Sabre F-86

Does anyone out there have an actual measurement on how far back the fan disk needs to be from the front of the intake on the Trump A-10? I've looked at the photos but can't really see or determine just how far back it's supposed to be set. I had a brain spasm last week, and opened up the box. I looked at the tweaks list and gooped up the inside of the nose with epoxy. But the fan set back has me stumped. A dimension would be nice if anyone has it. It may take a while as I'm spending a lot of time on my boat right now but I think that will be my next project. I'd like to do Kim "KC" Campbell's A-10 although the green camo'd bird looks more interesting visually.

Very impressive. Your painting skills are light years ahead of mine. One question, how did you get those tiny hose clamps on the landing gear? No matter what I do, mine always look like something you'd see on a tank or ship, way too big. Just one thing that jars the image when I look at it. To me, the wiring for the radio seems to be too large in diameter and the curves of it too sweeping. Otherwise its marvelous.

Ok, the mission is scrubbed. Since returning to work, things there have been total chaos, and my shift schedule has become a nightmare. We lost two people on disability, one retired and they cancelled all overtime so until we get more bodies, I'm working 2 days, 3 afternoons and any other funky combination they need. As for the SBD, I doubt I've put in more than an hour on it since my last post. I also notice my eyesight is getting bad again, and working the PE is giving me fits. I've just ordered a bottle of liquid flux so I can try to solder the bits, as they keep coming apart if you don't use the utmost care in handling them. I'm not ready to bin the monster yet so it will go on the shelf again til I get things under control. I'd like to see it finished but the "honk me off" quotient is pretty high with this one. It may yet end up binned.

Ok, the panic session with boat launch is over. It went splash last weekend, and didn't sink. I took the week off to let the body recover from the abuse I put it through and I'm about to get going again. Fingers crossed I make it by the end of the build. Got to say I'll be happy when it's done. I should have built the Trump one and handed this one off to a kid somewhere.

Way back when I was working air cargo on the midnight shift, I had a chance to get onboard a DC-3 that had been built in 1937. Can't remember who it was flying for but they were under contract to deliver auto parts to Toronto for the Ford plant in Oakville. They came in half a dozen times over the summer. Anyway enough reminiscing. I really like the way they do the wing panel joints. That has always been one of the features of the DC-3 that comes to mind every time I see one.

Project is temporarily at a stand still. Boat launch is on the 28th, and we lost four days working on her due to the ice rain storm we had. Been putting between 5 and 9 hours a day on this. Had the survey done today, so that hurdle is past. But there are still a bunch of thing that need doing. I have done some work in the odd moments, and the cockpit spacing is sorted out. I've shot a coat of interior green over it, and am trying to get the various panels painted up. However, several of them have disappeared from my work desk and I have no idea where they got off to so the cockpit may be a bit sparse. With the canopy given, I doubt that will be much of an issue.

Many years ago (way too many) Model Airplane News put out an article on a Waco glider. I still have the plans stashed somewhere.

If you spilled glue on it, It sure isn't noticeable. Nice job, a lot nicer to look at than the blue ones.

I remember reading sci fi novels back in the early 60, Amazing Stories for example which predicted all this even then. When I worked as a millwright in the end 80s and early 90's, I had to go into several factories during shut downs to rip out assembly lines and replace them with robotics. The people on those lines were let go and the all the bullchit about tech creating more jobs was proven over and over again to be just that. Bullchit. Replace 200 line workers with 15 technicians who keep the machines running 24/7/365. Today we can read the paper daily about people's lives being destroyed by something that they did decades ago, because what ever it was is documented and stored forever. Look at the Facebook mess. Everything you post is in someone's server, just waiting to be mined. And believe me, CSM-101 (Arnie "Ah'll be back" Terminator) is already in the prototype stages. It may not be autonomous yet but give it time. Anyone ever read any of the Bolo series by Keith Laumer? Sentient tanks with planetary killing power. That's where we are headed, and it will come as a huge surprise when the machines finally do wake up and wipe us out. It's a pity that most people don't take Sci fi as a portent of future events. But I'm not too worried. I'm 64, and won't be around much longer to worry about it. Your kids on the other hand???

Have to follow up on this one. I sent an email via EBay and got a reply in a couple of days. The same day, the second kit, the OV-10A arrived, with the same problem. So I sent them a polite follow up email asking if they could sent a second one as the 10A windscreen might or might not be salvageable. They did as asked, and both showed up a couple of days ago. Each in its own box. Both arrived in mint condition so I'm a happy camper.

I don't weather much anymore, I usually overdo it. As for the brown staining on that Heinkel, I'd be more inclined to use various shades of grey instead of the burnt siena and other stuff I used to use. I agree with Gazzas comment, what's it do? Fly out of a mud pit? Maybe Russia in the spring or fall? Mud city. Preshading? Never been able to do that right, I find it very difficult to put on just enough paint to let the dark areas show through.

The clear sprue is packed in a separate plastic bag along with the rest of the sprues. Because of the way it is poured, it sticks up fairly high and if the box gets tossed about the other sprues bounce off it.

Thanks. The 10A just arrived this morning, same problem but not as bad. I'll follow up with them as soon as I can get a decent photo of the damage part.

Incredible that they could even fly bundled up the way they were. Did anyone notice the chin strap on his officers cap? First time I've ever seen that with a German uniform. Looking at the ground crew working the engine, is that oil they are using to lubricate the push rods? I imagine the lower cylinders on a stationary engine would dry out from drippage with no oil being sprayed around as the engine ran.

The OV-10D arrived super fast, and its drop dead gorgeous. However, when I opened it up to check it out, I found the windscreen had broken off the sprue and taken a chunk out of the base which extends up into the clear glass. I sent an email off to the supplier via Ebays' system but find it odd that the Kitty Hawk Models web page is not found, nor any other seemingly direct contact method. Anyone know how to get hold of them for replacement parts? I'm hoping the 10A arrives in better shape.

I've been fiddling with this PE set now for a week or more. Using the pilots who come with the kit as a pattern for general fit, I can see the poor pilot trying to fly with his knees up against his nose as he tries to use the rudder pedals, and squeezing past the panel would be near impossible. I've broken it all down again, and using the side panels as a guide will move the instrument panel forward about a 1/4 inch. Maybe that will work. In the mean time, I've had several bits leave earth orbit at light speed, as they spring from the tweezers. I use a folding took which helps a lot but its seems that some of the designed folds are too small to be done, so I'm replacing some of the PE with strip and rod plastics. Anyway, I soldier on wards.

Still builds into a nice little model IF you can keep AMS under control. I have more than a few of their older ones. I even have a Ki-61 in the stash

Thanks Kevin, I must have missed it when I checked the other forum.

I just noticed that Russville has disappeared. Are they still stored somewhere or gone forever? I found his work really inspiring.

What's the chances we can sweet talk ICM into a DO-17z in 32nd? Bit of a hole in the German Luftwaffe with that one. An injection molded Hs-123 would be nice too.

That turned out fantastic. Well done!

I'll sign up for a Nell. Rick, have at it. Russ was a guiding light for us on that particular trail. I still have that Dornier Wal project sitting here waiting patiently for me to get back to it.

Not much has survived from my early days. None of the cars and dragsters made it, nor any of the first airplanes. But I do have two that have lived with me through the years. The first is my Monogram Mosquito. Painted with the original Testors bottle paints, in the night intruder scheme of grey and green over black. It's survived numerous accidents over the years and is a tad beat up but currently hanging on the wall in my living room. I figure she was built around 1968 or so. The second is a Tamiya Pzkw IIIM in Afrika Korp scheme, done with the Polly S brush paints over a coat of Testors grey enamel. Surprisingly I still have a couple of bottles of that Polly S and it is still as good as ever. This one was built while I was in college, winter of 73/74. It is currently gracing my desk at work. Third is a Tamiya Marder II in basic panzer yellow, again the Polly S paint, with brown and green camo. That one also from my college days, 74/75 winter build. I am currently working on putting that one into a diorama, dug in on a dry river bed with a dead tree on the berm. Funny how they still look great in my eyes even though the colors are off, and the decals were stuck on over flat paint, and silvered. But they were the first ones in the learning curve. And they bring back such good memories.

Thanks Thierry!

I don't often spill the glue. Have once or twice, the worst incident melted half the model and stuck my phone, various bits of plastic strip, a couple of plastic paint brushes and my architects ruler to the desk varnish. Whole bottle of Tennax. Binned that one, chipped the rest loose and refinished the desk. But paint? Usually contrasting colors, on delicate parts.