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Iron Modeler
Tell me what you build, and I'll tell you who you are.
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Can You Really Go Home Again?
“My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old pro copywriter. Greek, named Teddy. And Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is ‘new’. Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of... calamine lotion. But he also talked... Continue reading
Posted Mar 29, 2024 at Iron Modeler
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The Hows and Whys of Post-War United States Military Air Power
Howdy, all! Today (28 March 2024, to be exact) is a rare day--I'm making multiple posts on the same day for your reading enjoyment. Sit back, relax, and enjoy... ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Today, let’s examine how the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate branch... Continue reading
Posted Mar 28, 2024 at Iron Modeler
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Paint for Scale Models – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly…
Posted Mar 28, 2024 at Iron Modeler
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87,600 Hours
Howdy, all! “That’s an interesting title”, you say. “What does it mean? Is it a countdown to something?” Allow me to explain… Many years ago, a friend and I were discussing models. It was in the early 2000’s, right when the Monogram ProModeler 1/48th scale F-86D arrived at hobby shops.... Continue reading
Posted Sep 6, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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More on older model kits...
Howdy, all... The other night, I recalled that the Monogram 1/48th scale kit of the F-106A turned 40 years old this year, having hit the hobby shop shelves in 1983. I recall this specifically because a college friend was geeked to the max over the kit and bought it as... Continue reading
Posted Aug 26, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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To Quote the Rossington-Collins Band...
Howdy, again! I've heard from some people about my latest post: "Why are you so against new kits"? "If we didn't get new kits, we'd still be building wood models!" Don't misunderstand me. I love seeing new kits--from any manufacturer, of any subject, in any scale--whether it falls into my... Continue reading
Posted Aug 10, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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Turning Corners and "From the Mouths of Babes"
Howdy, all! Do you remember the projects you completed where you thought you had “turned a corner”—that is, you finally put a group of skills together into one project and brought it to completion? Given that this blog is centered on scale models, I can think of a few projects... Continue reading
Posted Aug 9, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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Vermont Vipers
Posted Jul 14, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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On the Gustav Line
Posted Mar 9, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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New Year, New Stuff
New Year, New Stuff Howdy, all! I trust you all had a safe, healthy, and happy holiday. We’re looking forward to the New Year. With a New Year comes new promise, new adventures, and new things to get done. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Speaking of getting things done,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 9, 2023 at Iron Modeler
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Stormy Weather
Howdy, all… Every now and then during the day this past Wednesday and Thursday, I would check the progress of Hurricane Ian. As landfall approached, my heart went out to the people in Southwest Florida. Ian came ashore near Cayo Costa and Punta Gorda—nearly the same place Hurricane Charley landed... Continue reading
Posted Oct 1, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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“I Can’t”
Howdy, all! I’m going to discuss something I have noticed more and more over the past few years. My discussion (as usual) will pertain to the hobby of scale modeling, but I see it elsewhere, too. It usually begins like this—someone displays their model at a club meeting, online, or... Continue reading
Posted Sep 25, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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More Reunion Stories
Howdy! Something I was not aware of before I arrived in town for my class reunion was that the Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD), the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), was in Port Everglades for her commissioning ceremony on the same weekend. Had I known, I would have... Continue reading
Posted Aug 13, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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Reunion Ramblings, Part One
Hello, all! To quote the late, great Cajun chef, safety engineer, philosopher, and raconteur Justin Wilson, “How y’all are? I’m so glad for you to see me some more, I ga-ron-tee!” I've told you several times about my upcoming high school class reunion. Well, it happened this past weekend. I... Continue reading
Posted Aug 7, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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“I’ll take ‘Potpourri’ for One-Thousand, Alex…”
Howdy, all… Summer has once again reached the Greater Upper Midlands Co-Prosperity Sphere—days are topping out near 100° Fahrenheit, with humidity levels to match. And it’s been buggy—more so than usual. Every week, I have to clean out the screen in the primary water filter stage, and every week I... Continue reading
Posted Jul 4, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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Dispelling the Myths of Scale Modeling--My Take
Howdy, all… After I’m through working for the day, I have found myself watching some of the online scale model channels on YouTube. This is a bonus benefit of finally having high-speed fiber optic internet service—that’s right, no more HughesNet dish in the front yard! Some are better than others—the... Continue reading
Posted May 21, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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Another year in the books…
Posted Jan 29, 2022 at Iron Modeler
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More Hangar Talk, and the so-called "Shelf of Doom"
Howdy, again! The leaves on the dogwoods are turning, the mornings have become cool and crisp, and that tells me that the seasons are again changing. I love this time of year. It was especially nice when I worked in the hangar, as it meant that the sweltering furnace days... Continue reading
Posted Oct 31, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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Adventure in Moving
Howdy, all! You may recognize the header—it was a long-time marketing slogan for the U-Haul truck rental company. I’ve used them four times, and each one certainly was an adventure. The most memorable event came 20 years ago… We had moved that January, and used a small U-Haul. Given that... Continue reading
Posted Sep 23, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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Tales from the Hangar, Part 2
Howdy! Being located in Ft. Lauderdale, our customer base was quite varied and eclectic. One of the more colorful characters we knew was a charter boat captain for hire who owned a Cessna 177 Cardinal. The Cardinal was a sleek version of the venerable 172 Skyhawk—the windscreen was laid back... Continue reading
Posted Aug 7, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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On Reunions, Friends, and Families (and an introduction, for those who arrived late to the party)
My 40th high school reunion is coming up next year. That means two things—I get to hear (and tell) stories from the good old days, and I’m really getting old. I missed my other reunions—combinations of finances (usually lack thereof) and those “life things” got in the way. This time,... Continue reading
Posted Jul 24, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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Some Insight
Howdy, all! Last time out, I made a comment that my hobby of scale modeling led to my career/vocation paths. To refresh your memory, they were (in no particular order) history, aviation, research, writing, and hanging out at the hobby shop. This is one of those "about me for myself"... Continue reading
Posted Jun 24, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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Model Contests Revisited…Again
Howdy, everyone! Well, the 2021 edition of the South Carolina Scale Model Mega Show is in the books. As with most larger events, we experienced the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. In no particular order: The Good We developed a new format for the show this year—well, actually we... Continue reading
Posted Jun 22, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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Scale Modeling—Art or Craft?
Howdy, all… So, which is it? Are we artists? Craftsmen? Neither? Both? Anybody who has skimmed the various online forums has seen this argument before. A model is featured, and viewers proclaim it as “fine art”. Others reply that modeling isn’t an art, it is craft. Who is correct? Is... Continue reading
Posted Feb 16, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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The McNamara Effect
Howdy, all, and Happy New Year! When I have no paying work to do, most of my day is spent doing research on personal projects. Along the way, as I gather information, I’m reminded of things that lurk in the far back corners of my mind. Recently, I made an... Continue reading
Posted Jan 20, 2021 at Iron Modeler
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