Yup, more model building. I’m working on meeting the June 14th  deadline on the Enterprise E build and so far so good. I did manage this week to get her all buttoned up and ready for decals next week. There are a lot of decals that go on this model covering 90% of the hull. Currently all the clear parts and windows are covered to prevent over spray as I touch up the gaps and cracks followed by paint touch up.

Early this week I got the lighting all working and installed which was a big relief.

Here is a short video showing the first time I lighted it up all in one piece: 

I also worked in the evening at home on the Maserati and made the chassis, mounted the body, and test ran the car on the track. It took two nights of tuning but the car runs fast and smoothly. 

Then yesterday I sanded and primed the body and gave her a nice coat of red. Decals are on order and after they arrive they get placed and then clear coated at which time I can proceed with the finishing. I’ll be adding exhaust, wind screen, driver, etc.

Next I can’t wait to build this little beauty.

A package came from France yesterday. One of my Dad’s heros was the racing legend A.J.Foyt. And this car was my favorite and his. A.J. was my little boy hero and my dad was a friend of his. Back in the 60’s my dad built up a Stromberg Watson Roadster Sheraton Thompson for me. AJs winning car in 1964. I don’t know what ever happened to it but it was my wobbie and I took it everywhere I went for comfort. I was 12 years old.Now back into slot cars I wanted that car back and found a guy on Ebay that has resin bodies of the car. This will be a wonderful build full of memories of my late dad and all the fun we had racing.This is what the car looks like finished:

~Appropriate, considering this weekend is the famous Indy 500 race.

Mary’s Corner:

Mary has been painting and burning. Monday she painted a Red Betta with her alcohol inks

Wednesday she burned another trinket box, Bird song

Thursday and Friday it was time to dip into the wax and she painted her first encaustic abstract, Winter

In addition to all this, Mary and I spent some time doing some spring cleaning and arranging our studio starting with the office-showroom. We put up another shelf to elevate the masks so as you first enter the studio they are easily seen.

That’s it from us this week. Once I finish these models we’ll be back to the laser cutter and some interesting new products and creations! I’ve been posting fascinating articles on Buy Me A Coffee . There you can read and see more of the work that I do. The posts are free, you can visit the store when you’re looking for something fun or you can support the studio by subscribing. It’s all good. Love to have you with us.  

A big shout out to everyone who supports SNG, either through Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. You keep the roof over our head during those months when we get very few orders.

This Memorial Day weekend we remember those who gave everything for our freedom. Thank you.Love you Bunches and Thank you for your continued support.

Steve and Mary

The Art of Steve Neill

https://marycacciapaglia.wordpress.com/

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You should see the other side.

Friday I’m in Love

Yes it’s Friday and I’m ready for the weekend. I’m going to do something I haven’t done for a couple of months or more. Fly. I’m flying a very large RC airplane.

Yesterday and today I’m finishing all the light blocking, filling seams, filling cracks and poor fitting parts. Parts of the model are taped up to prevent airbrushing over windows and clear parts as I sand and touch up. Monday we start putting on the decals.

I did pour some more of Nimoy’s ears up for a friend and customer I’ll paint Monday. for those of you new to the blog I made Spock’s ears for the first Motion Picture back in 1978. A highlight in my career for me.

These get mounted in a special shadow box and signed by the creator.

Here I am with Adam Nimoy and a pair of his dads ears standing in my office.

I also finished mounting the body and fine tuning the Maserati last night. This car runs smooth as glass and handles well. Time to paint the body and add the details.

A package came from France yesterday. One of my dads heros was racing legend A.J.Foyt. And this car was my favorite and his. A.J. was my little boy hero and my dad was a friend of his. Back in the 60’s my dad built up a Stromberg Watson Roadster Sheraton Thompson for me. AJs winning car in 1964. I don’t know what ever happened to it but it was my wobbie and I took it everywhere I went for comfort. I was 12 years old.

Now back into slot cars I wanted that car back and found a guy on ebay that had resin bodies of the car. This will be a wonderful build full of memories of my late dad and all the fun we had racing.

This is what the car looks like finished.

And here is the unfinished body I just received.

More and more work on the enterprise E. What a journey. Of course I have been through this journey so many times I lose count. But no matter how seasoned a maker-modeler you are, every model (with the exception of repeats) or thing you make is the first time. Therefore your experience won’t always prepare you for the changes of course the said project takes you on.

In the case of this model the size is a bit daunting. Your nerves can be quite on edge with this much wiring and electronic possibilities of failure. It has happened. you get to a point where you carefully put all the main pieces together and the lights go out. This brings a big gulp and a sinking feeling that’s most uncomfortable.

Yesterday I closed this model up. The saucer section was finally attached to the engineering section and the switch went on. She lit up beautifully without a flicker and was solid.

At this point you sit down and take a moment. One where you take joy in all the careful planning you did.

Next? We filled the numerous gaps for the poor fitting parts. Many in this kit were warped plastic.

Today I’ll be sanding and touching up the paint as I go along. It’s my hope that I can start the many decals (in the hundreds) tomorrow. Certainly by Monday.

When I got home from my studio last night I worked some more in the slot car room on my Maserati. I got the motor installed in the actual position of the full sized car but as always with drive shafts I ran into problems. As a whole I don’t like them. They can be problematic.

So I changed motors and mounted one of these small short can motors with a pinion directly to the crown gear. Bingo! The car ran fast and smooth the first time.

The driver will sit right on top of the motor but the way I will do this it won’t be seen much only if you look straight down into the cockpit. Life is a series of trade offs anyway and this was a good one.

Video soon.

And more work on the Enterprise E. The nacelles on the port side gave a whole new meaning to, “Warp Nacelles” as the plastic itself was warped and took some time to get both nacelles level to one another.

Parts don’t fit well as a result of the warping but Tamiya putty is fixing it well.

Today it’s my hope to close up the Engineering section and attach the saucer section. The board is in the base and all the connections travel well through the brass tubing. 

When I got home a bit of basket weaving in the slot car cave as I worked on the Maserati chassis. Axles have yet to be cut down and fitted but it’s coming along well.

The building of the model for my friend and customer continues. There’s just so much to do. I had a time out Thursday. Mary and I both caught some kind of stomach bug which laid us up at home.When you’re trying to make a deadline, every day counts. I have at this point got all the lighting into the model and working well. Starting tomorrow I’ll be putting together the model and all its sub assemblies into one piece. From there I can fill gaps, touch up the paint and add the decals.

I did map out how I will make the chassis for my new vintage Formula 1 slot car build, at home in the evenings.

Here you see it just sitting in its axles and new wire wheels for a look.

This car is a real history maker in auto racing and I plan to do more. 

Our film, “A Conversation with my Father”  is in the final cut phase and the sound editing and score are still not finished. It will be soon and we can release our new film many of you helped us make.

My latest episode of “Slot Car Fun” is online this morning. I interviewed Frank Peter De Van Goor. He is a master modeler for slot car racing tracks. A very talented and inspired man who was a race driver himself and a race driving instructor. He has a deep passion for racing history too which I myself have learned so much from his amazing videos.

I plan to do a series of interviews with some of the greats of slot car racing in future shows.

Here is the weekly SNG Studio Update that shows the work I have been doing on the Enterprise model: https://youtu.be/rEJoxM_HUDQ

Saturday we had another great rocket launch.Thank you Mark Ware for purchasing this additional launch equipment and launch pad for our group, Ventura Rocketeers. Everyone appreciated it very much and we were able to set up 10 rockets on the pads. It made for a very smooth launch!

Here’s some pictures and video from the day: https://youtu.be/mZR0Vzv60dc

I was walking out to retrieve a rocket that I launched and, as I did, in my peripheral vision I noticed movement on the ground. I thought it was maybe some kind of bug but as I stopped and focused on the object I noticed it was a small baby toad. Not wanting to step on it I caught it in my hand. I clasped my hand over it so it could not escape as I had learned to do when I was a small child. I was quite the nature kid and I still am.  The little guy did his best to escape and I could feel him pushing at the crack between my thumb and palm but he settled in and became quite calm. Because we are all connected to all living things in this life he  knew my intentions. I was not going to harm him. Somehow he could just sense it. I could sense him. It was a wonderful moment to have this communion with this tiny life.

I brought him over to show Joaquin and his father, Arnulfo. I opened my hand and the little guy just sat in my hand and we observed how beautiful this little creature is. Arnulfo took this picture to capture the moment. After that I walked a safe distance away from our activities. The little guy just sat there looking around as I slowly bent over he looked at the grass and back at me before leaping off my hand to safety. Moments like this are important because they remind us all how important life is and how we benefit each other.

 Our friend, Carlos Grasso, a fascinating artist, had a reception for his artwork at the H Gallery on Main Street in Ventura that we attended. He even had a 3D piece with accompanying glasses for viewing. Please visit his website to seeing his work: https://carlosgrasso.com

Mary, the first part of the week (before the bug on Thursday) did some more alcohol ink painting and burning. Her weekly views can be read on her blog, Art by Cacciapaglia

As always thank you for being our friend and supporter of our Art. Stay Creative, it gives life purpose.We love you very much,Steve and Mary

The Art of Steve Neill

SNG Studio on Patreon

Fine Art America – Steve Neill 

Collectors’ Mask Store

SNG Aero – Rockets by Steve Neill

Mary’s Store

Mary’s Blog

As always it’s a busy week at SNG Studio and these 3 short videos will show you all our adventures.