Clunkmeister

Yes it’s been an entire year. Your right, it seems like yesterday. But time flies when you’re having fun. Slow time for modeling and the internet stuff. Everyone’s either on vacation or deep into finishing builds.

Read the new Nats thread, Ron.

Roight then, off we go!

It’ll be in San Marcos, Texas next year. Pretty much a straight shot for you, Ron. I’ll put this out here. VERY preliminary right now, but a couple of us have been thinking of opening up the Fliegerhof (my place) for a bit of a get together a few days before the Nats start. I’m in North Texas about 35 miles north of Dallas. Preliminary plans include the Cavanaugh Air Museum, CAF Dallas, and possibly, a private tour of a noted aircraft collector’s stuff. If interest is sufficient, a range day can be arranged. Texas BBQ of course. And if need be, the Mother of all Shindigs. I have access to local transportation as well. Feedback would be interssting to hear.

Are you able to make the Nats, Ron? I know you have some health issues so I’m not sure...

I know Recon Mike has a dinner for all us scheduled for Thursday? night, but I’m curious if anyone bought tickets for the Banquet? Personally, I did not, because in my opinion, it’s the biggest waste of time and money this side of 1/144 scale figure painting. Last year a gaggle of us went to a nice steakhouse and still saved money over the banquet K-Rats meal. Would like some feedback from those going. Thoughts? Plans? Ernie go to hell, whatever, I’d like to k ow the prevailing thoughts.

I’ve been hitting the bench every evening now because time, although doable, is in short supply. I hope t have the aluminum on by tomorrow night, and then panels done Saturday evening. Hopefully glosscoat on Sunday followed by decals Wings on next week, finish landing gear, and final Bits the week after. I foresee no issues in my way go being done in time other than a Honey-Do list. Add to that the local Boffin Waffen kids from up and down the street are coming over Saturday afternoon to build snap-tite P-40s and P-51s, time is getting short. I expect I’ll take the Thursday and Friday before leaving for Chattanooga to finalize the bleedin’ thing. I see some 5 o’clock shadow! Scheiße! I should have masked farther back. Good thing Mission Primer is going on over the Mr. Surfacer 500.

I loved Queeekstraw

Mark, not to be picking nits, but if you have the front off, IS that a molding line on the box (governor or mags?) sitting on top of the gearbox?

Exactly. He likes Mickey Mouse so he paints Mickey on his plane. 80 harsh later we’re tearing our hair out trying to figure out the hidden meaning “why”. sometimes, guys will be guys and just do something ‘cause it’s cool. But of all the guys from back then, Galland really fascinates me. He is a big enough hero as it is, but if he was with the Allies, there would have been Hollis Wood movies about him. (Typo on purpose) “Hollis Wood”.

Yeah, we do tend to overthink this stuff. And 25 years ago, we could have just asked Galland himself.... LOL

It makes me sad how all those who could answer these questions are leaving us at a huge rate now. Hard to believe, but there’s not many left anymore.

Interesting pics, sluggo. The only positive conclusion I can see from those pics is that that E7 is truly trashed. As in junk. I agree with you on the white S, the yellow disc? Hmmmm. I don’t think I’m buying the yellow theory. I look at human nature rather than regulation. Yellow nose, so what artist in his right mind would go through the trouble to paint yellow backed art on an already yellow surface. Artists are brggarts just like us, they want their art to stand out. But blue? Could be. I’d say it’s a whole lot more likely than yellow my .02, but that’s why I’m no historian. But typical Galland style maus other than that. LOL Look at Yellow 13 here. The 13 seems dark, but is accepted as yellow. And the shield background here is well known to be yellow

Looks GREAT, my friend! Nice NMF!

Squeal like a piiig, boy! Howl like a Hamster, man!

The Peacocks.

EXACTLY! My wife used "creative" methods to insulate herself as best she could. Her and a couple others had an attorney take statements from other older employees who had been given "impossible offers", and found that 90% of those told to relocate to another city were the older higher paid folks with 30+ years of service. It's a quick, easy way for them to jettison big salaries with no exposure. And highly unethical and probably illegal. My wife got lucky. 90% was a smoking gun, considering the older folks made up less than 35% of the workforce. Agreed. but I like to think it's for a very good cause. The Vets and kids who get kits seem to love them.

So very sorry for your loss, Jeff. They become one of us and true members of the family. It’s never easy. We lost our last one a couple years back and haven’t gotten another yet, not sure we will. But once the pain fades, we eventually remember the great times together...

I just saw this. Amazing, inspiring work here!

That’s the way to do it Mark. Push back! They don’t expect it. They figure people will tear up and beg but I’m telling you, they DON’T want bad press. Keep at it and don’t stop till you get what you need. Accepting and even wanting to leave shows them that they e pissed you off and you’re hopping mad. Be firm but friendly. It’ll work.

Agreed 100% Hubert. As you know, I'm a business owner as well, and never in a million years would I treat an employee like the way they treated Mark. My point was that most Companies, especially those Companies involved with Government contracts DO NOT want bad press. Ever. They put out stupid offers to employees and then hope the employees just go away. It's maddening. My wife's Company did the same thing to hundreds of employees, but in Texas at least, an employee can't be expected to pull up their family at a moment's notice, and AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, to take a consolation job in a faraway city. That's the key to Mark's issue. They expect him to relocate almost a thousand miles at his own expense. I can pretty much guarantee you that that fact alone will sway any finding of fault in Mark's direction. This kind of behavior by the Company is complete and total low down weasely stuff.

yup, the only reason is that if you can create enough potential bad press for them, more often than not they'll just give you a buyout and be done with it.

Carl, I seem to recall that there is a superb Aires wheelwell set for this kit.

Mark, my wife's employer has been doing the same thing, HOWEVER, if it is considered a hardship move that could and would negatively affect you, you may have an out. I am going to HIGHLY recommend you contact an attorney versed in this kind of thing right now. At worst, you'll be out a couple hundred bucks at most, at best, they'll make you a better offer. But probably, if you fight back, instead of fighting it, they'll just settle. I think you'll benefit greatly from at least checking into it.

Thanks Gazz, and yes it does. Some old pics of the 10MR's show some pretty severe exhaust staining on the nacelles as well.