Navy Bird

Glad you liked Chicago - it's one of my favourite American cities, but then I'm a helpless, hopeless Cubs fan. Hey, come on, any team can have a bad century. I won't say anything about the deep dish other than you picked (IMHO) the worst of the deep dish joints to try. Uno's is a real tourist trap, that's why they're in every shopping mall in the country. If I were going to do the deep dish thing in Chicago, and I personally prefer a thin crust, I would go to Gino's East. Mostly because you can write on the walls and furniture (which you have to admit is not something you can do at home, at least not when Memsahib is watching). But the pizza is pretty good, even with double jalapenos. Then there's the stuffed pizza at Giordano's - one slice, that's it - any more and it's the Return of Mr. Creosote. So, back to modelling. I never had any luck using decal film for canopy frames either. I always paint them on. Thank someone somewhere for canopy masks. Cheers, Bill

OK, where were we before I went to dinner? Ah, that's right the canopy. I hate canopies, by the way. But I gotta do it. So first let's glue the thing on with what I call "white glue" - (Elmer's brand over here, I'm sure you have the same stuff over there). This is the thick, liquid white glue that they give to youngsters because it won't hurt them if they drink it. Because that's what you do in school, right? Drink the glue and eat the paste? It's not a perfect fit, but it's one of the best I've seen in a Special Hobby kit. I think the next step is to blend it into the fuselage, and I don't want to use putty for this. But whatever I use, I have to protect the canopy from any sanding that will be going on. So, let's mask the canopy, but not with the fancy Montex masks, we'll save that for later. All I really want to be able to get at is the seam between canopy and fuselage. Out comes the Tamiya tape, and the next thing you know, here we are: That'll do it. But wait, now what has he done? Oh no, it's that wall paste stuff again - spackle! By Jove what a mess! He even put it on the other side! He's a bleeding looney! Relax, folks. The stuff comes off. Easily, very easily. I use 600 and 2,000 grit sandpaper, dry. If you try to wet sand, you'll get a gelatinous mess because water will dissolve this stuff. The 600 grit will cut it down very quickly, and the 2,000 grit will feather the edges so sweet you'll never notice them. After about fifteen minutes, we're done! Under a few coats of paint, this will look quite nice. And you know what? I think we're ready for some paint, and it's about time! Now, let's use the Montex masks to mask the individual panels in the canopy. Man, am I glad that I don't have to do this manually - there are a lot of panels! The masks went down very easy, I had no trouble getting them lined up and such. I may have to burnish down a couple of edges before I apply some paint, but I'm impressed so far. Oh, that's right, I have to apply a coat of Future/Klear over the masks prior to paint. Almost forgot my new tip! Must be the chemo drugs... Ta for now. Cheers, Bill

No argument here - I now have several more beers/ales to search for in my travels. I will most likely love every one of them! This is possible, because when one is introduced to drinking beer in his youth with ammonia (aka Budweiser) pretty much any good beer is excellent. Beaufort pictures coming shortly - they're developing in the camera right now. Cheers, Bill

Well then, in the interests of accuracy, which brew from the antipodes do you quaff habitually? We must know! Our taste buds await! Cheers, Bill

Praise be, my reasoning still be structured. If I may be permitted an additional query: Does the authorised General MelchieMethod™ work equally well on Montex vinyl masks, as it does on masks made from Tamiya Kabuki tape? Cheers, Bill

This means you apply the canopy masks, then spray a coat of Klear/Future over them prior to painting the canopy frames? I believe I've read that before, so verification from the General God hisself would be the closest thing to a light bulb going off that my chemo-addled brain can manage today. Cheers, Bill

Ah, Toad-in-the-hole. Sausages and Yorkshire pudding! What's not to like? And thanks for the gravy recipe, I'll give that a try. Ooh, Southern culture on the skid. Let's not get started on that Southern US cuisine...not sure my stomach can handle all of that. I love it all, though! Especially the shellfish. Yes it is a Beaufort in the distance - I will get back to it soon! I've never been to Oz and I'd really like to visit someday. I'm sure your BBQ is different than what we have in the US. Heck, in the US BBQ is different in every state. What we really lack around where I live is good curry. Very hard to find. All right, all right. Plastic! Cheers, Bill

Black pudding is on their menu, I could have added it to my roast. I usually have that with the breakfast, though. They have several brown sauces on the table, I can't recall all the names. H-P for sure, that's pretty common over here. London Pub, Daddie's, I don't recall the others. You guys are making me hungry! Keep it up, because loss of appetite is one of my side effects! Cheers, Bill

Another one that I missed - and a beaut at that! I have to arrange the chemo so it doesn't interfere with going ga-ga over great builds like this one! Tony, mate, I have no clue how you can do the paint with hairy sticks, and how you can do so many builds! You must be one of those retired guys, eh? The build looks great, and if I didn't know that the kit was fatally flawed (with something - I can't remember what!) I'd have to say that it's a right nice Halifax you've got there! And what a moving story about the young lad. Thanks for keeping that story alive. Cheers, Bill

Well, there is the British Beer Company in Cape Cod, but their menu is more in tune with US pub grub. I think they're a chain. But they occasionally have a nice treat or two. Now, whether what I had at the Old Toad was a proper roast, I can't say. But it sure was good! Really hit the spot, and the Yorkshire pudding was to die for. The owners are British, and the staff all seem to be British students studying at the local Universities. So I think it's pretty authentic. http://theoldtoad.com/index.html If you have a look at the food specials/entrees, you'll see a photo of my Yorkshire Pudding dinner. Yum! Cheers, Bill

Well said, mate. Now what is it about that brown gravy? Salted to perfection, and able to be lavishly applied to everything on the plate. My wife must have that recipe, seeing as I sure as 'eck don't cook! Cheers, Bill PS. Today's special at the Toad is bangers and mash. There may be another trip in the offing. And, of course, traditional full British breakfast on the weekends. I've been told to feed the cancer, mustn't disobey my doctor!

Well, I was only temporarily a Yank to begin with. The ancestors went forth from Gravesend in April of 1638 on the good ship Diligent, eventually settling in what is now Exeter, New Hampshire. After hearing the siren song of the Pet Shop Boys (Go West!) I managed to trek all the way to Rochester, NY and have set up shop Beaufort-building. I realize that my family have been Yanks for an amazing 376 years, amazing of course in the Yank sense, but in the grand sphere of the British Empire, it tis but a brief bubble. Cheers, Bill

Thanks, everyone. I think that tonight and tomorrow may be the right time to do some more work on the Beaufort. Slowly, things are feeling better! Last night I ventured out to the Old Toad and had a nice plate of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and potatoes, with lots of gravy. I washed it down with a pint of Fuller's London Pride. That's the best I could do, and couldn't finish everything I had. But I had some nice chats with the British students who work at the pub while they're studying here in the States. I even found a gentlemen originally from North London, who's now living in Boston, but commuting to Rochester each week. (That's about a 5.5 to 6 hour drive one way). They could have played some more Kinks and less Mumford and Sons, but what can I say? I had the table right underneath the display of Churchill's obituary notice. Odd fellows, he and I... Cheers, Bill

Back at work today with my new medications. It's a good thing they don't do drug tests around here, I'd have an awful lot of explaining to do! I had to wait until I got to work before I took this pill, because it sends me to some kind of la-la-land. Not that that's bad, but I sure can't imagine driving in this state. It should wear off in time to drive home, otherwise I guess I get to sleep in my office. Maybe some Beaufort work tonight - I received a lovely little collection of RAAF related items in the post yesterday, and I think I now have everything I need to finish Snifter. The last part of building the kit - the fiddly bits part - is going to be right demanding! All those antennae in photoetch and resin. It will drive a man (this man) insane, you just watch! Cheers, Bill

It's a nice little kit, and it gives the Skua some respect. Which I think is something it needs, as its reputation has been tarnished down all the years. When the aircraft was deployed doing what it was designed for - namely dive bombing - it made a good go of it. All at a very bad time with severe opposition. The old Skua done OK in my book. Cheers, Bill

Sorry I've been out of touch, but the chemo has hit me pretty hard. It wasn't too bad on Saturday, but Sunday was miserable and today is no better. No modelling for me for a while. I called into the hospital and spoke with the nice ladies there, and they are discussing the situation and will perhaps adjust the medications. The only relief I get is lying flat on my back. About the landing lights, I think Stan posted a solution a few pages back. Have a look, it's a PE set from Marabu Design. I ordered one, but it hasn't arrived yet. Cheers, Bill

And the F-102. The panel lines on the recent Meng kit need to be filled in as well. Cheers, Bill

How did I miss this one? FAA aircraft from the 50s and 60s - one of my favourite topics! Beautiful work, I can't decide which one I like best. Let's just say all of them! Quite an impressive line-up, and an even more impressive plan for additional models to add to this collection. I'll be sure not to miss the next installments! Cheers, Bill

Very nice indeed! Why model a fast grey jet when you can make something like this? Beautiful scheme, excellent craftsmanship...what else can I say? I love it! Cheers, Bill

I agree - it is so much more satisfying to improve an old kit to the standards we're seeing here. You just have so much more pride in yourself when it's finished, than you would with a shake and bake. Not that I disapprove of those, they have their place, restoring mojo and that kind of stuff. Can't wait to see more, the DH-88 is such an elegant, sleek aircraft. Cheers, Bill

Of course you can. How many times before have you done that? Cheers, Bill

Ah, I'll bet that's exactly what they are. Push throughs. When I look at the inside of the fuselage, that is exactly where you can see the normal ejector pin marks. Just need to adjust the force used to push out the pin after moulding, problem fixed. Too bad some got through. Cheers, Bill

Which kind of lands right in the middle of the Lightnings and the Wyvern. If they could pull off a Beaufighter kit with Wyvern quality, I'd go for it. I do like their surface detail. Cheers, Bill

Of course they could. Like the nice set of English Electric Lightnings they made. Or, on the other hand, like the Wyvern. Cheers, Bill

Interesting, no ejector pin marks on mine: Clear parts look OK, too. No flow lines or fractures. A couple of light scuffs on the canopy, but these will polish out easy. Cheers, Bill