Thought this would go well with the AD-6.
Airfix "Photo-Banjo" sent off November of 1994. Kit decals, I'm pretty sure and a vac (Falcon?) canopy. 15 plus years later, don't hit me hard for details.
"Why isn't there a kit of this in 1/48th!?!" (other than Collect Aire -- are they still in business?) I know, I know. I'd be quite happy to build another couple of these in the meantime.
I got my digital camera in the summer of 2004, l believe. Until then, I was documenting my finished jobs with 35mm print film. The prints (usually three, sometimes six if I thought the subject warranted it) went into a photo album. Over time, I filled four albums and started a fifth. This was my handy, though cumbersome, portfolio. If any potential client wanted to see what I did, here were the pictures. Funny thing (well, not that funny) was that the only people that ever really looked at these picture books were other modelers. Over the years I built an enormous monument for the sake of an enormous monument, it seems.
I flip through the pages myself with a mix of nostalgia and sympathy for the guy that fought his way to victory over so many dogs. So many dogs. Some I take pride in and would've liked to keep, but not many. With a decent scanner on hand these days, I thought I'd crack open those dusty albums and share some of the noteworthy oldies. Here's No.1, chosen at random. (Actually chosen a lot by picture quality. Many old jobs are represented by what I would describe as "mug shots." It took me a while and lots of film to figure out what made pleasing model pictures. Sometimes I got lucky.)
So: From the Archives No.1
1/72nd Fujimi A-4M pretty much out-of-the=box. The Fujimi A-4 kits are really sweet, if a little fussy to build. You know what I like about this one? Lack of color!!
Based on what I see, most modelers refuse to allow so little color to get through the wire. At least put some bright red "remove before flight" streamers or intake covers on it, no? Hell no.There are lots and lots of bland airplanes. What is wrong with an accurate model of a bland airplane? Boring? No eye-appeal? Exciting to look at is not what scale modeling is supposed to be about. Not in my book, anyway. How 'bout correctness? Want color? Let me point you in the direction of the world of airliners.
What I don't like about it are the nav. lights. Those sections of the wingtips on A-4s are clear. I took the easy route and pretended they were not. I've seen this done correctly in 72nd scale. Not easy to do, but sure makes me smile to see it accomplished. (A tip of the hat to you, Mr. James.)
My record book says this one went out the door December of 1990. Day-um. Not bad for a young guy.
