2018 - A Year in Review

Well it's that time of the year again, the time when I post what I've completed in this calendar year and wonder why it was not as many as I'd hoped for.

This year I've started to try to incorporate bases and even some figures into some of my builds to add a bit more visual interest in the subject. I have made some generic bases I now use for the photos, hence why you may notice some similarity.

Anyway onto the builds.

First was the new tool 1/48 Airfix P-51D Mustang. This was built for the NSW Model Show's "Airfix Cup", which to my surprise it won.

This is a terrific little kit that I really enjoyed building.

Full build report for the Mustang is here

Next was the 1/48 Tamiya M-10 Tank destroyer. This was built to take part in the NSW Model Shows "Panzer Tracks" trophy, no winner here but I was pretty happy with the result. This was done as Kiwi vehicle used in Italy.  I continue to enjoy these armour kits in the proper scale of 1/48 😄

Full build report for the M-10 is here

Next completion was my nemesis.. A 1/48 Sikorsky S-70B2 Seahawk from Italeri with a Hawkeye models conversion. This kit was the only thing still languishing on my "shelf of doom". So late in 2017 I decided it had to be finished. It's far from my best work but I'm happy to have it done and in the cabinet.

Full build report for the Seahawk is here

The Tamiya P-47 is a great palette cleanser (TM). I needed one after the Seahawk and as I was well into the Wingnuts Wings Camel. I built this in about 4 weeks and am quite happy how it turned out.

Full build of the P-47D is here

The 1/32 Wingnut Wings Sopwith Camel F1 "Clerget" was next. This build was notable few firsts for me, first 1/32 kit, first bi plane (as a adult) and first figures of a decent size. It was pretty tough going at times, especially the rigging but I did learn a  few things along the way , mainly I'm not that into rigging so that Fe2B isn't going to get built 😃 . That said I was happy with the final result, and particularly happy with the figures considering it was my first go.  

Full build report for the Camel is here

Last completion for the year was one of the Eduard boxing's the Hasegawa Typhoon. This was built built as part of a mini group build with a club mate... he hasn't started his yet 😂 . I like the unusual night fighter scheme on the Typhoon, added with the fact it was a New Zealand Squadrons aircraft. Again I'm happy enough with the result.

Full build report for the Typhoon is here

Well that's all for 2018. First completions of 2019 should be the 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle, along with 1/48 Sea Fury and 1/48 Jagdtiger, for the Airfix Cup and Panzer tracks Trophy respectively.  

What's after those.. who knows, my plans seem to change weekly. But I'm thinking of a 1/32 Tamiya Spitfire, 1/48 Firefly Mk 1 and maybe even a 1/72 RAF bomber.