Hello from Ellijay Georgia! New to the group!

[squadron]

Hello! My name is Brandon Lowe from Ellijay GA. I am the owner of Squadron and Free Time Hobbies. Recently found out about this forum and wanted to join and see if I could be a part of what looks like a fun group!

[406 Silverado]

This is Joseph Shaw that has been talking to you for the last few weeks and I'd like to thank you so much for responding to the invitation Brandon. We've got a great group of folks here that build in all genres and we're all very much looking forward your presence here.

Welcome aboard!

[Tojo72]

Welcome aboard,I have ordered a couple of items from you including the Tamiya F-35

[chromdome35]

May 18, 2023 11:43:25 GMT -5 squadron said:

Hello! My name is Brandon Lowe from Ellijay GA. I am the owner of Squadron and Free Time Hobbies. Recently found out about this forum and wanted to join and see if I could be a part of what looks like a fun group!

Hey welcome to MSC! We're really happy to have you join up. This is a great modeling community with a wide range of subjects and talents. The one constant among all of this is the friendly collaborative nature of our forums. The forum format allows for a much more consistent interactive discussion than one finds on the various FB modeling groups.

I'm also very happy to see Squadron here, great company!!! I'm a happy customer myself.

Do you build, if so, what kind of building do you do?

[406 Silverado]

May 18, 2023 12:10:34 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

May 18, 2023 11:43:25 GMT -5 squadron said:

Hello! My name is Brandon Lowe from Ellijay GA. I am the owner of Squadron and Free Time Hobbies. Recently found out about this forum and wanted to join and see if I could be a part of what looks like a fun group!

Hey welcome to MSC! We're really happy to have you join up. This is a great modeling community with a wide range of subjects and talents. The one constant among all of this is the friendly collaborative nature of our forums. The forum format allows for a much more consistent interactive discussion than one finds on the various FB modeling groups.

I'm also very happy to see Squadron here, great company!!! I'm a happy customer myself.

Do you build, if so, what kind of building do you do?

That's a great question Brian.

Yeah Brandon....inquiring minds wanna know....

[squadron]

Oh yea I build for sure!

I always have way too many projects going on... but, there are a few shows I really enjoy going to each year and "the next show" determines what I am currently working on lol.... so, my next show is Wonderfest up in Louisville. It is a figure/sci-fi show.... and I really enjoy doing figure models. Right now I am working on a 1/6 scale girl kit, she is WWII pinup style girl standing on a ladder painting the nose of a B-17 (painting the kill markings)

So, last night I was working on the B-17 nose section trying to get it primed up and smoothed out.... I "thought" i had it, but as it always seems to go my first coat of Alclad Lacquer showed otherwise haha... now I gotta got back and do some more sanding work.  This thing is huge... makes me think how cool a full 1/6 B-17 would be haha!!

The resin casting on this piece was pretty good, but over half the rivets were busted off from the mold, and... in my opinion the rivets were overscaled. So, I sanded them all off, drilled little holes, and used silk push pins to replace them. I went through nearly 3 boxes of pins (350 pins per box!!!!)  Now looking back, I should have lined them up better (I drilled out where the original resin ones were exactly) but, hey whatever.... its all fun. 

We are going to issue a new 32/72/48 scale B-17 decal set later this year for "Shoo Shoo Baby" so... I upscaled our noseart decals to 1/6 scale and that is what I am planning on putting on this piece....  so, maybe it will turn out cool!

[406 Silverado]

Looking forward to seeing pics of that figure you’re working on Brandon. Jeez…..a 1/6 scale B-17……can’t begin to imagine a model that size! Lol

[squadron]

yea, just this one piece here is large enough!

After I get done with a couple figures and get through wonderfest I will turn my focus back to a few things I am hoping to finish for Nationals this year... I have a 1/350 USS Atlanta that I really want to get done and a 1/48 B-24... but... time flies and I just don't know if I will finish them before the show!

[406 Silverado]

May 18, 2023 13:47:33 GMT -5 squadron said:

yea, just this one piece here is large enough!

After I get done with a couple figures and get through wonderfest I will turn my focus back to a few things I am hoping to finish for Nationals this year... I have a 1/350 USS Atlanta that I really want to get done and a 1/48 B-24... but... time flies and I just don't know if I will finish them before the show!

I think the largest kit I've tackled since I've been back in the hobby was the 1/24 Trumpeter 109 and that was stretching my limits as far as display space is concerned. lol

Hey Brandon, I did send you a personal message earlier. Didn't know if you saw that or not.

[Joe Rix]

Greetings Brandon and welcome. It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to have you join us here. I know that you, like all others, will be an integral member and contributor.

I have been a frequent customer of Free Time hobbies and was thrilled when you accumulated Squadron. I look forward to further transactions. The best of luck on all your endeavors.

Cheers, Joe

[stikpusher]

Nice to meet you and welcome to the fun place! I used to mail order, then later online order from the old Squadron. I think I’ve bought a couple of items since you resurrected the shop, and I’m surfing wishing you success in that task! I’m looking forward to seeing your work on here!

[greg]

Welcome, Brandon!

It is exciting to have you here, thanks for joining us.

Like many others here, I have been a customer of both Squadron and Free Time Hobbies. I was excited when I learned about your acquisition of Squadron and wish you all the best with both companies!

-Greg

[squadron]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it and look forward to being here! I will try to post pictures of what I have going on on my work bench as much as possible!

[Leon]

Welcome aboard Brandon! Glad to have you here.

[jeaton01]

Welcome Brandon. I like the enthusiasm for modeling you show on your emails from Squadron.

[Steve Zuleski]

Welcome aboard, Brandon, post em when ya got em.

I remember way back in 1988 on a SW flight to Phoenix for reserve duty the guy sitting next to me turned me on to a Squadron paper flyer, he worked for Squadron. I've been hooked ever since. What a trip, how time flies, and good to see it's up and running well.

Cheers, Ski.

[tcoat]

May 18, 2023 13:05:38 GMT -5 squadron said:

Oh yea I build for sure!

I always have way too many projects going on... but, there are a few shows I really enjoy going to each year and "the next show" determines what I am currently working on lol.... so, my next show is Wonderfest up in Louisville. It is a figure/sci-fi show.... and I really enjoy doing figure models. Right now I am working on a 1/6 scale girl kit, she is WWII pinup style girl standing on a ladder painting the nose of a B-17 (painting the kill markings)

So, last night I was working on the B-17 nose section trying to get it primed up and smoothed out.... I "thought" i had it, but as it always seems to go my first coat of Alclad Lacquer showed otherwise haha... now I gotta got back and do some more sanding work.  This thing is huge... makes me think how cool a full 1/6 B-17 would be haha!!

The resin casting on this piece was pretty good, but over half the rivets were busted off from the mold, and... in my opinion the rivets were overscaled. So, I sanded them all off, drilled little holes, and used silk push pins to replace them. I went through nearly 3 boxes of pins (350 pins per box!!!!)  Now looking back, I should have lined them up better (I drilled out where the original resin ones were exactly) but, hey whatever.... its all fun. 

We are going to issue a new 32/72/48 scale B-17 decal set later this year for "Shoo Shoo Baby" so... I upscaled our noseart decals to 1/6 scale and that is what I am planning on putting on this piece....  so, maybe it will turn out cool!

I personally would not sand it out much more. Those things were thrown together in a hurry so imperfections in the skin even brand new were the norm not the exception. If it has flown enough missions for her to be painting tally marks then it would be even more battered. In that scale large scrapes, wrinkles, pits, discoloration, and even sink marks would be more realistic than a perfectly smooth and shiny finish. The inprecise lines of rivets are also far more accurate then Lasor straight lines. I would work very hard to get the inconsistent and marred finish you have there. 

Oh and...

[moparmadness]

Welcome to the forums! My mother was the brand manager for Squadron Signal Publications in the 70’s-80’s, we came to Texas when Jerry relocate from MI. Man, I could tell you some stories!

[armornutii]

   Good afternoon and welcome Brandon. I to am a Squadron customer and am glad to have another USA based internet option open. I miss brick and mortar however in the world today those are scarse. Thanks for joining. 
   That nose section of your B-17 is going to be awesome. 

[Medicman71]

Wow! We’ve got Squadron in the house! Welcome Brandon!

[dupes]

Wow, very cool! I've spent more money at Squadron than I care to think about over the last twenty years. 😂

[TJ]

Welcome welcome. Geez I remember the black and white Squadron catalogs.

[Whiterook]

Welcome aboard!  I’ve bought and have many of your great products in my workshop and have always regarded it as top shelf. Funnily, my favorite item are your sanding sticks! …no others have come close for total quality. I look forward to seeing your builds and can’t g with ‘ya.

[adt70hk]

Welcome Brandon!

ATB

Andrew

[squadron]

Thanks everybody!

[handiabled]

Thrilled to have you here! I would LOVE to see you bring back the Squadron Putty!!!!!! I miss it very much!

[deafpanzer]

Welcome aboard!!! Is your shop open to public that I can stop by? If so, I visit my brother in Athens sometimes and I'd love to stop by one day!

[squadron]

May 31, 2023 10:23:34 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Thrilled to have you here! I would LOVE to see you bring back the Squadron Putty!!!!!! I miss it very much!

I would love that too.... BUT, the factory that used to make the good stuff is gone.  New factories were tried in the past few years, but it just wasn't the same.  Unfortunately that one is gone for good.

[squadron]

May 31, 2023 13:29:21 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Welcome aboard!!! Is your shop open to public that I can stop by? If so, I visit my brother in Athens sometimes and I'd love to stop by one day!

You won't find an "Open Sign" in the front window... BUT, if you are up in this area.... give me a call and we can schedule a visit for you to come by!