It is not until you get to this time of year and look back at what projects you have completed, that you realise how much you have got done despite having plenty of other interruptions. Mind you, a couple of the finished projects this year are ones which have been sitting, waiting to be finished. But the rest are all new projects for this year. So let me run through what has been done during 2016.
Messerschmitt Bf110 D-1/R1
Dragon kit in 1/48th scale built out of box.
This was the very first project finished this year back in January. My plan was to get it finished before the end of 2015, but missed out by several days. The project was originally started back in 2013, then put on hold before we decided to move house in 2014. In late 2015, I decided it was time to clear some of the backlog of "On-hold" projects and this was the first one dug out and dusted off. I was glad to get this one out and finished off, it is a very nice kit to build and the end result helped to spur me on for the new year of modelling.
Grumman F4 Corsair Diorama
Tamiya 1/49th scale kits built out of box.
The Corsair diorama was another project originally started around the same time as the Messerschmitt which was put on hold for the same reason. Once the Bf110 was completed, I decided it was time to finish this project off to and the boxes containing these models were unpacked from the boxes used during the house move. Now I was able to work out how to connect the motorised Corsair to the power supply and locate a carrier deck base which was large enough to carry both aircraft and the tug. The whole thing looks great when on display, which is impossible in my hobby room. So it spends its time stored in its transport box whilst at home.
Tamiya 1/35th scale kit built out of box
I just do not know how old this kit was, but I think it might have been one of the first issues of this kit. This was the first all new project this year and as I started it, the thought going through my mind was if the decals had survived the years of storage or would they crack up as they hit the water. In the end, this was not any concern as the decals had survived and were in excellent condition. I had scratch-built the base to display the Land Rover on using MDF, car body filler and some local stone. The figures came from the kit, but are not up to today's standard of figures available.
Nissan R32 GT-R
Aoshima 1/24th scale kit modified
Another blast from the past. In all, the main construction and painting had been done on this model. The only this that I had not finished was installing the cast resin engine and exhaust system. But after a wait of seven years, I took the GT-R out of the display cabinet and set to work installing the engine and exhaust. During this, I noticed that the bonnet had some marks on the finish. The problem was, I had none of this colour left so to overcome this, I decided to add some carbon fibre decal on the bonnet and a couple of other areas on the model. So another one on the "to finish" list crossed off.
English Electric Lightning F1
Airfix 1/48th scale kit basically built out of box.
The next new project of the year, Airfix's 48th scale Lightning. These are one of my favourite aircraft and I was lucky enough to see them flying in RAF service as a kid. I have a few 1/72nd scale Lightning in my stash, plus two built, but always fancied trying a 1/48th scale one. This model was finished in a natural metal finish using Alclad paints and slightly weathered. The ejector seat was replaced with a resin one from Quickboost and I scratch-built a new pitot tube as the kits plastic one was, lets say, not round. I did say this would be the only Lightning that I would make in this scale, how I am wrong to say this with another one on the workbench now. There will be some changes done to this model soon with the pitot tube replaced with an aftermarket one and the addition of etched ladders for the cockpit.
Vulcan "QRA"
Dragon 1/200th scale kit built out of box.
I had always wanted to build a display of a Vulcan either taking off or landing, but the Airfix 1/72nd scale Vulcan's are a little too big for this. So it came down to locating a smaller scale Vulcan for this project and Dragon's 1/200th scale kit was ideal for it. The model was built straight from the box, without adding any nose weight to it. I chose the "anti-flash" white scheme as it just happened to also be in 617 Squadron markings to. The base was MDF cut to simulate the shape of the Vulcan. This was painted and had scenic scatter added before mounting the Vulcan on a length of clear acrylic rod stuck into the base.
Higgins LCVP
Airfix 1/72nd scale kit built out of box.
Not my normal modelling area, but when you pick up the kit for £3, you just have to get it. This was just a quick build to do whilst waiting to see which main project to start. Once it was painted, I thought this looked too clean. So I used it as an opportunity to try out some new weathering products that I had recently purchased. I was very happy with the end result, especially using these new products. At the models first outing at a show, someone commented that this was probably the best landing craft model he had seen.
D.H. Vampire T.11
Airfix 1/72nd scale kit built out of box
Another quick build for me, but this planned to be part of a larger project consisting of three more aircraft. Airfix had produced a lovely kit here, as can be found in all of their new toolings of aircraft. I have aquired a few of these Vampire kits now, so others will be appearing at some point in the future. This is in the marking of the flying preserved example, but it is also meant to be the markings of the aircraft from RAF 239OCU from the 1950's. On this model, I left off the preservation societies marking when adding the decals to the aircraft.
Minions
Since the three I built last year, my collection of Minion figures has grown with six more built this year. The ones built this year are themed on the following. Fifty Shades of Banana, Spock, First Banana, Breaking Bad, Cave Banana and R2D2 Banana.
Honda CB750F
Tamiya 1/12th scale kit built out of box.
This was the final completed project of the year. Also an experiment in using Alclad's candy paints which ended up being a great success. These Tamiya bike kits do build up very nice and I was very happy with what I ended up with. This model was a great one to finish this year and give me inspiration for the year ahead.
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