Navy Bird's Complete Waste of Time 2023

[Navy Bird]

2023 wasn't a good modelling year at Chez Birdinski. Only three builds were completed, and one of those is pretty lame. It was a year with a lot of distractions - a trip to Florida, a trip to California, a trip to Hawaii for our 50th wedding anniversary, and on top of that we threw in a cruise for good measure. Add in some recurring health issues (one or two rounds with pneumonia, another Covid encounter, a never-ending sinus infection...you get the idea). Not a lot of time to build models. Oh, yeah, I forgot babysitting Dexter three days a week.

 

2023 was also memorable for what didn't get finished. I was ready to paint the 1:72 Airfix Blenheim Mk.IV, complete with more aftermarket than it deserved, when I left it just a wee bit too close for little Dexter's hands. Needless to say, the resulting hard landing was a total write-off. I also started the 1:72 Airfix Victor at mid-year, and I'm still working on that.

 

On the positive side, I spent many enjoyable moments with my grandson Carter helping him to build his first Phantom (see below). Anyway, here are the three finished builds:

 

1:72 McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II (completed September 2023)

FineMolds

 

FineMolds have produced an amazing line of new tool 1:72 Phantom kits, finally surpassing the venerable Hasegawa, Revell, and ESCI offerings. (I've never seen any of the new Academy kits so I can't pass judgement on those and Fujimi still rules for the Spey versions.) I knew I had to build one of the new FM offerings as soon as I read the first online review - I picked the "Special Marking Blue" kit of the Phantom Farewell scheme from JASDF 301 Squadron because it's, like, cool. Lured by the beautiful metallic blue markings, and the allure of the new FM kit, I encountered the decals from Hell.    

 

I'm not sure why the Japanese manufacturers often have such thick decals. I've read about all the tricks - use hot water and Japanese solvents like Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer which, I'm told, have been formulated specifically for these kind of decals. If this is true, I still struggled getting these to snuggle down as I'm used to with Cartograf, Xtradecal, Microscale and the other usual suspects. Perhaps it was because the metallic blue ink process required many layers (pure speculation), perhaps it was because there were hectares of stickers, or perhaps it was because I'm an idiot. In any event, I persevered until I gave up. Gallons of every decal solvent known to man. (Except for Solvaset - last time I used that stuff it melted the styrene.) It is what it is. Under the lack of illumination at the far reaches of my display case, no one will ever know. Well, except for you blokes I guess.    

 

The build process is detailed in the WIP thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:72 Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk (completed March 2023)

Airfix

 

This is the recent (albeit over a decade ago) "new tool" kit from Airfix of the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk. OK, it's now called the A-4B, but I like those old USN designations. Much more informative than the USAF scheme that the politicians required so they wouldn't get embarrassed again (What - you mean the F4H and the F-110 are the same aircraft?). This is a nice little kit, but I felt the panel lines were a bit too deep and wide for my liking, and there were a couple of mistakes that I tried to clean up. The biggest was the curvature of the underside of the nose - not sure I made much of a difference but I tried. I'll take a participation trophy.  

 

Other than that, the biggest issue was getting the yellow and red checks to snuggle down onto the notorious Scooter rudder. Eventually we got there, but the amount of decal solvent required made some of the checks look like Dali painted them. I guess that's why it's called a solvent. I had to touch those up with a tiny brush but if you don't look too closely you won't be shocked.

 

The WIP can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:72 Nakajima Kikka (completed April 2023)

AZ Model

 

I've had this kit for a while and it's a typical AZ short run kit - in other words, it needs a lot of help in the detail department along with some tender loving care. I'm too old for the latter, but I was lucky enough to find a photoetch detail set from NH Detail (who I've never heard of) on a business trip to Sofia, Bulgaria. And that was a long time ago. But who knows - maybe I made something respectable out of it. Luckily, there were no stencils.

 

WIP thread is here, complete with my mea culpa for painting the turtledeck the wrong colour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:72 RF-4 Phantom II (completed December 2023 by my six-year old grandson Carter)

IMC

 

Of course this is one of the infamous "battle-damaged" kits put out by IMC back in the neolithic. I picked this up from a vendor table at the local show for an ungodly two bucks, which is more than what it originally sold for. I supervised Carter on this build, helping mainly with the application of the stickers which came from a several decades old Microscale sheet which had some difficulty maintaining its structural integrity whilst in the water. I also helped him with his airbrushing technique which mostly involved making sure he didn't tip it too much and dump out the contents of the colour cup. Anyway, he even painted the afterburners fluorescent orange. This is the fourth model he's built - not bad for a kid his age I think. For his next model, I'll introduce him to the wonders of seam filling and sanding. Oh, be still my heart...

 

 

 

 

I'll leave you with my favourite photo of 2023, from our trip to Hawaii. The gang's all here! (I'm the old guy with the credit card.)

 

 

Cheers,

Bill

 

PS. I hate sand.

 

PPS. From the left: Son-in-law, Daughter, Wifey, Old Man, Granddaughter, Granddaughter, Grandson, Granddaughter, Grandson, Daughter, Son-in-law, Son, Daughter-in-law.

[Lightningboy2000]

It's all never a waste of time! Quality over quantity is all I can see, & a standard I guess many aspire to. Best wishes for 2024! 🍻

Martin 

[Keeff]

Sounds like you had a mixed year .... great holidays though! 

 

While you've only finished a few builds, they're of fantastic quality and look great! 👌 

 

Keith 😁 

[Dave Slowbuild]

Young Carter has a fine teacher!  He looks really chuffed with his F4, great to see!
Best wishes for 2024 Bill

[Navy Bird]

16 hours ago, Lightningboy2000 said:

It's all never a waste of time! Quality over quantity is all I can see, & a standard I guess many aspire to. Best wishes for 2024! 🍻

 

Thanks Martin. Hopefully 2024 will yield more builds (I have to work down my stash). My New Year's Resolution is to think small this year - no big kits like the Victor that take many months for me to build.   

 

2 hours ago, Keeff said:

Sounds like you had a mixed year .... great holidays though!

 

Thanks Keith. Definitely a mixed year - luckily the holidays coincided with periods of relative good health for me. Maybe that's the answer to my problems - more holidays!   

 

2 hours ago, Dave Slowbuild said:

Young Carter has a fine teacher!  He looks really chuffed with his F4, great to see!

 

Thanks Dave. Mentoring Carter with his model building is more satisfying than completing one of my own. It's really cool to see him progress with his skills - and he's only six years old! Although he did tell me that he feels like he is going to turn into "me." Not sure if that's good or bad....     

 

Cheers,

Bill

[stevej60]

After the years distractions I'm surprised you got anything done Bill but those three ooze quality here's wishing you a better 2024 health first then modelling wise!

[Sky Keg]

Bravo Bill!!  The Fine Molds Phantom was my favorite up until the time I saw Carter with his “battle damaged” Phantom.  So happy to see the entire crew gathered together.  By the way, as for that credit card you have, can I…………..😉

 

Great presentation Bill. 

 

Mike

[Navy Bird]

8 hours ago, Sky Keg said:

Bravo Bill!!  The Fine Molds Phantom was my favorite up until the time I saw Carter with his “battle damaged” Phantom.  So happy to see the entire crew gathered together.  By the way, as for that credit card you have, can I…………..😉

 

You don't want to know how much that trip to Hawaii cost me. But, you only have a 50th anniversary once - unless, of course, you add one more to the harem and outlive Methuselah - so you might as well go hog wild. Besides, I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack.   

 

Carter is just now starting the Revell 2017 Ford GT kit (no. 85-1235). It only has 27 parts, but it is very nicely moulded. I (and Carter) especially like the pre-painted window frames. Plus, Revell give you the choice of water slide transfers or stickers. It's a perfect kit for a soon-to-be seven-year old.

 

Cheers,

Bill

 

PS. And I'm still trying to finish the Airfix Victor kit...at least it's painted now.

[Terry1954]

Three very fine builds Bill, and the great modellers on here know (I just lurk amongst you guys), it's not just about modelling. Your Hawaii trip is a supreme example of that.

 

I will be 70 this year, and we are planning a mega weekend party (likely at a Spa hotel in Winchester) with family and friends. The family part of that (sons, daughters, partners and grandchildren) currently number 28 people. Wider family adds around 30 folk and friends are too numerous to count! This event will undoubtedly make a huge dent in the family inheritance 

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

T.

 

 

[Pete in Lincs]

Nice builds, Bill. It's a wonder you had time at all with your globetrotting and babysitting. I remember I was with a couple of mates when we saw the battle damaged kits in a shop window. 

We must have been around 13 and of course wanted them. But as usual we had no money and the shop was closed anyway. So it never happened. Ah well. 

As for 70th birthdays, mine was last week. I lashed out 52 pounds on fish n chips for us and the kids. I think I escaped a credit card bullet there

Better building luck to you for this year.

[Navy Bird]

8 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

Three very fine builds Bill, and the great modellers on here know (I just lurk amongst you guys), it's not just about modelling. Your Hawaii trip is a supreme example of that.

 

I will be 70 this year, and we are planning a mega weekend party (likely at a Spa hotel in Winchester) with family and friends. The family part of that (sons, daughters, partners and grandchildren) currently number 28 people. Wider family adds around 30 folk and friends are too numerous to count! This event will undoubtedly make a huge dent in the family inheritance 

 

Sounds like a great party you have planned. As far as the family inheritance goes, you earned it - you spend it. For example, you can fly me over for the party. I can sleep on your couch and won't drink all that much beer. Really.    

 

7 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Nice builds, Bill. It's a wonder you had time at all with your globetrotting and babysitting. I remember I was with a couple of mates when we saw the battle damaged kits in a shop window. 

We must have been around 13 and of course wanted them. But as usual we had no money and the shop was closed anyway. So it never happened. Ah well. 

As for 70th birthdays, mine was last week. I lashed out 52 pounds on fish n chips for us and the kids. I think I escaped a credit card bullet there

Better building luck to you for this year.

 

I bought a few of those battle damaged kits when I was a kid (a MiG-21 comes to mind - did they make one of those?). After the uniqueness of the battle damage wears off, they're actually pretty crummy kits. You didn't miss much.

 

Happy 70th! Nothing better than the fish and chips you guys have. Wifey and I still rave about the lunch we had at a chip stand in the Borough Market in London. The best we've ever had, and that says a lot as our local "fish fries," as we call them, are actually pretty good.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[corsaircorp]

Waste of time ??

I'll be glad to do such a waste of time !!

I really loved the last pic, It's great and precious !!

Congrats to the mini Navy Bird !!

And great Congrats to you !!

Sincerely.

CC

[Bedders]

The models are great Bill as ever, but that last pic is wonderful.

 

Justin