ssculptor

I dont know if l like the digital camo that much. For the Vulgarian aircraft l am trying blended patterns. Ssculptor

You are correct, the music put me to sleep right away. Is that the "New Age" music? Ssculptor

Are these in 1/32 scale? Hey, I can dream, cant I?

Whoops, I made a bit of sloppy writing above. Correction; I will and I do buy 1/32, 1/24 scale plastic kits of airplane models I want when the price is reasonable. But the line I will not cross is in the $70 - $80 range. Well maybe $99.99 if I really need it. I'm cheap, so sue me. When I open my change purse moths fly out. When I started to paint the Betty I soon discovered the high cost of paint these days. Then I remembered that I am an artist. So opened my big box of acrylic paints and mixed up a bucket of Japanese naval aviation color and painted the model with that - for less than a dollar. How accurate is it? It is as close as any of the current paints on the market. Check it out. Get paint chips or swatches from any of the big model paint companies. Are they all identical? No? What a surprise? It helps, by the way if you live near an artist's supply shop. I live within three miles of two model shops and and two art supply stores. Drive another six miles and I can visit another three such stores. That's civilization! Remember, this is a hobby; not an obsession. Its for fun and pleasure and recreation. As those two great 20th Century philosophers, Ren and Stimpy used to chant, "Happy Happy Joy Joy".

I know whereof thou speakest good sir. Since 2004 I have been seeking the 1/32 Val, Kate, Pete, Devastator and the Grumman XF5-F that Blackhawk flew (and the USN rejected). Over the years I have found and bought each of them. Yes they are carved wood made in the Philippines but that is fine by me because I started modeling by carving model airplanes out of wood during WW2. I am very comfortable with wood models and will not buy the plastic kits when and if they come on the market. My woodies were inexpensive, about $40 each plus postage. All except the Pete which was carved for me as a kit by a friend and all I have to do is assemble it and paint it. In the past year some enterprising person contracted to have them carved by craftsmen in Asia and is offering them on ebay in the $200 to $300+ range. I'm too cheap. For that kind of money I'll build my own models. I even like the vacuform kits. The last plane I carved was the Betty (1/32) but before I finished it I converted it into a piece of Surrealist sculpture. We have only one life; might as well enjoy it. Art uber alles.

What I need is a book on weathering clothing and uniforms. Can anyone clue me into a currently available book or pamphlet?

EUREKA!!!

1749 (BC)

Nonsense! It is not a WW1 aeroplane. Where are its biplane wings? I say Balderdash!

I have always liked the airplane but I was always disappointed that they stuck an inferior engine it so it could never reach its full potential. Just like the Grumman XF-5F that was rejected by the U.S. Navy at the beginning of WW2. Both were my favorite fighters.

Irrespective of which version of the B-24 one can buy, (maybe) my favorite is the navy version with those spherical gun turrets. Yummy, .

I have been cleaning up my stash of models and discovered I do indeed now have 1/32 models of those I have been searching for since 2004. I now have the VAL and DEVASTATOR, as well as other goodies like the PETE. Still looking for a Kate. No, these are not super detailed plastic kits. These are carved wood models made by craftsmen in the USA, the Philippines and elsewhere. Sure they lack details that plastic kit modelers insist on but I can add them later if I wish. I bought them on eBay. They look fine hanging from the ceiling. I also have many vacuform kits of other airplanes, the multiengine bombers I like so much. By the way, not all the carved wood models are accurate. a few are junk, carved by klutzes. I bought them on eBay really cheap years ago. They are so bad they are laughable, like the carved balsa models I made when I was in kindergarten. But I can use these few crapolas as I am making models of the aircraft of the country of Vulgaria* and these can be modified. I have a problem with time as I am now working on my second novel, this one is about the great World War One Flying Ass Ace. "Keep 'em Flying" Stephen Auslender * For a description of Vulgaria refer to my book The Streamlined Locomotive, available on Amazon.

Yes, with all the variations possible only detail oriented modelers, like some modelers who frequent forums such as this one, would be put off by not having the particular version they want. We are not the majority of possible modelers who would want a particular odd version. A large proportion of model manufacturers know that the average buyers of kits are gift givers, like relatives who buy kits for children at holidays, like birthdays, Christmas, when the child brings home a good school grade report card, when the lover, husband, brother etc., wishes he wants it, etc. Take your blinders off, we are not the only customers. The manufacturers know that they can make a few variations (i.e. the 1/32 B-25) and have a good, salable product. Face it, the world does not revolve around us. Also, nowadays aftermarket manufacturers can soon come out with alternate parts to cover the different versions. And some modelers can create the different parts they want; its called scratch building.

Wasn't there a U.S. Navy bomber squadron in the 1930's that had an insignia with this character?

I cannot get any sound. Looks like they are having fun.

As much as I look forward to getting multiengine airplanes in 1/32 scale, I'll believe it when I see it. Also I will not talk about until I actually have the beastie in my hands. 'nuff said.

Yes, here in the USA we have the new postmaster for the post office being blamed for all the slowdown problems. Is it the fault of the current plague? Is it the fault of legions of discontented postal workers sabotaging the system? Who knows? The service is erratic at best. I have ordered things and have mailed things and the service ranges from immediate delivery to week's delays. Lots of luck to us all.

Am I pished ? One of my doctors said no more alcoholic beverages. My other doctor said no more caffeine; which didn't sound too bad but then I found out that chocolate is full of caffeine. No booze, no chocolate, no coffee, no tea, no salt, cut down on sugar intake. Only thing left for me to do is make models. Getting old is no fun at times.

Going in circles is OK. It keeps us from doing more important things, like building models.

Elvis? I'm still looking for Jimmy Hoffa and Judge Crater.

A BRAINSTORM. Those of us who absolutementally will not build any aeroplane smaller than 1/32 scale can simply make a wing folding mechanism and glue the wings of our 1/32 bombers as folded and bent back along the fuselage. Then paint the plane in NAVAL colors. That way we can stick with 1/32 scale but take up the space of a 1/48 scale model. Youse guys are really lucky youse gots me to shows youse the solution to youse space problems.

Ho hum.

Basically, people start manufacturing their kits, thus forming companies through love of models and particular aircraft (and tanks, ships, trains, etc.). It is a matter of love, not some executives making their decisions during their three hour lunch after four martinis. In other words, model companies are started and run by us modelers, once removed. I will support their efforts in 1/32 as far as my finances will allow. We all share the same love of models. Which means I had better gear up to go back to self employed work. However I will not become a manufacturer which although may be easier in this era of 3D printing, because running a company becomes a 70 work week and I am way to old for that. Stephen P.S. I would like to see 1/32 models of the Vengeance, Maryland, Baltimore, and A-20 Boston, as long as we are on the topic.

A humble question, if you please. Are they talking about these very large aircraft in 1/32 scale? Or is this simply a pipe dream on the part of the company spokes person?

What I like best of all details is the decal set out of Germany that has the markings that one sees on virgin sheets of aluminum which indicates the type and manufacturer of the aluminum sheet. One can apply them to the inside of wings, etc. which do not get painted. What's that you say? If you cannot see them after making the model why apply them in the first place? Because you know they are there. Really, I am not laughing at this. Some of us take this seriously. I don't do this myself but I do other things that make people wonder.