2018 Builds - didn't quite make the one a week goal

[markmcguire25]

Howdy Y'all and Happy New Year!

 

  I've been "lurking" on this site for years, and I've always really appreciated the quality, engineering and works of art this site showcases. It's my go-to site for new inspiration, and to be frank, the quality is a bit intimidating. To put it mildly.

 

I've finally had the chance to start modelling again, after a long absence. And to make a serious attempt to whittle a large (200+) stockpile of kits, accumulated over the last 10 years. My Resolution for 2018 was to finish a kit a week?!? I had some setbacks through the year - oldest Son's wedding, got Flu A and B early on ???, and dealt with some major changes at work. I didn't succeed, but I came darn close, and feel pretty good about the quantity, if not always the quality. Most weeks consisted of straight out of the box - which I rediscovered can be a lot of fun. And more than a few times I made such a costly error, that I shelved or trashed a project, and had to knock out a weekend project just to get back on track.

 

I apologize that a couple of these are not aircraft related, but with one exception (Porsche) they are all 1/48 scale. Here is my 2018 builds, in no particular order;

 

X-47B Nice kit, easy to build. VERY thick plastic, but it wasn't ever an issue. Unfinished base!

 

Hasegawa F-22 - fun kit, good engineering, LOTS of parts!!! This kit does not photograph as well as the others. I suspect it has to do with the special finish, but it looks much more subtle in person.

 

Hasegawa P-47 - fun build, got the markings on the backside of three of four prop blades, D'oh!

 

Saab J-29 - nice kit, and the base lights up to illuminate the acrylic rod that exits the contrail. 

 

Some carrier and airfield support equipment - very nice filler for weeks where the original project went south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only non 1/48 scale kit for the year. Again, sorry for off-topic, but it's easier to post everything in one spot.

 

I always thought the YF-23 should have won the contract. Love this kit so much I have a couple more waiting to be built in other liveries. Also note the unfinished base, it will be a running theme, unfortunately.

 

This was an OK kit, though a couple fit issues kept it from being as fun as I had hoped.

 

Loved this kit! Quite a few parts fit so well (canopy, wings, flaps) that I didn't use glue at all. Also my first time using E Z Line.

 

Another in flight model. This one "plugs" into triangular brass rod and displays in the takeoff position

 

I really built this in a week! The only fit issue was tailplanes, the tab/slot was much too fragile/small for such a large piece. First time using oils to weather. 

 

H-21 - This was the least fun kit of the year. Canopy would not fit after lots of filing. filling and fiddling. Super glue eventually did the trick, but ended up crazing inside despite my precautions.

 

RQ-4 Global Hawk - Great kit, easy to build, very few pieces.

 

I think this deck tractor is from the Monogram B-24 kit? I just needed something to display with the P-47

 

Old Revell 1950's kit. I just primed and beat it up as a test bed for the Vallejo rust wash. The wash looks terrible until it dries, then looks very convincing.

 

F-104G - Fun kit, great build. Lesson learned building two kits at the same time (F-104C) - don't get variants parts mixed up! i accidentally glued the wrong tail halves to each other and had to perform unnecessary surgery.

 

F-15E - R/M kit. I LOVE this kit. I've built three and can say everything about them is great, except the decals.

 

T-38 - Wolfpack kit. Really nice kit. White finish was no problem on this kit, but will haunt me later in the year...

 

D-558 Skystreak - one of my last and worst kits of the year. Started having issues with white finish on a couple kits (which is why there's no Thunderbirds F-16 in this post) and didn't solve it until recently.

If you look at the wings closely, you'll notice the 'alligator' cracks in the white. Tamiya white acrylic and future do NOT play well together - FYI.

 

F-16XL - fun build, with one or two challenges. The biggest was the fit of the canopy, but since I display it open sometimes (custom painted NASA test pilot) I can't really clamp it down.

 

F-104C - also the hasegawa kit. Free handed the Tiger Meet scheme. Decals were old Cutting Edge

 

Verlinden V-100 armored car. Air Force, so it still fits this group? No? Worth a try.

 

Eduard X-1 - Nice kit, spartan, but the only game in town, so...

 

T-38A - Wolfpack kit. Nice build, but not 100% accurate for a Shuttle chase plane.  

 

Voyager Space Probe - Hasegawa kit with Eduard PE and a little scratchbuilding. This might be my favorite result of 2018!

 

 

 

I'm not even sure where I got these, they were in a baggie. It's my first attempt at figures (early in the year) and I was still using Enamels with watercolor wash. I'm now experimenting with oils and like the results much better.

 

Armor, sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MQ-9 Reaper - Easy build, fun to finish

 

RQ-7b - this thing is tiny!!! My first attempt at showing worn, grimy with undercoating exposed.

 

S. E. 5 Revell kit. This is a GREAT fitting kit, and I'm very glad this was my first ever Biplane kit. And my last kit of the year. Very pleasing way to finish up 2018!

 

 

Thanks for looking. If you have any comments, please don't hesitate. I'm still working on my photographic skills, so feel free to advise on that as well.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2018 by markmcguire25
realign

[Habu12]

Diggin. I’m curious to see the bottom of the RQ-7B. That’s also the v1 by the way. The current v2 is much different. 

[markmcguire25]

This is the Attack Squadron kit. Very nice build, but tiny.

 

 

[Jonners]

All superb. I’d be happy if even one of my models looked as good as these!

Jon

[Vultures1]

Great output for 2018!  Quality and quantity abound

[RMCS]

Fantastic 

[Vince1159]

9 hours ago, markmcguire25 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely builds but i especially love the pick up,it's definately got the Rat look....

Edited December 31, 2018 by Vince1159

[IanC]

Nice varied collection there Mark. The Bundesmarine Sea Hawk and Voyager are my favourites.

 

Ian

 

 

[invidia]

Fantastic looking builds, I had a crap year modelling, finished about 5, and one on the shelf of doom!!!!!!  

[woody37]

Wow, that's a productive year. I'd be happy hitting one per month especially if they came out looking like yours,

 

Great introduction

 

Cheers

Neil

[Bill.B]

Terrific array of hardware very well executed!

 I especially like the Kriegsmarine Sea Hawk and Starfighter, and also the two F-15s’ 

[Neil.C]

All those models and high quality too!

 

Congratulations.

[F-32]

Stunning collection for a year, I didn’t manage to finish a single thing!!

[usetherudders]

That's some high quality work there, very nice.

[StrangelyBrown]

Some really great modelling going on- great weathering and finish.  Thanks for sharing.