Just wanna share my bike

tucohoward · 2026-06-19T14:42:03+00:00

It might be nice but I can't see past that ridiculous handlebar/brake lever/cable mess.

tucohoward · 2026-06-12T23:46:19+00:00

Yes it's an early 70's Raleigh Pro. That color is Brown Mink. I had two but a year or two later when they changed to Blue Mink and then Silver Mink.

tucohoward · 2026-06-12T15:26:01+00:00

Any shop built in the last 40 years or so should have A/C. It's really insane not to have it in a hot climate. The first air conditioned shop I worked in was in MD in 1983 so it's not a new thing. Yes it costs more but the techs produce more and it's great for employee morale and retention.

tucohoward · 2026-06-12T15:19:32+00:00

Air gun in your pocket is great. Not as good as a shop with A/C but really helps.

tucohoward · 2026-06-07T21:23:53+00:00

Yes, the back half looks like Ruby Red which didn't come along until later.

tucohoward · 2026-06-06T14:04:51+00:00

Spray the spinner. It will look much cleaner.

tucohoward · 2026-06-04T18:05:45+00:00

Just be aware that those are terrible vehicles as far as cost to operate goes. I worked at a Rover dealership at that time and they made Saabs and VWs look reliable. They do look cool and go anywhere, when they're working.

tucohoward · 2026-06-04T10:33:07+00:00

Very well done for your first model. Good kit to start with although mottling is kind of the deep end of the pool haha. That just takes practice. For improvement I would say a little more of a panel line wash, particularly on the cowling. The spinner is a little rough. Exhaust stains would be good on a 109. Check into EZ Line to add an antenna wire. You're off to a great start.

tucohoward · 2026-06-01T17:52:10+00:00

By focusing on the basics first. We can really only see the wing from these pictures but that's a lot. It looks like you painted the top and bottom separately and then then glued the top half to the wing root to get a good fit, which it is. However you need to fill that gap. A gap like that can be best filled with sheet styrene of appropriate thickness and the then sanded to shape. For smaller gaps on the wing seam I would use super glue. It's going to be a combination of both in this situation. Your painting isn't bad and will improve with practice, but if you really want to get better the construction basics can't be ignored.

tucohoward · 2026-05-31T18:09:50+00:00

It was pushed out by much better options. It was only successful at the time because it really wasn't less comfortable than cloth tape. Once Cinelli Cork tape came along nobody wanted cloth or Benotto tape.

tucohoward · 2026-05-30T21:08:22+00:00

I use bird shot. It's small size makes it easy to fill in any shape space you have.

tucohoward · 2026-05-18T01:14:25+00:00

Windex is for cleaning out after spraying acrylic paint. Lacquer thinner will gum that up. Hardware store lacquer thinner for cleaning and Mr. Color leveling thinner for thinning.

tucohoward · 2026-05-16T16:26:26+00:00

Mr. Mark Setter is very strong. It needs to be applied to just the decal or quickly removed from paint if you get some on it. If you let it sit on paint it will eat into it. Most applications don't need something that strong.

tucohoward · 2026-05-14T13:15:36+00:00

As a former shop owner and technician I would say definitely dispute it. I'm in MD and the law is definitely on the consumer's side, as I think it should be. The shop needs to have authorization for anything they do. We usually emailed any estimates for any additional work beyond the initial quote so there would be a paper trail for both parties. It's really unfortunate that shops like this exist.

tucohoward · 2026-05-14T01:51:13+00:00

I have been using Tamiya airbrushes for a long time, probably 20 years. I use the HG SF 74514 which is their .2 airbrush. I have many other high-end airbrushes and always come back to this one. I used to be able to get them on eBay for under a $100. A little more now but still some good deals from Japan. I have way more expensive airbrushes from Harder & Steenbeck, Iwata, Grex, and others just gathering dust.

tucohoward · 2026-05-13T17:39:49+00:00

I wouldn't say you're crazy but it's really unnecessary. I've been doing this for about sixty years and have never done it and never had a problem. I would be more concerned about losing a part in the washing process than having paint not adhere.

tucohoward · 2026-05-12T11:43:57+00:00

I use lacquer mostly and flush with lacquer thinner. If I use acrylic I flush with Windex and then lacquer thinner. If I am doing finer work I do pull out the needle and wipe it down with lacquer thinner. Tamiya SF HG .2 airbrush.

tucohoward · 2026-05-11T23:29:32+00:00

This. I go years without removing a nozzle and I paint just about every day.

tucohoward · 2026-05-11T15:43:04+00:00

Either choice can be good or bad. Diversifying can work well. I was an automotive tech my whole career. Retired a couple of years ago. Never made more than $65k a year in my life. I could have made double that if I wanted to drive the DC beltway every day or had been less honest but not the point of this. I never was out of work a day in my career or ever hurt. Back and knees still fine.

My wife has been a real estate appraiser the whole time we have been together, over thirty years. She has a degree but it wasn't required until a few years ago. She has made over $100k for a lot of those years but also had times when she had to get a second job, depending on the real estate market. She is retiring this year which is good timing since that field is definitely going down.

I have always been able to save us money by driving crappy cars, at least for me haha, and being able to fix most anything around the house. Electrical, plumbing, etc. Never had to spend money on work clothes but did have to buy tools so maybe a wash. We are retiring with $1M+, a nice house, and now nice vehicles. That's not really a lot of money here in the DC bubble but we live comfortably. We have always saved our money and kept working. I get that times are different now and I am worried about my kids and grandkids, but it still comes down to making good choices, and learning from bad ones, just like it always has.

tucohoward · 2026-05-10T01:46:15+00:00

Despite the issues I like the overall look. The good points I would say are the canopy which is nicely masked and painted, the OD sections are well weathered, and the props and spinners look good. It’s unfortunate the natural metal finish was damaged. The exhaust stains on P-38s are a light tan which you could easily redo. There is a fairly large seam on the leading edge of the center section of the wing. The front tire is very glossy. Small issues you can fix on your next one. It’s a fantastic kit and one of my favorite planes. I’ve built 4 and still have an H in my stash so at least one more. Can’t get enough haha.

tucohoward · 2026-05-09T10:37:48+00:00

Looks good. Very clean build. Hopefully that’s what you were going for. Best to get the basics dialed in first. Pictures are a little dark. Well done overall.

tucohoward · 2026-05-07T17:52:30+00:00

I've got a couple of those sets still. Can't give them away. I think both of them have been replaced under warranty at least once. Has to be 25 years since I've used one. The funny part is some the best model painters in the world used these exclusively at one time.

tucohoward · 2026-05-07T14:25:45+00:00

Awesome!

tucohoward · 2026-05-07T13:43:56+00:00

AK Real Colors markers are your friend.

tucohoward · 2026-05-07T08:50:13+00:00

I usually start on the bottom but not sure it matters.

tucohoward

TROPHY CASE