Clunkmeister

Do you ever wonder why you agreed to something? OK, so let’s have some fun with this one. We all have that ONE build, that one single box of misshapen plastic that looks like it spent 3 weeks roped to the back of a camel while traversing the Serengeti on it’s way to your home. Or possibly dredged up from the wreckage of one of the Spanish Armada.... let’s see ‘em. OK, I’ll start. This has to qualify as one of the worst kits I’ve ever had the misfortune to build and it easily wins the award as far as I’m concerned. . It was obviously designed by a person in the former Soviet Union who still holds some deep seated resentment towards the West for winning the Cold War. The individual responsible has cleverly hatched this sneaky plot to drive us Imperialists insane. After an on again-off again two gear long melodrama, I have arrived here. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING fits. Not even close. The fuselage is a devious 12 piece affair designed by a 1959 Party Worker who wanted a new Chevy Impala and had to settle for a wood wheeled bicycle, and better yet, to to make matters worse, it was all warped, with rounded edges, bevels going the wrong way, and sink marks to end all sinkmarks. So hairdryers, oiling water, stretch presses, and a Cat-o’-nine tails were all employed to straighten it out. The wings looked like sun a shrunken fiberglass diving board, on the equator of Venus. One half of the tail had gone AWOL, and the decals were seemingly brought to you by Rand McNalley. The bonus? Nacelle #1 will need only half a quart of Apoxie. Invest in Evergreen now. You’ll get righ on what I’m going to need to buy. I think a couple nights of this, then back on the SOD.

The next Lanc conversion...

Too bad. I’d have loved to come out and attend. We have family there, and oh man is it the most boring drive in the world from here to there.

Like the Germans took a Brit design and tried to help it. Pro tip: it didn’t help.

Jerry, it would have been great to have seen you. Do you have any events in Armadillo?

I plan an Antonov Airlines An-22 using the Amodel 1/72 kit. It’ll be huge. I’ll need to print the emblems and mask the rest. If we had a 1/32 An-2, I’d be doing many more. In the meantime, it’s Septemeber Fury and a TCA or BOAC Lancastrian

Dale, I’m still actually working on it and haven’t called it finished yet. Hopefully by next week.

Hmmmmm. I’ve never experienced that phenomenon. However, I use MM enamel and acrylic, Tamiya, acrylic and enamel, MRP, and Gunner. I don’t use Vallejo. However, I do use MMP, and when using it, I use their system to prime to finish.

Yessir, the model sits absolutely level.

Absolutely! Mr Leveling Thinner is a magic elixir.

And a bit of vac love. Not knowing much about this type, I think I can safely assume that somehow, this thing was designed by a British committee.

And just for Harv. This is the ancient Monogram kit and it was absolutely flawless.

And some props. Not really a lot of 1/32 here. 1/48 is THE scale around here, and the rest of us are seen as maniacs. A few guys said they just don’t want to get that crazy into the detailing that’s required for 1/32

And some jets. You gotta love a MiG-29. But I love them more in Luftwaffe, Polish, or Ukrainian colors. That one was nice. And done from the Revell kit.

Everything here is 1/32.

Thanks. Tony and I talked a lot today, and quite honestly, both of us are getting more and more interested in civilian applications of military aircraft such as SAR birds, fire bombers, racers, etc. The Lanc played a huge role in postwar Canada, with mapping the north, Patrol bombers, dedicated rescue birds, civilian transport versions, fisheries enforcement, anti submarine patrol, etc. The Maritime Patrol Lancs have a special place in my life as well. Mom and Dad were both RCAF, and when I was a babe in arms these aircraft made me scream and holler when they passed overhead. So the moment HK announced their big kit, I knew there really was no other choice. The Lanc definitely played a HUGE part in the war effort, but the available schemes are well, limited basically to one. But there’s piles of postwar options, and this is THE kit to use of you want to build a postwar Lanc. And best of all, most every part we developed for this build will be or already is now available, so others can do something similar.

But the one that confounds me is Tony’s F4U-1. I’ve been doing this a very, very long time, and I get mystified again and again. For some reason, it just doesn’t light the fires of the locals. Come to think of it, no Corsairs really do around here. This model is the cleanest, best built model on the table show after show, but it just never seems to break out. I’m pretty sure it’ll do phenomenally at the Nats. There are ZERO build errors on this model. Tony, I feel more strongly about this one than I did your P-40. It was by far the strongest WW2 1/32 prop entry there today.

His Snipe took a second, which I think was a shame.

Tony himself did VERY well today as well, with the Bardahl Special coming in first against some very good competitors. This model is absolutely gorgeous and with the white paint, is a serious sleeper on the tables. That prop and those tanks,... ooooooooh

Thanks y’all. Tony and I decided to take the day and jet over to Arlington for the show, and I specifically asked about Nats competition if we take awards for several reasons: My Lanc, Tony’s Bardahl Special, Snipe, and F4U-1. We were absolutely assured that going UP is never a problem, and is actually encouraged to get more buys competing on a National and even International level. Think about it. The whole idea is to get local winners to go compete Nationally. Clubs want it as so regional chapters. They want the glory of one of their own winning Nationally or Internationally. However, competing DOWN is very much frowned upon if not outright banned. Having a Nationals, Telford, or Moson winner clean up at a local show against local boys is just rude and bad form all around.

And ooooh the tall tales that are being told......

As we say around here, “for medicinal purposes, lad”.

You high living cocktail folks are way beyond me. I lime my liquor a bit more basic. Nectar of the Corn, straight 180 proof white lightning served up in a fruit jar.

I need to finish my Helldiver, Guppy, and B-36 first, Ryan, but the itch is there. Getting too many resin builds going at once is a ticket to the funny farm.