LMAO...  Dom, you crack me up sometimes...   OH BTW.  Wifey has agreed to help me with painting on that B5 kit.  Which is good because I have to have a biopsy of that growth in my arm, and It's going to make it hard to work with that arm for a few days. lol  Today I found two of my old damaged P39 kits, and between them, I had enough good parts to build a new one.  It's about half done, but I have to be careful because the plastic is very brittle on some of the parts for some reason.  Very old kit...  I may do a Camo theme on it, just for something different.

Rich

Bockscar

My new software suite is called "Banksta".

I download other people's account balances to an account in the Caymans.....

So, like, I'm busy.......

Dom

You dropped the font size a couple points.

I like it, its nice and simple.

BTW Dom, how do i get in on that Banksta stuff lol

Yeah i noticed after i posted that that you had adjusted the lighting slightly. The revision is not quite as dark and the colours have been corrected a bit.

Dom: Nice work there! I don't know what the differences are, I like them both.

Rich: Good luck with your medical test.

Bockscar

Guys, I worked like a dog on this,

This Is The 2013 Second Annual Berny Memorial Badge:

It is simple, it is Berny, and that is all Berny ever wanted.

I took the picture.

See that black truck reflected in Berny's glasses?

That is Ken's truck.

The passenger side door is open because Berny just about jumped out.

Those clouds in the background are fake,

I made them up....they were floating around in my head for a while so i decided to put them to good use!

If you don't like the badge, Berny told me about *******************.

B'sides, I dunno if I can spare any more time makin' it pretty.

Dom

I did make a revision.

If you can see the difference, I'll buy you a beer....

Dom

Dom,

I think it looks great!  Good job!

Russ

Bockscar

Guys, I worked like a dog on this,

This Is The 2013 Second Annual Berny Memorial Badge:

It is simple, it is Berny, and that is all Berny ever wanted.

I took the picture.

See that black truck reflected in Berny's glasses?

That is Ken's truck.

The passenger side door is open because Berny just about jumped out.

Those clouds in the background are fake,

I made them up....they were floating around in my head for a while so i decided to put them to good use!

If you don't like the badge, Berny told me about *******************.

B'sides, I dunno if I can spare any more time makin' it pretty.

Dom

I did make a revision.

If you can see the difference, I'll buy you a beer....

Dom

Nice job Dom!  Thank you for doing that!  I didn't expect you to have it done so soon!  I will start putting together the advertisment for the group build and post it.  I really hope everyone here is planning on participating?

Ken

Lol, I still haven't finished my kit for this GB...

Gamera

Lol, I still haven't finished my kit for this GB...

Now Cliff, you know that you can just bring it on over to the next one!

Well, it is posted.  Come on over and sign up.

Ken

Bockscar

Well, I have to admit i expected more requests for adjustments.....lol....

It is almost finished...

Dom

Whoops!  I thought you were serious!  Oh well, I can always update it.  WOW, that looks really COOL!

Ken

Ken: Hopefully I can finish the A-20 for this one by Feb 22nd.

I'll do something for Berny Part II- I'll just need to decide on something.

Bockscar

Thanks Ken,

i didn't realize you were so close to publishing, so Whoops on my side as well.

Dom

No blame on you Dom.  I simply posted the announcement since most builds seem to start at the first of the year.  I just wanted to get it on line as quick as I could.  It is no problem to edit it with your final version of the badge.  I am truly happy that you are willing to do it!  I know how busy you are.

Ken

Gamera

Ken: Hopefully I can finish the A-20 for this one by Feb 22nd.

I'll do something for Berny Part II- I'll just need to decide on something.

Sounds good Cliff.  By the way, did you start your Japanese build?

Ken

Ken: Yeah I kicked off the Japanese Group Build part 2 on New Year's Day. All you guys are welcome to jump in if you should have the free time and a kit.

Dom: Lol, I like the Phantom you added to the new badge!

Wow! I need to get done with the A-7 before the end of the build!

Tonight I repainted the nose as it got a little beat-up due to handling during the decal phase. You can just make out the gear bay doors in the background:

Unmasked! The windscreen framing and antiglare panel is supposed to be flat black. The hole you see is for the pitot tube. I left it till last so I don't break them off!

I hope I can still take a badge even if I don't get 100% by the deadline?

I still have much to do:

1. Dullcoat remainder of plane, masking areas to be left glossy (nose, antennae on tail)

2. Paint and install tail hook.

3. Assemble, paint and install landing gear.

4. Install gear doors

5. add remainder of PE parts to inside of avionics bay doors, install.

6. touch up engine nozzle-a bit of paint damage here as well.

7. open cockpit. Kit provided no parts to pose canopy open. Devise a means hold it open

8. remove canopy masking.

9. Fuel tank, FLIR pod, weapons, maybe an ECM pod, rails and Sidewinders for sides of fuselage.

Aaarrrggg! At pace I build, I'll never get r' done!

Just a test.....

And updated signature badge...

jimbot58

Just a test.....

And updated signature badge...

Hi Jim,

I was going to say, you don't have to wait to take the badge.  Nice work on your A-7D!!  That is looking SHARP!!

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Gamera

Lol, I still haven't finished my kit for this GB...

Now Cliff, you know that you can just bring it on over to the next one!

Well, it is posted.  Come on over and sign up.

Ken

And by the way, it will be just fine to finish late on this build if you want it to be included on the first page of this build instead of the next one.  I will put it on which ever page you want.  No problem, no stress.

Ken

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Gamera

Lol, I still haven't finished my kit for this GB...

Now Cliff, you know that you can just bring it on over to the next one!

Well, it is posted.  Come on over and sign up.

Ken

Hey Guys,

I'd like to join, but I'm still working on this B-52D if that's ok. BTW, how do you get a badge into your posts?

Russ

I can tell you later this evening, I have to get ready for work now.

Ken

Jim: Looks good! You may be slow but that's some fine work there.

Slow? Hes going faster than me.

Hi Everyone!

Wednesday is finally here and so the enamel is finally hardened enough to complete the final step of the 2 color photo-etch.

First we need mineral spirits:

We use this because it is not nearly as aggressive as other paint removers which will allow us to get more control on the process.

Next we need a straight edged spreader:

This is the type used to apply different types of putty and is made of plastic.  I believe this one came from an auto body & paint supply store, I can't remember.  I have had it for so long.

The next thing you will need is some very tightly woven cloth material, like a handkerchief.  Take the material, soak an area of it with mineral spirits, then wrap it tight around the spreader like this:

Then start scraping across the photo-etch watching carefully how much paint you are removing.  You only want to remove the last color from the flat "shiny" surface (or what would have been the shiny surface) to expose the color underneath.  You want to leave the last color painted in the "etched" area of the photo-etch.

For example, in the above picture, the last color was black and the first color was yellow.  So we want to remove the black from the upper non etched area exposing the yellow but leaving the black in the lower etched areas like in the next photo:

And here is a shot of the reverse color photo-etch after I was done:

Pretty cool huh?  Like I said, just keep an eye on how much paint you are removing.  The thing is, if you screw up, you can always take the laquer thinner and remove all of it and start all over!

Ken