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Goodbye Alabama, Hello Wisconsin! Bill N's 2020 Builds


billn53

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2020 Began, and ended, with F-4 Phantom builds. In the fall, I retired and moved from Huntsville, Alabama to Madison, Wisconsin (where I had gone to college in the '70s). That put a big hit on my building, but eventually I got settled in and was even able to complete a couple kits before the New Year.

 

Here we go, in chronological order (more or less):

 

Zoukei-Mura F-4J Phantom II (1/48)

 

Started in November 2019, finished in February 2020. I had intended to enter this in the Huntsville Plastic Modeler's annual show and contest, but the COVID situation put an end to that idea :sad:

 

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Having decided to move to Wisconsin, I proceeded to build a series of Wisconsin-themed models. First up was a Wisconsin Air National Guard F-102 Delta Dagger, which was a frequent sight when I was attending college:

 

Meng F-102A Delta Dagger (1/72)

 

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Next up, a Wisconsin ANG F-16C (still being flown today) and F-35A (soon to join the ANG)

 

Hasegawa F-16C Fighting Falcon (1/72)

 

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Academy F-35A Lightning II (1/72)

 

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Here are my three Wisconsin ANG birds all together:

 

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On my "to do" list are two more Wisconsin ANG aircraft: a P-51 Mustang and F-89 Scorpion

 

Rounding out my Wisconsin-themed aircraft for 2020 is this Lockheed L10 Electra, as flown by Wisconsin Central Airlines. The markings were custom made for me by Mika at Arctic Decals (shameless plug here).

 

Special Hobby L10A Electra (1/72)

 

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The 1948 Plymouth Deluxe I converted from a 1942 Army staff car kit: 

 

50157224868_222db58010.jpg  49872404771_84267d3748.jpg 

 

My only other civilian aircraft for 2020 is this tiny de Havilland Fox Moth, which participated in the British Graham Land Antarctic Expedition (1934-37)

 

Avi Models Fox Moth (1/72)

 

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Just for fun, I wanted to see how quickly I could build an aircraft model. This Bf-109E was completed with just nine hours of work!

 

Hobby Boss "Easy Assembly" Bf-109E4/Trop (1/72)

 

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The last project before packing up my workshop and leaving Alabama was to build a model of the submarine I served on when I was in the navy, USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

 

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) (1/240-ish)

 

49926612086_6fac34322f_z.jpg 49926465241_93794426ec.jpg

 

I started with an ancient Aurora kit and completely re-built it to better represent this historic submarine:

 

The original Aurora kit:

 

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My re-built version:

 

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Modeler's Workshop (1:1 Scale)

 

I moved to Madison, Wisconsin this past fall. The first thing I did was to convert a spare, lower-level bedroom into a workshop:

 

50598383847_ab4ec243dc_z.jpg  50598383607_473a1543e2_c.jpg

 

I joined the "Mad City Modelers" and, for a Vietnam-themed group build project, finished off 2020 with a pair of F-4C Phantoms flown by famed ace Col. Robin Olds.

 

Monogram/Accurate Miniatures "Operation Bolo" F-4C and Fujimi "SCAT XXVII" F-4C Phantom II (1/72)

 

50630616213_95b80a30c8_z.jpg   50779076832_24db5ec507_z.jpg

 

50792874506_421e1e7dbd_b.jpg 

 

 

That's it for 2020, and good riddance to what was, all-in-all, a really sh*tty year for everyone. May 2021 be a vast improvement 🙏

 

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Hey Bill,

Any info on the 1948 Plymouth Deluxe conversion?  I am planning a certain dio taking place in New Mexico around that timeframe and could use another 72nd scale civilian vehicle.

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On 1/5/2021 at 12:26 AM, philp said:

Hey Bill,

Any info on the 1948 Plymouth Deluxe conversion?  I am planning a certain dio taking place in New Mexico around that timeframe and could use another 72nd scale civilian vehicle.

 

Yes! It's in my WIP, beginning about half way down on page 8:

 

 

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13 hours ago, billn53 said:

 

Yes! It's in my WIP, beginning about half way down on page 8:

 

 

Thanks Bill, missed it when I went back looking through the Electra article (probably skipped those pages).  I might try a '46.  Originally figured would leave it stock and just do a Gov. surplus one but now I want to give it a try.

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3 minutes ago, philp said:

Thanks Bill, missed it when I went back looking through the Electra article (probably skipped those pages).  I might try a '46.  Originally figured would leave it stock and just do a Gov. surplus one but now I want to give it a try.

It was a very rewarding modification, especially on something that tiny. I should have reshaped the rear side window, but I discovered my mistake too late 

 

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Hello Bill !!

That's a great collection !!

Given the moving and so... You reallyachieved something splendid !!

I really love themed builds and the Wisconsin ANG is a great one !!

Congrats my friend !!

And congrats too for the Silent service... Did'nt knew that you also spent some times Under the sea...

Now, I know 2 sub guys, you and @Courageous :clap2:

And a sub hunter.. too... Okay, I'll not tell...:door:

Sincerely.

CC

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