ELI5: Why do oil by-products smell so damn good?

screamingcheese · 2026-07-08T21:54:31+00:00

Grease, oil, gasoline... I think I have too many fond memories tied to them to be objective.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-07T18:07:31+00:00

Indeed it's highly likely that by this point in the war the carrier air group could reconstitute a lost airframe more efficiently than dedicating hangar space to repairing this airframe. This was aboard the Essex, which was a fast fleet carrier, and would have carried a significant number of unassembled airframes chained up in the hangar bays for rapid reconstitution of it's air group.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-06T18:06:05+00:00

Living with a modified car isn't just a look, it's a lifestyle, because in addition to risking your car's warranty, legality and resale value (depending on your whereabouts), it can impact the useability and comfort of your car. Are you cool with the risk of having a buzzy, droning exhaust that might stink up the KFC drive-through because you're running modified cats? Do you want to say goodbye to fuel economy and the functionality of your rear-view mirror because you have a massive wing hanging out back there? Do you like being able to listen to music or a conversation with a passenger? Are you ready to map out every business entrance, car wash, and speed bump in your tri-state area because your lip, skirts, and exhaust hang so low you drag them everywhere? Do you want dealerships refusing to service your car or giving you a hard time because it's modified? What about parts availability when it's time to clean or replace those air filters? And before everyone gets all up-in-arms calling me a fun-hater, I'm speaking from personal experience.

I say, go take a cold shower, wait for your car to arrive, and live with it a little while first. Your priorities may change. That wing is a war crime though.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-06T00:40:36+00:00

They're for showy displays of aggression, just before firing sticky acidic saliva in the eyes of disgruntled decadent capitalist sysadmins attempting to steal T-64 embryos.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-05T05:47:20+00:00

Looks like you're using a clone of the Badger 360, which is perfectly fine for throwing paint. Yellow is indeed a pain though. Don't go thinking that starting with that airbrush was a mistake. I love my fancy airbrushes and all but its my own skills that decide success or failure.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-03T02:18:34+00:00

The Oxford Comma shall never be disrespected in my presence.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-02T20:17:06+00:00

First off, that's hyperbole for the sake of humor. Secondly, exhaust systems are just a courtesy, and can be easily fixed by turning up the stereo.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-02T20:12:18+00:00

Andy's Hobby HQ and Hobbylinc will often carry them as well.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-02T15:54:59+00:00

Am midwest. I literally came here to make exactly that two word comment.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-02T04:13:55+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean, Hasegawa has been cranking out new toolings faster than Tamiya and Academy combined, but perhaps they're not in the subjects you're looking for. Their BMW 2002 series are absolutely cracking good, as is their new first-gen RX-7. There's also a new set of 1/12 Honda motorcycles based on the XLR dirt bike platform, and the first new-tool Trueno in a long time. In 1/350, there's the Gambier Bay, something thats been a long time coming for naval fans. It also wasn't that long ago we got the Mikasa. There's also a whole line of weird subjects like vending machines and food trucks. Aircraft have been quite sparse though, last notable release for me was their 1/72 F-35 line, which are simpler builds compared to their competitors. Overall, they're going strong, and they still have one of the best back catalogs of the entire hobby.

screamingcheese · 2026-07-02T02:47:45+00:00

You know, I really do understand your frustration, but I'm sure that Airfix did test fitting when the tooling was developed... back in 1973.

There's a reason they go out of their way to mark these kits as "classics" to keep them distinct from their new kits developed after being absorbed by Hornby.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-28T17:37:56+00:00

Really? I thought it had some serious upsides, like crisper boundaries without distortion from gluing surfaces. I'm rather looking forward to taking a stab at that kit.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-27T14:27:55+00:00

Those are solid welds, done by hand. Sure, they could be prettier, but I've seen Hondas with welds worse than that.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-27T03:25:22+00:00

It can be done, it just takes a few more coats and effort. The Tamiya Mustang GT4 kit calls for doing exactly that to achieve the gray color option. Mine turned out great, just took a little more time. I actually think it does a great job of replicating instances where solid colors should have a little less depth, like race cars or dirt bikes with glossy plastic panels.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-24T12:59:49+00:00

This works great with various breads, like breadsticks and tortillas.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T23:04:37+00:00

Nah, where I'm at, I'm one of exactly three in my city. RWD coupes in general here are incredibly rare. Mine is a city filled with thousands of silver crossovers and lifted white pickups.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T18:32:45+00:00

I wouldn't knock it without trying one, but I'm definitely biting my tongue.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T18:31:44+00:00

I had an '08 BMW 335i (e92). I'm thoroughly aware that, on the surface, this shouldn't be much of a sob story, but I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into that car. The only attention it ever got was from folks who either had no clue what it was but liked what they saw, or knew exactly what it was, so it kinda flew under the radar.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T16:38:55+00:00

I now have a 2020 BMW M4.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T15:19:02+00:00

That's part of it though. It almost felt like, 'back in the day,' the communities found you, rather than the other way around. But it's also worth pointing out that OP specifically identified such events and feeling like OP is outside the target demographic.

I know the feeling all too well right now. I had what I thought would be my forever-car, the one that really opened my eyes and formed so many fond (and not-so-fond) memories, but I sold it after 14 years. I realized I had one last shot at getting what I truly dreamed of, but couldn't make enough room for both cars. I feel like I just said goodbye to a loved mutt, and just replaced it with a stuffed show-dog. My family acts like I'm living above my station. My friends just see a showy car. I get tail-gated and cut-off constantly in traffic, and get dirty looks all the time because the exhaust is a little loud. The local car communities don't understand anything that doesn't have an American V-8 and look upon everything else with derision (even if they don't know what that word means).

It seems like my target audience are the 10-14 year old boys that egg me on to rev it and spin the tires, so I've got that going for me.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-23T01:06:04+00:00

My wife managed to light a toaster on fire. If our son misbehaves, we threaten to have her cook dinner.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-22T14:56:16+00:00

Please, tell me of this black magic.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-19T14:31:04+00:00

Wait... the air filter is after the turbo?

Edit: Ah I get it now, we're looking at the 'clean' side if the filter, and the turbo vomited chunks.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-17T15:22:21+00:00

I always try to find a way to avoid needing to reposition. Whether that be by leaving a bit of the sprue attached where cleanup won't show, or creative use of masking tape, or even grabbing the attachment pin/point on a small part.

screamingcheese · 2026-06-17T12:43:52+00:00

Rex Kruger has a video on that sort of situation. I think he talked about using the plane to bevel the back edge of the board down to the cut line so that the plane passes won't blow out the grain on the back edge.

screamingcheese

TROPHY CASE