R-34 scale model project...Preliminary clearcoats applied to hull.

Here are the images that I just took of the preliminary clear flat coats of paint applied over the silver on the R-34 model's hull to dull it down to more like the airship actually was back in the day. From what I understood, early British rigids were more on the grey side than silver.

There are some minor imperfections in the hull's surface, but I really cannot do too much about it, now, but I think it just adds charm to the model, if you will. The actual airship's fabric panels, when you find clear closeup pictures of the hull were not exactly wrinkle free at times, either, so this does not detract in my eyes the aesthetic scale correctness of this model, too much.

The basic texture I was  trying to shoot for in applying the ring strips to the hull did contribute to the wrinkled look of the surface, but the looks help differentiate this ship from the way the Shenandoah looked.

As far as I'm concerned, the ring strips help "make" this model what it is. This was the first time I added these to a model. The next time I do this, I'll try to do a neater job.

Enjoy the rest of the images.

Nice side profile parting shot for this post.

Jim.

R-34 scale model project...First silver coats sprayed on hull.

 Finally took the time, today, April 20th to apply the first silver color coat paints on the hull.

 Model has a lot of minor imperfections in it that the silver paint brings out. Much like the actual ship, as the fabric on it in places as you can see in some close up period photos, was wrinkled, so the way this model is coming out, sort of replicates those buckles in wrinkles in perfect scale. The R-34 was not as pretty an airship as later dirigibles, such as the Shenandoah, was.

Next step is for me to apply the clear flat dullcoat onto the surface of the hull to bring the color down to more of a light silver gray as the actual airship was colored.

I will apply two clear flat dullcoats before I set the hull aside to finish fabricating the control car, as well as making the engine cars as well.

Jim.

Airship Modeler Gone Again.

Just a brief note to let everyone know that the Airship modeler forum, once again has vanished as of today, March 14, 2013. I will remove this post when (if) it returns.

Jim.

Jo-Han's 1965 Cadillac scale model, A miniature masterpiece of an automotive masterpiece!

I have always admired the styling of the 1965 Cadillac ever since it was introduced in October of 1964 as a seven year old boy. Back then, I asked my dad if he could buy me a toy model of the thing, but money was tight, and he either could not, or he would not. I knew that they made already built up promotional models in 1/25 scale plastic, and that is what I wanted more than anything, but to no avail at that time. I was too young to know how to build model kits at that time, so that was out of the question, too. My dad did get me a Japanese tin litho friction toy of a gold 1966 de Ville the following year, but the detail was not there, and I did not like it. I ended up trashing the toy.

I was finally able to get a Jo-Han annual model kit with my allowance money in the fall of 1966 of the redesigned again 1967 Cadillac Coupe de Ville at my local hobby shop, "Smitty's Hobbies" in the Manor Shopping Center in Lancaster, PA. That shop is long gone, now. I still really wanted the 1965, though.

As I grew into a teenager in the early to mid 1970's I started building and collecting model cars and kits of cars, thereof in earnest. Model kit companies started to re issue models and kits from the 1950's and 1960's of all different kinds of cars. Then Jo-Han Models got into the act in around 1974 with their re-issues of some of their stuff from the early '60's through the early 1970's in their "USA Oldies series line, which included their re-issue of their 1964 Cadillac coupe and convertible kits. A year off, but close.

At the time, I was going 1959 Cadillac crazy, and I had my driver's licence, and I had a chance to buy a REAL 1959 Caddy, but my dad would not let me, so I wrote to Jo-Han Models and asked them if they would re-issue their plastic model they did of their '59 Cadillac. Their response was that they sent me a comprehensive survey, asking me, as a collector, what models that I would be interested in seeing re-issued. That survey list had EVERY car model that they ever  made, going all the way back to 1955, and all the way up to the then new for 1977 model year cars. I was very excited to say the least.

That survey list included the 1965 Cadillac, and of course, I checked that one off, along with about half the cars they had listed there, including a 1956 De Soto Fireflite 4 door sedan, as well as others. The result of that survey was the formation of Ex-el Products, a division of Jo-Han Models. That company proceeded to re-issue their old dealer promotional models in a choice of different colors, in the amount of four different cars at a time in very limited quantities. I was  hoping they would re issue the 1965 Cadillac, but that never happened. So I put it out of my mind....

 That is, until 1983. That was the year I was able to fulfill my dream of buying, owning and driving a 1965 Cadillac. It was a very weather worn Hampton Blue Metallic Calais 2 door hardtop that I bought for $500.00, fixed it up, and had repainted in the original color. I had already started going to car shows and swap meets, looking for nice parts for this car. I  thought, why not look for original promotional models and/or kits of '65 Cadillacs, there. In the spring of 1984, at the big Carlisle meet, I found my first one. an old scratched up blue plastic one with a friction motor, but it was intact. I paid $35.00 for it.

 In the fall of '84, I went to the big Hershey AACA car show, and swap meet. There, I found at a vendor called "Grandpa's Attic", an off white, mint, still boxed 1965 Cadillac Coupe de Ville in absolutely perfect shape. That is the very model you see in these pictures here, right now. When I got it home, I tore it completely apart, spray painted it light metallic blue, and super detail painted the body and interior.

I had my real 1965 Cadillac for almost 25  years, and I enjoyed owning it very much,(We used it in our wedding in 1989) and once I was able to afford to buy my REAL dream car, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air sport sedan, I sold the Cadillac to make room for the Chevy.

I still own this 1/25 scale Jo-Han model that I did up of my car, today, as it is one of my favorite models that I have in my collection.

In my opinion, of all the subsequent models that have been issued of this car by different companies, this Jo-Han model stands out as the most accurate in scale proportions, and the nicest in appearance.

In around 2008, I was finally able to fulfill my childhood dream of finding the original annual 1965 Cadillac model kit issued by Jo-Han models in 1964. It is only missing one stock clear red taillight insert and the custom clear red taillight inserts.But otherwise, it is all there, and in good buildable condition. A not too common kit that I found on eBay . Since these were only issued during the original model year run in 1964-'65, these kits and dealer promo models can command some crazy prices, as they are in high demand, today, where they are found in decent condition.

Jim.

"Model Power"'s "N" gauge "Victorian House" kit build up from 1991.

 "Model Power"'s "N" scale kit of a Victorian House is a very awesome and detail packed little kit. This model assembled is only about 5 inches cubed, it is that small, but the engraved detail in the plastic parts is beyond belief for a model that is so small. Even though I built this in December of 1991, it is still available at your local hobby shop. If they don't have it, they can get it for you. At least in the United States. If you decide to build this cool model right out of the box, it'll take you about 8 hours to do so. I added yellow envelope paper behind the windows to simulate the old yellow window shades these old houses would have had back in the early to mid 1900's. I did no painting at all to this great little kit.The parts are very small and some are very delicate, as well as numerous, so you have to be VERY careful when assembling this glue together kit. Highly recommended kit for all you "N" scale model railroaders out there.

 Here are some very nice detail shots of this detail packed little model.

Jim.

"Golden Hind", built up of old Pyro models kit reissued by Lindberg models.

Let's take a break from the R-34 posts to look at a model of a much older ship of the British Crown.

Under the classification of weird and wonderful stuff comes this built up small plastic model kit I did around 2000 of Sir Francis Drake's 1577 ship, the "Golden Hind". It was this ship he used to circumnavigate the globe, in the name of the Queen of England. From what I read, he was not a very nice guy. One of his favorite hobbies was "keel dragging" his crew members if he felt they were not working up to his expectations, and such. People said he was more of a pirate, than an explorer. Model kit is a Lindberg models reissue of the old Pyro ship model kit that they issued in the 1950's and 1960's. The hardest part about making this model look somewhat realistic was doing the rigging, and making the mast "rat lines". There is very little instructions with the kit itself for doing the rigging, other than the full size patterns for making the rat lines out of black thread on wax paper over the printed out patterns on the instruction sheet. Using pins to stretch the thread taut over the pattern, first horizontal, then the vertical. Then after you have the threads laid out, you take a brush, and "paint" white glue(Elmers, or equivalent), to glue the threads together where they intersect. When it is dry, you take the pins out, and trim off the excess thread, and glue flash. Now how I did the rigging, I'm not going to even try to explain that! The paintwork I had to do beforehand was very involved, too as the model came molded only in white.

Jim.

Airship Modeler is back up and running!

Airship Modeler is back up and running again, but not yet "firing on all cylinders" yet, as Charles, (the administrator and owner of the site) is still working on it to get it fully functional. All things considered, it is a miracle that he was able to save all the content knowledge there, after being attacked by hackers with malware back in October of 2012. So I am saying it is great to have the forum back again! 

(Forum entry page here is an image capture, not functional.)

Link;
http://www.airshipmodeler.com/forums/activity.php

Jim.("Dirigible_Nut" on Airship Modeler)