Parents Talking to Their Kids About Gun Safety - NSSF & Project ChildSafe

I know this has nothing to do with scale modeling but it is a very important subject to me.

DOT/FAA Announce proposed rule for sUAS

This isn't related to my plastic scale modeling but does impact my RC modeling.



DOT/FAA Announce proposed rule for sUAS

What I hope to accomplish this year

This year I would love to expand my modelling. I've already added cars to my usual mix of airplanes and armor. My one ship attempt so far has been a disaster, but I can't let that stop me. Maybe it's time to try a sailing ship again - last time was in...well, too long ago to remember! I have ventured into larger scale aircraft but need to find some way to safely display them before building too many more.

One thing I want to do for sure is improve my weathering techniques. In the old days I didn't care too much about weathering and built and painted my models factory new. As such my skills at such simple things as dry-brushing and applying washes are sadly undeveloped. Weathering - adding wear and tear, fading, combat damage, etc. - can take an okay model and turn it into a show-stopper. Or a complete and utter mess. I've been trying to apply some of the techniques on the few kits I've built since returning to the hobby. It's a slow process learning each technique and how best to apply it to each kit. This is something where one size most definitely does not fit all - each subject requires its own level of weathering. Some heavier, some lighter, different colors and techniques depending on the desired effect, even  what color the base paint is changes what needs to be done. All part of the learning process.

D'oh!

For some reason I never posted this kit!

I received this in the International Scale Modeller Secret Santa gift exchange. It will be built as part of a group build among those of us who participated in the exchange. It will also be my first HobbyBoss kit. I'm looking forward to the build as it looks like a fantastic kit!

A few more kits on hand

I recently acquired a few more kits to keep me going, as well as some more paints and a few new brushes. My wife also got me a new airbrush for Christmas, something I've been needing for a while now.

The first kit is the Tamiya 1/35 Tiger I Initial Production:

 This kit was purchased for a SIG build on the International Scale Modeller forums. This is an out of the box build as I just didn't have the money to get any PE or resin upgrades. Oddly enough it's the first Tiger I've ever built even though I've been a model builder over half my life.

Next up is the Revel 1/32 Spitfire Mk IIa in the new tooling:

This kit was also purchased for a buddy build on the ISM forums. Again a pretty much out-of-the-box build although I will make what upgrades/corrections I can as I go along and with materials on hand. Since this buddy build lasts all year I may break down and get some resin upgrades if money will allow.

The last new kit is one I've been after for quite a while now, the AMT 1/25 Kenworth K-123 Cabover:

This is a more personal project, although I may also enter it in an upcoming group build. My uncle drove a truck like this from the late 1960s/early 1970s until he retired. He was an owner/operator and leased it to C&H Transportation of Dallas, Texas for his entire driving career. My uncle was a Marine in WWII and had some severe PTSD (although it wasn't called that back then) issues after the war. He started long-haul truck driving as a form of therapy and stayed with it from very shortly after coming home. I think finally being able to buy his own truck was one of the proudest days of his life. I plan to build this kit and finish it to resemble his truck. My cousins are going to go through their photo albums for pictures of my uncle and his truck to assist me. It's builds like this that bring something a bit extra-special into the hobby for me.