lksavidge Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 Greetings to everyone! Thank you for allowing me to join your terrific group of model enthusiasts. I started building plastic models before my teen years, inspired my models that my father had built. Once entered adulthood and had a family, I was able to occasionally build a model but as time went on, my model building days faded. I just picked it back up this last spring, and with the pandemic, it couldn't have been a better time. However, when I got back into it, boy was I surprised at the cost of today's kits. For some context, I am now 58 years old. It kind of made me sad knowing that kids today can not afford some of the quality models that are now being produced. I served 30 years in the USAF and retired in 2010. Now I'm doing other work related to what I was doing while I was in the AF. But as for models, my first goal is building replicas of all of the aircraft that flew from the bases that I served (US, Europe and Asia). One of my first models that I built was a 1/144 Vietnam era B-52D, just like the aircraft that I supported at March AFB in CA from 1980-1983 that were on nuclear alert. So history will live on in my home, then I will start my WWII era aircraft. I'll also be building military vehicles that I operated or was deployed with me during my deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan (HMMV, M1A2, Stryker). I'm looking forward to learning new skills, tips and tricks from all of you and seeing your great work! Cheers! Larry 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter96 Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Hi, Larry. A very warm welcome to BM, my friend. I hope you have a very enjoyable time here. It's a great place to hang out and can be very informative, too. Thirty years in the USAF? I bet you have a lot of very good stories from your service. Which bases did you serve at? Did you spend any time in the UK? Cheers. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Larry. Greetings and Welcome from South West England. This is a brilliant forum, with excellent members, who seem to have knowledge about EVERTHING. So ask away. You are so right about the cost of kits now, when I were a lad, I used to buy Airfix kits in a plastic bag, for what was then 2 shillings and 6 pence. But the quality, on the whole, is vastly improved. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Hello Larry... from the city by the lake Chicago. I salute your service and went thru basic myself at Lackland in 1989. Been building since 79, left in 04 and back in 15. Shocked also at the changes the ten years away had brought. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 aboard Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 from Lincolnshire, the bomber county. Would love to see your B-52D. I hope you find this a user friendly forum full of friendly users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Greeting from Western Canada. This forum is, in my humble opinion, THE best place for scale modelling information. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Welcome aboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen W Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Welcome to the forums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksavidge Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 Thank you all for the kind welcome! 🙂 To answer Spruecutter96's question, I was never stationed in the UK, however, I did some temporary duty at Upper Heyford and Lakenheath during the mid-80s. I started my career at March AFB, in CA (B-52D's and KC's), then went to Spangdahlem AB, Germany (F-4E/G's and F-16's), next door to Bitburg (F-15C's). Then went to Aviano AB, Italy, more F-16s and then returned back to CA to Vandenberg, no planes, just rockets and missiles. Then stationed at Travis AFB, CA (C-17's, C-5's and KC-10's). After that, stationed at Kadena AB, Japan (F-15C's, MC-130's, HH-60's, KC's, AWACS, and RC-135's). Final assignment was Charleston AFB in SC (more C-17's). For Abandoned Project, I tried to upload the B-52 from Flickr account with no luck. Guess, I still have a lot to learn. Tried using the FAQ too, the link still wouldn't work. Thanks again everyone, your hospitality is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I just posted an image from my wife's Flickr account. It's the Milky Way over the Stonehenge Memorial in Maryhill, WA. The lighting was a serendipitous bonus by way of local astrophotographers who placed small colored lights behind the plinths for effect. View the image in your browser, click on the "share" arrow in the lower right. As you can see, "BBCode" is selected along with the fesired size, medium in this case. Copy the full URL and paste into the reply window. Et voilà! DSC_0881-2 by Alicja Lombard, on Flickr You could also just post the image URL, which starts with "https:" and ends with ".jpg". Your browser will be able to display that URL directly. HTH -- dnl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksavidge Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 Hey it worked! Thanks dnl42! 😃 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Great looking BUFF! That's an amazing first model in 40 years! You could post a few RFIs. Just sayin'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksavidge Posted October 26, 2020 Author Share Posted October 26, 2020 Thank you. It has it's blemishes. It was my first model using acrylics. When I was modeling 40 years ago, it was all enamels and acrylics were starting to be introduced. So, I'm still trying to figure out how to airbrush them without the orange peel or sandpaper look. Been trying to figure out the balance between thinning, air pressure and distance from model. Perhaps an art, not a science? So many different methods using different paints, thinners, retarders, etc. But I'll figure it out. Hey, that's why I'm here! To see how you guys and gals are doing it. RFIs? I'm such a rookie! ☺️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 RFI: Ready For Inspection. Here's the aircraft section. As for airbrushing, make sure the paint is wet (at least slightly so) when it hits the surface. Here's a discussion that works for Mr Color, Humbrol & Colourcoats, and Tamiya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 I just started using an airbrush and I'm using acrylics, Tamiya and Gunze-Sangyo to be specific. I have thinned them with their proprietary thinners ( Tamiya X20A/ Mr. Color Leveling ) and at about 12-15 psi. Results have been pretty good, I must say. I've also put a few drops of Tamiya Retarder in that mix. I have not once had any tip drying or splatter from my Badger 150 IL. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Nice Buff! That looks like a first-rate finish to me! Welcome on board, and hope you enjoy your stay. 30 years in the AF. Shall we address you as "Chief?" California, eh? Our family used to live in Monterrey when I was a wee-un. I remember attempting to build an Airfix JU-88 that I purchased at the Ft Ord PX, and the results were nowhere near as good as the artwork on the cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksavidge Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 Thank you all for the kind comments and tips. Yes, my last ten years in the AF I was a Chief. But friends call me Larry! Monterrey is a beautiful area. Always enjoy it there. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray B. Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Welcome, Larry! That B-52 looks pretty clean. Looking forward to seeing your future builds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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