Like the subject says, did anyone? I built a Revell A-10 for my boss, who is a Air Force, Desert Storm vet. Used parts from Italeri, Hasegawa, Tamiya, and a couple others. Talked to him today (first time since Christmas Eve when I presented it to him). He was blown away, and had to rearange his home office to display it. Had spent time talking to him about desert storm and he said he had a shell from an A-10 that had been signed by the pilot, I got a hold of his wife and found out who had signed it, and through some research found that Tamiya decals include the Airframe SN that this pilot flew. He was really suprised. Felt good, was the first time I had ever built one for someone else, first time I did a full airbrush camo job, first time using as much photo etch, and first time I had ever built a base. Even his son, TACP in the Air Force looked at it and said it looked “right”. Don’t have any photos right now (camera with photos is at the office) Will try to post some later. So back to the question, lets hear it if you did!
I’ve done 2 for a couple of co-workers to show my appreciation in return for favors / help I’ve asked for from them. (a F4-U Corsair and Twin Mustang). Another (P-47 Thunderbolt)went to a bro-in-law as a belated B-Day gift.
Built a P-47D for a friend of ours who flew them in WWII. He comes to all our club meetings and I kept asking him questions about his plane so I’d get it right. He didn’t remember me asking the questions as I just slipped them in between other conversations. Presented it to him a couple months ago. The look on his face was priceless. He asked how I got all the info on his plane. I said you gave it to me. He called me a smart-alec kid. He’s 93 and I’m 75. I took that as a great compliment.
I didn’t have a chance to do one this year but I did one last year for a mentor of mine. The whole reason I’m even bringing up a build from last Christmas is the fact that I was really pleased with this one and 'ol Pat was floored when I gave it to him. I pulled the same stunt of asking “What’s your favorite aircraft of all time?” and he informed me that it was the Corsair hands down.
I chose the Revell offering which was a HUGE mistake BUT…I got through it.
The kit:
The results:
and a shot of it on the display base without the acrylic glass top on it. (It’s actually a shadow box with the glass removed, mirror cut to fit and a acrylic glass top made by a local plastic glass shop.
No kits given or received, unfortunately, but great work guys!!! I have that F4U on deck to be built, I am looking forward to that after finishing my BEHMOTH 1:48 B-29 Superfortress! nearly 36" wingspan!!! Any warnings? I have heard the folding wings are a nightmare, ill probably build it with them in flying position. After this, I plan to build only higher-end kits for a while, as I never really have! I built revell/monogram as a kid, and back in the hobby again, that’s what I went back to. I did buy a nice 1:48 Tamiya Mosquito fighter-bomber that I look forward to building. I am curious to see the differences. The Monogram Panzer I am finishing had a 1970 mold date on the bottom, the B-29 is equally as old, (although it was the newer P.C. kit, WITH the atomic bombs but no Bockscar or Enola Gay decals, ugh!) and the flash was horrible on the revell 1:32 huey I am also finishing. Thanks for the inspirational photos/builds guys! I found that I enjoy giving someone A kit I built more than anything. Rudy HUGE:!
A friend bought me a Round2 C-57D a few years ago, which of course I haven’t had time to build, so I got him back by getting him a 1/350 Enterprise for Christmas. I wonder who’ll inherit it.
That’s cool Jim…i have a P-47B pilot across the street from me also…he flew 40+ missions…shot down 6 days after D-Day…have the kit…will build “Whim Wham” for him.
