Howdy!
The calendar just turned over to June. Hard to believe, but the IPMS/USA National Convention is, as I'm typing this, 56 days, 16 hours, and 10 minutes away. We're working hard here in the Greater Upper Midlands Co-Prosperity Sphere to put on the best IPMS Nationals ever--don't miss out. If you haven't done so yet, go over to the Convention website and check out what we've been up to. Sign up for the show while you're there. Columbia will be the place to be come the first week of August if you build models...
Speaking of building models, last time I told you about the Hasegawa Beaufighter that I was building for one of my seminars. Well, race fans, it is now all but finished. I need to take some photos of it to post here, but it is only lacking the photo shoot. It came out quite nicely, thanks for asking...
And, I also told you about the Aeroclub Gloster Gamecock that I had started to build. Well, I have it just about ready to assemble the major pieces. I need to buy some brass wire for the wing struts and some aluminum stock to rebuild the landing gear. Now, there's really nothing wrong with the kit parts, shape-wise, but they are white metal and they bend way too easily for my tastes. So, I'll fashion a set from aluminum or stout styrene backed with wire to make sure it won't collapse. I'm impressed. I really am. Of all the projects I have going at the moment, this one has put a smile on my face.
I also made a comment about sourcing an Aeroclub Gloster Gauntlet. I know that Aerolcub had discontinued their vacuum formed kit some time ago and replaced it with an injection molded kit, but I also knew that one of the partners had died and Aeroclub's products were now difficult to find. Well, I contacted John Adams (Mr. Aeroclub) and asked. And, for 30 Pounds Stirling postage paid, I received one about a week and a half later. Now that's what I call service. The lesson? It never hurts to ask...
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As I alluded to last time, I have started to work a few shifts at the hobby shop. I see it this way: I'm able to put some money in my pocket, I'm getting out of the house, and I'm helping others pursue their hobbies through the products I try to get into the shop. The employee discount doesn't hurt, either, but that wasn't the goal of the exercise. Until Convention is over, this will hold me. After convention, I'll start fishing around for some tech editing gigs that I can do from home. Win-win, I think...
One of the things I've been asked to do it to make some sense out of the model airplanes and ships we have at the store. The stock and selection aren't bad, but some of the kits on the shelf have been there since the original owner bought them in 2008. Time for a change, no? So, I'm looking where we can clearance things and bring some of the new kits from Eduard, Airfix, Hasegawa, Revell, Academy, and Tamiya into the store to replace the ones that have been shelf sitters. Starting this week, we're going to slowly get the new stuff ordered and move the older stuff out. As I told one of the managers, I'd rather concentrate on getting good kits in and buying aftermarket decals than get two kits of the same subject--one good and one not so--simply because they have different markings options. We'll have to see how that plays out.
I've also had to get used to fielding radio control questions, something that I learned last time I worked at the shop. I no longer want to actually tear a car down to replace parts, but I'm finding that I have actually retained a great deal of what I picked up six and a half years ago. The area where I'm re-learning is on the air side--quadcopters are all the rage. I'm slowly getting the answers that I need...
One of the changes since last time is the new FAA regulations on drones. Anything between .55 and 55 pounds needs to be registered, which covers about half of the products we sell. Judging by the reactions we get when we remind people that it is a requirement, you'd think the FAA was asking for their first born. Look, folks, we are only required to tell you that these things need to be registered and how to do it. We don't police it, you can do as you please. However, as I told one customer, I've dealt with the FAA for nearly 30 years. Those $25K fines and /or imprisonment claims? They're not idle threats. And, having dealt with the FAA, those fines and punishments can't be talked down and you can't lawyer your way out of them. Forewarned is forearmed, or something like that...
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The Stanley Cup finals are underway. I was excited to see my beloved Florida Panthers made it into the playoffs, and equally as bummed when they got sent home in seven games by the Brooklyn Islanders (yeah, I had forgotten that nugget too). My other team, the Philadelphia Flyers, likewise were shown an early exit, so from there I could just sit back and watch. My picks going into the Conference Finals were Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis (the Lightning being the "other" Florida team and I've always liked the Blues). So, you guessed it, both teams lost. Now, I'd just like the San Jose Sharks to win a few more games and make it a seven game Finals against the Penguins...
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The annual World Racing Motorsports Spectacle Weekend came and went a few weeks ago. Monaco was kind of, well, typical of the Formula One circus. Indy was exciting--a rookie wins, crossing the finish line running out of gas? What a story. And then we have the NA$CAR Racing Entertainment Event at Charlotte. I liked the fact that someone other than the usual juggernaut won, but man. Could you make your rules any more fluid and fickle? I really do remember when the rules were the same from week to week, as the en vogue facebook meme says...
In a few weeks comes my other favorite motorsports weekend of the year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The entry list is impressive. I still want to see Toyota win one of these with their hybrids, and seeing the Ford GT's up against Corvette Racing and the Ferraris will be so cool. 18-19 June, tune in...you won't want to miss this one!
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I guess that about wraps it up from here. I hope to see all of you at the IPMS Nationals. We have a great program in store for you all.
In the meantime, thanks for reading. Be good to one another. As always, I bid you Peace.
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