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CALTECH wrote:

captoveur wrote:I use Tamiya tape on glass and where i need a tight line. I'll use the blue stuff for covering large areas.

I rub it down with a fingernail. I think some of it is the paint dries over time then when i pass over it again with a different color it seeps.. I am going to test that theory soon.

They sell that liquid mask, didn't think it was too expensive. Or get a bit more air flowing.

I do use liquid mask sometimes.. The Gunze stuff is excellent. Micromask can be very difficult to remove. Humbrol apparently makes some but like all Humbrol products its difficult to get get in the US.

My local hobby shop was one of the few in the US that actually carried gunze, and they had some excellent stuff but the shipments were so irregular I think he has stopped.


Also, have you noticed Model Master paints being hard to get lately?

captoveur wrote:
Also, have you noticed Model Master paints being hard to get lately?

Yes. Wonder if the EPA has run amok again.

I took the week off work to avoid having to hide bodies. So I have been doing a lot of model work.

The ancient Revell H-34 kit was recently re-issued. I marked it as the helo that attempted to rescue Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule. I scored an ancient Monogram? Maybe.. Mercury capsule on Ebay and had to take some liberties to make it look right. replacement decals were available from Indycals (of all places). It is on display with the Sea King that did most of the Apollo recoveries. Which I apparently need to fix the rotors on.


A quick build of the Hasegawa Hurricane. Modern Hasegawa kits are almost boring to build. They just kind of fall together.


Argentina A-4Q in 1/48. Nothing all that special here.


I am working on the Silverplate modifications for a B-29 involved in the Bikini tests at the moment. It is a lot of sanding but not too painful really.

Nice ! All my stuff is packed and evacuated. I have kept a couple of kits to tide things over till the new Imperial Fleet Base is built. It is so empty in the bonus room.

I have made some good progress on the Silverplate B-29.

The cockpit


The rear compartment- which will not be seen at all


The Tokyo Tanks.. Apparently the nuke equipped bombers carried them. I suspect it may have been for weight and balance.


The start of fuselage assembly. Cutting out the turrets wasn't too bad. Making the repairs to the holes look right may be interesting.

Since I left the USAF, I have never built a B-52. The ones I had built were nice, 1/72 B-52D was one, but lost in the great betrayal. Finally, I think I will attempt another one while playing fireman this weekend at over a $100 an hour. Might be nice to put in the new man cave if it ever gets built. Forgot how big the BUFF is in 1/72.

Yeah.. I have the AMT H model and a Revell B with X-15 both in 1/72.. Not sure how I will display them when I build them.

Had a schedule change, A-320s replaced our 737-800/-900s and the gripes went through the roof. The 737s have come back into the schedule a bit so it's calmed down a bit. Airbus sucks,.....

Some detail work started,......Problem is wings are up like flying mode. Read someplaces that shaving the wing root gave proper wing droop. Thinking about heating wings and bending them to get proper wing droop. Decisions,....

There is an aftermarket wing box out there for the -52.. I have one. I am not sure if it is for in flight or parked.. Either way, there are a lot of gripes about the strength of the joint on that kit.

I would also reinforce the top seam. I know on my 1/48 C-130J the weight of the wings pulls the top seam apart.

CALTECH wrote:

captoveur wrote:
Also, have you noticed Model Master paints being hard to get lately?

Yes. Wonder if the EPA has run amok again.

It's Testors.

They're cutting back on EVERYTHING. They discontinued 95% of their model railroad colors, and their military stuff is suffering too. My hobby shop is struggling to keep the popular stuff in stock. And the stuff they ARE getting in sucks. Colors don't match the charts anymore.

This thread needs some love so this isn't a great update, but I wanted to keep things alive.

So as far as Testors goes I heard Rust Oleum bought them and a bunch of colors are getting killed. Which sucks, because I liked Model Master.

I went through an F1 Car phase.

Nigel Mansell's F1-89.. My first F1 car build


Schumacher's 1997 F310B.. The one he got disqualified for the year in.


Now the in progress stuff.
The B-29 straight out of the pre-paint wash.


The B-29 Primed. I need to rework some spots. The right wing root is bad and some of the covered turret races are not acceptable.


The Kintetic T-45. I really need to learn my lesson on these Kinetic kits- they suck. However, they make one of a kind stuff, and this is going to look awesome as the NAS Kingsville Retrojet.


I started a Tamiya Lancaster.. It goes together so much better than the B-29


The Cockpit sans pilot seat and yoke.. This has the pre-painted clear parts so I may leave the glass off until almost the end.


The inside wasn't as nice as the B-29 but it was too nice to paint all black. Most of my data showed the front compartment was painted black on the Lancasters, so I did that. A lot of data says everything under glass was painted black. I didn't want to go that far.

captoveur wrote:This thread needs some love so this isn't a great update, but I wanted to keep things alive.

So as far as Testors goes I heard Rust Oleum bought them and a bunch of colors are getting killed. Which sucks, because I liked Model Master.

RPM International bought them in 1984 and they also owned Rustoleum.


But then,...


"Friday, May 17th, 2013

Dear Valued Partner,

I am writing to inform you about changes that are taking place at the Testor Corporation. For over 80
years, we have provided premium paints and finishing systems to the craft and hobby industry. Today,
we announced that we are transforming our business in order to more effectively address the changing
needs of our consumers and their interests.

We’ve made the decision to exit the following businesses within the Testor® Brand family - Pactra®,
Floquil®, Polyscale®, and ColorArtz®. This will enable the Testor Corporation to return to our foundation
of success – providing premium, innovative product that inspires creativity. We will continue to accept
orders and ship product for a limited time based on available quantities.

Going forward, the following brands will be critical to our success and development – Testor®, Model
Master™, and Aztek®. These brands will be infused with marketing support, innovation and operational
efficiencies.

In support of this, we have announced a consolidation of operations at our Rockford facilities. Over the
next several months we will provide updates critical to your order and delivery needs as well as product
availability. We assure you there will be no disruption to service during this transition.
Our commitment to the Testor brand has never been stronger. By implementing these changes, and the
ability to leverage all of Rust-Oleum’s world class services, we are more strongly poised to take your
business to the next level through product and merchandising innovations, and increased customer
intimacy. Please contact me or your sales manager directly with any questions.

We appreciate your business!

Best Regards,

Kristin J. Schiro
Director of Sales & Marketing"


Testor's is out of Rockford Illinois, think it is more of Hussein Obama's EPA going out of control.


"ROCKFORD (WREX) -
The Testor Corporation has announced it will refocus its practices on core brands, resulting in the elimination of one Rockford facility and a loss of jobs.

Ed Voorhees, president of North America for Rust-Oleum Corporation, says the company is realigning its operations to better invest in product development with the hopes of future growth.

As a result, Testor's Rockford facilities will be consolidated. One facility will close and staff will be reduced. The two remaining facilities will continue operations."

Floquil and Pollyscale hit us model RR guys hard. Prices are going crazy for whats left too. Thankfully, a couple new lines have been created by other companies. However, even Testor's new "core" brands are struggling. I've just about had it with any of their products.

Trying to make some headway. ALCM racks coming together nicely. Detailing is so tedious sometimes, but when you're sitting around waiting for the 'ramp is open' call, helps pass the time.

Cadet57 wrote:Floquil and Pollyscale hit us model RR guys hard. Prices are going crazy for whats left too. Thankfully, a couple new lines have been created by other companies. However, even Testor's new "core" brands are struggling. I've just about had it with any of their products.

Yeah, if I can't reliably get your paint I am going to use something else.

I hate to use Tamiya, it doesn't match anything. Gunze and Humbrol are hard to get reliably as well.

I can get all the Vallejo I want.. Too bad it always pulls up with the masking tape.

Something has to give or I need to start planning paint way in advance.

captoveur wrote:
I can get all the Vallejo I want.. Too bad it always pulls up with the masking tape.

Have you ever tried using Parafilm-M to mask? Great stuff. Doesn't lift paint, great for patterns/detail work. It was designed for labwork, but hobbyists have been using it for awhile. You can get it on ebay really cheap. I've used it on a couple models with success.

Also, They're mostly RR colors, but give Scalecoat or Tru-Color a shot. Pretty wide range of colors, you might get lucky.

Cadet57 wrote:

captoveur wrote:
I can get all the Vallejo I want.. Too bad it always pulls up with the masking tape.

Have you ever tried using Parafilm-M to mask? Great stuff. Doesn't lift paint, great for patterns/detail work. It was designed for labwork, but hobbyists have been using it for awhile. You can get it on ebay really cheap. I've used it on a couple models with success.

Also, They're mostly RR colors, but give Scalecoat or Tru-Color a shot. Pretty wide range of colors, you might get lucky.

Lifecolor and White Ensign also get rave reviews.. but White Ensign is mostly ship colors..

I remember using parafilm when i was a lab geek many years ago.. It doesn't inspire confidence.. I don't have a problem with paint coming up except with Vallejo. I had so many issues getting that paint to work I tossed my notes. The only thing I used it on was a Breguet Atlantique which looks ok, but meh.. I just prefer the toxic and flammable paints... Although by the time I got the Vallejo to go through the brush it was pretty flammable.

The paint went bad on the B-29 making it like my 2nd write off ever.

For reasons I will not go into here I am looking to scale back my involvement in this hobby extensively over the next 6 months. I have an extensive unbuilt kit collection and I will be willing to let almost everything go at a very fair price. If anyone is jonesin for anything in 1/48 or 1/72 hit me up. I may have it.

I am apparently past the edit time for my last post.

I won't list scales, it would take too long.. This is a quick list of what is getting dumped.

Moving within 24hrs:
Mig-19
L-749 Connie
BAE Hawk
RA-5C
Citation 1
UH-1N
AH-64 Longbow
HH-65
KA-3B (I will ask real money for this, its 1/48 and brand new)
B-57
B-52H

Later movements:
B-17G
B-24D
B-24J
B-29 (1/48 with Bockscar, Enola Gay, and Thumper decals, likely still ok)
Tornado GR.1
F-22
Gripen
F-35A, B
A-1E With aftermarket interior
F-101
KC-135, A/Q,E
AWACS (if interested there are some things you need to know about the kit)
Lightning F.2A/F6
AC-130 (1/48 kit, decals unserviceable but kit complete)
Looking Glass (aircraft and decals fine, antenna sprue missing, thanks ebay)
A400M (asking real money)
B-52B/X-15
C-119
AC-119K
EF-111
F-111D
F-111E
Mirage 2000
Mirage 3CJ
SH-2F (new kit, will include old revell kit with Cobra Co. Interior for parts)
US-3A Decals probably no good
B-47
SH-60
Lynx (Navy)
F-105D
F-105G





Probably going but can't let go emotionally yet
NKC-135
ARIA
737-200 in 1/72, Piedmont Markings

Available, but not complete:
Kinetic F-16A(export) parts kit. Most weapons still in box (kinetic kits have a lot of weapons)
F-14B parts kit, mostly there.
Parts and weapons, if you want something specific, ask.

Everything has been stored in an air conditioned room and shows no sign of damage. Some kits are second hand. I will send pictures to interested parties. If I have aftermarket stuff for the kit, you get that too.

Also, if anyone is interested in anything I have built I'm not opposed to discussing fire sale pricing.

Crap, I would but we are in the midst of moving. I've packed close to a hundred boxes of 'stuff' in the bonus room and still have a ways to go. Otherwise, I would pick up some of your stuff.

CALTECH wrote:Crap, I would but we are in the midst of moving. I've packed close to a hundred boxes of 'stuff' in the bonus room and still have a ways to go. Otherwise, I would pick up some of your stuff.

There's a lot less of it than there was and the collection is fast approaching 0

I have a Hobby Boss F-105D and G both in 1/48 I am looking to part with. My hobby shop won't take them as they are sitting on the shelf NIB.

If interested make an offer. I take paypal.

Do not know if I'll ever stop building them, but this will be the last time I move them. So many,.......

I don't post here but I enjoy seeing the work you guys do.

The Fleet Base is moving from this



to this,



Have to sell the big old White House before we can work on the next Fleet Base. Almost everything packed, have a few kits for the boredom at work time. Great thing is, it will be like almost endless gift opening when the unpacking time comes.

Till then, we's gonna be trailer folks. Maybe I could do some more Lexan kits,......hmmmm...