It’s like 2023 all over again…
While I can’t say I’m surprised, it’s still very disappointing that it has happened to me again. I tore the retina of my left eye about three weeks ago and the worst has happened: I now need a vitrectomy procedure for it. So basically, just like last year, I’ll be going under the knife to …...
Remembering: The Testors Model Guide – My first modeling bible
Way back in the early 90s in college I got my modeling itch back but I thought to arm myself with some basic modeling skill first. I found this book at a bookstore (remember those things?) and read it before attempting my first aircraft kit, a Hasegawa 1/72 F-16A kit. As you can see, the …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-15E Strike Eagle Pt.2 – Construction
Work continues as I attach the nose to the fuselage. There’s a somewhat ugly seamline here which requires getting rid off. Good thing is there’s no rescribing needed as it’s not meant to be a panel line. The gun port is a simple upper and lower join which results in an ugly seamline in a …...
Build : Hasegawa 1/72 Mitsubishi F-2A Viper Zero
Kit InfoBrand: Hasegawa 00545Scale: 1/72Media: StyreneMarkings: DXM Decals 71-7123‘JASDF F-2A 3rd TFS 60th Anniversary’ The SubjectThe Mitsubishi F-2, nicknamed ‘Viper Zero’, is a multirole fighter manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF). It is...
WIP : Academy 1/72 F/A-18E Super Hornet ‘Top Gun’ Pt.2 – Construction
So far the snapfitting has been good and Academy is commended for minimizing seamlines. There are however some prominent ones that need addressing. The first is the bottom of the LERX. There is also a seamline where the upper and lower halves of the nose join. In the film, whether the inner wing pylons were …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-16C Blk 30 Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Time to finish this build. And I lucked out by finding a photo of the exact F-16C that I’d be modeling. The subject of this build will be serial 85-1552, an F-16C Block 30 of the 23rd TFS ‘Fighting Hawks’, 52nd TFW. She deploted to Desert Storm wearing this eye-catching sharkmouth scheme. Interestingly she has …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 Hurricane Pt.1 – Construction
World War II props are always easier builds for me as I do much less research for them. Well… that came back to bite me in the ass. This was my prop build for 2023 until everything went sideways. Oh and I realized that I didn’t have the correct aftermarket markings for this version of …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-16C Blk 30 Pt.1 – Construction
Wait. I thought I had already built a Block 30 F-16C already? Alas, I made a mistake with that one: the exhaust is that of a Block 25 Viper but carries the correct markings of a Block 30. I also really don’t like how I dealt with the walkway markings on that build. I’m now …...
WIP : Bandai 1/72 Cosmo Falcon – Construction & Finishing
Something straightforward next for which a Bandai kit (usually) is. The Cosmo Falcon is a mecha from Yamato 2199, a remake of the classic anime Space Battleship Yamato. Much like the Cosmo Zero, the Cosmo Falcon itself is fully snapfit. The underwing pylons and missiles however, will require cement. There is an option for the …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-2A Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Since I’m attaching the pylons from the beginning, I painted them first with the area around the sway braces being handpainted. The pins were all slightly oversized so I had to make the holes larger for the pylons to fit. The F-2 color scheme is an overall FS35109 medium blue with FS35045 dark blue highlights. …...
