"Neat Seminar" for 2015 IPMS Nationals....I'm just saying.

I will be giving my first ever demonstration at the 2015 IPMS Nationals: 

 

It should be "fun" and "interesting".  I will be talking about Building, this blog highlights the core build, specifically the Zis-5V.  If you have any questions...well you can ask me when you see me.  Or bang your shoe on the table.  It worked for Kruschev.

 

 

These are my notes.  I have an hour and will cover 6 areas of construction: 2 Beginning (parts removal and clean up), 2 Intermediate (soldering and basic scratchbuilding) and 2 Advanced (thermoforming and some other craziness I can't recal).  10 whole minutes for each.  I have a wireless camera and I will bring my tools and do the actual construction in person.  The camera will send the real time images to a monitor so everyone can see.  That's the plan.

 

 

Here is the truck so far.  I'll leave it all unpainted so the construction process is visible.

 



 

I am getting all this stuff ready (shhhhh...it's a surprise).

 

 

I leave you with this, irrefutable proof that I am no longer under 50!  Cheers!

Zis-5V (1/35 MAC Models, Ukraine) Chapter 9

The Nats are....let me check...15 days...21 hours...18 minutes and 42 seconds...41 seconds...40 seconds...away.  As the time gets all crunched up, so do the projects.  Things are mostly done.  These posts here concern themselves with the Model Building demo that I am giving at the Nats (I'll do separate post with trumpets later), so I am going to post more pics here on the Zis-5V so all three of you can see:

I wanted to make my own fenders.  I always do a test first to see if it is even doable.  I took some .003 brass sheet and did this test, which proved it was possible.  He always runs while others walk.

In real life the Fenders are folded out of tin sheet.  This was done for many reasons, labor and material savings mostly.  Once I determine it is feasible, I do a drawing next, mostly because it forces me to look at the part to be constructed.  (This photo, BTW, is pure gold.  It does not represent a 100% historically accurate vehicle, but gives the best overall impression of it.  As modelers we become fixated on all the details, forgetting the whole). 

Using the kit part I make a pattern out of a note card.  He acts while other men just talk.

 

 I use .003 brass shim stock sheet to make brass parts.  These clear rulers are essential to getting straight lines, you can see through the rule to line up the bottom edge.  .003 is a little thinner than the typical PE parts.  He looks at this world, and wants it all...

 

 

The drawn on lines are pretty important, take care to get them in the right place.  For the folds I score the lines with my X-acto.  So he strikes, like Thunderball.

 

 

I used to use a hold-n-fold...but these days I use a smooth jaw pliers.  He knows the meaning of success.

 

 

Here is the finished fender....wait...the part that gets connected to the running board is on the wrong end.  His needs are more, so he gives less.

 

Trans and Drive shaft.  A drawing to get in my head what to build.  They call him the winner who takes all.

use a big black sharpie to mark the end.  This allows you see if your hole is in the center.  Start it slowly and adjust.   And he strikes, like Thunderball.

Use a file to shape.  Any woman he wants, he'll get.

...It is just plastic after all.  He will break any heart without regret.

Checking against 1:1 printout.  Trans needs to be redone.  Why?  Oh, don't get me started.  Let's ask Tom.  His days of asking are all gone.

His fight goes on and on and on.

The other thingie is a cover that goes on the side of the trans.  I'll slice off a salami section for the cover.  But he thinks that the fight is worth it all.

Parts is parts.  (I didn't shoot the trans...I'll add it later.  Or not).  So he strikes like Thunderball.

What a Lovely Day

The IPMS Nats are only 40 or so days away....and what am I doing.......?

I am giving a seminar on building (this is the reason behind the whole Zis truck craziness).  As you can see this is not a Zis, Russian, old or green.  I'm not sure it has anything in common with a Zis-5V other than they share the same planet.  No windshields, lots of pointy rusty things and big A** tires.  Yes, I saw Fury Road 3 times.  Hey, I live next to a theatre...I am supporting the arts and the community.

This is a Cosmo Zero A2 from Space Battleship Yamato 2199.  Bandai kits are beyond flawless.  Building this made me feel like a kid.

Rear view showing the wing folds.  None of the kit is glued together.

Here is something I am supposed to be working on....it's secret.  

I have tiptoed back into gaming....I discovered Infinity miniatures out of Spain.  I have to wear a lot of lenses, but I think I may be able to paint these.

Angles book...how tp paint and some of my first attempts in many many years.  The base colors are airbrushed.  Yes, insane.  Well, that's it for now, I will get back on to the stuff that needs to get done...tomorrow.....

Zis-5V (1/35 MAC Models, Ukraine) Chapter 8

The Nats are getting very close.  One Page Dungeon done, props for....(that's secret) and sorting crap to sell on Ebay...time to get back to it...next up, Soldering:

Here are the basics.  Solder, Flux (the pasty kind), torch, smooth jaw pliers and various clampy things to hold stuff in place.  I use a flex tweez and smooth jaw alligator clamps.  I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.  See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.

Now the madness begins.  Can you believe this is only chapter 8?  Ahem.  Take the smooth jaws and flatten some solder... I'm crying.  Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.

Like so.  Get it nice and thin.  Wafer thin.  Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.  Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.  I am the egg man, they are the egg men.

Chop it into little rectangular flakes.  I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Using an old brush smear on the flux.  It prepares the surface (makes the solder stick) and acts as a kind of "glue" to hold the little flat solder flakes in place.  Mister City Policeman sitting.  Pretty little policemen in a row.

Put flux and the solder on the part.  You don't need a lot of solder.  See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.  I'm crying, I'm crying.  I'm crying, I'm crying.

Now, take your clampy things and get all...clampy.  Make double damn sure parts are where you want 'em.  Solder is like super glue for real men.  Manly men.  (This is a stiffner on the inside of the panel so it will stay straight, BTW).  Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.  Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess, Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.

Apply the heat.  You will see it work.  It will wick just like super glue, AND if you only use a little solder you won't have a globby joint.  So back off.  I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.  I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Like so.  Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.  If the sun don't come, you get a tan From standing in the English rain.

This is the other side of the part in the above pic.  In order to cut the louvres I needed to use .003 brass, so I needed some support from the back, hence the stiffner, above.   I know, shut up already!  Gonna attach this to the bonnet...I have put a very small rectangle of solder on the upper right corner.  I am the egg man, they are the egg men.  I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.
 

Fluxing.  Expert text pert choking smokers, Don't you think the joker laughs at you?  See how they smile like pigs in a sty.....

Holding with clippy.  Clippy on a sticky.  See how they snide.  I'm crying.

The trick with the torch is to only hold it on the spot long enough to blast the solder at that spot.  If you are quick, you won't pop the other joints.  Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.  Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna. Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.

Nice thing about brass is, it's very durable.  I have found the handleability makes up for the time up front in fabrication.  I am the egg man, they are the egg men.

Putting the model together keeps me going.  I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.  Goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob g'goo.  See you in Chapter 9!

AMPS 2015 Show Report

 

Four of us from "Hobby Club" decided to go to AMPS in Auburn, Indiana.  We live 3 hours away, MJ wanted to get there early (to get back early) so he was at my house literally at the crack of dawn.

 

We stopped to weewee and eat foodyfood at the oasis.  A resplendent facility with clean floors.

 

 

Our arrival at the Kruse Auto Museum, home to AMPS 2015.

 

 

Entrance to the show.  The nice admittance lady asked if I was over 55 (for the senor discount), I lied and said I was.  I saved 2 dollars.  I think this savings was recouped by the venders.

 

 

Here are two of my compatriots, "MJ" and "MJ" (actual names withheld for security reasons).

 

 

Typical of what was to be seen in the overly dark venue.  This year the models were scattered throughout the exhibits in the military side of the museum.  I'm sure it sounded like a good idea, but it made it difficult to enjoy looking at the models.

 

 

 

Another miniature.

 

 

This is the vendor section.

 

 

Airplanes....cars.....fire....bad.

 

 

 

For a fee, lunch was available at the event.

 

 

We instead chose to eat locally.

 

 

Stomachs filled with red meat, we returned.  I tried to bribe the nice service men to let me drive this vehicle.  I think they turned me down because of the dire look on my face.

 

 

More looking at models....although it was a little disconcerting....

 

 

...being watched by unliving eyes.

 

 

Another cool model from the Eastern front.

 

 

...Another mannequin.

 

 

Model.

 

 

Mannequin.

 

 

Model.

 

 

Patton Mannequin.

 

 

Models.

 

 

Yup.

 

 

 

Museum has a beautiful Studebaker.  And a lovely pole.

 

 

Another mannequin.

 

 

At about 2:30 the vender area rolls up.

 

 

Vending Machines completely ravaged.

 

 

Buckled and almost ready to go.

 

 

Now we are ready.

 

 

Somewhere it is written that when Bun creates a new flavor, the blood will be bridle high.  In the other oasis, (A mirrored duplicate of the first we had stopped at) I found a big surprise....SEA SALT.  Bun has only had 3 flavors since time immemorial...Chocolate, Vanilla and Maple...(I always get Maple when I see it).

 

 

So ends another adventure in modeling.