British Challenger 2 (Desertised)

Tamiya 1/35 scale model done in acrylics, oils and pigments. It’s depicted here as used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 7th Armored Brigade in Afghanistan of April, 2003. The white panels are thermal signature reduction panels designed to help distinguish the tank as a friendly unit when viewed through night vision or thermal imaging equipment; they appear as distinct dark areas against the hotter background of the tank, making it easier for friendly forces to identify them during combat situations. This is a result of many friendly fire incidents during Desert Storm.

Germany WW2 V-1 Flying Bomb

The V-1 represented here in 1/48 scale. It was really the world’s first cruise missile, although totally inaccurate. It was used as a terror weapon against London by the Third Reich. This was put together using two different kits. The Tamiya kit was bad enough to warrant using a different kit for the V-1 itself, while the cradle used to bring it to the launch catapult was utilized, the actual V-1 I chose was a kit made many years ago by MPM. The Tamiya kit’s V-1 is modeled terribly with the cowling being way too thin which means the stanchion going from the fuselage to the engine cowling is also way too long. I added details such as in the fuel section, the rudder control, cradle details and a few other numerous small items I gathered from period photos.

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Type 74 1/35

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Type 74 done in acrylics. The Type 74 tank is made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan and features a 105mm main gun and was produced through 1988. In total 873 were produced. The Type 74 has a unique suspension system which can allow the tank itself to have the frontal armor and gun depressed as depicted here.

Japan I-27 WW2 Era 1/350

Submarine in 1/350 scale done in acrylics and oils for weathering. The base for all my submarines I keep at the same size, hand cut hardwood and painted with a miniature slip for the sub to be displayed on. The base contains three things - the national flag of origin, a human for size comparison in 1/350 just above and to the right of the flag (look closely) and believe it or not you can scan the QR code to the right with your cellphone camera (use the side view photo) and get lots of information on the submarine in question!

Russia Victor Class Project 671 Cold War Era 1/350

Submarine in 1/350 scale done in acrylics and oils for weathering. The base for all my submarines I keep at the same size, hand cut hardwood and painted with a miniature slip for the sub to be displayed on. The base contains three things - the national flag of origin, a human for size comparison in 1/350 just above and to the right of the flag (look closely) and believe it or not you can scan the QR code to the right with your cellphone camera (use the side view photo) and get lots of information on the submarine in question!

 

United States USS Nautilus SSN-571 Cold War Era 1/350

Submarine in 1/350 scale done in acrylics and oils for weathering. The base for all my submarines I keep at the same size, hand cut hardwood and painted with a miniature slip for the sub to be displayed on. The base contains three things - the national flag of origin, a human for size comparison in 1/350 just above and to the right of the flag (look closely) and believe it or not you can scan the QR code to the right with your cellphone camera (use the side view photo) and get lots of information on the submarine in question!

World’s first operational nuclear powered submarine and first submarine to transit the North Pole on August 3, 1958. She is preserved at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut. 

United States Virginia Class USS Virginia SSN-774 Post Cold War 1/350

Submarine in 1/350 scale done in acrylics and oils for weathering. The base for all my submarines I keep at the same size, hand cut hardwood and painted with a miniature slip for the sub to be displayed on. The base contains three things - the national flag of origin, a human for size comparison in 1/350 just above and to the right of the flag (look closely) and believe it or not you can scan the QR code to the right with your cellphone camera (use the side view photo) and get lots of information on the submarine in question!

 

WW2 F4F-4 Wildcat USN

US Navy WW2 Wildcat assigned to the USS Ranger. It was the older Tamiya kit and is in 1/48 as all my aircraft are. I debated about the weathering but this was my first chance to test multilayered chipping so it was a bit of a guinea pig for me. After much deliberation I decided not to dial back the weathering and leave as is. This was my first serious attempt at building a plane model since the Stuka build, which was my first in 40+ years.

Royal Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Drone

The United States’s MQ-9 Reaper serving with the RAF. This model was done in acrylics with multi light layers airbrushed for a slight contrast mimic slight weathering from the sun while flying at altitude. I used resin for the laser guided bomb optics and a DVD cut and stripped of its multi-hued layer and inserted that in the forward optics gathering pod. Remove before flight flags were added with scale wiring. The kit came with the bottom delineation lines missing for the lower rudder assembly and luckily I caught this as all other kits builds I’ve seen have neglected to catch the error so that was scribed in and then filled to pronounce the shadow with Tamiya black panel liner. The instructions were atrocious on this Kinetic build. Many top markings were airbrushed instead of using the kit supplied decals.