I finished the Pegasus 1/72 LCVP, spoke at the Canadian Aviation Historical Society in BC, watched a Mosi engine run, picked up a new compressor, and, of course, worked in a Mariners game.
This month’s book: “American MiG Pilot” by Rob Zettel. Highly Recommended.
I’ve not given up on Mando and the Starfighter, but I’m at the point that I need to paint a figure. So I’m procrastinating.
The Forces of Valor kit is cheap and the rubber band tracks broke, but luckily the Heller kit has two sets and they fit.
This is just an exercise to finish and have fun. It won’t be totally accurate and it sure won’t be an award winner. But that isn’t the point.
For many, a good chrome paint is the Holy Grail of scale modelling. (Hold on, was the grail chrome?) Anyway, as a total Tamiya LP11 fan, I was excited to read, I think on Spencer Pollard's Kit Box, that Tamiya had a chrome hidden in its Lacquer Painto line. So I picked up a jar of LP48 "Sparking Silver." And, as usual, I did nothing with it.
But here we are in 2026 with some Beskar armor to paint, so I finally got it in the airbrush. My 1/48 Mando was primed in Mister Sur-Face-Er Black and then hit with the LP48. Not bad, I think. (I haven't tried to mask it, so no warranties it will hold up to tape, but Mando don't need no masking.)
P.S.: No I'm not inferring that Din Djarin is the devil, it's a song lyric. Anyone know which artist?
I had every intention to start the Tamiya 1/72 F-14D as my first new project of the New Year. But this is the way...
2026 is the year I renew my commitments to the hobby. For many reasons, 2025 was a lost year in scale modeling. Major changes in my professional life that took up too much time and energy and left me exhausted. Thankfully, work seems to be getting on track. But it wasn't all bad, I got to a few airshows, museums, and enjoyed cheering on the Mariners and Habs last year.
I got challenged on FB to build more models than aircraft I sit in this year. It will be interesting to see if I can meet that challenge!
The Avenger? No, no, not the comic book, the Turkey. My review of the new Sword 1/72 TBF-1 has been posted over at Model Paint Solutions.
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!
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?
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.
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...
Apparently my friends at the Plastic Model Mojo podcast were hard up for a guest and asked me to join the show to talk about Fear and (self) Loathing in Scale Modeling. As your attorney I advise you listen. #scalemodelingpodcasts #aviationisolation #plasticmodelmojo
Check out the latest episode of Plastic Model Mojo by the Kentucky Law Pirate David and his cohost Engineer Mike. In this episode they talk about T-34s...no, don't get excited, not the Mentor...
Check out the latest episode of Plastic Model Mojo by the Kentucky Law Pirate David and his cohost Engineer Mike. Their first guest is Chris Wallace of Model Airplane Maker.
