phantom

I'm planning on being there for the Nats/Oshkosh combo!
 
I've already signed up for a 1/48 B25 group build, but definitely interested in a LSP group built too!

To those that are considering going to Madison, Wi.  2024 IPMS Nationals what are your thoughts on a group build!

Mike

So are you building a 1/48 T-Bolt?
 

Here's an interesting twist - my wife works for an aircraft manufacturer that attends EAA in Oshkosh, WI every year. Since NATS in Madison next year is earlier than this year (July 17-20) NATS will occur just before EAA. We may be able to drive a trailer of their equipment over there for them and actually get PAID to go to NATS!!! We'd drive to Oshkosh, drop it off, rent a car to drive down to Madison, then fly home after. If that works out, then I'm totally going for 100% certain.

Ok, now you must explain....
 
That would be awesome, Kev! Both Kevins at the same NATS? 
 
Yes, I am planning to go, especially given that I had to scuttle my plans this year. Remains to be seen whether I will drive 27 hours or fly.
 
As for a group build, probably not. I'll be lucky if I finish anything at all. However, I MAY (I said MAY) elect to do the LSP shirt thing again if there are enough takers. No promises, cuz that's a crap load of work.

To those that are considering going to Madison, Wi.  2024 IPMS Nationals what are your thoughts on a group build!

Mike

As most of you know, I've had printed WW2 US Carrier decks available for some time in 1:32. I recently tried a very expensive experiment, and used one of the 3D masters that I made for my own use to make a mold, and I've successfully cast a resin copy of it. So, if that is of interest to any of you, I'm willing to offer them as a special order item only. Here she is:
 

 

 
Each base will come unpainted in gray resin, and will include enough brass PE strips from Tom's Modelworks to complete the kit. This thing is 13" x 13" (330mm x 330mm) and about 1/4" (6.35mm) thick, so it will not fit in a pressure pot. As a result, there may be some small bubbles in the surface, but a coat of paint or primer will likely fill them up (you can see them in the previous pic. I've also added an additional tie-down channel to one end so multiple bases can be linked end-to-end to form a single long base if you like.
 

 
So, here's the rub - due to the cost of materials, I will not be keeping any of these in stock. I'll make them to order, and I'll have to charge 55 bucks plus shipping for each one in order to cover my cost and make a little for my effort. Shipping to the continental US should run about 12 bucks for one base. It's a lot, I know, but I kind of did it as an experiment, and figured someone out there might want one. So, let me know, and thanks!
 
Catalog has been updated - (outdated link removed)
 
Tim
bnbresindesign@gmail.com

I don't know, after camping for a week at Oshkosh AirVenture in temperatures in the 90s, I'm not so sure about that. 
 
Would love to attend the Nationals sometime, and Madison is within reasonable driving distance from here. Been doing Oshkosh for three years. I usually head up Michigan and stop overnight near the Mackinac Bridge. It's a lovely drive down the Upper Peninsula. 
 
Wisconsin. Deep fried cheese curds...
 
Richard

I was told at the convention that I would be really pleased as to the two new kits! I was not told what they are.
two announcements tomorrow, one at noon and one at three.
 

I was told at the convention that I would be really pleased as to the two new kits! I was not told what they are.
two announcements tomorrow, one at noon and one at three.
 

I was told at the convention that I would be really pleased as to the two new kits! I was not told what they are.
two announcements tomorrow, one at noon and one at three.
 

I was told at the convention that I would be really pleased as to the two new kits! I was not told what they are.
two announcements tomorrow, one at noon and one at three.
 

Lol, yup, it's different. There are some in TN. We're in Austin for tonight. We did tourist type stuff in Waco, yesterday and this morning. We were going to be tourists in Austin, but the other half decided it's too hot. We'll be down tomorrow morning.

Just checked in! It has been a busy 4 days. A lot of sight seeing. If you haven’t been to Buc-ee’s you need to check it out!
Mike

I am on my way now. We will be staying n Oklahoma city tonight. Then on to San Antonio for some sight seeing. See you all there.
Mike

Arrived at the hotel and due to some terrible roads had to fix my dauntless landing gear, broke right off ! 
oh well, I will note that on my entry form.
Mike

I'm going to jump in here to try and clarify a few things.
 
Firstly, as far as going back into manufacturing and casting, I am not planning on doing it.I don't have the tools or facility to do what I used to do before the fire, and I'm getting too old and lazy. I used to work seven days a week to maintain a big enough catalog of stuff to make a living.I can't even imagine what it would take to bring all of the stuff back to life.Much of it is not worth the effort, the kits that were and are still in demand are all pretty big and expensive to mold and cast.
 
As a few have mentioned, you can't just copy-mold a large, fairly complex model and expect it to come out OK.Shrinkage happens at a number of stages from master to finished castings and you'd end up with some undersized junk that might look OK in the box but it would make for very unhappy customers when they tried to assemble it...
That hasn't stopped a few people from doing it over the years, especially with the race cars.What a nightmare that was....
 
The best way to bring something like this back now that the technology has matured would be to 3D scan the best example  possible , build the correct shrink into the model parts on screen and then print out the parts in high resolution for masters if you planned on casting in resin.Better to just 3D print hi-res finished parts on demand and avoid the huge expense of tooling. Still a fairly slow process if you want hi-res, and still expensive.I can see it coming down to a practical level in the near future, but we ain't there yet.The progress along these lines since I got sidelined has been amazing.
 
I am indeed working with an old friend here in the US to bring back the Red Baron racer one last time but the other kits were going to be made in Europe by a company that folded up during Covid so I have no idea if or when anything will happen along those lines.I am still looking into other options here in the US.
 
I agreed to Alistair doing something with the Hunter two seaters and the Meteor conversions but nothing else.We recently talked at some length about Skyraiders, I encouraged him to do the AEW.1 since that's the missing link and saw service with the Royal Navy.That 'plane is based on the single seat fuselage, not the wide body anyway and would be a great project for someone to do in 3D print....hint hint...
 
I have no problem with someone one-offing parts for their own use but I would very much like to be in the loop if somebody wanted to do production based on my work like any craftsman. We all know that as soon as somebody invests a bunch of time and money in this a plastic kit will be announced anyway, right?
 
Many thanks for listening, 
Paul
 
 

Here they are:
 

 
 

Check out Legend Production
 

They look really good Tim!
Mike

They look really good Tim!
Mike

Hello!
We are proud to present our new product
1/32  TBF-1C Avenger 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Trumpeter)
SKU: QD32164
Price:38€
https://quinta-studio.ru/catalog/kabiny_3d_dekal/3d_dekal_interera_kabiny_tbf_1c_avenger_trumpeter/

I have used them and they are fantastic! I used them on my panther and they worked really good, they saved a lot of time.
they just snap together.
Mike

Trumpeter´s version came up for pre-order at the same time in several shops I can see
 
Are they not essentially the same kits from the same "designs" or molds?
 
I find it curious that suddenly we see several manufacturers release the same 1/16 StuG kit..and then the 1/16 Sherman and now the 1/16 Sdkfz 251.. I doubt they all had the same idea at the same time by coincidence 
 
But super great to see a Sdkfz 251 in 1/16. I will surely get one and put some Jeff Shiu figures in there.
 
/Niels

Please join me in welcoming the team from ResKit as our latest sponsor!
 

 
As many of you will be aware, ResKit is based in war-torn Ukraine, but still manages to be one of the most prolific aftermarket producers in the modelling community. Not only that, but many of their products are aimed at improving LSP kits, helping our little niche in the hobby tremendously.
 
Welcome aboard, guys!
 
Kev