Author | Lightnews

John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 4d

Suggest using Tamiya-type masking tape, but before applying to the model, tape it to your skin and remove several times. The combination of repeated adhesions and the oil from your skin will reduce the tape's "stickiness" and likelihood of pulling off the paint.

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Reposted by John A. Martini

Aidan Skinner @aidan.skinner.me.uk · 8d

We need new heroes

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 9d

Very nice! Engines are something of a challenge, especially making them appropriately grimy. Looking forward to photos of painting and weathering!

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Reposted by John A. Martini

Leon Jackson @drleonj.bsky.social · 13d

Doguerreotype
🗃️

A daguerreotype of a black and white labrador mix puppy sitting on a small cloth-covered table looking absolutely perfect

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks for preparing this. It helps explain the series of important preservation laws and guidelines that can’t be bypassed.

Until an autocrat tosses over the whole process.

Reposted by John A. Martini

Jan Little @janl2451.bsky.social · 13d

As if he cares…

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 14d

These are the folks designing the ballroom. Terrifying renderings on-line at www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 14d

President Trump in July: "[The ballroom] won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building..."

Kinda looks like touching to me.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 20d

Let their words speak for them.

Blue Georgia @bluegeorgia.bsky.social · 20d

These are some of the leaked messages Young Republicans were sending in group chats.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 21d

#scalemodel #histscalemodels Trying again with a photo. This will be the "A" side of the finished M36 tank destroyer. All in all, very happy. (Good old Tamiya fit and quality!) I could probably do some additional weathering but will hold off for now and not mess with success.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 22d

The railroad and Comstock millionaires of the 1880s were probably equally intolerant of the Italians, Chinese, Germans, Irish, French, Portuguese etc… crowded around their mansions on Nob Hill.

John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 22d

Tell ‘em Heather. We’ve been in SF for four generations and each one was told they’d just missed a mythical golden age.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 23d

I was thinking the same thing. Have the M36 traveling down a very muddy lane with the tracks almost invisible in the goo. Thanks!

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 23d

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Well, this is the best I could do with the gap in the track links. It's visible but doesn't jump out at you. Not too much, that is. Again, this will be the "B side" of the M36. On the positive side, the post-shading and turret detailing came out pretty well.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 24d

Not much room to tighten up here.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 24d

Hate to admit it, but rubber band tracks are becoming more attractive, especially when 40% of tracks (the portions where the track sag) are hidden from view by side skirts or fenders.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 25d

I wrote Tamiya asking if they could send a couple of extra links. In the meantime, I'll try to fiddle with the gap to put it under the fender or something to minimize its appearance. Like I've said before, every model I build has an "A" side and a "B." This M36 may have to Bs.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 25d

Both the drive sprocket and idler wheel are fixed in place to the hull. No maneuvering room.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 25d

#histscalemodels #scalemodels Help! Almost finished my Tamiya M36 Jackson and ran into track glitch: the kit appears to be one link short. No idea how this happened. Directions followed explicitly, no remaining links on the sprues.

This the second Tamiya model where this has happened. Argh.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · 25d

De Anza wasn’t a missionary.
He was a Spanish expeditionary leader, military officer, and politician primarily in California and New Mexico under the Spanish Empire.

Reposted by John A. Martini

Just Jack @just-jack-1.bsky.social · 29d

Even Sporkfoot knows who is responsible for the government shutdown.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · Oct 4

#scalemodel #histscalemodels I gave a talk at a high-end yacht club last night. Venue was loaded with gorgeous, scratch built models. Almost made me want to to give up model building and switch to a hobby like tatting or stamp collecting. Keep repeating, “it’s the process, not the product.”

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · Oct 2

Just a reminder: the Republicans have enough votes right now to overturn the filibuster rule (only a simple majority in the Senate needed) and then immediately pass their continuing resolution.

They don't need the Democrats' votes to end the shutdown. They just don't want to.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · Oct 2

Yessss. Too bad I had just dropped $20 on a sub commander figure.

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John A. Martini @johnamartini.bsky.social · Oct 2

Well, like they say, s**t happens. While holding the sub to give it a spray of flat clear, the superglue holding the model to the frame let go and the sub fell to the ground. I was outside, using a rattle can, so had put a pillow down for safety. The model missed it by an inch. Total loss. Binned.

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