal disintegrated as soon as the stuff touched it.  Oh well.  I've never had THAT happen before.  I use the decal film all the time on old decals too.  

Rich: The decal film will hold them together but they'll still have hairline cracks in them. Did you need national insignia or all of the decals? And which model Hellcat? F6F3 or F6F5? And scale? I know I have some extra USN national insignia you're welcome to in 1/48th and might have some numbers etc too, depends on the model- I'll have to look. I know I have some decals for a 1/48th F6F5.

Edit: Just remembered but I have an Eduard F6F3 too, five decal schemes on the sheet. I haven't decided on building 4 or 5 yet but you're welcome to 1-3 if you should want them. Of course I need the stenciling and the prop warning decals but you can have the numbers and I should have some national insignia to go with them. If you're interested I'll post photos.

Cliff

Well, it's over. It cost more but I brought in one of those services that come to the house. The vet looked her over and agreed she had many health issues. One being the seizures and said that indicated a strong possibility of a brain tumor. She had jaundice (the whites of her eyes were yellow) which indicated liver issues, a heart murmur, and the vomiting and weight loss made her believe she may have had cancer. She felt I was doing the right thing. I just didn't know "doing the right thing" could make you feel so awful.

My friends did call to check on me, and offer support. Both have called me family, and brother. Nice to have as there is so little of my family left. My friend Bill took me down to Village Inn as I hadn't eaten all day.

In any case, she can be with Mom now....

Thank you all for your kind words and support this past year, and if I don't get back here before then, Happy New Year!

Bockscar

AWwww,,,,,Jim,

Sad start to the New Year man......

Such a sweetee......

All the best this coming year, I hope you

hugged her real close in her final sleep.

Dom

Jim, I think Dom said it better than I ever could, I'm sorry and hope next year will be better.

jimbot58

Well, it's over. It cost more but I brought in one of those services that come to the house. The vet looked her over and agreed she had many health issues. One being the seizures and said that indicated a strong possibility of a brain tumor. She had jaundice (the whites of her eyes were yellow) which indicated liver issues, a heart murmur, and the vomiting and weight loss made her believe she may have had cancer. She felt I was doing the right thing. I just didn't know "doing the right thing" could make you feel so awful.

My friends did call to check on me, and offer support. Both have called me family, and brother. Nice to have as there is so little of my family left. My friend Bill took me down to Village Inn as I hadn't eaten all day.

In any case, she can be with Mom now....

Thank you all for your kind words and support this past year, and if I don't get back here before then, Happy New Year!

Hi Jim,

Try to focus on the great life that you gave her.  I am sure you pampered her for those twelve years she spent with you.  She was a lucky dog to have you.

Ken

I think it was even the subtle pressure of the brush when putting on the film.  They were all dried out and cracked everywhere.  The cracks are what did it. 

Bockscar

That's weird, decal film isn't supposed to frag old

decals, but coat them.

I've used decal film over old fragged decals, and they always

held together.

Occasionally, they would still frag if you put them in water,

which I always put down to not putting enough film on

in the first place.

Rich:

Were you spraying acetone on them by mistake????....lol

Dom

It's the Otaki F6F-3 kit.  The whole decal sheet was bad.  Like I said before as soon as I brushed the decal film on, it took the decals up and they fell apart.  Next time I am going to put on a coat of glosscote spray first.  That would have kept them from cracking up.  I am not very knowledgeable about the Hellcat, are the differences between the -3 and the -5 very noticeable?

Gamera

Rich: The decal film will hold them together but they'll still have hairline cracks in them. Did you need national insignia or all of the decals? And which model Hellcat? F6F3 or F6F5? And scale? I know I have some extra USN national insignia you're welcome to in 1/48th and might have some numbers etc too, depends on the model- I'll have to look. I know I have some decals for a 1/48th F6F5.

Edit: Just remembered but I have an Eduard F6F3 too, five decal schemes on the sheet. I haven't decided on building 4 or 5 yet but you're welcome to 1-3 if you should want them. Of course I need the stenciling and the prop warning decals but you can have the numbers and I should have some national insignia to go with them. If you're interested I'll post photos.

Cliff

Sparrowhyperion

I think it was even the subtle pressure of the brush when putting on the film.  They were all dried out and cracked everywhere.  The cracks are what did it. 

Bockscar

That's weird, decal film isn't supposed to frag old

decals, but coat them.

I've used decal film over old fragged decals, and they always

held together.

Occasionally, they would still frag if you put them in water,

which I always put down to not putting enough film on

in the first place.

Rich:

Were you spraying acetone on them by mistake????....lol

Dom

Aren't you a 15 year old pal........

LOL

Give it up Rich.......

I think scanning and reprinting is the way to go.....

Which means never use a prime decal to experiment with.....LOL......

"If it is older than me,

It is not a Decal....

It is History.......LOL"

dom