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So I guess this is my first completion of 2023. Although it hardly counts as such. This is the old MPC snap together box scale, (1/54 per Scalemates) All Terrain Scout Transport. I had built the basic kit many years ago and started painting it for an April Fools theme at OC IPMS. But my painting skills at the time were not up to what was needed for the end result envisioned, so I just set it aside partially painted. So yesterday at IPMS Phoenix the theme was Star Wars/Star Trek/Battlestar Galactica and I remembered that I had this one sitting around and decided to finish it up. The kit comes with the armored flaps over the vision ports molded shut, so I created some new ones out of sheet plastic to match the shape, then drilled open the ports. Then I glued the new flaps in the open position and proceeded to do a rapid and complete exterior repaint into a standard Imperial look. Once the painting was done, I added some “glass” in the open vision ports using Micro Krystal Klear, and lastly followed up with some slight weathering. Thank goodness for quick drying Tamiya acrylics with lacquer thinner. Not bad for an afternoon’s work.

According to a posting on Hyperscale, Rusty White former IPMS Head Ship Judge and owner of Flagship Models has passed away. The post indicates that Flagship is for sale No other details are given

I had a fairly productive year buildwise for 2022. I was even able to squeeze in one more than last year. My first completion of the year was this Academy 1/35 M51 Sherman Followed by an Italeri Crusader III AA Tank, built in three four hour sessions for completion with 12 hours Next was a “shelf of doom” completion, the Dragon T-72M2, aka T-72B w/ERA and then a Dragon 1/35 M48A1 “Elvis Tank” Then for my wingy thingies First up, a 1/48 Hobbycraft F8F-1B Next was a 1/48 Tamiya F2A-2 And then I was able to finish up these last two on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve…. A 1/48 ICM Mig-3 and another “shelf of doom” project, a 1/48 Monogram P-40B a fine way to close out 2022

Here's what I completed in 2022...9 pieces (1.3/month). Certainly not as prolific as my years in the 2000s, but I've learned to slow down and address the minutia more closely. Still, I feel like the older I get, and the more experience I gain (20+ years not counting the 10+ as a kid) the worse I get. I suppose with my busy work schedule and Homelife, 9 is pretty damned good. Goals for 2023 include mastering the Cameo Silhouette 4 plotter/cutter, as the plan is to mask/paint as many markings as possible. Also, a 1/32 Bf-109 extravaganza with all the Barracuda Cast resin detail parts made for this particular kit. Cheers!

The year is coming to a close in just a few days. This year I completed eight builds. The first build completed was the Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. This build was for a museum to display during a celebration in April. It included fully detailing and illuminating the hangar deck and displaying the ship at sea. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-350-uss-hornet-cv-8-doolittle-raid/ The second build was a Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Razorback. This was a commission build. The aircraft was fully detailed and custom decals were made replicating the “Gail Ann” of the 381th Fighter Group, 19th Fighter Squadron at Isley Field, Saipan. It was mounted in an acrylic case with the base representing the airfield. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-p-47d-razorback-gail-ann/ The third build was the Trumpeter 1/48 C-47. I converted this to the R4D-5 called the “Tropical Tilly”. This was tribute to the aircraft used in the 1952 Sci-Fi classic movie called “The Thing from another world”. The build incorporated a resin conversion kit to add on the snow skis, scratch built interior to match the movie, and was mounted on a base covered in snow to replicate the scene when they first arrived at the “Thing’s” flying saucer. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-r4d-5-tropical-tilly/ The forth build was the Brengun 1/48 MQ-8B Fire Scout. This was the first full resin kit I have built. The Mq-8B is a U.S. Navy helicopter UAV drone built by Northrop Grumman. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mq-8b-fire-scout-drone/ The fifth build was the Revell 1/48 F/A-18E super hornet. I built this as a tribute to my old U.S. Navy squadron VA-37. When I served with them they were flying A-7E Corsair II’s. Right after I left the squadron they were re-designated as VFA-37 and were flying F/A-18C’s. A few years ago they upgraded to the F/A-18E super hornets. This build utilized some resin accessories to add details. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-f-a-18e-super-hornet-from-vfa-37/ The sixth build was the ICM Do-17Z WWII German light bomber of the Kampfgeschwader 76 (KG 76) stationed in France during August 1940. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-do-17z-2-german-light-bomber/ The seventh build was the ICM 1/48 C-18S “Magic by Moonlight” Air show Aircraft. The aircraft was also nicknamed the “Beech Twin 18”. The pilot, Matt Younkin performed aerial stunts at many air shows. One of the most visually stimulating displays was Matt performing his stunts at night with all the lights (plus extra lighting) turned on. With that in mind, I built this “in flight” and used many LED lights, some fiber optics, and created the smoke trail to replicate the aircraft performing its visually stimulating night time routine. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-c-18s-magic-by-moonlight/ The eighth and last completed build was the Great Wall Hobby 1/48 P-61B. The P-61 nicknamed “Black Widow” was the first aircraft specifically designed to be a night fighter. It was built by Northrop at their Hawthorn California facility. The aircraft was used in most of the theaters during the war. The scheme for this build was the “Lady in the Dark” which is “unofficially” credited with the last Allied air victory before Japan surrendered (VJ day) in 1945. For this build I used the Eduard “BigEd” detail set which has eight photo etch sheets to detail this kit inside and out. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-p-61b-black-widow-lady-in-the-dark/ I am currently working on the Trumpeter 1/32 A-7E as a tribute to the squadron I served with and will be making this my commanding officers aircraft. It is being fully illuminated with LED’s and fiber optics. This will be the first build to be completed in 2023. The build is currently at its sixth week. You can follow along at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/1-32-a-7e-corsair-ii-va-37-the-bulls/ To preview some of the builds planned for 2023, I have some commission builds. So far one is the 1/35 scale of the Jupiter 2 space craft from the TV series “Lost in Space” which will utilize the light kit and a sound board designed for the kit. Another commission build will be a 1/48 AV-8B Harrier to be built representing a special flight for the client. There will be lots of other regular builds as well. Have a Happy New Year!

Truly sad news. Rusty was a great guy, an excellent modeler, a friend to ship modelers, and a personal friend of mine from the years I lived in Oklahoma. 😢