#histscalemodels #scalemodels OK, now I'm REALLY done with the 1/16 Jeep. Tackled painting the driver, applied a sludge wash to bring out details, and put him behind the wheel. Didn't glue him in place because I might want to do some more interior detailing. Nice to finish a kit with a figure!

#histscalemodels #scalemodels. Driver for the Takom jeep. My first attempt at painting a figure using the glazing technique. Uniform isn’t bad, but the driver looks too much like Jeff Bezos. Adding his helmet will help — but I think he needs a stubble beard.

#histscalemodels I think I can call the 1/16 jeep done -- except for affixing the steering wheel. That will wait until I finish painting the driver. (That will be an adventure.) I lightly weathered the tires and am thinking of similarly "dusting" the sides with an airbrush, but I'll sleep on that.

Takom Jeep nearly done. The windshield was a real challenge. I'm used to aircraft kits with pre-cut masks for the canopy. This time I had to cut my own. The dashboard decals went on nicely. Added gloss clear to simulate glass. Still some fiddly bits, like windshield wipers. Oh yeah, and tires.

The 1:16 Tacom jeep is coming along nicely. Trying some post-shading to break up the ubiquitous Olive Drab paint job. (Very happy with Ammo's Atom paints.) My first attempt at an engine that will stay visible. Not sure how to weather; probably start with light dust and work upwards.

I got one the other day from a close friend inviting me for “ an evening of fine dining and conversation.” Immediately suspicious. He eats out of cans.

#histscalemodels. Advice needed. My Tamiya fine surface primer did something weird; it “curdled” but only on one fender on the sprue. Its adjacent mate was fine. See side-by-side and close-up. Washed sprue first in dish soap and dried overnight. No finger oil either.

So, if I follow the logic, the President will be only be safe at events if they take place in his bombproof ballroom. But the WHC dinner was an invitation event, not a presidential function. Does this mean all future events to which the president is invited will have to be moved to the WH?

#history San Franciso, April 18, 1906: Police Report: 'On Third St. a collapsed building pinioned a man to the ground. Realizing he would be burned to death he begged bystanders to kill him. A large man stepped forward, whipped out a revolver and shot him through the head, killing him instantly.'

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Finished weathering the 1917 Model T ambulance. Muddy tires and fenders created using Vallejo's "Thick Mud" and Tamiya "Clear" to give a wet effect. Also, a touch of AK's "Fresh Mud" (which is really a wash) applied using the toothbrush splittering technique.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels This is my "palette cleanser" after a long building spree of WWII tanks and aircraft: a 1917 Model T ambulance. Still needs post-shading and weathering. The blue color was a challenge. I ended up using Vallejo's Model Air IDF Blue with a drop of flat black.

How does James Comer have Hillary testify but not Melania?

#photography #sanfrancisco Just for fun, one of my favorite streets in San Francisco: Seal Rock Drive near El Camino Del Mar. It drips of post-war, mid-century architecture.

#history A friend tried to clean up historic photos using AI and forwarded me examples for review. I was startled to see the program had added nonexistent features, like below… Original photo shows a lone soldier but the AI program added 4 more soldiers at right. Total fabrication Scary stuff.

Alcatraz penitentiary closed today in 1963 after 29 years of operation. It’s been a historic site for 53 years.

Imagine that everything he promised his base turning out to be a lie. Shocking. Just shocking.

#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels Need advice. I'm trying my first airplane that has inset windows instead of a canopy. I'm using Micro Crystal Clear, but it squeezes out no matter how little I apply. When I use a wet Q-tip to remove it, it smears and will not clean up. All my windows fogged. Help.

Here’s a thought for James Comer. There IS a First Lady who has had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And it’s not Hillary Clinton. It might be worthwhile for Comer to subpoena the First Lady who actually knows Epstein. You know, just to see what she knows.

#scalemodels #histscalemodels. Any guidance on placing individual aircraft windows? So hard to apply the Micro glue, then place windows without smearing or finger prints. Ruined four panes and had to order a complete new kit to get replacement windows. $$$

$1.5T military budget $170B on ICE & Border Patrol $100B on tax cuts for the 1% $20B from Treasury for Argentina $1B to refurbish Trump's Qatar jet $500M sending National Guard into cities $250M on Kristi Noem's jets $100M+ on Trump's golf outings $75k for Kash Patel's Olympic trip Priorities.

The stats are in…

#SanFrancisco San Francisco then & now. I've been photographing the city since my high school years and am always looking to recreate historic views. Here's one of my favorite sites: Sutro Heights in the 1910s and today. (Only the replica lions remain of this once impressive entrance gate.)

"The 49ers kept scoring touchdowns in the second half of the game despite originally not having the lead. Seems fraudulent."

#scalemodels #histscalemodels Here's a side-by-side comparison of AK Xtreme Metal's aluminum and Tamiya's XF-16 flat aluminum. Both applied over bare plastic. (Taken in natural indirect window light.) I'm a die-hard Tamiya fan but their metal finishes (like most acrylics) are too "grainy."

To Gregory Bovino: This is what brandishing a firearm at a protest looks like.

I'm attending No Kings's event, “Eyes on ICE: Document and Record” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...

I am watching what is happening in Minneapolis on Ali Velshi and one of the ICE officers (off camera) literally says, “It’s like Call of Duty. Pretty cool huh?” as they shoot whatever it is they are shooting. Agents walking around, guns unholstered for no reason. This is insanity

#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels Update on the F3F-2. Apologies, but had a setback when I assembled fuselage out of sequence (bad idea). Had to order replacement parts. Now I've got the fuselage completely assembled, filled, primed and sanded. Looking pretty good. Next step, AK Xtreme Metal Aluminum. 🤞

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Progress on the Grumman F3F-2. Cockpit almost done. A bit of a catastrophe when the decal of the instrument gauges flopped back onto itself. I wasn't able to unfold it. Only the white backgrounds survived. Maybe no one will notice if I close the canopy.

And now it begins. First build of 2026. Fingers crossed; this will be my first biplane in (literally) several decades.

#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels We're hosting a Holiday Open House this afternoon. Spent two days cleaning up the house -- especially my modeling nook. Thought I'd put out some recent examples for the guests to see. (Note: may need a 'do not touch' sign. People love to try to spin the props.)

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Nippy outside. Sharing a hot latte with Betsy & Milo. Merry Christmas, all.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Second attempt at a British X-Craft sub. (My first one got binned after a shattering fall to the floor.) The overall grey scheme didn't allow for any creative camo. Instead I added restrained rust effects at the drain ports and where seawater would pond on the decks.

I had to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution when I became a park ranger in 1974. The usual process was simply signing on a dotted line, but I made the Personnel Officer swear me in, hand raised, in the middle of the office. I took those words seriously. The clown car in DC doesn't.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Are there any sources for 1/35 U.S. sedans from circa 1940? I’d like to do a staff car alongside an early Stewart but all all I can find in that scale are European autos. American vehicles of the era aren’t close to 1/35 - except for a Packard but that’s too posh.

#sanfrancisco #gratefuldead SF then and Now. 1965. The newly-renamed Grateful Dead (formerly the Warlocks) took a series of PR stills at Battery Boutelle in the Presidio of San Francisco. Still there today..

We need new heroes

Doguerreotype 🗃️

As if he cares…

These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..." Kinda looks like touching to me.

Let their words speak for them.

#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues. This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.

Even Sporkfoot knows who is responsible for the government shutdown.