Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => "Build Something" Archiv => Topic started by: Johnnytodd on December 29, 2017, 01:00:46 AM
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Because what I do best is build airplanes... of course my entry will be aircraft related. I'm thinking of recreating the ILL-ADVISED "peace" mission of #2 Nazi leader Rudolf Hess, who bailed out of his Messerschmitt BF-110 over Scotland in 1941, remaining in captivity the rest of his life. My plan involves three parts: #1 the plane, #2 the pilot descending by #3 parachute.
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Looking forward to it. It's the best way to handle this contest - have an entry that can be scaled up or back as required.
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I was hoping there's be one of your aeroplanes in this edition 8)
Interesting choice too. Hope you manage to include the parachute as I'm really curious to see how you do that.
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Without lifting a hand to reach for a tool yet (following the rules), I'm thinking through each step of this build.
Step #1 the PLANE: Fairly certain this will probably take 2-3 weeks to build. As usual carving from wood in 1/56 scale. Finding some details of Hess' plane are very specific (nomenclature), while other details (model type and paint scheme) are up to interpretation.
Step #2 the PILOT: Have never made a green-stuff mini entirely from scratch so I'm giving 2 weeks to that step. Must attempt my 1st wire-frame skeleton...
Step #3 the PARACHUTE: The challenge of constructing a 28mm scale parachute is the big unknown, and its consuming most of my mental energy now: I want it to be a rigid structure but look like thin cloth - leaning toward carving from wood but open to any suggestions.
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Maybe PVA dipped canvas or cotton for the parachite? Will allow you to shape it and if you don't like it's easy enough to try again. But then you are a master wood carver, so I don't know.
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Step #3 the PARACHUTE: The challenge of constructing a 28mm scale parachute is the big unknown, and its consuming most of my mental energy now: I want it to be a rigid structure but look like thin cloth - leaning toward carving from wood but open to any suggestions.
Perhaps carve a wooden plug and vacform the canopy? Doped tissue over a wire frame may work, but I don’t think it would bell out like the real thing.
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I'm reconsidering my plan. A single photo image as the final entry is presenting a technical challenge. Pilot descending by open parachute would never be seen together in same proximity as their plane? By the time Hess opened his chute his abandoned plane would have fallen 100s of meters away - difficult to capture in one image. I'd rather make the centerpiece of my build be the plane instead of the chute. So to maintain historical accuracy I'm thinking of focusing on a pre-flight vignette with the plane still on the ground. Any thoughts?
John
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I once read an article where a parachute was made from sellotape - you used sticky-side to sticky side formed over a ball then once dry the parachute shape was cut out and painted.
I hope that this helps.
Tony
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Tony, Building a model parachute is not my issue ... but rather that the airplane model and parachute model would look unrealistic together in the same photo composition.
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Tony, Building a model parachute is not my issue ... but rather that the airplane model and parachute model would look unrealistic together in the same photo composition.
It'd work in a comic-style presentation - as in the old Warlord, say. Or if you go for the runway, make a little Hess with someone giving him the parachute.
Alternatively, small scale aeroplane in the background and 28mm parachute - but then we won;t get one of your fantastic large aero models :D
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What about doing a forced perspective shot! A 28mm parachutist with a smaller scale plane in the background?......or the opposite way around, with the plane in the foreground?
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Or show him in the process of bailing out. Which at the time was a pretty bad idea in its own right...
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Progress for 1/14: There's a bit of research involved in selecting a plan. First I compare several measured drawings, as I've found there are variations in all of them. Then I picked this one for simplicity and its helpful 3D contour guides. I scale the plan to 1/56, then use printer at wife's work to produce correct measured plan, then print a bunch:
(https://i.imgur.com/ohFCajG.jpg)
....Then cut and glue plans to appropriate size wood blocks:
(https://i.imgur.com/RH7fWh6.jpg)
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An hour on the band saw:
(https://i.imgur.com/WJvMZmc.jpg)
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Good grief.
At this rate we're going to have a book of tutorial lessons here on LAF.
Multiple sets of plans? I am suddenly feeling VERY primitive and lazy :( :o 8) 8)
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Wow. That is a great start. Great plane to do as well.
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looks promising
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Today's progress was the base fuselage which amounted to roughly 3 hours of shaving off a few MM at a time, or:
FILE/SAND/FILE/SAND/FILE/SAND/MEASURE/REPEAT:
This just gives the basic contour. Once the wing and tail are contoured they will each be custom fit
(https://i.imgur.com/Aob5GWY.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/W1C6MdJ.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/3WvyNuU.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/ovb0gWw.jpg)
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Today at my local thrift store I found a lathe-turned wooden bowl with the correct diameter (4") for 28mm scale WW2 parachute: Stay tuned for my attempt at carving a convincing canopy.
(https://imgur.com/n8qnvQw.jpg)
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Is it still going to have the ‘Mexico’ written on the parachute? ;)
You must have the patience of a saint to whittle and sand down to these perfect shapes! :o
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Interesting to compare this (removal of material) with Andym's Statue of Liberty (addition of material).
Both extremely skilled in opposite directions - sort of. 8) 8) 8)
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Lovely precision.
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Love to see the nitty-gritty of the shaping of these aereo-gems!
Lon
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:o
People's skills here never cease to amaze me.
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This is looking very promising!
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Amazing technique and approach, and I'm appreciating the traditional approach your taking too. 8)
Looking forward to how this goes.
Cheers
Matt
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Is it still going to have the ‘Mexico’ written on the parachute? ;)
You must have the patience of a saint to whittle and sand down to these perfect shapes! :o
As with all things prefixed with "mexican", a "mexican parachute" sounds like
a) drug slang
b) a weird sex toy
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As with all things prefixed with "mexican", a "mexican parachute" sounds like
a) drug slang
b) a weird sex toy
lol lol lol
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As ever I'm in awe of your amazing hand skills! :o
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As with all things prefixed with "mexican", a "mexican parachute" sounds like
a) drug slang
b) a weird sex toy
My first thought would be a shot/cocktail involving Tequila.
Might just be my alcoholic brain though
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More progress. This time the wing: Start with 5/16 (10mm)flat board and file/sand evenly on both sides with a gradual taper out to the tip, while also forming the airfoil shape. Once that measures correctly I cut a V notch down the center and then bend/glue/clamp so I get the correct dihedral pitch:
(https://imgur.com/4vNnIzr.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/qlrfbl1.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/1NkX683.jpg)
The final test is get the wing and fuselage to mate up just like this!:
(https://imgur.com/CZ0Q5Dm.jpg)
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You must have the patience of a saint to whittle and sand down to these perfect shapes! :o
My last statement still stands! ;)
Have you ever tried doing a plastic, see-through canopy? I think you can buy after market ones with all sorts of brass etch bits. That would count for your 25% commercially bought bits.
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Andy,
I think of my models as an updated hybrid of old-school materials and technique, mixed with a modern wargames aesthetic of detail. I attempt to build these planes as accurate 3D sketches but they are nowhere near perfect. To me, plastic canopies tread into the land of hyper-scale modelling.
John
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This really is an amazing thread to follow.
'Proper' modelling of the most skilled kind.
:-* :-*
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Family visitors have slowed my progress but I did manage to form the nacelles and mate them to the wing:
(https://i.imgur.com/5WKI64N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TXreS6L.jpg)
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This is just seriously good.
:-* :-*
I can imagine what my efforts would look like if I attempted this.
::)
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Lovely work, as ever. I reckon you're a canny bugger. You knew that if those nacelles didn't work out you could still use them as clothes pegs. :)
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:o again with the amazing skills!
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This is absolutely Amazing.
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Good grief, this really sets a terrifying standard :o 8) 8)
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I do love seeing you whittle aircraft from bits of wood :D
Fantastic stuff :o :o 8) 8) 8) 8)
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This is showing great skills. Unbelievable how good this model is looking.
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Good grief, this really sets a terrifying standard :o 8) 8)
Preach!
That’s some amazing lines! :o
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I like how you are using a WWII-era ID plan for the aircraft carving.
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Dave_t, WW2 era plans are simple to use but invariably they have glaring errors. My progress has been stalled AGAIN by correcting one of these errors... I constantly remind myself to use more than one blueprint for reference... but always seem to be in a hurry and overlook some obvious discrepancy. Then spend hours cleaning up the mess! So no juicy photos to share though I have made some exciting progress on the Mexican parachute.
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I have the same when building tanks.
The T-95 was the worst, the bloody plan wasn't symmetrical! I started measuring one set of tracks then realised it was too narrow for the other side!
Also I find there is a degree of interpretation sometimes and drawings can be 'funky' in places. It might look right from one angle but on the other the bits just down line up!
Keep up the good work!
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I'm at the other extreme, making it up as I go along; and very much in awe of this approach - it's like comparing a seven year old's chalk scrawl on a blackboard to a Banksy. :o :o 8) 8)
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The plans may not be exact, but it looks like a BF-110 to me so far. For some odd reason, I just liked the idea of Hess jumping out of a recognition model.
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Made some good progress in past couple days but still a bit behind my goal of finishing the plane by week 2. I'm back to Plan#A which involves Hess descending by open chute while abandoned plane spirals to earth. Next step is excavating the cockpit and carving propellor blades.
(https://i.imgur.com/ccr9IBq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v7SkrwG.jpg)
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Unbelievable :o :o :o :o :o
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That IS superb.
Nice lines on the Me. 8) 8) 8)
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I agree - great looking lines.
Tony
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Brilliant :o :o 8) 8)
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The construction portion of Hess' 110 is done - propellors and drop tanks are also finished but not pictured. Very pleased with how cleanly it all went together. I decided to build the plane "in flight" with the canopy closed. I'll try to give the allusion of a crashing, abandoned ship with my camera later on.
Now on to sculpting my first 28mm figure. I'm dreading the face, though most will be covered by goggles. Stay tuned
(https://i.imgur.com/hERnGKM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mclm1rl.jpg)
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The base coat of paint makes an already great model look even "cleaner" to my eye. Good luck on the figure sculpt!
Lon
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That's very slick, extremely well done.
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Bloody hell... :o
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I’m astonished how ‘clean’ these always come up! No sign of the wood grain whatsoever! :-*
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incredible craftsmanship, as Andym said I'm amazed at the lack of visible woodgrain
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:o This getting more amazing with every post.
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I've been busy over the past couple days carving/sculpting the parachute->
Remember I started with this souvenir wood jar:
(https://i.imgur.com/n8qnvQw.jpg)
I sawed it around the widest part, then rough filed the outside into 1/2 circle:
(https://i.imgur.com/6WPxLI3.jpg)
...then filed bisecting lines and then shaped each cut into a long curve:
(https://i.imgur.com/sH9Siod.jpg)
...arriving at this:
(https://i.imgur.com/drebsr7.jpg)
Well I just couldn't stop there so I bought a new dremel auger bit and attacked the inside as well:
(https://i.imgur.com/G7Uohu7.jpg)
and after about 4 hours:
(https://i.imgur.com/BUzLkaQ.jpg)
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That there is an example of dedication!
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Amazing craftsmanship
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That would make a nice bowl in it's own right. In fact, a vast improvement!
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Holy cow :o
Your skill is never case to amaze me.
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Thanks for the kind comments everyone. The Build Something Contest really is my favorite LAF activity - if you hadn't guessed already! I love to watch everyone else' progress as well.
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Eep.
That's just brilliant :o 8) :-* :-*
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Thanks for the kind comments everyone. The Build Something Contest really is my favorite LAF activity - if you hadn't guessed already! I love to watch everyone else' progress as well.
Me too....and especially at this moment, your project in particular! :o What skills! :o
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your woodworking skills are unbelievable !
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Wow :o Amazing work. :-*
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Wow again.
Great idea and very well executed.
Tony
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:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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I still can't believe you carved a damn parachute canopy out of wood, you mad bugger!
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I still can't believe you carved a damn parachute canopy out of wood, you mad bugger!
Parachute? No, he’s thrown you all off the scent. The truth to this build is now revealed.
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Wow - simply wow!
(If I tried that I'd have split it in half and lost 2 digits plus it would look rubbish!)
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Parachute? No, he’s thrown you all off the scent. The truth to this build is now revealed.
There certainly is a nice miniature for it:
(https://www.darkswordminiatures.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/330x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/g/r/grrm_5011_f_p.jpg)
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The plane and the parachute are first class!
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I still can't believe you carved a damn parachute canopy out of wood, you mad bugger!
Yep!
:o :o :o
Amazing skill AND patience.
8) 8)
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Sorry, no Birth Of Venus spoiler here :'( but I did manage to complete my VERY FIRST MINI!
Starting with the obligatory wire frame (which I found to be the trickiest part) I tried several wire skeletons but settled on a simple inverted V shape:
(https://i.imgur.com/nb30v4U.jpg)
... subsequent layers to achieve a human-ish form:
(https://i.imgur.com/6OV8nRP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lRouGbB.jpg)
Then added face and beginnings of the parachute structure. Brass tubes will accept the shroud lines (I hope). Goggles will cover most of face so not too concerned that he doesn't look like Hess - just wanted to get proportions right:
(https://i.imgur.com/ZOmjeLl.jpg)
Next I started detailing the Luftwaffe flight suit. Many different types of flight suit were used and Hess' was only described as "leather" so I felt free to choose anything worn in the 1941 period. I settled on the "Channel Suit":
(https://i.imgur.com/5pgk57S.jpg)
This gives an idea of his scale:
(https://i.imgur.com/CRwyCHM.jpg)
...and more detail. Using this website as a guide: https://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEMWINDOW.HTM?ITEM=18098 (https://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEMWINDOW.HTM?ITEM=18098) I chose to build the backpack type parachute. Difficult to find photos of the backpack parachute being worn, especially no photos of chute being deployed, so I don't really know what the rear looked like after the chute deployed. I still plan to add more detail to the aluminum "pan"
(https://i.imgur.com/dyOHTv5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2JDSaP1.jpg)
I'd love to hear some sculpting suggestions, especially how to achieve a smoother surface from my green-stuff
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:o :o
First sculpt!?!?
Bloody brilliant!
:-* :-* :-*
As for a smoother surface, I would suggest using clay shapers*, if you do not already, with plenty of lubricant (I use saliva but other options are available) and maybe adding a little more 'yellow' to the mix as that is always seems to make it easier to smooth, I find.
;)
Clay shapers: http://heresyminiatures.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66
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Thanks Mason, Saliva is the go-to choice - my autopsy will reveal arteries congested with green-stuff. Or do you mean lick the tools, not the mini :D Thanks for the tip on shapers
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One question. If Hess has just bailed out, logically shouldn’t the canopy of the Bf-110 be open?
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One question. If Hess has just bailed out, logically shouldn’t the canopy of the Bf-110 be open?
That was my first dilemma. I found photos of the 110 with open canopy on the ground but no photos or information on what happened to canopy during an escape in flight (did the canopy simply open or blow off like the FW 190?). So I chose to keep the plane buttoned up and will conveniently obscure the canopy area of the fuselage for my final photograph.
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John,
Your skills have no end! :o :o The wooden parachute was a tour de force and now a mini that sure looks professional grade - and it is your first one! :o :o Many kudos on this project!
Lon
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You'rs also sculpting the figures? :o :o :o
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Well done on that figure! 8)
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Blimey! :-*
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The plane is unbelievable, the parachute is unbelievable and the figure is unbelievable! Really great skills are shown here
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Great skills on show :-* :-* :-*
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amazing
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Brilliant 8) 8)
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Construction of the pilot is finished. Fairly pleased with the result - will certainly be building more minis to improve my skills. Next step will be to paint him and the parachute, then string them both together.
(https://i.imgur.com/sSzdiUn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IPObbpR.jpg)
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Looking good, sir.
:-*
I look forward to seeing future efforts.
Oh, and careful when you go licking those tools!
;D ;)
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Nicely done.
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An image upload problem is ongoing, but is being tackled; BUT due to this issue I decided to extend the deadline by a week, so you have a little more time.
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Entry photo sent!
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And received :o 8)