The biggest secret in Texas

[NimitzFan]

Howdy from Houston!
Houston's the biggest secret in Texas. When most people think of Texas - they think of Dallas (Thank you Larry Hagman!). Houston is seen as a kind of hick oil town. In reality, Houston is the 4th largest city in the country, and the sixth largest metro area. The city is 50 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. But the port of Houston is the busiest port in the United States in terms of foreign tonnage, second-busiest in the United States in terms of overall tonnage, and tenth-busiest in the world. Houston also has the world's largest medical center complex, and is one of only five US cities to have world-class, year-round resident companies in all four of the major performing arts - the symphony (Houston Symphony Orchestra), opera (Houston Grand Opera), drama (The Alley Theatre) and ballet (Houston Ballet).

I could go on - but there is one important feature of Houston I can do without. The weather. We share the same climate as Calcutta, India. This is not a good thing for a paper modeler. PVA glue just doesn't work because the high humidity causes models to warp. It isn't too bad, but when Hurricane Ike came through, our generator could run everything but the A/c. We lost it for 8 days, and I lost a number of PVA based models. Those I built using Wiccoll did just fine. Unfortunately, I just learned that they don't make it anymore.

Does anybody have any Suggestions?

Thanks!

[Phil]

Houston is the biggest secret? I thought drive-thru liquor stores were! lol
Or am I thinking of Tucson?
Welcome! View THIS thread, it talks alot about adhesives.

[Retired_for_now]

Welcome NF,

Warping? Try being more sparing with the glue - my models (those I haven't given away yet) live out in the garage in the Florida panhandle. Steel roof, way over 100 in the attic, easily 110 in the garage with high humidity just like yours (it's 96 degrees and 60% already today - hence me sitting at the computer inside versus puttering in the shop or yard). I haven't seen any warping yet. Using Titebond II (dedicated modeling gear consists of an OLFA cutting mat, everything else is cribbed from my wood shop and tool box) because it was handy. I apply with the tip of a toothpick and follow Jon Leslie's guidance for spreading - envelope lick saliva thin. Lot's of FAQs out there, Jon's are at http://jleslie48.com/faqs01.html

Yogi (sticky fingers)

[B-Manic]

Welcome to the forum Rich. I have spent some time in Houston and thoroughly enjoyed myself there. I just added some information and links to the adhesives thread Phil mentioned.

THIS

[willygoat]

Welcome Rich. Houston is a nice place. I spent some time down there last June. Hanging out with astronauts is cool stuff. Need to get back so I can go to Galveston to the Texas Air Museum. Went right past it last time but couldn't stop

[lee4752]

If you find yourself in Houston and like Thai food, try Nit Noy restaurant. It's owned by a buddy of mine from the Air Force. Last I heard, there were ten Nit Noy restaurants in the Houston area. It's that good.
OK, end of commercial break. Sorry to hijack the thread. Welcome Nimitz Fan.

[redhorse]

I like Houston. A lot. I actually go there for vaction. DFW metro is bigger, but we don't have the gulf as a suburb. We just have the Metromess. Try strong airconditioning - or Duco Cement. Available at Ace hardware I believe. Also, you can try Beacon's 527 available at Walmart - at least it is in NE DFW.

[whulsey]

Welcome and when I hear people complaining about the temps here in Phoenix I always compare with Houston and use the old "at least it's a dry heat here" line.

[Don Boose]

For me, Nimitzfan, one of the best secrets in Texas is the Nimitz Foundation's National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. Welcome to the National Museum of the Pacific War!

[NimitzFan]

Hi guys!
Don - You've plumbed my name - "NimitzFan" - That's a fantastic place to visit, and the area is quite nice as well, especially in late spring.

BTW - I agree about the excess glue - I've gone from being a heavy user to being the kind who works almost exclusively with a toothpick. But I made that change about the same time I changed to Wiccoll - and it sounds like Wiccoll might not have been the secret. I never thought about that.

I'm not stupid enough to think I know it all, nor insecure enough to be offended when someone corrects me. As I age, I've learned to appreciate all the input I can get. I think that experience is a rotten teacher. I'd rather learn from other's mistakes than repeat them myself.

Enjoy!