Canute

Thank you, normally, I have no problems, masking over Extreme Metals. They are more durable than Alclads and very robust and I painted the tanks some weeks ago. I was so astonished, because the 1ManArmy masks behave like normal Kabuki masks in all other cases. On the tank I used two different types of Kabuki tape for the rest of the masking, without issues. Learn something new, every day . Better there, than on the airframe. I would have blindly used the 1ManArmy masks with Extreme Metals as a base, given my experiences with both, color and masks. Now I'm forewarned.
 
Cheers Rob

The challenge of masking over metallic paint is always there. It's so frustrating to invest all the time and effort then see the paint underneath the mask deformed by the tape. I feel your pain.

The WW2 ship building boom is the reason why my mother's side of the family wound up on the West Coast. My grandfather and one of his brothers trekked west from Kansas to work at the Kaiser yard in Vancouver.

I just popped into the Hanthorn Cannery Museum (Astoria Oregon's other Maritime Museum), and found this title in their gift shop.  The gift shop is unstaffed with an honor system of payment, but for once someone was actually working there that day, so I had to pay actual money for it. The book is extensively illustrated, and not with the usual images one sees of these ships-- Marsh had access to the Oregonian's maritime columnist's personal images from his work during the war years, and the photos are outstanding and reproduced in the highest quality.  Despite the title, the book also covers Victory Ships, Casablanca Class flat-tops, and T-2 Tankers, also built by Kaiser yards in the area; a large section even includes other local companies supporting the effort such as Gunderson (Landing craft, etc.), Albina Engine and Machine Works (PCs, etc.), Commercial Iron Works (outfitting C-2s, etc.), Willamette Iron & Steel Co. (steam locomotives for Russia and misc. maritime work/outfitting), and Astoria Marine Construction Co. (YMSs [minesweepers]).   Hardbound at 256 pages; $50.00USD.      
 
Having just scratch built a variety of ships from this era with Portland connections (C-1, C-2, C-3, T-2, EC-2, VC-2), this book is a delight to have, though I might have to build a YMS and PC now . . .    It may not be the handiest resource for the modeler, but there are gems in the photographs, and the history is rich and compelling-- particularly for any interested in Pacific Northwest Maritime history.
 
Oh. . . the chap actually manning the gift shop that day?  The Author himself.   If you're local, pop by for the chance of a signed copy.

many thanks Stephane,
 
Nils

Hello Niels. What a pleasure to hear from you. This model is superb. Thank you for continuing to share your progress with us. Sincerely STEPHANE

Well, I've heard the nickname for the F-35 is Battle Penguin.
 
The wall is superb. Bring on the Legions.

Superb work with all the details and "clutter". Very well done.
 
Jack's video steer is spot on. Just make sure you have no openings where you pour or you'll end up repouring the water. Don't ask how I learned that.

Love that fishing boat. I know how hard it is to keep children motivated to try things that appear too difficult for them. This experience a great result could be the start of something greater! 
 
Hope they didn't put a lego submarine inside the cake though... better be careful...
 

The biblical fishing boat came out fantastic!  Congratulations to your younger daughter on her work of art!
 
And the birthday cake is just epic!!  I would've had a hard time cutting that up to eat.  

Some updates on the two sideline projects
 
The turquoise and pink biblical fishing boat is finished
 

 
 
The Lego rescue boat is going much slower

 
 
Look at what they put on my birthday cake. Lego rubberduck in a jar

Jeff, it looks like it'll fall down in a strong wind. That shed is beat. Well done.

Those are amazing pictures, Ian!  Sounds like an incredible trip.  Thanks for sharing. 
 
However, I guess now you are telling me that in addition to seagull poop, I need to add some iguana snot to my seawall for added realism???

Cry Havoc and let slip the Penguins of war!

Speaking of penguins ... 🫢... here are a couple of crappy pictures I took of a Galapagos penguin during one of our snorkels on our recent trip. My camera was one of those cheap "rentals" made of a roll of Fuji film encased in a plastic enclosure. I'm quite proud I managed to capture this little torpedo while peering through the tiny viewfinder with a snorkel mask on. Not too impressed with the film though; back in the day I used ASA400 for u/w shots. Not sure what this was. Should have bought a go-pro for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. I did get some better pics, a couple of which I added below. A couple of marine iguanas (the only iguanas in the world that swim and eat underwater), and a nice one of a sea turtle which shows improved quality when camera is pointing more horizontal as opposed to towards the bottom. By the way these iguanas get rid of excess salt intake by sneezing it out when lying in the sun on black volcanic rock on land to warm up again. On one of our walks we passed by hundreds/thousands of them with someone sneezing out white salt particles every few seconds.
 
Oh, and my wife shot about 1800 pics on land with her digital SLR.
 
Trip of a lifetime!!!!  If you are at all interested in wildlife, I highly recommend the Galapagos.
 
Glen, sorry to hijack your log! Carry on.....

It's hard not to be drawn into this discussion when you have penguin addiction. I will not speak of it, I take a vow of silence. 🐧
 

I've heard of War Pigs (Ozzy Osborne - 1970), but not War Dogs or War Dolphins.  So Mark and Pat, please take the hijack further and explain! 

Mark, best ask the 'war' dolphins    sorry Glen high-jacking your great build yet again.
 
cheers
 
Pat
 
 
 

That's a new category... "war penguins".  How do they compare to "war dogs" other than have to keep them in fish.

After @Knocklouder & @BANYAN's seagull poop suggestions, I knew it wouldn't be long till we got to penguins!  🤣🤣
 
So I did a little more research and found out that Archimedes' first line of defense was actually an army of penguins protecting the wall!!  Who woulda guessed??  

 
 
 

Penguins are seabirds...
Might as well add some too, for realism 

Nice work Glen, that looks great!  Now all you have to do is add the seagull poo     (Sorry couldn't resist and I know you just love these challenges)
 
cheers
 
Pat

Thanks to all for the likes and comments.
 
Thank you, Steven.  I was hoping I had guessed right!
 
I like that idea.  I'm thinking something along the lines of the "rising damp" that @gjdale did for bottom of his fence on his Shipyard diorama.  
 
Thank you, Javelin.  That is exactly what I was hoping to accomplish.  If I was in a hurry, I would not have used this process as it was very time consuming.  But the extra time was worth it to get the right look. 

Interesting video, Eric.  When I lived in the St. Louis area we did ride the Katy trail but only about 20 miles of it.   Wonderful ride with some little towns along the way that most used for rest stops.

Great video(s) Eric. I am all too familiar with the Katy RR, its old lines run just east of where we live. And in my line of work, I secure permitting for fiber optic runs along these railroads. Funny the irony of the MK&T's competition with Missouri Pacific ended up with the two RR merging and eventually both being acquired by Union Pacific.
 
-Brian