Revell H-291 by speedgraflex

[Duke Maddog]

Wow, what a great discussion! This is why I love following your Threads Bruce! When you go away for awhile; I actually have withdrawal symptoms because of how rich these Threads of yours are. I also read; historical work; particularly War history, a lot of Fantasy; Raymond Feist is one of my top three favorites. I've read all his Riftwar series books over and over, and I read almost all his post-Riftwar Sagas as well. I still need to get and read the final book of the Talon of the Silver Hawk trilogy.

I do look forward to seeing this project at Hobby Day Bruce. Building next to you will be a phenomenal treat indeed. And if we ever do the Oldie Kit Group Build, make sure mine is in 1/72 scale please!!

[speedgraflex]

Stuart!

"Night's Dawn" was my introduction to the super sagas of Peter Hamilton! If you're reading these for the first time, I truly envy you. The books are on the shelves next to me as I type this; I was gifted these and knowledge of the author by a Canadian automobile mechanic who used to go to my coffee shop. One day he came into the shop with a brown bag weighted by the entire series of books and said to me, "Here, I'm leaving town and you should have these." This was truly one of those moments that turn your life on to something/someone/an ethos completely new. I found the religiosity of the books to be therapeutic. The "Commonwealth Saga" has a secondary story of a wealthy bohemian software designer and richest man in the verse Ozzie Isaacs going walkabout in a land that I decided was Hamilton's version of "Lord of the Rings" if one accepts the Elves as Aliens. That part was a lot of fun. The primary story was one of humanity's curiosity (hence the star named "Pandora," yes, like the Cameron films) opening the box (ie the prison) holding an entire alien race hostage with predictable shattering results.

Duke!

Your words touched me deeply to the point where I could not quite find my own words to answer yours. Something I think about frequently is how SPAM now SPA Modeler has evolved over the past decade. I wasn't there in the beginning, but from what I gather informally that beginning was a bit rough, a bit touch and go with egos causing enough destructive behavior that certain friendships were destroyed and in the years following that, despite relative peace there was discomfort, too. I think there always is some discomfort when we gather in groups. I looked on Joe as a brother-modeler and fellow fighter in the war against plastic arts mediocrity—he's an outstanding model maker; but his exit was painful. The results of his actions led some of our SPAM-SPA Modeler Brothers away and left friendships broken. I am grateful for you and remain truly thankful that you still grace this forum with your presence. I know that it takes more than a simple cut and paste to carry over photos and thoughts from one forum to another and I am truly thankful that you take the time to contribute.

To all contributors (ie active forum members) I want to thank you. Sincerely. Without you sharing your knowledge, I know I would not be able to build at all. I would lack the confidence and know-how that comes from being around you.

PS—I have made friends through the forum and I honor all of you.

Shout outs

Okay. Riftwar. I need to know more about this, Duke! Tell me more.

[speedgraflex]

Valentine’s Day 2025



One coat of red over one coat of white over a wet sanded multicolored primer and brown, attached temporarily with some light dots of white glue. I added some Castor Oil “streamers” using Derwent Water Soluble Graphite. I’m convinced that this is what forms part or all of the Flory Wash. These streamers aren’t very easy to see due to my tendency to work in layers. This stuff is so easy to use it rubs off with a wet tissue or finger and sets only after a coat of clear finish.

Color Values

Compare/contrast for values with a published photo of a 1/32 WnW kit—



To me, that looks pretty much spot on less final adjustments with a clear coat. A lot of WWI model builders freely use clear orange in their transparency layers to create warmth and I suspect a bit of “rose-colored glasses” is added to the overall effect as well—nostalgia.

[BlackSheep214]

Oh man… the red looks really good

[speedgraflex]

Oh man… the red looks really good

Thanks, Tom! And thanks for the advice on choosing Frog tape to save more than a few bucks. Any advice on sandpaper? I go through enough of that and the model building brands (Mr. Sandpaper?) are far too expensive.

[Duke Maddog]

That is a fantastic application of both the red and the wash! Wow, I love how the detail pops!

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, Duke!

I made my job a bit harder by not upping the smoothness of the primer until the end of the process; and I still see one small crease at the 11 o’clock position of the inner circular rim that resisted all of my attempts to reduce/remove it. It wasn’t worth my time doing a redo. Maybe that’s what liquid Mr. Surfacer is best used for but I hate the smell—most of all I hate the way that crud dries on applicators, making it impossible for me to clean up. Rant, rant, rant. I could use that “white stuff” called putty by both Tamiya and Gunze—really they must share the same factories—but that is far too toxic for me. What’s the active ingredient? Toulene? Something like that. Smells like a decaying corpse.

I didn’t ignore you about 1/72 scale. It’s by far a favorite scale of mine (like music, I don’t want to be pinned down to just one genre/scale/band/brand) but I have to be as careful and patient as you, Marius and Remco are when building and painting. I am truly amazed by building in 1/144. That is hands down the ultimate world of scratch building—



No quick n easy builds here, even with “kits.” It’s mostly a scratch builder’s game like narrow gauge is for train types. Pardon me—Model Railroaders. I’m still one, sort of.

[BlackSheep214]

I usually buy hobby sanding sticks

[speedgraflex]

I usually buy hobby sanding sticks

Interesting. I’ve never used those. I guess I like being able to cut and crumple sandpaper to get into corners.

[speedgraflex]

I primed the propeller. The WnW Sopwith Camel has arrived. I’ve been waiting for this one for some time now. A woman selling her father’s collection is the source.