Two and a half years ago, I put the finishing touches on Italeri’s big F-104, which I’d built as an Italian F-104S ASA. At the time, I was not particularly kind to the kit. The kit has just enough charm to pull you through the early stages of the build, and once you’re closing the…
Category: 1/32
Talking with Tanmodel – 1/32 Su-33 Sea Flanker Edition
Back in the fall of 2015, I conducted an interview with Baris Tansoy, founder of the then-largely-unknown Tanmodel. This was just as they were starting to really share details of their RF-84F Thunderflash, which has gone on to earn plenty of praise for not only its design, engineering and fit, but accuracy as well (see…
1/32 Trumpeter SBD-5 Dauntless – Part 1
When The Weathering Magazine’s aircraft-focused spinoff, Weathering Aircraft, reached out to me about doing a build for an upcoming publication, the request was pretty wide open. World War II, with a focus on painting a camoflage scheme. After a few false starts, I decided to tackle a late-war SBD-5 Dauntless. The Douglas SBD Dauntless is…
Review: 1/32 Fly Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
Not too long ago, I had a thought. And that thought quickly turned into an effort. Contributor-funded, contributor-selected kit reviews. How’s it work? Simple. Contributors donate into the Review Fund and select the kits to be reviewed. Then I review them, with an exhaustive focus on how – and how well – they build. These…
1/32 Fly Hurricane – Thoughts at the Midway Point
At what point does “it’s a limited run kit” stop being an explanation, and become an excuse? As I reach the halfway point of my Fly Hurricane review build, that’s the question that keeps rising to the surface. What do I mean by explanation and excuse? Simple. By their very nature, limited run kits have…
The White Whale
I’m sure that more than a few modelers have a “white whale” of a kit. The one that got away…that went awry…that gnaws at you. For me, that kit is Academy’s 1/32 F-16D Block 52+ Viper (or, alternatively, the F-16I Sufa…). My first go at this kit – in late 2013 – was cursed from…
Review: 1/32 Italeri Mirage IIIC
Italeri’s big Mirage IIIC has been one of the most anticipated kits of 2015, so when I got my hands on one, I quickly whipped up a review for Large Scale Modeller. You can read the full thing HERE. I also took some time to put together a video version of the review, for those…
Thoughts on Tamiya’s New 1/32 Mosquito FB.VI
Well, it’s official…ish. Recently, Brett Green spilled the beans all over the interwebs. Tamiya’s next 1/32 kit will be the De Havilland Mosquito FB.VI. Speculation regarding Tamiya’s next subject has been raging since the Corsair was announced two years ago. I heard it on “good authority” and “on the DL” from those with “an inside…
Weathering Tamiya’s 1/32 F4U-1 Corsair, Pt 1
After the painting (LINK) comes the fun part – the weathering! No Clean Bird Marine Corsairs weren’t exactly known for their cleanliness, and “Tojo Eats Shit” has to be one of the filthiest examples I’ve yet come across. There are so many factors at play here. Fading. Chipping. Gun and exhaust stains. Coral dust. Oil…
2014 – The Year in Review
2014 is just about in the books, and so it’s time for that annual tradition – the “Year in Review” post. Looking back at 2013, it’s striking how far I’ve come in a year. Life remains hectic, but in a far more settled manner. No layoff. No shattering of routines to make way for a…
Doogs Models 