123: In Progress / Show and Tell

July's meeting theme was "Down Under" - any model related to Australia or New Zealand.  There were 5 builds-in-progress, and 8 completed models, three of which were theme related.

Sensing that the club had lost a little class, Tim Holland made a special trip back from the UK to bring in his two theme entries, built in "The gentleman's scale".  First up is the AZModels Spitfire built mostly out of the box.  Tim reports that the kit is very accurate, and apart from the wingtips, is very easy to build for a short run kit.  Tim added brass gun barrels by Master and Propagteam decals to represent a bird flown by the RAAF's top ace, W/C Clive R. Caldwell (27.5 victories).

To complement his Spitfire, Tim also brought along this Academy P-40N, also built OOB.  This particular model was recovered from Tim's "shelf of doom", a resting place for unfinished models where it sat, waiting, for 10+ years.  Tim notes that the kit needs a better spinner and propeller, and that the fuselage is slightly too tall at the canopy on an otherwise nice kit.  Markings are for an example flown by F/L Geoff Atherton of 80 Sqn in New Guinea 1943.

No, you're not seeing double.  Our final theme related build is another example of the No. 80 Sqn P-40N, this time built in 1/48 scale by Mike Colvin.  Mike started with the Italeri kit and built it completely OOB.

Moving on to non-theme builds we have a wonderful A-7E Corsair II built by Jim Rotramel.  Jim started with the Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit and added Aires wheel wells, Black Box cockpit, and SAL struts.  Under the wings, the Corsair carries a prototype DACO Walleye II ER/DL and AN/AWW-7 data link pod.  This was all topped off with markings to represent a unit that participated in Operation Eagle Claw.

Steve Lucianetti was also on hand with a converted war games miniature and diorama.  Steve started with a Flames of War 1/100 M-10 tank destroyer and added it to a very nicely done diorama base.

Also making a surprise appearance was Mr. Diorama himself, John Bray.  John brought along a wonderful trio of Andrea Miniatures 54mm Silver Screen Cowboys representing John Wayne in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", Jack Palance in "Shane", and Clark Gable in "The Tall Man".

Along with his completed cowboys, John also brought along parts of his latest project, which is yet another "Battle of the Little Big Horn" diorama.  John has started with two 75mm Fusilier US Cavalry figures and a couple of dead horses.  Seeing as dead horses are hard to find in model form, John is scratchbuilding his from Sculpey modeling clay.  We can't wait to see this one finished! (Maybe Custer will win this time...)

Steve Lucianetti also brought along an in progress build, a very nice looking F-105G Thunderchief.  Steve started with a 1/72 Trumpeter kit and has decided to build the model gear up.

It must have been "Thud" night as well, because Nick Kessel also brought along his F-105 in progress build.  By contrast, Nick is starting with the Monogram 1/48 kit which will eventually represent an EF-105F Wild Weasel.

Nick is also working on a 1/48 Revell Rafale M.  Nick mentioned that his example was badly warped in places, but I think it's coming along nicely.  So far Nick has added a Wolfpack Resin Rafale F2 upgrade kit.

Last but not least is the 1/72 Fiesler Fi-103R being built by Steve Workman.  Steve has started with the Heller kit of the manned V-1 buzz bomb and added to detail to the cockpit based on photos he found on the internet.  He has also removed the raised panel lines, modified the kit seat, and will be adding a scratchbuilt instrument panel.

Remember, August is Amnesty month, so dust off your own "shelf of doom" and finish one of your old forgotten builds.

122: In Progress / Show and Tell

The June theme was "Happy Anniversary", any subject that is related to an anniversary.  This is one of our yearly themes, which also marks the anniversary of the club, this year being "Lucky 13".  Chuck's wife once again supplied us with a nicely decorated cake to mark the occasion.

There were 6 completed builds this month, 3 of which were theme related.

Mike Colvin brought in a nicely done 1/72 A-7E Corsair II.  Mike built the Hobbyboss kit completely Out of the Box (OOB) including the attractive bicentennial markings for VA-122.

Next up we have a pair of European anniversary schemes.  The first of which was built by Jim Rotramel.  Jim raided the display case and brought in this 1/72 RF-4E finished in a striking German anniversary scheme.  Jim believes it started life as an ERTL kit topped off with Superscale decals, but it has been a while since he had built it.

Joe Hegedus also raided the display case to bring in this 1/72 Hasegawa Jaguar.  Joe built his kit OOB with Xtradecal RAF Anniversary markings for what he believes is a Jaguar GR.4.  A white metal practice bomb carrier completes the loadout.

Joe also brought in a non-theme related kit, a Hasegawa 1/72 F4U-1 Corsair.  Joe decided to build this on OOAB however (that's Out Of A Box) and utilized various parts from older builds and the parts box.  The model is topped with Superscale decals of "Dangerous Dan/Eight Ball" from VMF-122 and finished in a relatively uncharacteristic somewhat weathered scheme.

Moving on to a couple of builds that we have been following over the past few months, we have a 1/48 Hasegawa F-16A that Mike Colvin had intended on having completed for last month's "Aggressors" theme.  Mike used Fightertown Decals to depict an aircraft belonging to the NSAWC Topgun squadron.  Looks like it was worth the wait.

We have also been following this last completed build for a few months, which is the stunning 1/72 F9F Panther built by Andy White.  Starting from a Hobbyboss kit that he had received as a gift, Andy added markings from the Iliad Decals "Stars in the Sky 2" sheet to depict the aircraft that was piloted by Capt. Ted Williams while he served with VMF-311 in Korea, ca. 1953.  Andy depicted the aircraft inflight with a custom base completed with a Boston Red Sox logo.

In addition to the completed builds, there were also two in progress updates.  The first update was also being built by Andy White, and is the Airfix 1/72 BAe Hawk that is the subject of this year's "Build the same kit" theme.  Andy is using the Red Arrows boxing and has added wingtip lights custom made from clear red and green plastic.

Also with an in progress build is Nate Swift with a 1/72 Dragon Do-335B-4, which is the longer wingspan recon version.  As you can see, Nate is once again doing a spectacular job applying a very complex paint job.  Can't wait to see the finished project!

121: Photo Feature 1 - Mossie!!

Clicking on each photo will bring up a slideshow of the original sized files.

121: Photo Feature 2 - 2013 Warbirds Over the Beach, Virginia Beach