From the Bench -- Tips for Making Your Own Markings (decals and painting)

[@SommerAdric]

Thanks for sharing mate! I use Caliie Graphics on most of my aircraft!

[@rcf4phantomflyer]

Wonderful video, I have a rc 70mm f16 that was a thunderbird that crashed and rebuilt. I turned it into a danish red and white jet, something unique now for thw touch adding rhe danish decals

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man, Crashed airframes are ideal for a refinish! 😊

[@racerx600rr]

I have a question about retention. You seem to represent most of us in the hobby with your passion for the "next" project. With so many airframes built over time, how do you decided which to keep and which to get rid of? And just how many do you have on hand at any given time? Flyable or static?

[@Thercgeek]

You know, those are good questions. I don't typically sell too many models, but up until the last couple years I haven't had more than about 4 flyable airplanes at a time. The recent airplanes I did sell though were ones I didn't fly much and were used to help pay for another project. Ultimately, I keep what I like to fly and what I don't mind transporting. I'm lazy in the sense that if the airplane is inconvenient to transport, then I don't usually take it out to the field (I hate having to take airplanes apart ;) ). So, if I don't fly it, then I don't keep it. Now, the airplanes I've built from the ground up usually stay with me (JHH A-7 and Mirage), but those are also my more favorite airplanes to fly. In terms of projects, I always have one long term project on the bench that I focus on on and off which at the moment is the Frankel Skyray. The other smaller, more easily attainable projects are the distractions from the long term build. That's what's great about the arfs and foamies. I have a couple kits lying in wait to be built which I have a mental que for, haha! But I try to stay disciplined enough not to start on a second long term project until the current one is finished...which usually takes years, lol. In terms of flyable airplanes, I have about 6 or 7 flyable airplanes currently. It gives a nice assortment to choose from, some are super low stress, others not so much so it gives a choice. I usually only take 2-3 airplanes on on any given flying session. More than that and it becomes work, haha!

[@hotelroyal334]

Why would you sell the beautiful Flir Cat F14? 💔

[@hotelroyal334]

Great video as usual Chris, do you always sand before painting? If so do you take it all the way down to the foam or mix in with the original? 🙏

[@Thercgeek]

It really depends. A lot of the stock foam finishes can take paint straight away. However, when dealing with a fiberglass model or a foam refinish, it’s a whole process to get it paint ready with different grits of sand paper that are used.

[@rud90so91]

what scale f-14 is it?and what brand?

[@Thercgeek]

The F-14 in the back is an old 1/10 scale DCU kit. The DCU designs were later sold to JetMart USA. Unfortunately, they've been long out of production.

[@lamjustin9938]

Is that a fuselage of the f-22 behind you?😗😗😗

[@Thercgeek]

The fuselages in the background are for the F4D Skyray (on my right) and F-14 (on my left). :)

[@stephenparker8221]

Have you had experience with Freewing jet stickers? Are they stickers or water slide ??

[@Thercgeek]

The most recent fw jet I’ve gotten is the A-4 which came in the box bare (no markings). Water slide decals were provided for multiple aircraft that you apply yourself. The flightline tigercat was similar too, but those were more like a vinyl sticker. I like the markings coming separately personally. Makes customizing the airplanes much simpler.

[@franciskrueger7717]

Top 1 first class

[@j1035ak]

the jet that is featured on the table. is that effect, and where did you get it.

[@Thercgeek]

Are you talking about the airplane behind me? That's a jet hangar hobbies A-7 (jethangar.com) that I built and made my own markings for. I use it for the base of some of the discussion in the vid. Otherwise, I'm not sure which jet you're referencing?

[@j1035ak]

The A7

[@wilsrp1]

Is that a composite F-22 behind you? If so, who is the manufacturer? Love all your videos, by the way - great stuff! Paul

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks for the kind words! :) The airplanes behind me are an F4D skyray on my right and an F-14 on my left. It's my attempt to hide my cluttered garage, haha!

[@wynnrobins6606]

Where can I get an a7?

[@Thercgeek]

The only one I know of on the market these days is from pacific rc jets which is about 1/7 scale. There are currently no others out there.

[@wynnrobins6606]

@@Thercgeek would the moulds from jethanger be around?