IT'S BACK! Secret Santa 2: Rudolph Strikes Back

 Does anybody remember me?

 I feel like I should apologize to everyone, with everything going on I feel like I should just admit to myself I am going into temporary retirement. Been working 10-12hr days, working on a two year degree in AutoCAD, not to mention taking care of the little(or not so little guy).

Been pushing myself hard. Too hard in fact, no sleep, lots of stress and poor diet ends in sickness as I am sure pretty much everyone is aware. Middle of last month I was hospitalized, infection in my GI tract and colon, I was embarassed, I am usually the one who is preaching eating well, staying hydrated and relaxing to give your body and mind time off.

I do still have some time to play with my hobbies but since Aidan is crawling now I really dont feel comfortable working on anything with small pieces and toxic materials anywhere in my 600sq ft apartment. I miss working on my kits and talking to you guys everyday, a lot of you not only helped me through some really hard spots in building but also life in general. Really learned a lot about being a hardworking, loving father and husband(Bondo I am looking in your general direction). I guess sometimes in life you have to put those things you love on the back burner, right now the goal is to make enough to afford a 2 bedroom appt so Aidan can have his own space and start paying on my $15,000 in credit card debt. Of course once I can afford a better place I will have room to start building again so maybe my motives arent quite so pure and selfless. Everyone's builds look great. My P-61 I think has left the box once, and I did a little painting. I really think I prefer 1/72 over 1/48 somehow I feel like I can include more detail in the smaller kits, or maybe it is just more difficult to pickup errors on something so small.

I am quitly lurking at all times, I have it set to email me when a new post is posted and I got one of those cool new PDA phones with my email pushed to it, I know pretty much the second any of you posts, now having the time to post anything myself is a different story.  I hope all is well with everyone.

Chris

A few pics for everyone

And a video of the other day when he crawled for the first time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8KjCHKq6BU

Welcome back, Chris. 

Don't let your modeling skills get too stale, Aidan is going to need training.  I taught my granddaughter how to read numbers by finding parts on model kit sprues.  And remember, it's not exacto knives that cut people, it"s people who cut themselves with exacto knives.  There is learning everywhere for the young'uns.

Doh!  1000 apologies Greg for the name screwup.  You know, they say the second thing to go with age is the memory!

Good to hear from everyone checking in.  Still got almost half a year left before SS3.

Jeff,

The Avia's an interesting looking plane to be sure, and you did a great job on it.  Quality job !And I agree - it's nice to see people checking in. 

Chris,

Beautiful kid ! - Time invested with him will beat time spent modelling any day of the week.  You'll hear this a bazillion times - but they grow up way too fast.  Before you know it - they're all growed up.  My oldest is off to college in less than 2 months - where did those 18+ years go ? 

And thanks for the updates from all the rest of y'all.

Chris

Jeff, great job on an interesting subject. Very nice build and very clean. Get around to rigging it some day.

Steve

jeaton01 wrote:

And remember, it's not exacto knives that cut people, it"s people who cut themselves with exacto knives.  There is learning everywhere for the young'uns.

TheLastPriest wrote:

Does anybody remember me?

Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, got that out of my system, but hey fella good to hear from you. How is Tara?

Thats a great kid by the looks of him. We were just wondering about you and Pinky the other day, no really!

Bill

First off, thanks to Circutrider who is the person who gave this kit to me.  I hd a blast putting her together and yes the kit IS buildable.  Not easy by any stretch but I think it came out rather well.  Here are some pictures of the finished kit, and I look forward to getting involved in next years build.

Thanks for looking at my latest build, I hope you enjoyed it and as always, comments welcome.  

Regards,

Freddie from LI 

Lookin forward to seeing your Vindicator Freddie - but I'm just gettin the red x's right now.

Chris

same here, only seeing the dreaded red x's. Loking forward to seeing it though

Steve

For what ever the reason, I cannot get pictures to load here.  I have tried several times by using the picture icon and no luck.  I must be doing something wrong.  I used to be able to do this with no problems at all.  I have Firefox on this thing, maybe that's the problem, or procedures have changed?, I don't know.  I'm not to swift with the computers either so that could be another problem.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I also Photobucket for holding the pictures.  Anyone else have these issues?  HELP!

Freddie from LI 

OKAY!!

We're gonna try this again!  First of all, thanks to all the guys who gave advice to a computerly challeneged individual like myself.  I figured it out and now will post a few pictures.  

I brought this kit with me to VA Beach last weekend in hopes of getting her done in time for the contest.  As it turned out, that was not to be, although I did see a really nicely done SB2U that sported Lt. Marmande's, (KIA) number 6.  It was a beautifully built model.  Anyway, I thought this was a tough kit to build, mostly due to some fit issues with the wind screen.  I like A/M kits and have built both the TBF's (2X) and the SBD-3 and absolutely loved them.  This one wasn't quite as good as those earlier releases, but it still has that A/M level of detail that is hard for others to copy.  Here are some of those pictures I kept screwing up last night, as always, comments welcome.

Below is Sgt Zelnis' office.  Riding the back seat of this SB2U, he succeeded in shooting down one A6M and damaging a second,but not before being wounded and the aircraft receiving over 170 bullet holes 

 This next shot is of the modification to the wing armament.  USMC Vindicators only carried one .50 cal MG in the starboard wing.  I closed up the other three MG ports and the shell ejection chutes on the PORT wing.  I then had to rescribe the ejection chute under the STARBOARD wing.  The armament change was done as a weight saving measure because the aircraft were to carry 1,000 pound bombs.  Usually they would carry one 500 pounder on the centerline and two one hundred pounders, one on each wing pylon.

Really nice job Freddie.  Nice build, research, & corrections.  Nice weathering too - especially the faded fabric surfaces.

Chris 

Well, its me PaPa-John, just dropping a note as I haven't been online much lately.  Sad news is I haven't even had time to start on my portion of the GB and it appears I won't be able to get it done by Christmas.  Remodeling of the basement hit a snag and was at a standstill and now just getting started again.  With the mess, dust, etc, I have my modeling supplies packed away.  Just can't get up the energy to pull it out and have to pack everything away again.  Too much dust, dirt, and other things floating in the air to even consider working on models.    Too top it all off, I have all of my daughters furniture and her two cats at the house.  She is away for three years at University working on her second degree. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved in this GB, but feel really bad that I can not fulfill my part by the end date of the build.  I am going to get the build constructed, but with the state around here, I would not be able to do it justice.  I hope this doesn't dampen the good will  instilled by being with you great people. 

Will chat again soon. 

John

Hi Papa-John, good to hear from you and glad things sound okay though rather busy.  don't sweat it if you can't finish by the deadline.  If you can start before the end of the year post some progress pics otherwise just drop us a line now and then to let us know how you're doing.

I've been doing some reno's myself this past month or so and it will be an ongoing thing but luckily I am setting up a new modeling spot away from the dust.  I hope to have that set up soon as I'm starting to have plastic withdrawal symptoms.

Freddie, that is one nice looking SB2U you have there.  Awesome

been awhile since I posted, thought would have more time this summer! work has a way of getting in the way!

JIM- great build! hope your fingers are doing better! I had a slice in my hand awhile back ugh

AND CONGRATS on the award! whoo hoo! you did do a great job! love the finish .. paint job is superb... cheers all around,glad you enjoyed!

Chris - what a great (and different!) trio.. great pics, great side by side pics

Klaus - fantastic job! I love the finish.. currently working on couple RUFEs for the IJN GB, your pics will be a source of inspiration.  you know, one reason Im doing TWO RUFEs (cheap enough lol), one will be without "IJN" uber chipping, one will be uber weathered..almost like an experiment :)  For yours, leave as is, its gorgeous!

jeff - looks great! you suceeded in the wood prop Dept, in my opinion, nice job

Chris/TLP - man, your build is the best in the GB that 1:1 kid looks gorgeous! take your time and relax, but do NOT take 25 years to get back to your builds like I did! :)

Freddie - what a great build.. love the finish, the construction, everything! a bookmark for sure for future reference.

As for me, work/life gave me a few shots this spring/summer, send me back few months on my GB build sched... but have planned to start this one around Oct, once I finish a huge work project and my couple RUFEs.. hope I finish on time, the kit I got is awesome!

cheers alL!

Hey guys, it's been a crazy year! 

I'm going to get started on the Accurate Miniatures TBM1-C that I received from Randie aka Chopperfan for this GB, thanks again buddy, I really enjoyed the letter and CD including the family pics.  It just reinforces how many great people there are out there behind the screen names and fabulous modeling work. 

I want to honor George H. W. Bush's lifetime service to our country with this kit and plan on building this as one that he flew on the raids on Chichi Jima.  I'm reading Flyboys and just finished the section that related his experience being shot down and rescued by a U.S. Submarine.  

Sorry for being so late to the party this one my friends!! 

Your not alone Scott, I am right there with ya and will be also starting my build hopefully this weekend. You wont be alone this late in the build

Steve

WELL I know it's been a LONG LONG time, but I am still here and I know I got 2+ months to get it done. And I will, ONE Way or Another...............

Bud

 P.S. Hay all

Rudolph strikes back again and again

Steve

scott - more like SS 2.95 for me     maybe I can stretch it into January, like Three KIngs Day or something ;)

Well I am dragging this GB up for an update. I have been working on my SBD-5 for a week or so and have most of the iterior done. Just have to do the detail work and then button her up. I will post progress photosafter the weekend. How are the rest of my fellow stragglers doing. I hope to have this one done before Xmas day.

Steve