When I'm not working . . .

I enjoy building scale model vehicles  . . . especially fire trucks such as the one pictured above. It, by the way, is a 1/25th scale model of Sag Harbor, New York's American-LaFrance  rear-mount aerial.  I first got interested in model building when I was about 12 or 13 years-old  . . . but it has taken me this long (35 years) to really get proficient at it and even begin to have mine look as good as the one pictured above. To that end, I'd like to share a little bit of what I've learned over that time:

Take your time!


I learned early on that building scale models is not a hobby where you can rush and be successful. Once parts have been put together, the glue needs time to set so that they will stay together -- this is especially true with heavier parts or parts that will have others attached to them.

Have a designated work area




Although most model builders - myself included - dream of having a shop where you can work on projects, a kitchen table will work just fine. Two things to keep in mind when selecting your work area: 1) Does it have good natural lighting or good overhead lighting?; and 2) is the area easily ventilated? The latter is especially important if you're working in the house because it doesn't take long for fumes from the glue and paint to make your work area smell like a nail shop. (For the guys reading this who might not understand, ask your wife or girlfriend.)

Cleanliness is next to godliness


Okay, maybe it's not quite that important . . . but it can mean the difference between a really sharp looking one and one that has a smudged paint job or glue residue "fingerprints". It's easy to do too by washing your hands after you finish painting parts (and, of course, giving them ample time to dry.) Something else that I find helpful is to use latex gloves as this also helps to prevent the oils on your skin from getting on the plastic which can also mess up paint and cause glue not to adhere properly.

Use quality products


Normally I treat product preference as a matter of personal choice, however, in the case of model building, I have to suspend my rule and recommend Testors. In my personal opinion, you can't beat their model cement for adhesion and their paints give a beautiful finish every time! Check out their website at: http://www.testors.com/model_and_hobby.

And, last, but not least . . .

Don't work on days when the humidity is high


When the humidity is high, paint - and glue - tend to dry very slowly and remain tacky for a LONG time. With that in mind, it's best to postpone working on models on damp or rainy days (unless you're able to do some REALLY tight climate control).





Until next time . . .

Yesterday I found out . . .

. . . how it feels to be in a wheelchair and I didn't like it. Just so nobody will worry, I didn't get hurt (or sick) . . . I was one of the "disabled" participants for a Red Cross course on shelter operations -- specifically how to make it easier for people with disabilities. There were four of us with a "disability": myself in a wheelchair, one lady who worn a mitten to simulate having neuropathy, one lady who had gauze placed over her eyes to simulate having a cataract, and one who had cotton placed in her ears to simulate being hard of hearing. The first thing that I noticed was how I (or, more specifically, the chair) stuck out and it made me feel SO VERY SELF-CONSCIOUS! Even though the folks in the room where co-workers - and friends - I couldn't help but feel like they were watching my every move. Then, there was the matter of moving around in the chair. Not so much the actual propulsion - because that was MUCH easier than I thought - but navigating between tables, chairs, podiums and the like. I found out that when you're in a wheelchair, the easiest way to travel is like electrical current, and find the path of least resistance. That means - usually - going up the center of the room as if you we're making your way toward the front and then turn right or left as needed. You still encounter obstacles, but not nearly as much so as you would trying to get between tables and chairs!

About the only difficulty I encountered was when I tried to do those "little things" that, up to that point, I'd taken for granted. By "little things" I mean stuff like getting into the men's room, getting on an elevator, and the like. Our instructor said "try getting in the restroom," and I was amazed how difficult it was to do something so simple as getting the men's room door open . . . then, once you got in, finding a urinal that was the correct height. All of a sudden, those "little things" weren't quite so little anymore . . . as a matter of fact they become daunting! By the time that the class was over, I had a whole new outlook on what it's like to be in a wheelchair and the challenges faced by those in them on a regular basis!

Until next time . . .