I was watching a old popular woodworking podcast on tips around the shop and one of them was making a tapered leg with the jointer. I am going to try and use that on the wing and to taper the two tail booms.

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This is my morning coffee pondering’s this morning and the realization came to me I, as probably most of us, get excited over small steps forward in my woodworking as much or more than complex processes that I have been researching. In fact I think I personally enjoy the easy more. This probably is a duh moment for most of you, but I had not realized the level of enjoyment a simple advancement such as rub on poly on top of BLO could bring vs. a completed project. Don’t get me a completed project brings pride and a sense of accomplishment but don’t we all get a little more excited and feel a sense of accomplishment when we have figured out something that unlocks other possibilities.

In someways I am very thankful that I am newer to woodworking and have a lot to discover. Anyway that was the morning thought over coffee.

This project however has a few things new in it, as I am trying to implement new aspects in to most of my work and as a newer woodworker this isn’t difficult (the including not the actual application). It got me thinking though about were we all get our advice and I don’t mean in general as we all get advice from everyone I mean the real go to “man if they say it I will try it even if I doubt it” advice.

Now I pull a lot of info and answers to my queries off the internet and have a few places I trust and a few Lumberjocks I trust (shout out to Jim and Don) but all in all I look for inspiration from the internet more than solutions when it comes to my projects, I will admit a lot of that comes from the fact I like to problem solve and I am stubborn. What I miss as a woodworker that I am jealous of others is that mentor or person who either taught us as a kid or we can go to and pick their brain.

I know that it is nice that my Father and children enjoy my projects and that my sister loves it when I make something for my niece but don’t we all secretly crave to have a person to learn from hands on? I think that wood guilds are a resource that are definitely a help in this area. Although I live an hour away from mine and with five kids, a job and a wife it is unrealistic that I can make it up there and if I could honestly shop time is the area of life that would haft to be cut back.

Anyway off my way more whinny point than originally expected, I am curious where we all get our answers and ideas that we trust as much or more than our own intuition.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

I am thinking about staining it, any opinions?

yes I realize there are two tanks, two planes and three ship but they were done at two different times, see you can rationalize anything!!

I hope you all enjoyed!!

It was at this moment that I realized in times like that I needed to complete something and wasn’t close to the end on the two projects I had going, need hinges for one and the other I have just started. Lucky with small children there are many things you can build in an evening. I ended up building a stool. Simple and lacking any difficulty at all but I reconnected with my tools shop and felt a little bit of accomplishment which makes me want to tackle my larger project.

I am curios if anyone is in the same boat, or do most of us just step back in as though they were in the shop yesterday?? I almost think my shop gets offended if I am away for a while and needs me to produce a finished product.

this is the F4 hellcat waiting for paint and propeller. I am not sure what the next project will be in this series but probably a jeep or duce and a half. I know these are not as cool and exact at some of the stuff posted on lumberjocks but they have been a learning experience every inch of the way. Mostly on what not to do but hey it all helps.

I also added a gas tank on the back, mostly to add character as the boys are young and wouldn’t realize the issues with having a tank on the back of a tank.

Needless to say the functioning model which still needs finish has been built in pine and was planned more before drilling. I ended up still messing up a little, I have well over a hundred allen wrenches from working on davenports which why this project struck me as a great idea combined with giving me another tool and shop time. Anyway I drill the whole a little big so as to leave room for the larger allens which made the one I sharpened a little sloppy, I will just sharpen a larger allen wrench.

Oh and yeah I like the longer handles so I decided to put those on. I will probably need a couple screws in the handle on top as it is just glued maybe not.

the Stanley no.78 and Stanley sweetheart 5 1/4 jack plane came in. It is finally time to decide with one and dive in to cleaning up, and getten er done.

I am looking for advice wooden plane, easier block plane or a Stanley? I am excited to work on one and doing research to make sure that I don’t make more work for myself than needed or mess up the plane. Any suggestions for where to for steps? I saw someone mention a book about reclaiming flea market hand tools.

I am also excited that in the next few days my no. 78 and 5 1/4 jack plane will arrive.

they need some work one is missing a screw in the handle and one has a bad handle.

I have finally gotten back in the shop after a week or so of not being able to feed the habit. I decided to work on Dad’s military pieces the bomber is pulling together I glued the engines to the wings and the tail section is glued. I will put wings and tail together next. I also took some dowels and tried my hand at propellers, they are dry fit together. I still need to adjust the angles and trim them down to length. Not sure if I like them opinions?

The second plane is going to be a hellcat the bomber and fighter are dad’s fav’s from WW2. I think I’ll glue wood on each side, the plane just does not look wide enough to me. He asked for profile but I want wider. Anyway my niece is coming over for a few days so probably will be weekend before I get to work on it again.

My first hand plane has arrived I am in hog heaven, it seems to be in pretty good shape although I am not by any means an expert. The blade seems thin I don’t know maybe it is just me it is honestly the first time holding one in my hands old or new. I tried it a few times with the knowledge that I have not sharped it the bottom is flat and with that being said made some shaving. I also won my last eBay bid I had started, got it for .99 well with shipping of coarse.

It is in pretty rough shape and after looking online I am pretty sure it is missing a piece off the side. But I really liked it and am stoked about the idea of cleaning it up and getting the missing piece. I will post in the next few days as the four other shipments should come in soon although of course the one I wanted to show up first has just shipped today.

I have in the few day since embracing hand planes purchased or “won” on eBay several hand planes. A Stanley block plane (vintage of course), a Stanley 5 1/2, a Ohio tool co. block plane, Hsb and Co. plane, Norvelle Shapleigh Hardware Co. Diamond Edge plane and most recently a Stanley jack 5 1/4 plane while also be at the moment the highest bidder on a Stanley No. 7 smooth base plane 22”, and )VINTAGE) STANLEY NO. 78 RABBET plane. In my defense I am pretty sure after all have been cleaned up and fixed if necessary they will accomplish the needs I envisioned when I purchased them.

This is a sentiment not shared by my wife, she seems to think maybe I have gone overboard and is while not looking for a knife is not wanting cuddle time. So this series will either end up with a hopefully nice collection of hand planes that improve my end product in my woodshop or me looking to see if anyone needs a roommate. Keep your fingers crossed either way. On a side note what are some of the things one should look for when buying planes online to avoid things like planes that are not fixable or parts that are more difficult to procure.

Thanks for reading.