Monday, December 20, 2021

Vargas Scale Models 1/72 Christie Tank M1921

A Steampunk kinda WW1 tank? Have I lost my mind? My review of the Vargas Scale Models 1/72 Christie Tank M1921 has been posted over at Model Paint Solutions.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Saturday, August 28, 2021

EP38 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. The one in which I forget to wear the shit. IPMS Nationals and the Crowes. #modeltalk​​

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Friday, July 16, 2021

Hobby Craft/Academy Sabre


The Academy/Hobbycraft 1/72 Sabre 5 done as the sole Canadair Sabre 3 used by Jackie Cochran to set a woman's speed record in 1953. Then her nemesis Jacqueline Auriol broke that record in both a Mystère and a Mirage and Jackie had to go trump her again in a TF-104. The model was built for a display at the Museum of Flight on women in aviation. 


And when I say, Academy/Hobbycraft it really was a combo. The HC kit was later slightly updated by Academy and I used the Academy fuselage and HC wings. The finish was Tamiya LP-11...awesome stuff...and the dayglo was a cheat with decals.



On display in the case with the Mirage used to represent Jacqueline Auriol's record breaker.  Note the tiny Jackie.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

EP34 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. Finished just in time and all round hockey depression. #modeltalk
   

Friday, July 2, 2021

EP33 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. New Tamiya goodness, Jim drones on, and hockey depression. #modeltalk #gohabsgo

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Monday, June 14, 2021

Canadian Tempest Restoration

Cool video about the Tempest being rebuilt in Kelowna. I cannot wait to see this in the air!


And in case you missed part one:


Modeler's Note: Looks like we are getting new tool 1/72 Tempest IIs from KP and Edward/Special Hobby.  I think I'll wait for the Eduard/Special Hobby collaboration.  And don't believe what Knights says, the Matchbox kit ain't that bad.

Sunday, June 13, 2021

EP32 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. New Orleans, a big Lanc, and Go Habs Go! #modeltalk #gohabsgo

Thursday, May 27, 2021

EP31 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. My best and favorite model and a ton of other ramblings. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Special Hobby 1/72 Harvard Mk. IIB


I didn't get into Harvard Law, but I've flown Harvards! My review of the new Special Hobby 1/72 Harvard has been posted over at Model Paint Solutions.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

EP30 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. The Mountain is out...and the new Special Hobby Harvard kit. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork​​ #getbroadcasting​​ #modeltalk​​ #aviationisolation​​



Monday, May 3, 2021

Tim Nelson's tanks

An inspirational article from Tim Nelson on Model Paint Solutions about his 1/72ish World War One tanks. #Dioramasalwaysbetterwithaskeleton

P.S.:  Inspirational, as in, his build inspired me to buy the Airfix Vintage Classics reissue of the WW1 Male Tank!

Friday, April 30, 2021

HB Bearcat progress

That escalated quickly! It's a simple kit and the fit is pretty good, but it brings up the question, how does one make a blue blob interesting?


Maybe I'm too influenced by warbirds, but I got the idea of trying to use aluminum to highlight the panel lines. My original idea was to use Abteilung 502 Silver oil paint. Unfortunately, the metal particles were way too large, kind of like Tamiya Flat Aluminum acrylic. Idea number two was to try turn a AK Aluminum pencil into a slurry, but it appears that while the colour AK pencils will go into solution the Aluminum will not. I then pulled out the MiG Ammo Oilbrusher Silver. Diluted with Mona Lisa orderless thinner, it appears to work as a panel line wash. More experiments needed...

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Hobby Boss 1/72 Bearcat inbox


A few weeks ago the new Hobbycraft 1/72 F8F-1 Bearcat arrived in the mail. It is one of their Easy Assembly kits and pretty simple. The cockpit is modeled as part of the fuselage and the engine is integral with the cowl. (These are impressive moldings...I just wish the engine and cowl were separate pieces.) Gear and wheels are also one part, but there is decent detail in the wheel wells. It looks simple to assemble, is well molded, and a test fit shows good fit.  Dr. Strangebrush from Model Paint Solutions pointed out something is quite right with the shape around the tail fillet...Hobby Boss didn't get the transition between the fillet and the rear fuselage quite right.  In my opinion, it isn't a dealbreaker, but John did notice it right away. Decals are provided for the Beatle Bomb and a VF-3 Bearcat. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking and report back when it is finished.

I'm not sure what to think about this one. It would make a perfect starter model and it certainly will assemble quick and easy for us colour and markings guys. But I don't love the integral landing gear and wheels and I'm still not sure how I'll paint the engine.  For those of use that are lazy it is probably the best Bearcat in 1/72. For those that love detail and want a bit better shape accuracy look for the defunct Attack Squadron Bear in resin or the Sword or Art Model short run kits.



How does one paint this? Other than very carefully that is...


Wednesday, April 28, 2021

EP29 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint.  Hey, hey, it has been awhile. A bench update. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork​​ #getbroadcasting​​ #modeltalk​​ #aviationisolation​​



Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Plastic Posse Podcast v. Plastic Model Mojo


Somehow I got involved in the PPP v PMM cagematch. I won't tell you who wins, but hey, I'm the only one listed by name!

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

More Pig Progress

Mah friends...still working on weathering.  #scalemodelling #tinytank

Friday, April 9, 2021

Have I ruined it?


Mah friends...much like the Bay of Pigs op itself, things are starting to go off the rails. Testors Acryl British Interior Grey-Green hand-brushed for highlights. I have trouble staying in the lines.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Bay of Pigs T-34-85 progress


Mah friends......Zvezda 1/72 T-34-85. Spraying the AK Real Colors 4BO cut with AK Nitro thinner was pure joy. Now to plagiarize Uncle Night Shift on the rest of the finishing techniques. #tinytank #akrealcolors #zvezda


Monday, April 5, 2021

The RCAF's First Helo


On this day in 1947, the RCAF received its first helicopter, the Sikorsky S-51/H-5. (Photos courtesy of the Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.)  

I just got the new 1/72 AMP kit, maybe I should do a review?





Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Zen and the Art of Model Making

Well worth a watch. I'm not sure I have found Zen in modeling...yet... 

That being said, I was taken aback by his quote "Staying in one place in your head is a restriction on life" kinda blew me away.  I need to ponder that further.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

EP28 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. A finished Spitfire, and another on the bench... #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Airfix Spitfire XIX


Airfix 1/72 Spitfire 19 out of the box. The original plan, was...I don't remember...but it got finished as a Swedish PR bird using the kit decals. (Wow, when was the last time I could say that?) Not my best work, but, well, it is done.  #onwardandupward

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Special Hobby Kittyhawk I

After my appearance on Plastic Model Mojo, I could feel the shame of model-land directed my way due to my lack of focus. So, I decided to focus on two (...ahem...three..) projects at a time. The Spitfire XIX will be finished soon, but to give myself something else to assemble I pulled out a part started Special Hobby Kittyhawk. This kit was release a year or so ago and is quite nice. I'm not sure why I put it back in the box last time, but progress has been swift. Most of the cockpit work was done, so I focused on a few small details. Just to be silly, the control column was painted in RAF Interior Grey Green after seeing some photos of a RNZAF Kittyhawk survivor with some DuPont Cockpit Light Green 71-036 parts.

The only real issue I've had with the kit, and one I've not seen commented on previously, is that the intake splitter does not extend all the way to the oil coolers. (As illustrated below by ex-RCAF Kittyhawk AK933/RCAF 1057.) I understand there is a resin replacement part by Rescue Models, but I can't find any vendor for that product.  

This will be finished as a Kittyhawk that strafed an axis submarine off the coast of North America. Now where have I heard that story before...

Friday, March 12, 2021

Plastic Model Mojo # 33


They boys from Kentucky are back. They talk about model paint and model fluid. Hope they don't get them confused!

Friday, March 5, 2021

EP27 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. An attempt to have more focus and be less worried about...squirrel.... #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation

Friday, February 26, 2021

Thursday, February 25, 2021

EP26 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. Tanks and 3D printing Oshawa armoured cars. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation
 

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Plastic Model Mojo #31 - Red Thread

On the latest Plastic Model Mojo Mike talks about the colours of Russian Uniforms. I'm confused, weren't they all just Vallejo Russian Uniform? Seems pretty simple to me.


P.S.:  Sorry Mike, I couldn't resist!

Thursday, February 4, 2021

EP25 (1/2) of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint.  The oops I forgot stuff addendum. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork​​ #getbroadcasting​​ #modeltalk​​ #aviationisolation​​

EP25 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. The lost episode.. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Vc

The new Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Vc arrived a few weeks ago from the UK and I started it right away. Really enjoying it. But all that cockpit detail gone... Still unsure if it will end up as a USS Wasp Malta delivery or a 417 Squadron RCAF desert bird.

Friday, January 29, 2021

Plastic Model Mojo #30 - Dr. StrangeBrush


Dr. StrangeBrush? Yep, I like that! The latest Plastic Model Mojo with special guest Dr. John Miller of Model Paint Solutions talking about airbrushing. 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

British Columbia Sub Service?


It appears that Das Werk has a hit on their hands with their soon to be released 1/72 U-9 U-Boat kit. If they are looking for ideas on a follow up, how about the HMCS CC-1 and CC-2, Canada's first two submarines? 

The two Davids (DatGuy and Knights) are big fans of the Drachinifel YouTube channel. Yesterday, Mr. Knights suggested I check out their latest video on the Royal Canadian Navy which is humorusly subtitled "Sinking you, but politely." I enjoyed the video. While I was aware of the the RCN's Corvette story thanks to the 1/72 Matchbox kit (A kit I lusted after in my youth, but never got a chance to build); I was surprised by the story of Canada's first two submarines. Wow, how have I never heard this story before? 

Ok, I take that back, they weren't bought by Canada, but the province of British Columbia. While the thought of a province with its own military service seems rather shocking, it does make some sense that the province, so remote from the Atlantic Ocean and Canada's capital in Ottawa, would want to defend its shores. The CC-1 and CC-2 submarines were not identical, but similar versions designed by the Electric Boat Company. The Electric Boat Company contracted with the government of Chile to build the two boats, but, after completion, the deal fell through. Subcontractor Seattle Construction and Drydock Company looked to offload the boats and the Premier of British Columbia stepped in to purchase the subs. The two subs left Seattle without permission on August 3, 1914 and made their way to British Columbia, with the USN in chase. Within days, the submarines were transferred to the Canadian government and joined the RCN, being renamed HMCS CC-1 and HMCS CC-2 on October 1914. 

However, the RCN had a problem. World War One had broken out in Europe, and the subs were based Esquimalt, B.C., in the Pacific. After their refits in 1914, the two subs undertook patrols and training in the Pacific, but a decisions was made in 1917 to send the boats to the Atlantic. Leaving B.C. on July 21, 1917, the two subs had - in the best tradition of RCN second-hand submarines - multiple maintenance issues, failures, and problems, but the crews persevered and they were the first RCN warships to pass through the Panama Canal. Finally arriving in Halifax during October 1917, after many stops for repairs, the two subs were found to be in need of an overhaul. During their time in drydock, the subs survived the Halifax Explosion. But after all this work, expense, and time, the boats were used as training craft and never went on patrol in the Atlantic.


So yea, these things didn't do much to help the war effort, but hey, I'd buy one copy of a 1/72 CC-1 or CC-2. See Das Werk, a guaranteed seller!  

(Photos are courtesy of the Department of National Defence/Library Archives Canada. I'm unclear if the photos were taken in Seattle or Halifax, or even one of each.)

Thursday, January 7, 2021

EP24 of AScaleCanadianTV

AScaleCanadian Joint. Happy New Year. New Airfix and Jim messes up the joke. #modellerbroadcastingnetwork #getbroadcasting #modeltalk #aviationisolation

Friday, January 1, 2021

Plastic Model Mojo #28


The title of the episode was my suggestion during an email exhange with Dave and Mike. I think I'll sue to get my well deserved royalities for being their creative director. ('Cause all modeling podcasters are filthy rich, right?)

Plastic Model Mojo Episode 28