Professional Acrylics

For nearly four decades I made my living as a graphic designer and artist.

If there was one thing I learned it is that an artist is only good as the supplies he or she uses.

Shoddy pencils, low-grade paints and inferior paper can ruin a piece of art.

Golden Paints is a high-quality, paint manufacturing company that puts out excellent acrylic paints.

When choosing acrylic paints there are a few, important things I consider.

Golden Artist Colors’ ‘6 Professional Acrylics’ successfully qualifies for each.

Paint ease of use and application is important.  The 6 Professional Acrylics squeeze out in an even flow from the tubes and spread smoothly when using a paint brush and/or a palette knife.

Colors dilute smoothly with water and blending colors is even with no clumps or dark and light spots.

Paints of various colors easily blend or can be laid over each other offering complete opacity.

Too often acrylic paints tend to dry out too fast.  Golden Artist Colors’ acrylics keep moist long enough for blending and manipulation.  Adding a little water or extender lengthens drying time.

The intensity of the colors and their consistency from tube to tube is important especially with projects requiring large amounts of paint.

After reading up on Golden I am confident that their manufacturing and color consistency is topnotch.

Creating a painting with a palette knife requires paint that is easy to move about and once dried keeps its color and texture.  Golden Artist Colors’ acrylic paints do just that.

Overall I am both impressed and satisfied with the quality, consistency and ease of use of Golden Artist Colors’ 6 Professional Acrylics.  Thumbs up.

Cyberse Link and Circuit Break

Get ready for two new Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game series from Konami.  Just look at what you get!  Get ready to duel!

‘TCG Structure Deck Cyberse Link’

2 Ultra Rares Cards

3 Super Rares Cards

38 Commons Cards

1 Beginner's Guide

1 Double-Sided Deluxe Game Mat/Dueling Guide

‘TCG Circuit Break Packs’

9 cards per pack and 24 packs per box.

The set contains 100 cards:

8 Secret Rares Cards

10 Ultra Rares Cards

14 Super Rares Cards

20 Rares Cards

48 Commons Cards

Norton and ARV

This time around I will attempt to assemble Italeri’s 1/9 Scale ‘Norton 750 Commando PR’motorcycle model kit.

I’m opting out of painting or dealing the model, as my photos indicate, the Norton motorcycle model kit comes with several color-coded parts, making it much easier to assemble and identify parts.

The Norton 750 Commando PR motorcycle helped re-launch and reinvigorate the British motorcycle company’s flagging sales back in 1967.

With its parallel twin cylinder 750cc engine with two valves per cylinder, higher displacement and the tilted forward cylinders and Isolastic anti-vibration system it increased the comfort, maneuverability and ease of use tremendously over previous Norton motorcycles.

Instantly popular in Britain, and soon after all the over the world, it managed to win the coveted Motor Cycle News “Machine of the Year” award consecutively for five years.

Coveted by motorcycle enthusiasts the Commando is given high marks for its shape, fuel tank design, handlebars and back cover.

Assembly of the model begins with the engine.  Careful attention must be given to the instructions as it is very easy to mismatch parts.  Chrome parts give the engine a visual pop.

Small screws of various sizes come with the model kit.  The silver/chrome screws add to the visual look of the motorcycle.  They also can be a bit of a problem if your vision is a bit blurred like mine.

The small screws gave me a bit of a problem picking up, positioning and screwing in place.  I tried using tweezers and I still had difficulty positioning the screws.  Younger eyes and hands are definitely a must.

Here’s a solution.  Since the screws are not necessary to hold the motor and chassis together, as they are primarily decoration, glue is the primary binding agent.

I suggest buying a small bottle of silver or chrome paint.  Using a number 2 bristle brush simply take a small amount of paint on the end of the brush and where the screws would normally be placed touch the paint on the location.  Viola!  Instant screws for those visually and dexterity challenged!

I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.

The Commando model is a very precise and accurate scaled down version of the real motorcycle.  It is challenging to assemble but ultimately satisfying.

Proceeding on with the model I am determined to finish it.  But, with some assistance.

A neighbor of mine is a proficient model maker.  He’s one of those guys that makes a novice like myself look like the amateur I am.

He’s assembled some pretty impressive and complicated models including some of Italeri’s semi-truck models-talk about complicated.

I’ve come across a few roadblocks that I need to clear up before I proceed.

First, I am no mechanic.  When it comes to things mechanical, especially cars and motorcycles I am completely blind-sided.

I plan on purchasing or taking out of the library some reference books on vehicles-specifically about how they are built.  That should give me a one-up when it comes to assembling model kits.

Second, it is very obvious that I need some more precise tools, specifically manipulating tools such as small screwdrivers, pointed pliers and a good, strong magnifying glass set-up-preferably one with clips and adjustable height capabilities.

The Commando motorcycle model is a marvel of miniaturization.  I have never seen a model that has tubing, screws, moving parts, chassis, wheels and other accessories that are so precisely modeled and manufactured.

Hopefully, with some assistance and a little research I will finish the model.  I’m anxious to learn the tricks of the trade, so to speak.

I cannot emphasis enough how easy it was to identify parts, cleanly clip them from part tress and follow the instructions.

The only drawbacks are my own clumsiness, failing eyesight and lack of proper tools-all of which I plan on rectifying.  Wish me luck.

The 1/35 Scale ‘M32B1 ArmoredRecovery Vehicle’ model kit is a military model maker’s dream come true.

Talk about details--from its gluable tracks to its working crane assembly with cable the M32B1 delivers on all fronts!

Just look at the details!  Full tread assembly, pivoting turret, rear equipment storage, and an exterior bristling with equipment and towing paraphernalia, weapons, twin entry hatches and much more pile on the authentic details that duplicate the complexity of the real WWII vehicle.

Built on the hulls of existing armored vehicles the ARV recovered and repaired damaged military vehicles.

Its reinforced Chassis enabled it to lift and move damaged vehicles-even tanks!

Totally equipped to handle most repair situation the M32B1 came with a huge cache of tools and spare parts.  It could even replace a tank engine.

So versatile was the vehicle that it stayed in service after during the Korean conflict and in use in some parts of the world until the 1990s.

Three decal versions are available.

Circuit Scribe Basic Kit

Several years ago while I was a teacher at a local high school a portion of my classes were vocational classes.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, vocational classes teach students a skill or skills: carpentry, welding, auto mechanics, computer tech and electrical work.

There is a huge need for young people to take up trade skills and none more so than electrical work.

Electricians are sorely needed in construction, electrical component assembly and plant work.  That’s why I was so excited when I received a copy of Electroninks’s ‘Circuit Scribe’ Basic Kit with 11 pieces.

The kit is a godsend for up and coming electricians and those students interested in electricity and its function and uses.

The kit comes in a flip-open lid, hard cardboard box which includes simple instructions, a separate work book/sketchbook, a conductive silver ink pen, a steel sheet, a sticker sheet, a circuit stencil, a battery, six electronic modules and resistors.

Circuit Scribe makes electronics easy to understand and implement.

All you do is follow the directions, select a piece of paper and place the metal sheet behind it.

Using your conductive ink pen you draw your circuit.

You can then place the various modules (output, input, 2-pin adapter and NPN adapter) in place on the silver ink line.  Connect the battery and adapter and you can use electrical conductivity using the various resisters.

Create a touch sensor, light up an LED and make a switch-the possibilities are endless.

Even an old codger like me can do it!  Now that’s making electricity easy to understand!

Modules are colored coded for easy identification.  A 9-volt battery powers the entire assembly making it safe to work with.

Ages eight years old and up can spend hours tinkering around with lights, switches and other electronics we use every day.

The kit is a great way to encourage kids and students to take up a well-paying and exciting trade and have fun in the process.

Pull & Discover Activity Elephant

Kids 12 to 36 months of age will go wild about V-tech’s ‘Pull & Discover Activity Elephant’.

The large blue elephant that when pulled flaps his purple ears.

Push or pull the elephant and it makes music and sounds.

 

The toy features shapes when pushed make music, sound or other noise when the talk or music slide is moved.

Kids answer questions, solve problems and sort numbers, shapes and images.

Mounted on top of the elephant is an adorable yellow bird with a spring that moves when the elephant moves.

 

There are objects to spin, move, slide, and select.

The special spinning, light-up selector on the side of the elephant asks questions, makes music and animal noises depending on the slide bar selection.

Everything moves, makes noise, flashes lights and is guaranteed to keep young children busy for hours. 

The interactive toy has volume control; an automatic shut-off, is made of hard durable soft edge plastic and includes batteries.

Kids will love to sing-along with three songs and 15 melodies.

There’s so much to do, listen to, watch and learn!  Dexterity, sight and sound identification, singing, talking, cognitive and chital thinking skills and much more help children to develop and grow.

A personal note: I am so grateful to God that I have the opportunity to review so many products: especially toys. 

It is with heartfelt gratitude that I thank such wonderful companies as V-tech and its employees for being so generous and kind.