Fast and slow

Progress is progress, no matter how small it is. This weekend, only managed to do the front upper suspension arms and adjusted the fin I made last week. This Williams FW29 is the slow thing the title is referring to.

So, what is the fast thing? Across the street from the work site in Wisconsin, they have weekly classic car show throughout the summer. Even though the show officially ended 2 weeks ago, classic car owners still gathered before the weather gets really cold (that means October for Wisconsin). 

Saw this nice Dodge Challenger and when I was leaving with my colleague, a nice owner of a Pontiac GTO "The Judge" offer to give us a ride around the block, of course we did not refuse and hopped in. The orange GTO "The Judge" is one sweet ride.

WTH?!

Please take a look at the above picture. View from the right side of the car, there is this little fin next to the cockpit.

Hey! Where the hell is the fin?

From all the reference pictures, there should be a fin! (Photo credit: F1 Modeling Vol. 33)

Oh well, that means I have to fabricate one myself and attach it to the body.

That's all for this week.

Something old, something new

Finally I got the Tameo TG183b, now sitting side by side with the SRC one.

Comparing to the SRC, the newer Tameo kit has more detail and has photo-etched and turned metal parts, as well as an instruction booklet printed in color.

Not much progress with the FW29 since I was out of town. I went to attend a friend's wedding in Austin, TX.

Worked on a couple of pieces of photo-etched parts, that's about it.

Monday is Moon Festival and I am ready (to eat moon cake).

Toleman

Toleman TG183b is a very unique car with front wing mount radiators. More importantly, it was the first F1 car that Senna raced in. For a long time, the only Toleman TG183b kit made in 1/43 scale was by SRC. I was lucky enough to have one in my inventory after a long search. Like any other old kits, SRC kits are not that precisely made. Finally, Tameo is making a kit and my supplier just notified me that it's on the way! Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Baby steps, summer firework and red bean

Time for the weekly update. This weekend, I managed only to have the 2 winglets on the side done, attached a piece of photo-etched part for the rear diffuser, drilled and tapped the boss so that I can screw the base on. Baby steps, baby steps.

A bunch of friends from the suburb were in the city yesterday. So I brought them to Navy Pier to watch the firework.

And lastly, I found this red bean flavored KitKat from the store. I think wasabi, green tea or pudding flavor are better than the red bean.

Guess what?

Seems like things are settling down a bit. So this happened! Wondering if anyone can guess what it is just from the above picture. Hint: the driver lineup for this team in that particular year is an Austrian and a German.

Also, I have been conducting another culinary experiment. Many years ago, I took 3 dried abalone from Mom's pantry, saying that I'll figure out how to cook them and then tell her about it. Finally this weekend, I tried to cook them.

Marinated Soft Boiled Egg for Ramen

I am always interested in trying to cook marinated soft boiled egg myself since I am a big ramen addict. With all my model kits, supplies and tools boxed up now, I have some extra time on hand to kill. And I have been experimenting with cooking soft boiled egg.

If I did not try to make soft boiled egg, I would not know the culinary science behind boiling eggs. Egg yolk and egg white get cooked at different temperatures. While egg white solidify at a lower temperature and egg yolk turns to solid at a slightly higher temperature. So, to cook soft boiled egg the water temperature need to be just right.

What I figured out is to bring the water to simmering first, then take the large size egg from the fridge and lower them gently to the simmering water for about 8 minutes. Then chill them in ice water. Peel the shells off.

The marinate I used is just soy sauce, sugar, rice wine and water. Soak the eggs in a bowl with the marinate and leave it in the fridge overnight.

Sherman and Panzer IV

I can count the number of AFV models that I built with one hand. Although I'm not a military model fan, I do enjoy looking at tanks.

And as a big anime fan, Girls und Panzer is a recent series that I like. High school girls tank battle as a sport, it's weird but it's fun.

If you are a military vehicle fan or Girls und Panzer fan, here is your chance to own some real tanks. The Littlefield Collection is on the auction block:

http://www.auctionsamerica.com/events/all-lots.cfm?SaleCode=LC14

There is a Panzer IV and a couple of Sherman's for sale, provided you have the cash.

Photos are from Auctions America's web site

Book for sale: Grand Prix Cars of 1988

I am not sure why, but somehow I bought 2 copies of the same book from the Joe Honda series, Grand Prix Cars of 1988. Listed for ￥3,394 on Amazon Japan. As good as new. I am going to put it up for sale on eBay. If anyone is interested, please send me a message.

1996 Le Mans 24 Hours Porsche 911 GT1 Complete

Just in time for the Le Mans weekend. I probably will not do another 1/87 scale any time soon.

Fantastic source of classic F1 photos on Facebook

Came across this FB page with a lot of classic F1 pictures. Enjoy!
GP Memories

Detail

Wheels assembled and painted.

Tow hook installed.

Next: interior

Eat my own words

Even though I said there would not be a new project for a while and the 2 work in progress ones will be shelved, I could not help but played with this little guy. Decals on the body are done and clear coat applied. Since I'll be away from my workbench for 2 weeks, the rest of the work will need to pause for at least that long.

Leyton House CG901 1990 French Grand Prix Ivan Capelli

1990 Leyton House CG901 Complete

The average time I took to finish a kit has been around 6 months. This is no exception. Checking my old blog posts, it was October last year when I started playing with this guy. And it is mid May already. Finally today, it is done.

Although there are so many kits in my inventory that I would like to play with, I will not start a new project for a while until I can afford the time to do that again. The work in progress Porsche and McLaren will stay as is for now.