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| 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.
