Any Model Builders Out There?

I mentioned to a few people here that I build models/dioramas, and I was asked if I could post a few pictures of my work.

That got me wondering if there were any other model builders here, and if there are, I thought a thread where we could all post pics of our work would be in order, so here it is!

I'll get things started. I build quite a few commission pieces, so my builds run the gamut from armor, to auto racing, to sci-fi. I enjoy the variety. I'll start with some armor, and I'll add new photos and genre as time goes on. Star Wars has had a major influence on my painting style. I love the used and weathered look of the SW Universe, and I try to incorporate that used look in many of my builds.

Here are pics of a 1/35 scale Panzer III, a 1/15 37mm PAK Gun, and a 1/16 Kubelwagen. All are WWII German machines-

 

Here are a few more. A 1/72 scale "cutaway" Space Shuttle Discovery, a 1/16 Castrol GTX Funnycar, and a small 1/48 WWII German Wespe S.P. Gun-

 

Thanks!

I'll have a few SW model pics up in a couple of days. I may include some WIP
photos of a studio scale TIE Interceptor I'm working on right now...

 

Here are a couple more pics.

1/48 Japanese Zero Pearl Harbor Squadron Leader-



A 1/35 Bradley-

 

Here's a 1/68 scale Falcon model I recently completed-

 

Well, I'm starting a new project today, and it's going to be a fun build. I located and purchased a rather rare kit over the weekend.

It's a 1/72 scale "Diorama in a Box" type of kit. It's a kit that includes everything needed to make an accurate depiction of the Apollo 16 Lunar Landing. In the past, model kits of the LEM (the lander) and Command/Service Modules (CSM) have been generic, not depicting any particular mission.

Well, each Apollo spacecraft was often significantly different from the last in order to facilitate different and evolving mission requirements. One major difference is the later LEM's had a storage compartment built into the descent stage which held the folded-up Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), and that difference, as well as others, is depicted in this model.

This kit contains state of the art models of the LEM, the Command/Service Module with Apollo 16 specific antenna arrays, the LRV, two astronaut figures, a display base, and a stainless steel rod to suspend the CSM above the base "in orbit". It reminds me of two of my all-time favorite Star Wars model kits, the Echo Base, and The Battle of Hoth Diorama in a Box kits that AMT released after TESB.

I'm also excited because this model is all mine, and not a commission piece.

Here are some pics of the kit box, and a couple of shots of how the models should look when completed. I'll post pics of my finished version ( I may add a few extra features) when it's done.

 

Here's my latest build. It's a Tamiya 1/35 scale M1-A2 Abrams MBT.

I added aftermarket link by link tracks, a turned aluminum main gun barrel, and photo-etch grills.

The paint is Tamiya acrylic with an oil paint wash and pastel chalk-

 

Thanks!

Much of the credit has to go to fellow modelers and friends who have patiently helped me to learn and refine different building and painting techniques over the years, and to my Dad. He gave me a 1/32 scale Revell Spitfire model for Christmas nearly 40 years ago, and I've been building ever since.

I had a miniature air force hanging from my ceiling as well! These days, most of the aircraft models I build reside in glass cases, but I still have a few of them hanging from the ceiling in the toy room. A Monogram B-17 and a Revell Baa Baa Black Sheep F4U Corsair share the skies with the likes of Star Destroyers, Federation Starships, and Cylon Raiders.

 

Here are a couple of work-in-progress projects I'm doing for a collector who is into drag racing. This client specifies all of his car models must be made in 1/20 scale. There are no dragster kits available in this scale so these two cars are completely scratchbuilt with the exception being the braided fuel lines, wiring, and A/N fittings, which come from an aftermarket source.

The frames of both cars are made of hand formed silver soldered brass tubing, bead-blasted, and painted with lacquer. I make the engine pulleys, fire/pneumatic bottles, and other small cylindrical parts from aluminum stock using an Emco-Maier tabletop lathe. Items like injector scoops and fuel blocks are machined aluminum done on a mill. The brake discs are machined stainless steel, the tires are lathe turned hard rubber, and the rims/wheels are plated cast resin made from aluminum masters. Items like seat belt buckles, throttle linkages, and fasteners are photo-etched stainless steel. The engine blocks, blowers, fuel tanks and such are cast resin and painted with various Testors metalizers and Tamiya acrylics.

The first car still has quite a bit of work that needs to be done. When finished it will be a replica of a nostalgia type open wheel Gas Altered Bantam Roadster drag car. This car will feature a working drivetrain. Rotating the rear tires will make the crankshaft turn and spin the impellors in the supercharger via the functional pulleys and blower belt.

The second car chassis is finished, and is just waiting for the body to be painted and finished. This chassis represents a 90's vintage nitro funny car, and it will sport a Pontiac Firebird F/C body.

Car models of this type represent about 60 hours of labor each start to finish.

 

I'm taking a short break from Star Wars related activities this weekend to attend a local benefit car show for the Central Maine Veterans Home.

In addition to displaying 2 of my full scale cars, I was asked if I could put together a display with some pieces from my model car collection. I'm taking a break from packing things up, and I took a few pics of the models I've chosen to bring.

They are a 50/50 mix of pre-built diecast cars, and models I've built from kits in 1/18, 1/24, and 1/43 scales-