Some Exciting News

I haven't been here since the first few weeks after moving to Missouri, a lot has happened and I will go into all that at a later time.

However I wanted to let everyone on Multiply know that I have a display of my scale models set up at the Windsor Branch Library in Barnhart, Missouri. The display began January 4th and will end February 4th, so you still have time to come on down, and see the display.

The Windsor Library is located at 7479 Metropolitan Blvd, in Barnhart, Missouri.

To wet the whistle, here are a few photos.

Picture Perfect Friday. My tools of the trade.

This is a look at the tools of my trade, no not one I make money with. My hobby is scale model building which can be a trade in itself with the investments you make in time, money, research all dd up.

I have two converted tool boxes that house my tools, from paints,spare parts glue masking tape decals pant brushes mixing palliate empty jars for washing my brushes in. You see the most recent model I am working on here, and my last tool is my computer.

Yes my computer is a tool, I never work on any model without doing background research, and the internet is a great place to find photos, actual footage of the aircraft or vehicle in service and of course historic articles and reviews can be located easily. Yes I still have some books, but more often now I use my computer.

So there are the tools of my trade, or more correctly hobby. Hope you enjoy.

The Jerry D, a special Model I built.

Twice now I have built models for others.  Two years ago in 2009, I built a model of a VW Bug from the 1960's for my father in law, this was no normal Bug, in that it was a royal blue, with one red door.  The story was, that Bob had a Bug, and the drivers side door had to be replaced, but for what ever reason the door was replaced with a red door instead of the color of the VW Bug.

This last Christmas, a good friend and co-worker asked me to build her a model, because she had seen so many photos of the models I had built over nearly two years, that she wanted one as a gift.  The following video shows the story and the model that I built for my friend Jerry D.

First Lunar Landing Part 2

 

Ever wonder...

Ever wonder about aircraft from the Spanish Civil War?

Now I know that this is a subject, many of us may not think of, it is not as well known in the U.S. as it is in Europe, and many of us may just ignore it.

When I grew up, only one model company that I bought from, even had models featuring markings and paint schemes from this conflict, and that was MPC, which does not exist any more.

However recently, I have been thinking about this conflict, mainly because this was such a mis match.  Italy and Germany provided very modern aircraft where as England, France, Russia and the U.S. all provided mostly obsolete bi-wing aircraft for the most part.  The few mon-wing aircraft were not up the same standard as the opposition.

Yet this is a conflict, well worth modeling.

Here is a link to a page, that has images and information on the aircraft, markings, and camoflague used by both sides, but most importantly, model kits available for these aircraft.

Enjoy, exploring this aspect of history.
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/drnash/model/spain/index.html

My model of the Mobius Seaview

I have been a fan of the old TV series, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, since I was a little kid, I had one of the original Aurora kits of the Seaview when I was a kid.

About a year ago, I managed to find the Mobius kit of the Seaview,  This model is 1/128th scale and is nearly 40 feet long.  It comes with a model of the mini sub, the flying sub, and diving bell as well as the command and control room for the sub.

Here are some photos of the model, including some of it with the diorama I built around it.

Me with my completed model of the Seaview.

Seaview and the beginning of a diorama.  The rocks I collected from a near by rail yard, to where I work.

Seaview and diorama being developed.  Did not end up using the large rock with the flying sub on it.

Here you can see the diorama as it is currently.  Actually, there are more rocks, I did not move, but this gives a better idea of the diorama.

If you look carefully, you can see the diving bell and the mini sub in this shot.

Detail shot of the aft boat and the flying sub.

Yes that is the mini sub there.  Some of the rocks I painted and some I left as they were.  I used photos in National Geographic for guides on painting the rocks and the display bases as volcanos.

Seaview head on.  That is an actual piece of rusted metal, I found near the rail yards close to where I worked.

Final shot, for now of Seaview and diorama.

The completed SM-79

Here are photos of my completed model of the Italian SM-79 bomber, and a few surprises.

Almost done, just needs the decals.

SM-79 Bomber in front, German Ju-52 Tranport behind.

Side profile of both the SM-79 and Ju-52

SM-79 showing decals in place.

Never say that a model can't take flight.  Looks, like this one is flying over current day Denver.