TonyOD's 2021 - a year of finding my way!

[TonyOD]

What, 4th January already? I t feels like I’m a bit late to the yearbook party, but here goes.

 

This has been my first full year of modelling since I came back to the hobby during Lockdown ’19, and my first full year of Britmodeller membership (and may I take the opportunity to say what a great forum this is, full of very helpful fellow modellers!) It’s largely been a year of finding my way, in terms of finding an area of modelling that I’d like to specialise in, without restricting myself too much (I used to do only FAA planes, but there’s only so much Extra Dark Sea Grey a man can take!) Also I needed to settle on a level of proficiency within my skills (or skills I could acquire), taking into account the fact that I have a busy lifestyle with other interests and ideally would like to complete more than two builds a year.

 

Thanks to the Heller Classic GB, I started the year obsessed with Heller kits – well I always have to be obsessed with something. My first completed build of ’21 (finished on New Year’s Day, actually) was this Amiot 143, actually my second build for that GB. As with all the vintage Heller kits, not without its challenges. I did enjoy building a rudimentary scratch interior. This one is currently in a state of disassembly pending a possible rebuild.

 

 

My second completion of the year was this Heller Spitfire Mk XVI, again for the HCGB. I did it in Belgian colours.

 

 

However I was unhappy with my cack-handed attempts at weathering, so later stripped it and repainted/redecalled it as an RAF bird.

 

 

 

Around this time I was involved in my first of two major failed projects for the year, actually my second run at the Heller Leo 451, it never made it though. Spent a lot of time on it. That’s how it goes sometimes.

 

I think next up was the Africa GB, for which I did another Heller kit, this little Alouette helicopter that belonged to Congolese dictator General Mobutu back in the sixties. I did a bit of scratch work and added some etch and was pretty happy with the result.

 

 

 

Around this time I got involved in the Unarmes GB with a monster of a kit, a Petlyakov Pe-8 polar transport, A-Model kit and spent many, many weeks on it, really a test of what sills and resilience I have. It never quite made it, despite only really needing the props and landing gear sticking on.

 

 

 

This was mainly because I did this little Airfix new-tool P-40. Quick build, great fit, nice result. Why do I insist on making life hard for myself, thought I.

 

 

 

But when the French Fancy GB came round it could only be Heller, couldn’t it? This is my favourite build of the year, the Potez 540 as used to ferry General de Gaulle around French possessions in Africa, 1941.

 

 

 

After that, a Tamiya Zero, couldn’t be a greater contrast to the Heller stuff, exquisitely moulded, almost built itself.

 

 

 

And finally, another Airfix, a Bf 110 E Trop. By this time I’d settled on 1940s aircraft in 1/72 as my favoured subject (though vehicle and boats may feature in the future), and had found a skill/proficiency level that I’m happy with.

 

 

 

So, seven completed builds for the year! I'm happy with that, and looking forward to this year's modelling adventures. thanks to all who have offered help and advice along the way.

 

thanks for looking in!

[JeroenS]

Excellent builds Tony, that Zero is looking mighty fine. Why don't you take the big orange bird over to KUTA GB and finish it there? I think it looks rather good. 

[TonyOD]

22 minutes ago, JeroenS said:

Excellent builds Tony, that Zero is looking mighty fine. Why don't you take the big orange bird over to KUTA GB and finish it there? I think it looks rather good. 

That might not be a bad idea!

[MRMRL]

Some really nice work here, the zero and the bf110 look really nice. I'd love to see the big beast finished in the near future, it looks great so far.

[Bertie McBoatface]

I couldn't tell from your narrative whether you were pleased or not but your yearbook looks fine to me.

[Wulfman]

A lovely year’s work, great save on the Spitfire !

 

Wulfman

[TonyOD]

On 1/4/2022 at 7:37 PM, MRMRL said:

Some really nice work here, the zero and the bf110 look really nice.

 

Thank you. I felt I made half decent-jobs of these two.

 

On 1/7/2022 at 10:07 PM, Bertie Psmith said:

I couldn't tell from your narrative whether you were pleased or not but your yearbook looks fine to me.

 

Thanks, I felt I could have achieved more in the year but that's scale modellin', innit. As I mentioned in the post I have a lot going on in life, mainly outdoor stuff: in fact, if I spend too much time tinkering with the models, I start beating myself up for not being outside and active! The modelling was a solution for the frustrations of lockdown, I think I've just about achieved a healthy balance now. The second half of the year was more rewarding, I felt.

[Bertie McBoatface]

9 minutes ago, TonyOD said:

 

Thank you. I felt I made half decent-jobs of these two.

 

 

Thanks, I felt I could have achieved more in the year but that's scale modellin', innit. As I mentioned in the post I have a lot going on in life, mainly outdoor stuff: in fact, if I spend too much time tinkering with the models, I start beating myself up for not being outside and active! The modelling was a solution for the frustrations of lockdown, I think I've just about achieved a healthy balance now. The second half of the year was more rewarding, I felt.

 

There's never enough time to do everything, is there?

[TonyOD]

Just now, Bertie Psmith said:

There's never enough time to do everything, is there?

Tru dat!