Life in Plastic (Styrene, specifically)

Li'l Corsair

This one was nearly ready to show two weeks ago, then the weather got very warm and a long list of outdoor projects called. The model shop became a lonely place. It's gotten cool again...

It's the Tamiya 1/100th kit. I got it, with a handful of others, in an eBay auction a while back. It was started, but fortunately most of the pieces snapped right off and I could largely start over. It wears the latest release decals, which are exactly what the originals were, only significantly better quality.

All I added were the beacon and blade antenna on the spine. Turns out on really early A-7As, the blade should be closer to the canopy. I shan't worry about that now.

For many years A-7Ds flew out of Selfridge and I got to know the type well. Three or four would buzz the neighborhood on Memorial Day, looking for the parade down Main Street, I suspect. Evidently just showing up over the city low and noisy was good enough for them. Worked for me, for sure.

Viggen/Gripen

January 2012, 1/72 Heller Jaktviggen & Italeri Gripen

Both essentially out-of-the-box with kit decals. Gripen decals were good, Viggen decals were horrible. Unfortunately, as good as they looked on the sheet, I didn't imagine they'd refuse to react to any softening agent in the arsenal. Some of the corners of some of them are literally superglued to the model. In this day and age, such a state of affairs is simply inexcusable. The good news is there were few to go on, as I had no replacements. (I don't know that any exist for gray Viggens.)The decal stage truly spoiled the final chapter on this one. (I did repaint Heller's orange with proper day-glo.) All raised surface detail has been sanded off.

Gripen was typical Italeri with deep surface detail and soft fit. Fit of the canopy in the closed position was just bad. Thank goodness a clear canopy wasn't a requirement.

More images in Model Shots.

Voodoo Twins done

January 2012 -- 1/72 Matchbox F-101B X 2

Lord have mercy, how these two dragged along.

The sharp eye will notice they aren't exactly twins, but that was deliberate.

For some reason, No.13 here had a black outline around her ANG shield -- very non-standard. Want a challenge? Do that black outline in 1/72nd scale. If there's a decal printed that way, I'm not aware of it.

The bird on the base was done with some scanning and printing on white decal stock. (And some intricate cutting and trimming.)

Next!

F-102A Delta Dagger

December 2011 -- 1/79 (?) Revell F-102A

Here's the so-called Purina Checkerboard Special.

Much custom decal work here. Truly could not have done this one without my computer and printer. I received the kit built and because the canopy was salvageable, I wanted to keep it clear if I could. Revell provided a reasonable pilot figure, but he lacked an oxygen mask. I shaped some epoxy putty on the guy's face and stuck a curved bit of sprue in it for the hose. Canopy fit to the airplane was anything but precise.

It's not a perfect rendition of 41396, but until someone does a proper decal sheet for Hasegawa's or Monogram's Deuce, probably the closest you'll see. More images in Model Shots.

Can we get back to airplanes now?

Mitzi done, signed. Evidently I misread light reflection on her chin as white fur. Oh no, all black face, I'm told. Way easier to make white black than black white.

RF-35 and J 35J Drakens

September 2011 -- 1/72 Hasegawa J 35 Drakens

The green one has a Heller recce nose (which fit quite well) and Revell Germany decals. The gray one is stock Hasegawa, again with Revell Germany decals. The numbers were repainted in day-glo orange. Both sport Aires interiors.

Found them fussier little buggers to do than expected. Or maybe I'm losing my edge.

More images in Model Shots.

Saab J 29 Tunan

September 2011 --  1/72 Heller J 29 Tunan

Out of the box, kit markings, national insignia from a Revell Germany Draken sheet.

All raised surface detail removed, wing fences from .010 sheet stock. No Alclad.

 

F-102A Delta Dagger

September 2011 -- 1/78 Revell F-102A

Plain vanilla. So what's wrong with vanilla?

Actually I attempted to hand-paint the Iron Man insignia the 327th sported on their machines for awhile, but I wasn't getting it. Besides there are enough photos showing these Daggers devoid of anything other than the basics.

It's OOB except for a bit of nose lengthening. Don't know why Revell chose to portray the poor thing so bobbed. Looks a little too lean as well. Ah, so what. Retro modeling isn't about 100% accuracy.

Piece delivered

I posted this past Feb.1 that I would be devoting more time to two-dimensional work than I have previously. Kinda jumped the gun on that wishful statement. Only yesterday finished my second drawing for the year. Delivered it today to a happy client. Meet Dakota the black german shepherd.

Had to use four separate pictures to do this guy. Not at all the way I like to work, but I'm assured it looks just like him. That's the important thing. 9 X 12 colored pencil on Stonehenge paper.

To see more like this, visit my Facebook page.

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de Havilland Heron

July 2011 -- 1/144th F-RSIN

Victory is mine. Victory of a sort, anyhow. This is the very rare twelve-windowed version of the Heron...because more decal problems cost me the forward pair of passenger windows. (Not that the windows are at all obvious with that black stripe over them. And c'mon, you wouldn't have known how many windows a Herons is supposed to have without me telling you. I sure wouldn't know without building this little bugger.)

A real treat to remove this one from the bench one last time.

Hold me closer tiny Heron
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today

Oh wait. I'm thinking of something else.