DavidsScaleModels
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2022
- Messages
- 133
HAPPY NEW YEAR! In a few days it will be 2025 so here is my 2024 year in review. I started the year off with a 1/48 Revell A-26B. It was detailed with Eduard photo etch detail sets for the cockpit and the bomb bay. I also used the SAC metal landing gear set. The scheme is the "Maggie's Drawers" of the 416th BG – 671st BS – 9th AF that was flown during 1944/1945 at the Laon/Athies Airfield, France. The decal set is sold by Kits World Decals. This was an eight week build. You can view this entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/
The second build of the year was for the 2024 the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) held their National Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. This was only a couple of hour drive from my home. I used Academy's 1/48 CH-46A/D – U.S. Marines –Vietnam kit. The scheme is from HMM-165 also known as the "White Knights". They were based at Chu Lai Combat Base in central Vietnam from 1966 thru 1968 then transferred to the USS Valley Forge LPH-8.
I super detailed the interior using scratch building techniques and added 16 LED's and 6″ of Fiber optics to illuminate the aircraft. The Eduard cockpit photo etch set was used and I illuminated the instrument panel. I set the model on a display base representing a typical air field from the Vietnam War. This was a twelve week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/
The third build was the 1/48 Hobbyboss YF-23 ATF nicknamed Black Widow II. It was the Northrop Grumman prototype for the next generation fighter. It competed against the YF-22. For this build I scratch built a lot of the cockpit and the canopy to represent the second prototype called PAV-2. The kit did not include the option to have the canopy open so there was extensive work done on the aft cockpit and canopy so it could be in the open position. I also used Caracals YF-23 decal set. This set provided all the decals for both PAV-1 and PAV-2 prototype aircraft. This was a nine week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-yf-23-atf-black-widow-ii/
The fourth build was the first commission build of the year. This build used the Hasegawa 1/72 P-3C Orion. The scheme is for VP-8 "Flying Tigers" based out of NAS Brunswick during the early 1980's. It is a commission work for a Navy Veteran who worked on these aircraft. The squadron decals were home made. The only add-ons was some scratch built details inside the cockpit, upper and lower navigation lights, numerous blade antenna's and EZ-line for the cable antenna's. This was a four week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-p-3c-orion-of-vp-8/
The fifth build was the second commission build. This commission build used the Academy 1/72 A-10A "Operation Iraqi Freedom" of the 75th fighter squadron in 2003. For this build I used Model Master's brass gun set. All other details were from the kit or scratch built. The completed aircraft was mounted in a display case. The display base was painted and detailed to represent the tarmac of a middle-east air base during the operation. This was a four week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-a-10a-from-operation-iraqi-freedom/
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The sixth build and third commission build was Academy's 1/48 A-10C "75th FS Flying Tigers" kit. The scheme is how this aircraft looked in 2014. I added Eduard photo etch detail set, Master Model brass gun, Ares resin ejection seat, and I used eight LED's and some fiber optics to illuminate the aircraft. It was mounted on a wood base with a hidden battery and switch to turn the lights off and on. This was a six week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-10c-75th-flying-tigers/
The last build of 2024 and the last commission build utilized the Kinetic 1/48 scale Mirage 2000C. It was detailed with a resin ejection seat and 3D decals for the cockpit. The kit decals were used for the scheme. The aircraft was mounted onto a display base and a photo from the client was sized to be the background of the display cover. This was a six week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mirage-2000c/
This past year was fun. During Christmas my Wife got me an awesome kit. It is the Titan Models 1/48 scale B-2A! This is a huge kit (over 40" wingspan!) with a thick vacu-form fuselage and all the rest of the details are resin. I plan on tackling this kit later in 2025.
As for the rest of 2025 I am currently working on the first build of 2025 which is Academy's 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D Mitchell). You can follow this build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-pbj-1d-b-25-mitchell/
I do have two commission builds scheduled and since I missed my "Movie Night" build in 2024 I will make sure I have one in 2025.
In terms of decals, I have a couple of Air Wing decal sets which will be released in the spring and I am finishing the final touches on the Forrestal Class carriers Hangar Bay decals in both 1/350 and 1/700-1/720 scale. I should have these up and available for purchase by the first weekend in 2025.
Thank you all for following my builds in 2024 and look forward to having you follow along in 2025!
Happy New Year and Happy Modeling,
Dave
The second build of the year was for the 2024 the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) held their National Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. This was only a couple of hour drive from my home. I used Academy's 1/48 CH-46A/D – U.S. Marines –Vietnam kit. The scheme is from HMM-165 also known as the "White Knights". They were based at Chu Lai Combat Base in central Vietnam from 1966 thru 1968 then transferred to the USS Valley Forge LPH-8.
I super detailed the interior using scratch building techniques and added 16 LED's and 6″ of Fiber optics to illuminate the aircraft. The Eduard cockpit photo etch set was used and I illuminated the instrument panel. I set the model on a display base representing a typical air field from the Vietnam War. This was a twelve week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/
The third build was the 1/48 Hobbyboss YF-23 ATF nicknamed Black Widow II. It was the Northrop Grumman prototype for the next generation fighter. It competed against the YF-22. For this build I scratch built a lot of the cockpit and the canopy to represent the second prototype called PAV-2. The kit did not include the option to have the canopy open so there was extensive work done on the aft cockpit and canopy so it could be in the open position. I also used Caracals YF-23 decal set. This set provided all the decals for both PAV-1 and PAV-2 prototype aircraft. This was a nine week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-yf-23-atf-black-widow-ii/
The fourth build was the first commission build of the year. This build used the Hasegawa 1/72 P-3C Orion. The scheme is for VP-8 "Flying Tigers" based out of NAS Brunswick during the early 1980's. It is a commission work for a Navy Veteran who worked on these aircraft. The squadron decals were home made. The only add-ons was some scratch built details inside the cockpit, upper and lower navigation lights, numerous blade antenna's and EZ-line for the cable antenna's. This was a four week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-p-3c-orion-of-vp-8/
The fifth build was the second commission build. This commission build used the Academy 1/72 A-10A "Operation Iraqi Freedom" of the 75th fighter squadron in 2003. For this build I used Model Master's brass gun set. All other details were from the kit or scratch built. The completed aircraft was mounted in a display case. The display base was painted and detailed to represent the tarmac of a middle-east air base during the operation. This was a four week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-a-10a-from-operation-iraqi-freedom/
]
The sixth build and third commission build was Academy's 1/48 A-10C "75th FS Flying Tigers" kit. The scheme is how this aircraft looked in 2014. I added Eduard photo etch detail set, Master Model brass gun, Ares resin ejection seat, and I used eight LED's and some fiber optics to illuminate the aircraft. It was mounted on a wood base with a hidden battery and switch to turn the lights off and on. This was a six week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-10c-75th-flying-tigers/
The last build of 2024 and the last commission build utilized the Kinetic 1/48 scale Mirage 2000C. It was detailed with a resin ejection seat and 3D decals for the cockpit. The kit decals were used for the scheme. The aircraft was mounted onto a display base and a photo from the client was sized to be the background of the display cover. This was a six week build. You can view the entire build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mirage-2000c/
This past year was fun. During Christmas my Wife got me an awesome kit. It is the Titan Models 1/48 scale B-2A! This is a huge kit (over 40" wingspan!) with a thick vacu-form fuselage and all the rest of the details are resin. I plan on tackling this kit later in 2025.
As for the rest of 2025 I am currently working on the first build of 2025 which is Academy's 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D Mitchell). You can follow this build at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-pbj-1d-b-25-mitchell/
I do have two commission builds scheduled and since I missed my "Movie Night" build in 2024 I will make sure I have one in 2025.
In terms of decals, I have a couple of Air Wing decal sets which will be released in the spring and I am finishing the final touches on the Forrestal Class carriers Hangar Bay decals in both 1/350 and 1/700-1/720 scale. I should have these up and available for purchase by the first weekend in 2025.
Thank you all for following my builds in 2024 and look forward to having you follow along in 2025!
Happy New Year and Happy Modeling,
Dave
