For better spray painting results

Paint cans spray best when they are warm. To heat a spray can, place it in a pan half full of warm water (DO NOT heat the water on a stove; the can may explode). Let it sit in the water for a minute or two, then spray as usual.

Safe driving in winter is no accident!

Town of Mono, ON (Mono Community Policing Committee)
Preconceived notions on the part of over-confident winter drivers can threaten the safety of others on the road. So with temperatures falling, the time has come to clear up the misconceptions and change bad habits to good by providing reliable, comprehensive information on winter driving… above all, because our winters are nothing if not unpredictable!

Cold temperatures: more dangerous than snow
Winter conditions can take us by surprise. On October 8, 2009, unexpected snowstorms in Alberta led to multiple road closures. Just six days later, Montreal saw the first snowflakes of the year fall!

However, the first snowfall is not the best indicator that it’s time to have winter tires installed, because a drop in the temperature has the same negative effect on tires. When the mercury dips below 7°C, summer or all season tires begin to lose their elasticity, which reduces their adherence to the road. For this reason, it is much more dangerous to take the wheel early in the morning when the temperature is low than in the evening when roads are snow-covered.

The art of braking
Regardless of road conditions, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with cold weather. Contrary to what many believe, ABS brakes do not make it easier to brake if the vehicle is not equipped with winter tires. Likewise, four wheel drive systems provide no advantage when the vehicle must be brought to a stop. All such electronic and mechanical systems are dependent on the vehicle’s wheels being in contact with and adhering to the road.

SUV and CUV drivers beware!
Too often, the robust design of SUVs and CUVs give drivers a false sense of security. Compared to smaller cars, the elevated weight and centre of gravity of these vehicles put them at greater risk of rolling if the driver swerves suddenly or loses control.

Avoid losing control
The best option is to avoid losing control of the vehicle, as it can be extremely difficult to regain. However, should this occur, the experts at Michelin strongly advise you to look in the direction you want to go rather than at the object you risk hitting. The results of this simple technique are impressive!

A single destination for guaranteed safety at the wheel
To provide drivers with the tools and knowledge they need to successfully manoeuvre through Canada’s winter driving conditions, Michelin’s experts have developed a brand new online Winter Driving Academy. Visitors to the site www.michelinwintercentre.com have access to video capsules, animated features, and user tests to help them avoid having to say “if I’d only known…” and ensure they drive safely and worry-free all winter!

credit: www.newscanada.com

Provincial Constable A.L. Buck, OPP Dufferin Detachment
Phone: (519) 925-3838

<< DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!! >>

James Doan
Chairman
Mono Community Policing Committee

Enjoy your store

A successful store can depend on having fun on the job. A friendly “Hi!” to everyone who walks in the store is a must. Encourage your staff to talk to customer. Laugh with them, joke with them. A friendly atmosphere starts with you, the boss.

Interior detailing techniques for your model

Need a realistic looking shifter boot? Make your own by cutting the end off a rubber fishing lure. Drill a hole through it, paint it black, and slip it over the shifter.

Having trouble detailing an instrument panel? Take a photo of the real car’s instrument panel, enlarge or reduce it with your Photoshop software, print it out and glue the sized piece to the dash.

Need chrome bezels and trim on your dash? Paint the entire dash silver. When that’s dry, paint the whole dash semigloss black. When the black is tacky, scrape it off the areas to be chrome. Be careful not to remove any chrome paint underneath by scraping too hard.

Add clear covers to an instrument panel by placing a drop of clear two-part ‘5-minute’ epoxy directly over the gauges. Use a round toothpick to deposit a blob into the gauge cavity.

To add more texture and depth to your model’s interior, dry brush the scrapings from a pastel pencil (that is slightly darker than the interior’s colour) into the recessed areas.

Seam binding tape can be used for scale seat belts. The buckles can be cut from thin sheet plastic, painted silver and glued on the ends of the belts.

Heat-shrink tubing, found at hardware stores, can be used for roll cage padding. Using a piece slightly larger than the cage’s diameter, slice it lengthwise and slip it over the roll cage. It will then return to its original shape. Use fine black thread soaked in super glue for the zip ties.

Make your own door lock buttons by drilling a hole in the proper location on the door panel. Cut a straight pin or insect mounting pin slightly longer than needed, dip the end in glue and mount it in the hole.

Modelling lights on chromed parts

Replicating taillight and headlight lenses on parts that are already chromed can be frustrating. The most accurate way of solving the problem is by drilling out the lens area and replacing them with translucent units from the parts box or with scratchbuilt lenses made from translucent sprue.  An easier way to depict taillight lenses is to paint the lens area of the chrome part with several coats of clear red paint.