belugawhaleman

A Merry Christmas to all. Stay safe, stay happy, healthy and...warm!

Looks like an interesting website...I just created an account. Thanks

I really haven't used my own locator......I think I paid $12.00 for mine, but I can't remember where I got it from..

Very nice!

Well, just got home and this was in my mail; from DEF.MODEL it's their JGSDF LAV Basic PE detail up set. This is for the Tamiya Japan Ground Self Defense Force LAV kit I got last week. It includes photo-etch ,resin parts, masks, and what looks like a metal disc(mirror?). I got it because of the head light protectors that aren't included In the kit.....these look really small in 1/35 photo-etch!

Wow, that was quick! Hope it works out well for you.....with my last build mine was a lifesaver!

Some of you may have noticed in my posts a silver engine on my coffee table, well it's a Chinese made model "Hit & miss" engine I got for Christmas a while back. It's a four-stroke internal combustion engine I run on a mixture of Coleman lantern fuel (naptha) and Marvel oil....about a 20:1 ratio. The Hit and miss refers to a governing mechanism that allows the engine to fire only below a certain speed. It does this by holding the exhaust valve open above a certain speed. The intake valve is "automatic" being held closed by its spring. Holding the exhaust valve does not allow the pressure drop inside the cylinder that's needed to open the intake. The engine is fired by a small spark plug that's triggered by a magnet that is positioned on a disc that turns on the crankshaft. A neat little curiosity that I fire up occasionally.

Finishing up on the M51...decals and tools on .....a semi- gloss cote followed by Testor's dullcote flat. I really liked this kit...a fun build of a really cool Frankenstein's Monster of a Sherman... demonstrating Israeli ingenuity and will.. I highly recommend this kit. I like the way it turned out...but not without its problems.. A broken idler wheel shaft required some ingenuity of my own to repair, but got it figured. To sum up; one cool Sherman...enjoyable build.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

No, it's actually a small "hit and miss" type internal combustion engine.

Some badly needed supplies this week; Leveling thinner, Tamiya's Airbrush cleaner, two bottles of Testors dullcote, Tamiya clear red, and Tamiya clear orange. All good stuff!

That's looking very nice!

I've been considering the airfix or the Tamiya. I like Big but I also like good fit....so probably the Tamiya wins out. It's been years since I've built a Spitfire.... The last one was the original ,'70s Airfix 1/24 Spitfire.

Glad to hear you're not giving up!

Wonderful..... Simply wonderful!

Well, I hope your experiences with the cutter are good...In my case...with these wheels. Mine proved very useful .The best thing is to watch the YouTube videos how to use it. Basically, you measure the circle you want to cut...and set the cutter to half that size..then when you cut your circle it will be the right size.

Still working on my Israeli M51 Tamiya 1/35........... Today 'been working on painting the road wheels... Did twelve today. First, they were painted with a Tamiya Lacquer spray can....overall In Nato black (TS-63). This paint holds up well when masking...much better than Tamiya's acrylic. Next, I used my DSPIAE circle cutter to cut 24 holes in a sheet of adhesive-backed vinyl . then cut around these holes to make masks. Applying them to the road wheels.... Well, that was a little tricky at first, but then I got the hang of it. It seems to have worked well. The wheels turned out nice. Well, twelve more to go. I'll do this tonight..when I return home from my visit to my Mom's. The circle cutter worked well.....but I did mess up my table... ..lots of little circles scribed on it now. I have a sheet of glass that I normally use...but somehow, I forgot to use it.....Duh!

Ironically, I've always identified with petrified toads, don't know why..I've always thought they were brethren.... Just me, I've just felt that way....perhaps because the Kenneth Grahame stories. Only Tamiya kits....versus motorcars...and gypsy wagons...just me. P.s. where can I get one of those add-on bidets?.....just asking!

Made that kit years ago! Nice to see!! I love to see Japanese stuff! Don't stop, Good stuff ! Paul, the Belugawhaleman.

Today, another one, and..yet again,.. by Tamiya. This time something a little different, it's Tamiya's JGSDF Light Armored Vehicle (35368). A nice little kit of what I think is kind of a good-looking vehicle, although it didn't see any use except by Japan......It looks a bit like the French Panhard. The kit is unusual, having a diecast chassis....apparently to give it some weight. It looks good...parts are secured to it by carefully hidden screws. The body is molded in one piece and impressively so. The kit also has rubber tires. This kit has also been sold as a version used by Japan in Iraq...it has a turret. Anyway, something a little different and probably brings my Tamiya spree to an end.....for a while. Although, one of their Spitfires ...or perhaps a Corsair, well, never mind for now.

I still think that Whirlwind is one cool-looking aircraft! If Tamiya ever makes one....you know I'll buy it!

I chose to do the sand color rather than the gray 1973 color scheme. Again, I tried to pre shade, but lost the effect. I guess I need more practice.. My camera makes sands look a little more yellow than they are... I'll fix the photo if i can. I've added a more representative photo.

A little more progress.... Added and painted the return rollers, the Spare wheels, painted the cupola windows, and painted the left side water can. Will work on the road wheels and idler wheels tonight. Then gloss coat and pin wash.....then, on to the decals!

This kit gives an option of a grayish colored vehicle....... Your suppose to mix buff with medium gray to get the color.....sounds dull as well.

Still plodding along on the Tamiya M51 Sherman... Got some paint on it, painted the canvas cover on the gun mantlet etc. Got to do the road wheels... Sigh. I will use a stencil when I do those. A fun kit...I like the early cast hull.