1/48 Hasegawa Arado 234 Blitz-Now In Completed Section

[Stuart]

Nice rack!

Oops, different thread. Never mind.

[Medicman71]

Nice rack!

Oops, different thread. Never mind.

[speedgraflex]

Summer Glau was a beautiful addition to the Terminator series... even if “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” is all but forgotten these days. My fanboy moment, for sure!

Joe—much deserved praise.

[Duke Maddog]

Oh yeah! I love Summer Glau! It's on my bucket list to meet her...although once I do she'll probably be calling for security in a high, panicked voice!

Bring on the engines Joe! Don't forget to fire them up once done to see how well they work....

[mostrich]

Hey Summer, you're hot!
- No, YOU are!

[mustang1989]

You guys are a hoot!!! LOL!

FINALLY...………...I've got this bird on wheels. One of the inherent weaknesses of this kit lies in the main landing gear. Really flimsy parts and allow excessive "wobble" when loaded with the weight of the aircraft. I fixed this by putting a hidden shim between each main landing gear strut and the fuselage opening for the gear bays. I just cut a small square piece of styrene and slipped it between the strut and the rear bay wall. Can't even see it but it worked like a charm in making the main gear ALOT more sturdy. Gear doors have to be painted and installed and some touch ups are needed on the gear after gluing into place as well as a little weathering on the tires but the wheels are now down.

Folks I never thought I'd get this far with this plane. I consider it a small milestone in getting back to aircraft building as it was really hard to break away from the automotive stuff but I'm feel like I'm finally getting back in the groove to where I can at least have an aircraft build going while working on the auto subjects.

N E wayz…..Today's update:

[Stuart]

That's looking awesome Joe - it looks good on it's wheels.

I hear in regards to the hidden shimming. I do that quite a lot on weak U/C parts, the 410 I'm building now was so bad I've actually attached the top of the tyres to the gear legs for support.

[Floki]

Looks good up on her own feet. If I'm not using AM metal landing gear, a lot of the time I will pin the gear with wire to add some strength. I did that on my Eduard Bf110 and they are in there for good now.

[LyleW]

Those are beautiful aircraft and you are nailing this one in a truly magnificent, oh heck....it looks great.

[speedgraflex]

It is officially Summer now that she has fired up the Q! Thank you, Torben! Land sakes she is beautiful. I was going to write about this moment and refuse to be distracted by her, though. That is tough, though. Joe—congratulations on reaching this milestone. I am proud of you. I personally find great inspiration in a moment when a project which has been put to the side for various reasons is picked up again, and I value what happens inside myself and I think you do too. It’s a moment that should be acknowledged and a moment to be savored. Is a hobby not simply a way to pass time or shake off the daily cares? A resounding “Yes.” A hobby is far more complex. I feel we ought to find a new word for what we do. Even if this is part time, I see such a tremendous need for fulfillment in all work being done, of validation and personal growth— we seek knowledge within and without—and find ourselves drawn in directions we often never imagine. It is without a doubt the greatest task to complete a project when the goal shifts around, but that is when we really learn where our true goals are—I know for myself it is always less about gluing parts and more about chasing the forms of another era—or an imaginary one. Honestly it is that goal which I find most capricious and often if I point to a personal failing it is succumbing to the next project down the line whilst the current one languishes, so to see a resurrection basically in conception is pretty much the end all of what the model building hobby is about.