The last time I was in Washington was in 1998 when I dove headfirst into the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the Mall. I spent almost an entire day at that museum and I loved every minute of it. I mean, where else can you see the Apollo 11 capsule, the Wright flier, the... Continue Reading →
Summer 2020 - You might remember it was an odd world back then. There was a lot of "me" time. There was not a lot of opportunity to get out and meet new people. But that was not entirely true. Oh sure, there were many disappointing things that came out of those dark days, but... Continue Reading →
When it comes to a summer vacation, I tend to be a beach bum. And by that I mean a nice cottage by some water, access to kayaks and bikes, and a full propane tank on the BBQ. A rainy day usually means a road trop to some museum or similar attraction. Otherwise, games, books... Continue Reading →
Oops! Let me think of some creative oopses I have had over the years. There was the innovative use of silicone caulk as a liquid mask; there was leaving a model in a sink full of dish detergent for a few hours; or how about painting the perfect national marking on the wing without noticing... Continue Reading →
And really, will anyone miss it? Not me. Not at all. Oh sure, like the buggy whip, 8-track, and the fax machine, resin aftermarket was the bees knees in its day. It was and is far cheaper than using injection molded plastic. Making masters and casting resin parts from them was a viable way to... Continue Reading →
By the time the USN and the Marines sailed up to and flew over Okinawa, they had pretty much solved everything there was to be solved in terms of aviation in the Second World War. The Marianas, the Philippines... all that was behind them. By this point in the war, carriers carried fewer Dauntlesses and... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, Stirlingkit gave me this 1/20 scale working jet engine and I had a blast building it. And the best part? It actually worked when I flipped the switch! Well now Stirlingkit has returned and we are partnering to give away one free kit of this working engine. The contest runs between... Continue Reading →
This was my third straight year since the show resumed in 2022. And I tell you, it just seems to get bigger and bigger. More vendors, more models, more space... All good things. It is also the first model show on the calendar and, well, maybe its me but I think the sun and warmer... Continue Reading →
The original scale modeling podcast, On the Bench or OTB, still creates excellent content with its classic lineup. I started listening to these guys on the first leg of an 11-hour drive to a scale model show in Dayton Ohio. Wow, that was some 6 years ago.... It almost seems like a different world and... Continue Reading →
Some time ago I wrote a bit about why we have contests at model shows. It was a self-reflective piece as well as a commentary on current events. I'll admit: I was probably a little too honest. And given some of the reactions it got on the socials, my theory as to why people participate in model... Continue Reading →
MODEL AIRPLANE MAKER 