SPA Modeler

This is looking fantastic again! Wow, the detail in the cockpit is amazing and I think the pilots is sitting pretty well so far. At least his legs and feet seem to be in the proper position.

So was that Gene Hackman that passed? Wow, I hadn't heard anything about him. May he RIP.

Keep it coming Bruce! This is such an incredible thread to follow!

Bruce, I'd like to say that it's great following your work here. I admire your process and the thoughfulness that you bring to your work. It is inspiring to me; lately, I have been unable to make much progress on anything, it seems. I have several model projects underway and none getting very far either. And of course, I'm still planning ahead and tempted to start even more. Aye yi yi!

Your focus on this Camel is impressive! That's not always easy to do and you seem to have it in spades. Your construction mirrors your research and you've allowed us to accompany you. As a model builder who works in the hinterlands with no local support (other than my wife), model forums have been a godsend for me. They provide the encouragement and support that it so essential for our growth. Everyone appreciates feedback on their efforts, but sometimes that is hard to come by. I've recently started a Substack account and have posted a few things that I've written. And for the most part, it's all been unnoticed. Sometimes it's hard to establish oneself in a new community and growth comes slow. And of course, talent plays a big part.

I've enjoyed the following quote so much. It was written by a New York newspaper reporter, reviewing the performance of one Miss Adah Menken in 1859, and seems applicable to me as well!

"She was delightfully unhampered by the chains of talent."

Duke! Duke! Duke! I humbly thank you! And Gary I humbly thank you!

I appreciate you both so much—and as time passes, even more so. I extend the same offer to you both—if you want to add an insert worthy photo of a significant work or in Gary’s case, perhaps, an article, to the SPAM Facebook, feel free to contact me. This also goes to the whole gang, whether it be ten of you or two hundred.

"As you get older, you get smarter and that can hinder you because you try to gain control over the creative impulse. Creativity is not like a freight train going down the tracks. It’s something that has to be caressed and treated with a great deal of respect. If your mind is intellectually in the way, it will stop you. You’ve got to program your brain not to think too much."

Bob Dylan, 1995, from an interview with Edna Gunderson for USA Today.

Wisdom—from a poet: “Don’t think too much!”

I made some progress today. I added arms to that pilot. Hands to follow once the Milliput cures. I don’t think Milliput is ideal for sculpting figures. Aves Epoxy might be worth a shot. I also puttied and sanded the propeller again! This makes the third time I have reworked the fills. Let’s see!

RIP

I shelved the Pilot figure. The reason I don’t think Milliput is ideal may be because it self levels. I was able to keep teasing out the level of detail in the folds only after the basic shapes hardened which is a bit tricky. I am too inexperienced with scale figure sculpting; I should have used wire to hold a form! There’s a reason for doing things and I need to learn the rules before trying to get rid of them.

I am going to think more about what to do. I might just build up cockpit details from the PE set.

Yeah that cockpit is looking great!

Thanks, bud! More AK markers arrived. I’m not sure what to do with them yet. More practice? I have a system that works because the base coat is Mr. Color’s Tan which is just right to use as a canvas for layers of oil colors.

Bruce, have you ever tried Magic Sculp? It might be a good solution to sculpture the pilots figure.
It is a 2-compounent resin filler which can be softened or better blended with water.
You know Christian, master of home-made scratch model kits of unusual aircraft swears to this filler.

If you like I could print the linked pilot in the size you need it.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2095907

I’m still trying to decide but you have given me much to ponder, Marius! Thank you so much!!

TGIF

I’m leaning heavily towards building the Tom’s 1/28 cockpit because I have it, it’s in scale and once complete it will be a reasonable upgrade from what Revell provided.

I will write more but this remains also a strong possibility thanks to the kind offer of Marius to print a figure using .stl files. I was able to find these ready made files held online by two companies, one a more generic place that wanted $14 for the files but the site according to online reviews was now operated by pirates and the other site which sells the same file for less than half which was owned and operated by the designers of r/c aircraft. Files must be reduced. Let’s see!