Good Morning Shipwrights. It's Monday, February 4, 2008.
I hope that everyone had a good weekend. Today is Mardi Gras Eve. Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival, though the term is often used incorrectly to describe the days and weeks preceding Fat Tuesday. Carnival begins 12 days after Christmas, or Twelfth Night, on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras, which always falls exactly 47 days before Easter.

Navy Tech – Tupi Class Attack Submarine
Mark Smith (Gunny) brings us another installment of "MSW's Naval Technology Series", this time we focus on the Brazilian Navy, and their Tupi Class Attack Submarine.
Tupi Class Attack Submarine

”Model on Display” USS Fletcher (Tamiya 1/350)
Martin J. Quinn (MARTINJQUINN) stops by and shares with us a fine gallery of images, showing us his USS Fletcher (Tamiya 1/350). Take a look and don’t forget to leave a comment.
USS Fletcher

MSW Naval Trivia Contest
Bruce Miller’s (grayghost666) MSW Naval Trivia Contest is still going strong. Rules are simple, be the first to answer the question and you get to ask the next one. Please surf on over and join the fun!
MSW Naval Trivia Contest.

"Model On Display" - SMS Radetzky
Jim Baumann (JIMBAUMANN) shares a fine gallery of images of his build, 1/700 scale build of the Austro-Hungarian Battleship, SMS Radetzky. Take a look and don’t forget to share a comment.
SMS Radetzky


In Review
Review ~ Midship Models USS San Francisco CA-38, 1944
Kenny Loup (gator) gives us his thoughts and opinions of this Midship Models new release, USS San Francisco CA-38, 1944.
USS San Francisco CA-38, 1944

Sports
Superbowl XLII
In an awesome late game drive, the New York Giants write their own history in a 17-14 win over the New England Patriots. The game winning drive crushed the Patriots hopes of a 19-0 perfect season. Eli Manning was named the game’s MVP, one year after his older brother Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts was named MVP of Superbowl XLI.

Crewmate Sound Off
Now is the time in which you can share your news and views. Give us the poop on you latest builds and future projects. Share with us your weekend adventures. We all what to know what you did this weekend. So, sound off mates!

That's all for now from the news desk. Remember, if you can't get to your bench and build, at least you can talk about it.

Gator

Well, I did not know that about Mardi Gras.

I did get to work on my Forgotten Sisters ship for a little last night. I am waiting for some of the detail parts for my Cold War Tins Cans build.

Other than that we did go shopping and did our part to help stimulate the economy.

I didn’t watch the Super Bowl, but I was pleased with the results.

Aye, Gator......picked up the latest Paint Shop Pro software package, and spent most of my "me time" this weekend learning the in's and out's of the programs process (pretty fun too! )
Set up a few more features for us here at MSW as well, and made a great vendor contact for a future project for us, more to follow on this topic......


And, Mr. Loup, I have my "Mardi Gras" kit ready to go, thanks to you, my friend ...........(the King Cake and Crawtaters are long gone, but the memory is still there!

hello all,
been sick with the flu for 2 weeks now,the doc said it should end soon.if it does not, i am going to drank a whole bottle of 12 year old scotch.that should kill the flu bug,or git it drunk.either way works for me.
i am working on something new for the no guns allowed,since the life boat is so messed up.got most of the prepainted done for the sisters campaign. and started the prepaint for tin can campaign.
snow,cold and wind in the forcast for the next two days.so time to do some work.
cheers to all,
Bruce

Hi Guys,

Went to Milton Keynes Model Show on Sunday. First time I've been to a show. Met a few of the 'Bulldogs' which was good and got a look a Derek's amazing 40mm Bofors. No pics I'm afraid, some great kits and a small selcetion of boats.

Did some more work on the next load of Commandos but their layout is worng so more though there.

Had to pay out a large amount of money to get my car fixed, something I could have done without. Consoled myself by buying a Churchill Crocodile, S.B Scotia Crates and Tank Workshop LDRG Chevy tyres , but haven't worked out how to pay off the credit card yet

Started work on a FOB and RN Radio Operator so by next weekend I hope to have the figs for the LCM done (ha ha) and made a start on the universal carrier.

Mix of good and bad I supppose.

Cheers

Al

Managed some benchtime and got some paint on my E-Boat (finally) pictures to follow.


Cheers


Sean

Ahoy mates!

Saturday I got some work done on the HMS Invincible for an IPMS USA review. She's primed and ready for paint. Sunday was the children's Mardi Gras parade. Ian, Renee and I were on the Krewe of Miracle Kids float for Children's Miracle Network. Ian developed a new bead tossing technique, drop them right off the side of the float next to the tires. What he did drop off the side he tossed off the front so that we ran over it.

We had fun and didn't waste too many beads.

I'm posting this message from my I-pod 'touch', 450km from home and using a local wi-fi signal... isn't modern technology grand! I was home for the weekend and worked on my Nagato, completed the turrets (a ton of photo-etch). Tried to post some photos last night before leaving home, but couldn't access Kitmaker to download photos!?! It will have to wait till I get back home in a couple of weeks.

Frank

Got some work done on HMS Liverpool for the "Cold War Tin Cans" thingie. Will post pics asap.

Giants won

Me and some friends (all transplanted NYers and Giant Fans) had a super bowl party last night.. cracked open a 200$ sweet wine bootle to celebrate the Miracle Escape and Helmet Catch.

i called in sick this morning, no voice left and head still hurts.. lol.... felt like i was back in college (Im 44!)...

Oh, and for the non-Americans, let me give you some perspective.. what the Giants did would be the equivalent of Tottenham Hotspurs making the Champions League and winning at AC Milan (not this years version;), Man U and then winning over an unbeaten Barcelona/Real Madrid juggernaut looking to make history, with a striker that just broke the record for most goals in a season. The winning "goal" by the Giants was a drive that included one of the most amazing plays in the history of the sport... think...mm... Roberto Carlos "bender" freekick of a few years back, Messi's goal againt Villareal last year..

As for modelling, mmm... sanded some wheel assemblies on couple tanks, looked at my PT boat, washed the cold war tin can entry sprues, asked yet again for the dig cam from my kids, broke my "no more kits" resolution by getting the Tamiya "Pibber" (US Navy PBR31 Mk.II) from Squadron (hey was on sale!).

And everything else is irrelevant! I think I got some building done, I'm too euphoric to remember!

I rooted for havng an exciting game and I got it. I was pulling a bit more for tthe Giants because I guess I am tired of the Patriots winning.

I managed to get almost all the paint down on my Yukikaze. Also started gluing on the sub-assemblies. Still have a ton of itty bitty pieces to glue on the decks now like the 20mm and all the other itty-bitty stuff.