Mark's Models

I had the pleasure of exploring Galaxy Hobby of Lynnwood, WA on my last business trip.  Now this is a full service hobby shop.  They had everything from model aircraft, model ships, model armor, model cars, model trains, rc cars and planes, paints, supplies, and completed display models.

When you walk into the store, you are immediately impressed by the literal wall of plastic aircraft and armor models.  They are stacked from floor to almost ceiling, for about 60 feet. I calculated that there were close to 600 airplane models, and 300 armor models on “the wall”.  The aircraft models arranged in scale from 1/100 to 1/24th and the armor ranged from 1/96th scale to 1/4 scale.  (yes, 1/4 scale mortar models and 1/4 scale Kubelwagens were in stock).

The sci-fi and anime themed model section import section was equally impressive.  They had the biggest selection of mecha and Fine Molds and Polar Lights products in a store that I had ever seen.

The impressive model selection was matched by an equally impressive paint selection.  They carry the full line of Tamiya, Testors, and Gunze Sangyo (including the entire Gunze Mr Surfacer line.

This place also had a reading area.  They stock a full line of squadron books, among others, and about 30 magazines covering nearly every model subject.

The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Total damage: $160. (it could have been double that if I had not shown restraint)

Models purchased:

1 Fine Molds 1/72 scale X-Wing

1 Fine Molds 1/72 scale Y-Wing

1 Eduard MiG-21 PF

I look forward to an eventual return trip.

Mid week update:

One of my side projects is a 1/35 scale Dragon Models Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D  I love putting together a tank occasionally, and I chose this one because I thought it would be a fun one to put together and paint.

I am building it as an extra armor added model that appeared in North Africa in mid 1942.

Dragon is known for detail, (like the rivtets and the tiny metal chains that are individually supplied in the kit) and this model is no exception.  One of the side effects is individual tank treads that must be glued together.

Here is a pic of some glued treads:

And here is a pic of guled treads that have been fitted to a form.  The form is a long piece of plastic that is peaked in 4 places and curved at the end.  The idea behind this is that real tank treads sag between the top wheels, so this is a way to add detail to make the tank more realistic.

Here’s a great article on painting the treads.

http://www.scalemodelguide.com/guide/painting/painting-tank-tracks/

More to come later.

In order to light up a ship, you mist not fear solder, resistors, a little math, and some electronics.  Here is a good write up on EHow about designing a simple LED circuit.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4836713_design-simple-led-circuit.html

Got that?  Now to make the lights flash.

In order to make the LED’s flash, you’ll need to learn how to work with a 555 Timer Integrated Chip.   The you use resistors to set the frequency of the LED flashes.  Here’s a great write up about wiring up a very simple 555 Timer LED circuit.

http://www.electronics-project-design.com/LED-Flasher-Circuit.html

And here’s one with 41 flashing LED’s

http://www.instructables.com/id/41-LED-Flasher-Circuit-using-555-IC/

The ship contains 2 sets of flashing lights.  The strobe lights flash at a frequency of 0.5Hz (once per half second) and the running lights flash at a frequency of 1Hz (once per second)  There are a total of 10 running lights in the Enterprise Refit (2 red, 2 green, and 6 white).  There are also 4 strobe lights.

This is the circuit that I am using to run the strobe and running lights.  I got it from here

http://www.colosseumbuilders.com/enterprise/circuits.htm

Here’s my circuit.

In this tumblr, I will post pictures and descriptions and updates of the projects that I am working on. 

Scale model building is my hobby.  The hobby, in general, is dying and that is very sad to see.  The hobby is just not connecting to today’s youth.  Virtually nobody I know feels the urge to make anything any more.  I have always had the itch to make and been interested in model building since I was a boy. 

I started modeling when I was give my first Lego set.  That eventually evolved into building plastic models and working at a now long gone hobby store in Appleton, WI - Best’s Hobbies. 

I built around 30 model kits from 1986 - 1991 then went off to college. Three years ago, my wonderful wife encouraged me to get back into it, and so I did. There’s more about that coming in a future post.

My main focus has always been Sci-Fi, German WW2 Tanks, and modern jet fighters.

Currently in production: a 1:350 scale USS Enterprise Refit

I am lighting it up with around 50 LED’s.  There are 12 running lights that flash at 1 second intervals, 4 strobe lights that flash at half second intervals and 30-40 white, red and purple LED’s to light up the main hull, the impulse engine, and the nacelles. 

Pics coming soon. :D

-Mark