Life in Plastic (Styrene, specifically):

Friend and master modeler Tory Mucaro will fill this space. Enjoy.

It has been ages since I sent out any photos of my latest creations, largely since I haven't really completed much in recent years. However last fall I did manage to finish two models. I built them simultaneously since they were nearly identical. However I have just now finally gotten around to photographing them. So here they are for your consideration:

Based on Monograms 1/72 scale Curtis F11C-2 Goshawk kit that was first produced in 1968. It was one of three between the wars models they did at the same time, the other two were the Curtis P-6E Hawk and the Boeing F4B-4. These were beautiful kits that hold up well even by current kit standards. They featured cabane and landing gear struts molded into the fuselage halves practically guaranteeing perfect wing alignment, something that anyone who has built a biplane model know can be difficult at best.

The white aircraft is basically the stock kit with aftermarket decals from Starfighter Decals. I also used their excellent photo-etched rigging set which made rigging the model a whole lot easier. I used the same markings that were intended in the original issue. The kit itself was purchased for $3 at a model show missing instructions and decals.

The blue aircraft is the same basic kit converted to a BFC-2. All of the F11C-2s were eventually converted to fighter bombers and re-designated. They received a higher turtle deck and a partial sliding canopy. The kit is a reissue of the Monogram kit by Starfighter Decals which included a resin turtle deck and photo-etch framing for the canopy. I used their excellent decal sheet for the markings and chose the blue scheme to reflect the 5 view illustration in the old Profile Publications Goshawk booklet. I always loved the way that color scheme looked on that airframe.

I have another two kits to do to add to this Goshawk collection, but don't have the time at the moment to build them, so they will have to patiently wait their turn. But for now these two look nice together in my display case and take up so much less room than their 1/48 scale counterpart in the case! I think I might be hooked on 1/72 scale! It is after all the "divine" scale!

Tory