Clunkmeister

Scott, that compact disappears in my pocket, but I keep it in a shoulder rig. Just easier and more natural. And you forget you have it on. Until you need it. I don’t keep Glocks or any other Tupperware. I dread getting Glockfoot from my 30 year hammergun habits. It’s a self preservation and anti limp decision I made years ago.

Ahhhh, man! I just realized that big curved area in front of the pilot was supposed to be see through!

Well, just snowing where I am today. She’s finally on her legs.Nose and main gear doors tomorrow. Then probes and various antennae, plus nozzles. Followed by a nice easy wash and then the canopies to the finish. This kit has been a pleasure to build. Undoubtably, there are several details that F-5 gurus will see and change on their builds, but all in all it’s been a straightforward, decently easy enough build. Beware of the dyslexic instructions at times, with part numbers reversed L to R in places, and watch for misaligned locates pins, but all in all, as long as you test fit first, it’s a simple build that almost clicks together. No noseweight is needed. Don’t install any.

They’re single circuit power drums. Totally adequate for 1959, but not good for today. It’s an easy conversion to front discs with a 1990s power booster and dual circuit master cylinder with proportioning valve. The suspension is even easier. Ford full size car suspension was pretty much identical right up into the mid 80s, so parts are plentiful and interchange easily enough. Using shock absorbers with different valving helps settle the ride down, and a thicker front sway bar helps as well. The aftermarket has a heavy duty sway bar for the rear as well, which really fixes all the Wobblies and lean in corners. Those simple mods, along with radial tires (tyres for you Brits), turns these cars into totally competent and extremely popular road machines. A properly set up full size American car with a big V8 can be easily made into a very comfortable and durable high speed cross country machine. Those fins actually do help stabilize the car at very high speed.

Scott, you owe it to yourself to check out the Cz.75. I’m sold on these, and have a small family of them. The big Shadow for competition, the buffed out 75b as belt jewelry, and the 75d compact as a carry pistol. I’m old school with pistols and don’t do plastic or striker fire Tupperware stuff. Cold steel, that’s it. The Czechs make very good pistols. They always have. Since trying my first straight 75, I haven’t picked up a HiPower or 1911 since...

I’m gonna love this, Bill. You’re doing the Dambuster, to give people a bit of extra water, and I’m doing a SAR Bird, to get people OUT of the water.

So, main gear’s on, drop tank’s being seam filled, arrestor hook’s ready, as are the gear doors. So tomorrow, give her a light wash, mount the doors, antennas, and probes, flat coat, canopy, and call her done. Unsure on the crew yet, but I’ll verify with Glen. Then..... Lanc time.

Actually, it’s small for a 1959 American car. Wheelbase is only 113”, when most American cars were 123” or more. There’s not much room inside either. It seats 4, two molded buckets up front between a tall console, and 2 mounded semi buckets in the rear. Thunderbird was exremely well built with a full unit body that was way, way overbuilt and even today offers a super strong and no squeak or flex ride. It weighs over 4600 lbs with options and fuel. The big V8 has 350hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque, and even the small V8 had 300hp and 395 ft/lbs of torque, and it needed every bit of it to move it along. But the 59 Thunderbird convertible will run 120 mph all day long with 4 people and not even break a sweat. When the average 1959 American sedan cost about $3000.00, the Thunderbird convertible, optioned as this one is, cost almost $6000.00. That’s almost $53,000.00 in today’s dollars. Plus tax, title, and delivery. Too rich for my blood. My regular car is a Ford Focus.

My wife had me get the Bird out, take her to the shop, and get working on her. I’ve got to get the interior out and redone, so away we go. Gotta love big American V8s with tailfins and a marshmallow on soft springs ride and wet noodle handling, too. But a massive V8, slushbox automatic, and full power equipment gives us zero to 60 mph in 6 seconds flat. Pretty good for 2 ton cruiser.

Good to see you here, man! We’re having fun here, building and bantering, and just enjoying life with models,

My PBJ-H needs PE. The waist guns are open with no glass. You really need to add to it in there

Be careful with the PE, Ron. that stuff sucks the life right out of a man

Awesome choice! I’ve been picking away at a PBJ-1H for well over a year now. So it’s nice to see another Marine bird. I made the mistake of deciding to use almost every single piece of PE known to man, so I power out often and the project stalls again. I’ll be following this and hopefully I’ll get my mojo back too.

This pic's worth it's weight in gold.

Well, getting closer...

Happy Birthday, Tony!

Yeah, like Paul Harvey sad, "And now, for the rest of the story". There's gotta be 5 feet of wingtip in the snow there. And fully stalled. The next pic probably shows a decidedly nose down attitude. Inside that Dak is the one place on earth I wouldn't want to be at that time.

She looks like she told a big, fat lie. And the Navy sure was proud to tell everyone who owned her. Come to think of it, they could have made the lettering a bit bigger as well.

I’ve been around there often enough and I’m surprised I never saw it. Memories. Thanks!

Where is that, Grizly? Dad was Air Force, and Transair DC-3s were our family’s way around the Country back then. I’ve probably spent quite a bit of time in that old girl. They always got us where we were going, and unlike the trains, they were usually on time.

Brilliant build, Kai! Outstanding in every respect, and it's nice to see that with the correct skill and updates, that old Revell kit can still show show us how a Spitfire's supposed to look. The early Mk.ls up to the Mk.V are still my favorite Spitfire, by far!

Looking lovely, Danny. The fact that Dottie herself is beautiful as well, is a real bonus. She'd definitely be one of those ladies who would make my head swivel on automatic. Oh, and nice P-47 too! The presentation is perfect, and I'm very impressed.

Brian's build is very very nice. I saw that model in person two years ago in Omaha, and it's even nicer in person.

Some moderator I am! Almost encouraging you crazies to go off topic! I'm the biggest offender of them all! Hubert like martin said, Desert cam, Nightfighter, and Low Visibility schemes. I like the Nightfighter myself. Short, built for a job, and no extra stuff to interfere with the mission... With all the cat pics you guys are posting, I'd understand it if people started mistaking us for Facebook.

Hey Buddy, sorry to hear that, man. No matter how much it’s expectrd, it’s never easy. Glad you’re headed out with Bev. She needs you now. I’m keeping y’all and your family in my prayers, Harv.