Second Annual Berny Memorial Group Build

Thanks for the heads-up Ken. I'm a huge fan of the Thunderbirds and attend as many air shows as time permits. It's truly sad to see this type of thing happen when there's so much fraud waste and abuse elsewhere.

Amen to that, Mikey. And the biggest frauds and wasters are our congressmen. Why aren't they leading the way and cutting back on their outrageous salaries and perks - like their automatic pay raise every year unless they vote it down. Not likely. Grrrr..

Russ

Start of rant.

It really hits home with me as well!  I can remember when every USAF Base had an "Open House" on Armed Forces Day.  It was always so cool to go and see all the aircraft on display, the fly overs, the demonstrations, etc.  Then that was cut out of the budget.  And now this!

And what some short sighted people don't realize is how this actually HURTS the economy!  These air shows are no different than any other type of major event where there is an attraction for people to attend.  It brings in revenue to local economies where ever they are held.  It is no different than a how a city, state, or even country will lobby to have a major event to be held in their jurisdiction for that very reason.

Finally, there is the historical aspect.  At many of these air shows there are a great many older historical aircraft flown and displayed.  It is a living museum!  Without the support of the major military demonstration teams, these smaller groups of historical aircraft cannot survive!  We will all lose out on something much more valuable than the demonstration team itself.

End of rant

Ken

Ken, Russ; I couldn't agree more. If I had to lay the blame anywhere it would be upon the "career politician" I truly believe they were meant to be there for a "time" not a lifetime! Power corrupts. Even the best intentioned ones eventually become unethical, self-serving slugs or at best, merely ambivalent and impotent. There, now I feel better! My next post will concern itself with modeling as my blood pressure gets too elevated ranting on this.

Got the invite Ken and, thanks. I`m building a `41 Chevy pickup truck for a Facebook club build that Oddmanrush has started....and the only reason I go on FB at all...lol. I`ll enter the build here too, if that`s ok?

Len

troublemaker66

Got the invite Ken and, thanks. I`m building a `41 Chevy pickup truck for a Facebook club build that Oddmanrush has started....and the only reason I go on FB at all...lol. I`ll enter the build here too, if that`s ok?

Len

That is more than okay Len!  Welcome aboard!   

Ken

Here`s a few pics of the truck. Pretty much just some painting and engine halves put together so far.

Sorry for the duplicate engine pic...couldn`t figure out how to get rid of it...lol.

That`s it for now and thanks for looking!

Len

Just a small introduction for Len.  He has been participating in the Vietnam Air War Group Build where I met him.  His family ran into some bad luck when super storm Sandy hit the east coast and significantly damaged his house.  His family has been renting a small two bedroom apartment until his house is rebuilt.  But surprisingly he manages to keep his sanity and still produce models!

Let me know if I missed anything Len!

Ken

Well heck...looks like I did get the dupe pic out afterall.....

troublemaker66

Here`s a few pics of the truck. Pretty much just some painting and engine halves put together so far.

Sorry for the duplicate engine pic...couldn`t figure out how to get rid of it...lol.

That`s it for now and thanks for looking!

Len

Hey Len, that looks outstanding.  Is that done with an air brush or rattle cans?

Ken

By the way Len, what is the model manufacturer and scale of that truck so I can update the front page?

Ken

Hey Len, welcome to the group!

Ken, speaking of the first page, you still have me as "TBA". Don't forget it's Hasegawa's E/A-18G "Growler"

Sorry I haven't been updating the last few days. Still lots of time spent at work it seems. I did take some time off next week as it will be my B-day next Tuesday. I don't know haw to feel about that as I'm looking at the ol' double-nickle this time. My last b-day was not good as Mom was in the hospital at the time and I keep thinking of the events that started about this time last year, and how different it will be this time without her around.

I have been making some progress. I boxed in those intakes so you can't look through the inside. They aren't real ducts but at least it makes you think they are there.

I tried to get a shot up the intake using a little LED flexible flashlight. Hard to point a light and a camera up there at the same time. The camera really sees the light as blue, though my eyes see it as a little whiter.

PE parts for the inside walls of the cockpit. They will match up with the openings on the sides of the cockpit tub.

You guys ever have any luck with these 'self adhesive' parts? These guys kept wanting to lift up and I had to use some CA to make them behave.

Foot pedals for the pilot. Don't know if these are necessary as you will never see them once the instrument panels are in place.

Also did some assemblies of the wings and starting to button up the fuselage.

OOPS! sorry `bout that....it`s a Revell 1:25 scale kit.

...and yes, I continue to model because that`s all I have right now...lol. I also play world of tanks...sometimes at the same time.... We are bogged down in red tape, not surprising due to the fact the government is involved directly  Just waiting for our SBA loan to go thru but they need a copy of our 2011 tax forms,which must come from the IRS, which are draggin` their butts and keepin` me in this stinking shoe box of a house...that I am profoundly greatful to have at the moment.....

That statement sums up my mood...up and down....prozac here I come!!!

jimbot58

Hey Len, welcome to the group!

Ken, speaking of the first page, you still have me as "TBA". Don't forget it's Hasegawa's E/A-18G "Growler"

Sorry I haven't been updating the last few days. Still lots of time spent at work it seems. I did take some time off next week as it will be my B-day next Tuesday. I don't know haw to feel about that as I'm looking at the ol' double-nickle this time. My last b-day was not good as Mom was in the hospital at the time and I keep thinking of the events that started about this time last year, and how different it will be this time without her around.

I have been making some progress. I boxed in those intakes so you can't look through the inside. They aren't real ducts but at least it makes you think they are there.

I tried to get a shot up the intake using a little LED flexible flashlight. Hard to point a light and a camera up there at the same time. The camera really sees the light as blue, though my eyes see it as a little whiter.

PE parts for the inside walls of the cockpit. They will match up with the openings on the sides of the cockpit tub.

You guys ever have any luck with these 'self adhesive' parts? These guys kept wanting to lift up and I had to use some CA to make them behave.

Foot pedals for the pilot. Don't know if these are necessary as you will never see them once the instrument panels are in place.

Also did some assemblies of the wings and starting to button up the fuselage.

Hi Jim,

Many apologies for not updating page 1 sooner!    Please don't hesitate to let me know again if I let that slip!

Happy Birthday in advance in case I forget (I am a whole year older than you!)    I know what you mean about thinking about events during your previous birthday.  My Dad was in the hospital on my birthday March 9th, then died March 30th.  Next Saturday will make it 3 years.  But as they say time does heal all wounds, but it did take until this year before I started feeling less depressed about it.  He was my best friend as well as my father.  But lets get back to modeling.

Nice work on scratch building the fake intakes on your Growler Jim!  For sure better than looking into unfinished plastic!

I have some self adhesive PE parts but have not used them yet.  Sounds like if I have a choice in the future it is probably better to save the cash and buy the non self adhesive.  Everything I have tried to put PE on is resin, which thanks to Cliff, I now use Gator's Grip to make it stick.

On the subject of the rudder pedals, I agree with you about questioning if it is necessary or not.  I went through a lot of trouble putting them in on mine and already you can't see the rear cockpit's pedals unless you use a flashlight!  I am pretty sure the front ones are going to be the same way.

But I have to say Jim, that once again you are showing off your mastery of building at 1/72 scale!  Great work man!!     

Ken

troublemaker66

OOPS! sorry `bout that....it`s a Revell 1:25 scale kit.

...and yes, I continue to model because that`s all I have right now...lol. I also play world of tanks...sometimes at the same time.... We are bogged down in red tape, not surprising due to the fact the government is involved directly  Just waiting for our SBA loan to go thru but they need a copy of our 2011 tax forms,which must come from the IRS, which are draggin` their butts and keepin` me in this stinking shoe box of a house...that I am profoundly greatful to have at the moment.....

That statement sums up my mood...up and down....prozac here I come!!!

Wow Len, that is unbelievable that you still do not even have the money released from the government to start rebuilding your house yet!  Politicians!  Who needs them?  But as you said, at least you do have a roof over your head.  You are probably to the point of becoming numb to the situation?

Ken

Hi Everyone,

Well speaking of storms, here in Lafayette, Indiana we are under a Winter Storm Warning and they are predicting that we will be getting between 6 to 9 inches of snow by Monday morning.      When will spring start?    Oh well, at least I have a great bunch of friends here to build models with!   

I spent today getting ready for the big event just in case (getting gas for the electric generator, filling the gas tank on the 4 wheel drive truck, etc.) so now I am set.  Tomorrow I can concentrate on spending time at the workbench again!

Ken

Hey Ken,

Pauxatawny Phil is being indited for predicting an early spring so maybe they'll make him cough up a heat wave .  Stay warm, bud.

Russ

Striker8241

Hey Ken,

Pauxatawny Phil is being indited for predicting an early spring so maybe they'll make him cough up a heat wave .  Stay warm, bud.

Russ

That is funny!    Thanks Russ!

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

Well speaking of storms, here in Lafayette, Indiana we are under a Winter Storm Warning and they are predicting that we will be getting between 6 to 9 inches of snow by Monday morning.      When will spring start?    Oh well, at least I have a great bunch of friends here to build models with!   

I spent today getting ready for the big event just in case (getting gas for the electric generator, filling the gas tank on the 4 wheel drive truck, etc.) so now I am set.  Tomorrow I can concentrate on spending time at the workbench again!

Ken

Ken, I'll bet it's the same storm that just blasted its way through Colorado, and left about a foot of snow behind!

jimbot58

Ken, I'll bet it's the same storm that just blasted its way through Colorado, and left about a foot of snow behind!

You are probably right Jim.  Everything we get comes from the west.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

jimbot58

Ken, I'll bet it's the same storm that just blasted its way through Colorado, and left about a foot of snow behind!

You are probably right Jim.  Everything we get comes from the west.

Ken

Lets blame it all on the west coast!

Kind of a neat picture of my bird, with different markings.

Long dull day, doing house work and finally getting in a bit of playtime. Most of it was spent trying to get rid of those pesky seam lines on the forward half of the fuselage. During my test fit. I saw that there would be a rather noticeable gap in the back-I had to cut a piece of thin sheet stock and tack it in place.

Other than that it has been trying to coax all those seams around the rest of the fuselage. I will also no doubt have to fill the around the LEX like I did with the "E". The Hasegawa engineering on the kit is really good, bit not quite perfect. Esp. if this kit is to be done by someone who is fussy....like me.

jimbot58

Son Of Medicine Man

jimbot58

Ken, I'll bet it's the same storm that just blasted its way through Colorado, and left about a foot of snow behind!

You are probably right Jim.  Everything we get comes from the west.

Ken

Lets blame it all on the west coast!

Kind of a neat picture of my bird, with different markings.

For sure we'll blame it on the west coast!!    Actually I think a lot of our weather comes in off the coast of Washington.

Hey that is a really cool picture!  I like it!   

Ken

jimbot58

Long dull day, doing house work and finally getting in a bit of playtime. Most of it was spent trying to get rid of those pesky seam lines on the forward half of the fuselage. During my test fit. I saw that there would be a rather noticeable gap in the back-I had to cut a piece of thin sheet stock and tack it in place.

Other than that it has been trying to coax all those seams around the rest of the fuselage. I will also no doubt have to fill the around the LEX like I did with the "E". The Hasegawa engineering on the kit is really good, bit not quite perfect. Esp. if this kit is to be done by someone who is fussy....like me.

Once again top notch work Jim!  Looks great!     

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I am taking a break.  I have been working on the avionics bay and wearing my Donegan Optivisor.  I can only wear it for so long so I have to give my eyes a break.

The snow is just now starting to fall.  The National Weather Service is now predicting 6 to 10 inches of snow by tomorrow morning along with high wind which will cause it to drift.  If the forecast holds true I may not be going anywhere tomorrow.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I am taking a break.  I have been working on the avionics bay and wearing my Donegan Optivisor.  I can only wear it for so long so I have to give my eyes a break.

The snow is just now starting to fall.  The National Weather Service is now predicting 6 to 10 inches of snow by tomorrow morning along with high wind which will cause it to drift.  If the forecast holds true I may not be going anywhere tomorrow.

Ken

troublemaker66

Where do you live Ken? We`re supposed to get hit with the same storm....always seem to get a bad winter storm in March...after the 1st day of spring arrives.....

Hi Len,

I live in Lafayette, Indiana.  About 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis and about 120 miles southeast of Chicago.

Ken

Hi Everyone,

As promised I have pictures of my progress.  In this first one I show the "before and after" of polishing the Metalizer painted on the engines inside the auxiliary air intakes.  The one on the left has been buffed and the one on the right has not:

I started out trying to buff them using a Q-Tip.  But they are too large to get into the smaller areas.  I tried cutting them down.  That helped but they were still too big.  Then I remembered these:

The fuzzy brush ends worked great!  Here is a close up:

I can get into the small nooks and crannies with these things!  I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for a couple of bucks a package.  You can probably find them cheaper some place else.

Take a look at the great job of shinning up the avionics bay I did with those things:

Next on the avionics bay I painted what appeared to be insulation.  I am going by pictures from the book "The Modern Phantom Guide:  The F-4 Phantom Exposed" by Jake Melampy.  I did not have any paint on my shelf that was the color close to the shade shown in the book so I had to mix my own.  I used three colors shown here:

Here is the avionics bay with the insulated areas painted:

Next I painted the sidewalls of the avionics bay green zinc chromate:

It is going to take a couple of coats to get it covered so I will put on a second coat tomorrow night.

That is all for tonight.

Ken

Looking really good, Ken!

Russ

Striker8241

Looking really good, Ken!

Russ

Thank you Russ.

Ken