Been awhile!

[jrsteensen]

Hey all! Just wanted to touch base with everyone - a lot of old friends here I've fallen out of contact with. Mike, Dunk, Lightning, Nigel and so many more of you.

Lost the bug to build for quite a while, but with the DCS Hornet module, the bug bit me bad. Been working on a F/A-18C Lot 20 pit, with all plans to be released OpenSource.

Newcomers and younger members, this hobby, if you are passionate, can lead to better things. After I got off active duty, I ended up starting as a drafter for one of the major aerospace/defense firms based on my CAD work for pit building. I'm now a senior mechanical designer.

[Nikolas_A]

Good to see you back, even though you betrayed the F-16... 

[Rufus]

Very nice work...I'll be following closely... !

[Taipan]

Welcome back John

Did you ever manage to finish your block 60 pit ?
T

[Thunder]

Glad to see you back! Your Block 60 horseshoe really motivated me to go the block 60 route many years ago. Glad I did!

[jrsteensen]

Good to see you back, even though you betrayed the F-16... 

Thanks Nikolas. I gotta say, the F/A-18C is a beast! Let me tell you, learning carrier landings was an experience! Was sad to stray from my roots, but cie la vie.

Rufus, thank you!

Taipan, glad to be back. Unfortunately no. After my son passed away in 2010, and had a few more children, it got parted out. Recently bought a house with a separate 3 car garage dedicated shop, and got the CNCs and 3D printer, so decided to get back into pit building. It is my passion.

Thunder, really happy to have inspired you! Thank you. I'll have to check out your build!

[Biggles]

Hi John,

Good to see you back on track.

But there is something that worries me.
I quote""After my son passed away in 2010, and a few more kids, it got parted out"
What the hell did happen?

Regards,

Biggles.

[jrsteensen]

Sorry, fixed my phrasing there. My son LJ passed away in 2010 due to a bilateral pneumonia from the flu that the hospital didn't catch. Sucks, but is what it is. I have four other children.

[Taipan]

Sorry, fixed my phrasing there. My son LJ passed away in 2010 due to a bilateral pneumonia from the flu that the hospital didn't catch. Sucks, but is what it is. I have four other children.

Really sorry to hear John. I hope life is treating you better these days and good luck with the hornet pit.

[Rufus]

Really sorry to hear about your son - I'm also well acquainted with hospitals and physicians on both the positive and negative...you have my sincerest sympathies.

On the pit building side, sounds like were on the same track...I'm near to completing my own CNC project, and I'm seriously looking over 3D printers - I like the new Ultimaker S5.  I'm also thinking of augmenting my CNC with a low power laser head, just for engraving/cutting(?) acrylic.