April 2008 Ping!

[Oceaneer99]

Hello, it's time for the April 2008 ping!

Let us know what you are up to.  Many thanks to Lou for pinging me to remind me it was already April 5.

Gallery statistics:
April 2008:
1008 files in 108 albums and 12 categories with 120 comments viewed 13353 times.  There are 31 Members

Last Month (March 2008):
853 files in 104 albums and 12 categories with 103 comments viewed 8628 times.  There are 23 Members.

Forum:
April 2008:
611 posts in 107 topics by 24 Members.

Last Month (March 2008):
518 Posts in 92 Topics by 21 Members.

[lastvautour]

Current activities rather sluggish with the Bonnie being completed. Work is still slowly progressing on the Hudson but my main  effort is to prepare for the model show at the local mall. I have made arrangements to have a table available to display mt models at the same time as the yearly plastic model contest. This should provide me with lots of exposure as last years contest generated over 100 models and many onlookers. I have no intention of entering the contest although I have been offered an entry ballot. To cleanse my wooden pallet, I am engaged in making (heaven forbid) three (plastic) 1/72 Spitfires, a 1/48 Starfighter and a A4 Skyhawk. Hence my bench has little room for anything else. However, I have printed some 1/144 scale Tracker drawings and will start the new 1/144 scale Bonaventure fleet today or tomorrow. These new Trackers will have to be more accurate than the 1/350 due to their larger size. I will have to borrow Dave Tunisson's engine making techniques as drinking straw cylinders will be out of the question. I have made no progress on the ID model cook-up nor have I touched the painted Tutor. I eagerly await everyone's progress reports. PING back at you!

[Ken Pugh]

Way to go Lou, give it to them!

I'm still working on the same projects.  The monster Hellcat is chugging along.  The Kamehameha is in a holding pattern right now as I get up the courage to tackle that propellor.  Once the Kam is done I will have to start a small solid project to keep my sanity through the Hellcat build, probably an ID model.

I am also trying to make up my mind what to order from the NASM next.  I got my recent ID model package and I can get back into the cue.  I plan to order all the ID model drawings, but they have other tasty drawings I would like to have.  So many drawings, so little money!  And I haven't even begun looking for their ship drawings.

With the Battle 360 series playing on the History Channel, I am also itching to build a WWII aircraft carrier.  I also have drawings for her buddy, the USS North Carolina, who I happen to live near.  What a beautiful ship.  She is currently painted in her dispersion camoflage and looks spectacular.

Ken Pugh

[Oceaneer99]

I haven't gotten too much done in the chips department, but here goes:

Lisa Hy-Bird model finished.  I found out the prototype round-the-world flight has been slipped to Summer 2009.

Some minor work on the PT-9 torpedo tubes.

PT-10 successfully transfered to Lou to escort the Big E and others.

Spitfire PRU (1/72) is ready for photo-recon pink paint.

Minor work on the Bristol Spaceplanes Ascender.  She needs engines next.

Lots of work on the Navy ID model plans.  We have all of them in the gallery now.  I have a few more sets to convert to PDF for Kenny's site.

I did some research on waterline ship models and have quite a few drawings of potential models, mostly civilian ships this month, though I had a small but nice collection of warships already.

Also did research on early tanks and managed to get a few drawings here and there.

Took photos of a Moron Thiokol Imp snow cat for a potential model along the lines of that Craftokit WW I Tank.

Made one chisel with handle and have three gouges and another chisel just about ready for tempering. 

I looked at a few plans with an eye toward the flying boat and ID model cook-ups, but decided that it's time for me to finish up some of these lingering projects.

In the 1:1 scale department, I'm making preparations to build a child's skin-on-frame kayak.  She'll have a glued wooden framework, like the old canvas kayaks.

Garet

[teddon61]

April is starting out very well for the Hartl Collection, Just this morning I was asked to meet with people from a veteran's home in Union Grove, Wi, in addition to speaking with the vets , I will have a showcase with several aircraft on s semi-permanent display.
To add interest to the display we are going with a mystery plane on a monthly basis, I have many rare and one-of-a-kind aircraft in the collection so it should be fun.
In addition, the Milwaukee Veteran's hosp has asked me to continue to display there.
June first will find me at the Milwaukee hosp for a Heritage week-end, a camp in of re-enacters from all the U.S. conflicts. Every year I have the opportunity to show my planes to as many as five thousand attendees.
In addition, between today and June first I will be at four different schools with the planes, a very exciting time for me.
Hopefully I can convert some plastic modelers into solids, although in truth I have respect for all aspects of the hobby.
Ted Billings

[Oceaneer99]

Ted, that's great that you are able to expose so many to the hobby!

Garet

[lastvautour]

Ted, I uploaded 14 files from the Eugene Hartl collection to the archive section some time ago. I and everybody else would enjoy seeing more of the collection.

Lou

[teddon61]

Lou, I would truely like to send more pictures, but two things limit me at this moment, I don't have the camera yet nor the knowledge.I expect both of those problems to be addressed in the next month.
I envy your ability to display not only your models, but the almost step by step procedures you share with the rest of us.
Often when people talk about hobbies like ours they mention that they don't have the patience do do all that detail work, in my case I don't have the patience or discipline to record my progress as you do. I'm glad someone does.
ted Billings