Introduction to my modeling page.

Airfix Fiat G-50, built around 1972!

As a boy, I really enjoyed building model airplanes. I don't really know what brought that about, but I was just fascinated by the old prop driven airplanes of the old days. As a teenager I got pretty good at building and painting models. I also enjoyed researching color schemes and finding unusual markings to apply. So that explains the Finnish Fiat and Thai Bearcat! These were both built in the early '70s.

Monogram F8F, from around the same time.

Another example is the Airfix Hellcat, although this time I chose more conventional markings.

Airfix F6F from the same era.

Alas, after high school I gave up modeling while making a life for myself! A stint in the Air Force, college, marriage and kids and a career took much of my time. My other pastime, bicycling took the rest of it!

In the early '90s, while living in Montana, I became interested in modeling again. I would visit hobby shops while on my frequent work trip and I starting collecting a few kits. I picked up an inexpensive airbrush as well and started playing with that.

Our move to Northern California brought an end to that phase of modeling as I had a lot of other things to do. But now that I'm retired I have discovered the urge to build again.

The internet has really brought another level of research possibilities as well as the chance to link up with other modelers. On of my favorite Facebook groups is The $20.00 Modelers Club , a relaxed group of like minded nerds.

The Club recently held a "Buddy Build" where members build kits of the same theme. The theme was the Brewster Buffalo, so I decided to give it a try with an old Tamiya kit I had laying around.

Tamiya Brewster Buffalo, built in 2019!

It was a lot of fun to build this kit and I thought it came out reasonably well. There is a "Mustang" build currently going on the group's page, and I've started an ancient Monogram 1/48 scale P-51B, I hope I can finish it in time!