Finally! Great sanding success!!

On the way home today I decided to stop off at Home Depot and buy some form of different hand sander than the two B&D 'Mice' I have now. I surveyed all their sanding wares and, in the end, I selected the Rigid R2501 sander for $50. It has a vacuum function with an enclosed cloth bag and claims to retain 90% of the dust generated. BIG... FRIGGIN'... FAN!!

The raised handle on this sander absorbs most of the vibrations and the vacuum bag actually works and retains most dust. Also the coarsest grit sandpaper included was only 120 but I decided to take it for a whirl on the second, properly cross-linked layer of UV Smooth Prime anyway. I was still done in about 1/2 the time it took with the big Mouse using 60 grit sandpaper!! The efficiency of this thing has already significantly reduced my hatred of finishing. If you've struggled with sanding in the past as I have I suggest you pick one up.

As time is running short for Plaster Blaster I'm considering applying a layer or two of Kilz spray primer and again leaving Der Red Mix mark II unfinished for the maiden flight. It's a bit of a cop-out but there just aren't enough hours in the day recently. The flight should still rock. I decided to keep it RED and will fly a central 1994K635 Red Thunder on the ground but air-start the 2 x I345 White Thunder motors. After I finish the paint and decals then I'll fly the central L730 and air-start 2 x H399 White Thunder (perhaps at RocStock XXXII the weekend after).