#scalemodels #histscalemodels Finally finished the U-boat VII-C. (It's longer than my backdrop.) Added extensive rusting to the hull, but not so much as to make it look like a rust-bucket. One casualty along the way: the original 20mm AA gun. Replaced it with an aftermarket twin MG position.

"There's still gonna be more bloodshed unless they shut their mouth." Probably not a good sign when federal officials sound exactly like abusive husbands

#scalemodels #histscalemodels And... the first crewman comes aboard. A seasoned eye tells him the boat isn't yet ship-shape.

#scalemodels #histscalemodels My first attempt at painting a torpedo. Not too bad. Used Atom "steel" on the body and Xtreme Metal "brass" on the warhead and propellors. A 1:35 torpedo is big.

Two of Donald Trump's wives would have been deported. And Don Jr. and Barron Trump would have Eastern European citizenships.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Conning tower pretty much done, including weathering. Time for the test fitting of the conning tower to the deck. Note: only the tower and deck gun have been painted; deck still to come. (Time to stock up on German Grey for the non-skid coating.)

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Conning tower coming along pretty nicely. Spent a couple of hours on weathering this afternoon: slight chipping at base of tower, and highlighting rivet heads. (So many rivets...) Still trying to track down a replacement 20mm AA gun for the one that bit it.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Mini disaster. The 20mm AA gun for my 1:35 U-boat didn't quite make it out of the paint shop and I need a replacement. Couldn't find any in 1:35 scale when searching on-line. Any suggestions? (20mm or 37mm appropriate.) Alternately, I leave an empty gun mount.

You guys hear that? That's how a real president speaks.

#skystorians The good folks at Atlas Obscura just posted a podcast interview with me about the Sutro Baths in San Francisco. (Thanks for guys for the multiple plugs about my book on the baths “Sutro’s Glass Palace.”)

Trump is the same guy who negotiated the Afghanistan pullout too don’t forget

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Looking for suggestions on painting my U-boat deck. Wartime photos indicate that submarines' painted wooden decks often had a sort of sheen to them, even when dry. How could I replicate this? Coating with gloss (and even semigloss) seems way too much.

#histscalemodels #scalemodels #scalemodel Making some progress on the 1:35 U-Boat conning tower. Lots of details, painting, and weathering to go. The model is so huge I've decided to build it as three separate, displayable units: the conning tower; the deck gun; and the hull with the con and gun.

We wanted to take a moment to thank Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Judge Kelley has temporarily blocked the National Park Service from

#Alcatraz #SanFrancisco On this date in 1962, three inmates of US Penitentiary Alcatraz escaped from their cells and were never seen again. They left behind fake heads "sleeping" in their bunks to fool the guard staff. The heads are now in the museum collection of the National Park Service.

#scalemodels #histscalemodels Progress on the U-boat: initial assembly of the conning tower. Pretty happy how the vertical wood boards lining the bulkheads came out. (Placed there to keep the crew from freezing to the steel in the North Atlantic.) Also tried weathering the black painted wood deck.

Same...

Ann Coulter is back to promoting Donald Trump. This can only mean she saw dollar signs as she has no morality or conscience.

#scalemodels #histscalemodels Just sold this little built-up Renault FT tank on eBay. Not a bad experience, but I'll have to charge more next time to cover shipping and handling. (I forgot to include eBay's fee!) At least I'm happy to know there's a market for built-up models. I have more.

#scalemodels #histscalemodels Starting on the 1/35 U-boat type VIIc bridge. First step: washing all the parts and sprue trees to get rid of any grease and release agents. Had to use the basement wash tub for the deck section. This thing is huge.

The deleted records covered the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy cases, along with rioters who beat police officers with flagpoles, hockey sticks, and bear spray.

#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."