HubertB

I agree with Rob. At the other, invisible, end of this chain is an anchor weighing a few tons. That’s enough to tension any chain. As for ship modelling, I believe that once you are used to 1/32 in aircrafts, 1/350 in ship modelling is just too small. For me the « proper » scale for large ships is 1/200, and between 1/48 and 1/100 for period sailing ships. As for 1/700 ships Hubert

I can already give you the answer to that, Gaz, and it’s a flat « no », unfortunately. A metal lathe requires a vey rigid chassis, torque more than speed, a strong attachment point for the cutting tool, i.e. a travelling chariot rather than a tool support like Rob’s new baby, micrometer advancement settings for the tool, a strong chuck, etc. The only way to machine metal on a wood lathe is to have a very soft metal like aluminium (and then not all aluminiums alloys) and use a file. You cannot do much this way. You can find some new, small dimensions, metal lathes - made in China - in a price range between 500 and 1000 USD. For the price, they can be surprisingly precise ( the key criterion being concentricity tolerance). And then you can also look for second-hand ones. The small Unimat 1 could do some small-diameter metal work, provided you changed the motor, and added stiffener plates everywhere, or changed the plastic chariots to metal ones. Not really cheaper than a dedicated small metal lathe as described above, in the end. And it still lacked the bulk and weight of the small metal lathes you can find on the market. On a machine that exerts cutting and tearing forces on metal, mass, that increases inertia, dampens vibrations, and is also a signal of the size of the chassis, and therefore of its rigidity, is actually a helping factor. The Chinese-made small dedicated metal lathes weigh around 50 kg and up. And, btw, conversely, do not expect to turn wood on a metal lathe. Plastic, yes, perspex yes, soft metals or steel yes, on these cheap-end metal lathes, but not wood... Ask me how I know So that means two lathes if you want to turn wood and machine metal (the semantic difference is actually meaningful) Hubert PS: nice little machines, Rob. These Proxxon machines are actually fairly good, robust and precise for modelling.

These look really good, even better, IMHO, than my current go-to reference, aka Yahu panels. Unfortunately, my « exotic » modelling choices mean I am unlikely to get any of these sets, buy maybe for a Spiffire IX or Mustang set, for which I have civilian or racer schemes targeted. In the meantime, Airscale decals will come to my rescue Hubert

Very nicely done, John, to your usual high standards. Hubert

The O-stralian Mirages were based on the E, btw. Hubert

In essence, LSM is for Large Scale Models (of aircrafts and armour, implicitly). But there is an area for Non-LSM WiP threads, where you can even post a 1/72 aircraft build (aaaaargh ! ) ! And this is a pretty oecumenical site. I have yet to see anyone protesting about a non-LSM build. At worst, you would get get your build thread transferred to another area of the site. So, finally, welcome to LSM. I love the rusting of the Porsche. Hubert

Certainly no criticism from me. I actually enjoy getting this kind of information. As far as I am concerned, you carry on with all the web training you want : I’ll be a studious pupil. Hubert

Whilst we are at the web-training phase, what is the direction of the fluid flow ? Blue to yellow, or yellow to blue ? Hubert

I also learned something. Had never seen it, nor read about it. And your job is outstanding ! Hubert

Very nice work Rob ! These erasers are actually fiberglass, and a legacy of the times when people were drawing on calcs (a few of us still remember those times ). Much more precise and efficient than traditional rubbers on calc paper. And yes, the fiberglass strands can break, and have a nasty tendency to insert themselves in bare skin ... ouch ! Hubert

And based on what expertise do you guys dare to criticise people who have a real knowledge in a field where you are obviously just amateurs (especially red) ? Let me start by telling you how wrong you are ... ... and then ... Hubert the omniscient know-it-all (and more)

Thank you for the nice review, James. ICM are really becoming a force to reckon in 1/32 scale. Hubert

I have read not so much for snakes and spiders, who find refuge in the houses. Knowing how nasty the Australian fauna can be, I’d be extra cautious going back home after the flood Hubert

Reminds me furiously of other behaviours in a certain pandemic ... « what I believe and have to do is so much more important than your life ... and f#!@k your feelings » Hubert

Hi guys, I hope that you and your houses have been spared by the floods in Eastern Australia. Hang tight if its near you. Hubert

The collector rings of the Bristol engines were made of steel (not stainless, as far as I know), the only metal that could withstand the high temperatures of the exhaust gases. Their color is actually a mix of the colors you find on steel submitted to high temperatures and almost submitted to a tempering process: from the blue so much loved by the high-range watchmakers like Breguet (steel blued at an alcohol flame) to the reds and oranges of steel going through various high temperature gradients, to some rust. « Brass » is just a shortcut simplification of these complex hues ... Hubert

Amazing work as usual. It looks like these Russian trucks had the same type of ergonomics as a British WWII fighter Hubert

You’re on another winner, and what a start ! Hubert

I’m like you Steve. Got the book last week, and am going through it slowly before going to sleep. The theoretical and practical explanations take some time to be absorbed and integrated, but I can concur that, from the little I have read so far, it’s the best modelling book I have ever bought Hubert

No blemishes at all, Rob, especially considering the true size. Which is also why the wire wheels probably look better in real life than on the macro pics. These wire wheels are the nemesis of aircrafts’ and cars’ kits in almost all but the biggest scales. H7bert

You did, indeed. I am always amazed at how diminutive the Mirage cockpit is compared to other contemporaries. Hubert

Now that you have rigged WWI biplanes, you’re fit for a period ship, Rob And you are right, Chris Watton’s kits are the WnW of wooden period ship kits. Hubert

I it a husky or a malamute ? Hubert PS edit : Bingo ! 15 years in the petfood business have left some memories. Yukon King was an Alaskan malamute, bigger than a husky, just like the dog next to the monty lady (otherwise she is probably too short to pass the selection )

Beautiful, and the figures are a top-notch topping for this build and display. Hubt

These « World’s guards » series are amazing. One of my very good friends and former neighbours in France used to be a cavalry officer in the Polish Army in the 70s ( he even participated to the Atlanta Olympics with the Polish horse-riding team), I could almost swear the ICM Polish Cavalry Officer in this series has been modelled based on one of my friend’s pictures of the time Hunert