Hasegawa Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter (Zeke) Type 21

 The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Type 21 is a first for me, as it's the first plane I've ever built. Spent about 5 hours over at Eric's for a build day. He was able to accomplish more on his build than I, since I was fighting PE, even losing a few microscopic model sacrifices.

 

I am not building this as a show piece, but I am also not building this to historically accurate either. I just need to get my hands wet with this type of kit.

So far, The cockpit is almost complete with some extra PE and the fuselage is together with tape. Everything but the resin seat sits the way it should. After painting, I will glue in the cockpit PE.

 

 

 

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That's A Wrap

This weekend finished off on a good note.  First, I ended up buying a new car. Actually my first ever "new" car. Mine has been down for about 6 months and costing way more than it's worth to fix and my wife's car started having issues. I went as cheap as I could, but still got a decent car that I like.

Secondly, the Chattanooga Model on was this weekend. I had a mission this weekend. Take the Thunderbird one last time and show off first time builds. At the end of the day, I was surprised and ecstatic. I showed up and got registered around 9:30 and there were already about 100 entries across of the classes. I knew this was going to be a long day.

After walking and walking all the vendors, I spent more than I wanted to. However, I was looking for deals. Oddly, there was little supplies. A few here and there, other than Squadron Hobby who is headquartered about 45 min away. They had a good amount of their own acrylic paints. 

In the end, I ended up with a good stash of auto's, armor and figures. Only thing not purchased yesterday are the 5 cars on the left and the King Tiger on the lower left. 

The wife's Thunderbird took a Bronze finish last year. The judges stated that it wasn't shiny enough. So as I gathered everything friday night, I took out the wax, sprayed a dab on a cloth and wiped it down. Needless to say, maybe it's what was needed. This year it took a gold placing in the automotive category. It is a complete box stock build other than the custom plate decal that reflects the wife.

Two Gold finishes

Gold and Bronze awards

As planned, the car will sit in it's display case with both awards. I broke down when I got home, because she wasn't here to see this. 

The Lost Germans diorama was a first for me. It took a gold finish in the Diorama class. The judges stated that there was good attention to detail. I was thrilled about this because I really had no idea how I was going to do it, even after watching a load of videos. And figure painting still isn't a strong suit for me.

Both my tanks, the first one I ever built, the Panzer IV Late model and the Panther Late model took silvers. Oddly, there was no feedback on the Panzer IV, but it's fine. Both judges took points off the Panther for a few semi deep scratches on the front from when I was applying the weathering and the right drive wheel was a tad out of alignment. Both stated the camo was spot on and there was good attention to details.

Both tanks took a Silver finish

Panzer IV Late Model

Lost Germans diorama

Panther Late Model 

The Panther will be part of a diorama, since that what it was built for. I just wanted to show it off for now, get feedback, etc. The amount of builds was amazing. The paint jobs, even in the JR. class was superb. I agree with the judges, that I wish there had been more JR. class builds, but they knocked it out. 

Plans for the future? A lot. I still have to build a diorama for the Panther. I've researched it all, now it's time to build. Rebuild the Thunderbird. The goal is to rebuild the bird, same colors, etc, however adding all the wires and hoses. Using photo etch for handles and knobs, etc. The way it should look from the factory floor. 

I also have childhood dream build that I want to do, based on a stunt show I used to go to every year as a kid. And I want to try my hand at scratch building with a custom diorama based on an Italian cafe from a screen capture from a WW2 video game, which will be A LOT of firsts for me in it's construction. And I plan on building my first ever airplane. 

It's going to be a bit difficult as I get back into building, because my wife isn't here to show off my stuff, get input, etc. But my builds can and only will get better. If my eyesight doesn't go first. 

Here's a link to all the photos from this years Modelcon. Enjoy!

2025 Chattanooga Modelcon

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Time to Retire and Move Forward

Cranes Roost - Altamonte Springs, FL

 

 

 This Saturday is the local modelcon in Chattanooga. Last year, it was my first ever model show i've attended, let alone enter anything. To my surprise, 2 of the 4 entries actually placed bronze. My Olds Cutlass 442 that I built specifically for the show. Also a first to build something for a purpose. My '56 Thunderbird was the other.

When I got back into modeling 2 years ago, I would show my wife a lot of the builds as they were being built. After the 4th build, she said she wanted a car. So she bought the Thunderbird herself and we discussed colors, etc. She saw every step of it. Thumbs up, thumbs down, things would change. 

Slowly I moved on to building armor. Again, showing her most of it as it went along. A new auto would pop in here or there. But I was stuck on armor. I then added figures and became somewhat obsessed to paint them better. 

She loved watching me work. Being Ill, she was mostly bed ridden for the better part of the last year. Only to get up when appointments came. If I wasn't sure of something, i'd ask her. Sometimes her recommendations were done, sometimes not. 

Since her passing, and really since she got really Ill back around February, I haven't had the gumption to do anything. I've bought a new kits, some extra paints for later. Drew up plans for a few things I want to do. But nothing got worked on.

I've decided for this years show, I am taking two firsts time builds, a tank that will be in a diorama during its next build phase and the Thunderbird.

The Lost Germans diorama was my first dio and real attempt at figure painting. The Panzer IV was the first ever tank I built as well as the first time I used photo etch. The second tank is a Panther I built for a diorama depicting Walter Ropeters day of defeat. Hopefully that will be complete by the end of the year or early next year.  That leaves the Thunderbird.

This will be the last time I take it to a show or out of it's display case. After this show, it will stay on the shelf with its medal. Whether it places this year or not this time, doesn't matter. I was able to pick up another one of the kits at the local Ollies a few weeks back. My plan and goal is to rebuild it. Same colors, same decals, etc. I have learned a lot about building since the first go round. My goal is to build the car that will show off not only my skills, but the love I had for my wife. A car, that if I had the powers to turn a fake car into a real one, she would want to cruise the boardwalk with it, drive down the ocean lit highway at sunset type of car.

I'm not only retiring the first build. But I am also moving my skill set, painting abilities and overall build abilities to the next level. More attention to details, more time preparing, things that I can grow with.

I will still show her the builds as their being built. I will still ask her for her opinions. I will continue for as long as I can. Hoping that time will reflect the 22 years we would have celebrated next month.

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