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

Bossman wrote:

I was just a little surprised that there were quite a few members on this particular thread that I felt I was geting to know - (in an internet kinda way) - after all, that was kinda the idea of this whole GB.  But then - poof !  They just dissappeared.  I don't see them here or in other threads either. Chris

I still drop in and lurk sometimes. Summer came and lots of folks get involved with outdoor activities, some have jobs that go crazy in the summer, like me. Not to mention the motorcycling. I've spent a lot of time and $ fixing her up and really enjoy riding. I still drop in here occasionally to see what's up but my modeling will pick up more when it gets cold again.

Thanks Brad.  Yeah, the prop was a real pain.  This was my first attempt at natural wood, and it took several tries to get it to an acceptable level for me.  Even then, it still has several flaws I would do differently next time.  At least I'll have a little experience under my belt when I tackle the Series IV with the enclosed cockpit from the stash.

Cheers!

Well, it took seven months but I'm finally done with the Eduard Avia B.534 Series III Brad (gzt) got me for the GB.  This is a really neat model, well engineered, and went together with very few problems.  I have to confess up front, though, I didn't do the rigging.  Just not ready to take that step at this time, though I did drill the mounting holes for the wires in the wings so I can go back at a future date when I have time.  So for now, I'm calling it done.  Here's some pics, I took about 7-8, but these are the only ones that turned out half way decent.  Thanks again Brad!

bondoman wrote:

First off, the giving was the point. Jwb or whoever runs this next year, and I volunteer, needn't be around for awhile yet. I may or may not finish the gift I received, but thats probably less important than the very fun christmas day we all had. Got to see wingnut in his jammies after all!

Bondoman

Well said.  Giving is the best reward that can be offered and this GB proved it. 

Everyone knows what I was going through last year and still no diagnosis as to what it is yet. Because of this, Christmas last year was going to be a very low point for me and would have impacted dramatically on my family.  However, through the kindness of DrewH, JWB and in fact everyone  on this GB, this changed dramatically.  I felt the positive vides and acceptance on a very short notice that made me feel better and uplifted me.  Things started turning around right there.  I never knew people could care so much, especially strangers, who I now consider friends, even if we never meet in person.  My family even noticed the change that took place.

Everyone on this GB gave me the best gift I could have ever received, acceptance and their friendship.  So to everyone in the GB, a great big thank you.  to everyone.

Even if I can't finish my build by Christmas and if others can't, Bondoman said it eloquently.

John

Thanks for the responses guys.  I hope nobody thought I was trying to be pushy and telling people to get moving - that wasn't my intention at all.  The only other group build I have been a part of went for a few years past it's scheduled stop point.  At the end it was mainly just two of us that were finishing up   v e  r  y     s  l   o    w     l      y .  

I was just a little surprised that there were quite a few members on this particular thread that I felt I was geting to know - (in an internet kinda way) - after all, that was kinda the idea of this whole GB.  But then - poof !  They just dissappeared.  I don't see them here or in other threads either.

PaPa John - good to hear that you're feeling better. 

Chris

I have been offline on this site for awhile, but be for warned, I am not dead, have not been resurrected, just in hibernation.  Unfortunately I have not started my build yet, but hope to have it done before the deadline.

Just an update on my condition.  The Doctor's have not found what is going on.  All symptons have not re-surfaced since March.  I feel fine and seem to have a lot more energy.  No longer tired like I was.  Too me that is a good sign.  Because of this I have changed some of my priorities.  Number one is to spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren. 

My wife started a new job and we don't see each other very much at the moment, but that is settling down now that she is on a permanent shift.  No summer holidays for her for three years yikes, a first for her. I had to commend her as she went and took her testing to get her airbrake and bus endorsement, and now driving City Transit.

I took the month of July off as I needed the break from work.

My youngest daughter moved back home in April and we have all of her household items stored in our basement.  Se is leaving at the end of August to go back to school to take respitory thearpy in Calgary, Alta.  All her furniture will be stored here for three years.

With my basement gutted and under renovations and moving her furniture in, my modeling site pulled a disappearing act.  Have enough done that maybe I can break out the kit and start, others will remain half finished.  Looking for a small dungy corner.

Many changes around here since the new year rolled in. 

Congrats to everyone who have finished this builds and the one's that are in progress.  They all look fantastic.  Just hope my turns out.  Have a safe and happy summer.

John

Slow but steady, more like the turtle and not the hare.

I am not out of this fight yet either. If I start a GB I finish it. I am not the fastest builder out there but I will get there at the end. I plan on starting my build very soon so look for an update comming soon.

Steve

Yup - it was mass exodus #3 since I've been here. I've gone with most of them to another forum as they are the guys I communicated with for years here. I stay here as I can do help others as they helped me. I've grown in this hobby here and now it's my turn to return the help as I can. 

To my count, there is only a couple guys not finished their kit. I know one has had a major family crisis. Life happens and this is the second year that this thread basically dies after March. 6 months and nearly 50 pages later was a good run.

Is it me ?  Or has anyone else noticed a pretty big turnover of people in these forums ?  Seems to be a lot of unfamiliar names (Which I don't mind at all - it's great to see more new people joining), but alot of the names that used to be familiar to this thread seem to have fallen off the FSM forum planet altogether.  

Chris

I am just about ready to start my build so hopefully six months will be enough, I hope.

Steve

Only 6 more months till next Christmas !

DrewH wrote:

Well, my first thought was if you don't listen to your wife, what chance do we have

Probably a much better one, but don't tell her!

Thanks for taking the time look, make compliments and suggest.

Avus wrote:

A quick poll: I was considering adding some chipped paint effect; my better half suggested not to, what do your fellow modellers think?

 Well, my first thought was if you don't listen to your wife, what chance do we have

Seriously Klaus - Leave it as is. It looks great. I rarely add chipping to my Japanese birds, too hard to get it right adn i have found lots of pics that show that really wan't the case except in extreme situations.

OK, so I guess I'll stick to the "clean" version, i.e. how it is now.

Should I decide, one day, to add the chipped paint, I'll follow your suggestion, Steve, and will not exaggerate.

Thanks again for looking, commenting and suggesting. 

Hey Klaus, I like it the way it is. With that said I think a very little silver chipping around the heavely worn areas would fit in with the overall look of the weathering of the aircraft. Just a little though and not the major chipping you see on some models. You dont want to ruin the nice finish it already has.

Steve

Avus wrote:

... my better half suggested not to ...

I think that says it all !

Chris

Thanks to all, guys!
I appreciate that you like my work.

A quick poll:
I was considering adding some chipped paint effect; my better half suggested not to, what do your fellow modellers think?

Klaus, very nice finished kit you have there. Very nicely weathered and flawless construction. Glad you liked the kit I thought it would go nicely with your build from last year so I kept with the odd aircraft theme. You did this one justice my friend. Great job.

Steve

Klaus, 

Wow !  That is very nice.

Chris

Thanks Steve and Chris! 

Bossman wrote:

Looks like you're missing more than an antenna though - Isn't there supposed to be one of those things that swings around in front ? .

Here it is, dull coated, with the antenna and that spinning thing you appear like so much!
It needs some minor color touch ups, but I'd call it done:

Thanks to Steve for picking this particular bird for me: it was a fun build!

Great job Klaus,

She looks very nice - and a dullcoat will make it even nicer yet.  Nice beaching dolly too.

Looks like you're missing more than an antenna though - Isn't there supposed to be one of those things that swings around in front ? . 

Chris

Avus, really great looking build. Love the finish and it looks worn just about the right ammount. Congrats on a beautiful build.

Steve

Again I had to dig this build out in page two! Folks (me included) what's going on?! 

Congratulations on your well deserverd award, James! Your Val is one fine build.

Well done, Chris! Personally I prefer the mustang but both aircraft look great!

I'm almost done with my float plane and have some pics to prove it:

I only need to dull coat it and it's done: hope do be done tomorrow.
During the painting process the antenna snapped off; I'll glue it back in place tomrrow before the coating.

Now let's see all the other builds we're wating for!