I feel a bit nostaligic ... a year in retrospecive

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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A year ago I joined the FSM forum. It was shortly after I decided to resurect my teenage time hobby back from Poland. At that time I did not use any paints, tools, just a knife and a glue [:)]. Later life had many turns and finally I end up in Massachusetts sitting in my home and thinking of what to do to relief this work stress (part of it is funny because I was doing all kind of stress/strength anlayses at work [:)])

I tried even playin a piano … but myy hearing is far from perfect so … again it did not work.

Finally I found a plastic kit I brought with me while we moved here to the US. A 1/72 Medium bomber PZL-37A/B. An ancient kit I always plan to build some day …

This was a moment I decided to find me a modern kit. First a Model Hobby Shop … not an easy task around here. I found a place in West Springfield where nice people gave me a lot of input and where I found my first kit: Spitfire Mk I from Tamiya. I decided to build 1.48 scale.

I got home and put everything together … painting it with spray can paint.

than when I saw what kind of fantastic work some of you do around here, I learned a bit more about weathering and the whole building process. So I repainted this kit but this time with a new Axtek AB

at about that time I found another jewel at LHS in West Springfield:

P-51 Mk II RAF with a nice Polish chess board on the nose … I could not resist

when in CT I found PZL-P11c sitting and screaming to me: “BUILD ME” I could not resist again and here it is:

Seing another Tamiya kit on the shelf with this intryguing nose art … I did not even ask for the price but got it …

When I read about this man (in a hat) I decided to build a whole collection of airplanes with that emblem

and this one was a must:

Boleslaw Gladych was next

The Me 109 always fascinated me, mostly as an enemy fighter but I decided to build one when I saw an interesting article about a fighter sold for bottle of whiskey [:)]

A War in the Desert gave me an excuse to build this one from Polish Fighting Team in Tunesia (1943)

and pay my tribute to one of the greatest fighters Stanislaw Skalski who after the war got back to Poland and was prosecuted by communist regime , spent few years in prison, tortured and humiliated but comunistic pigs. He died few years ago.

In the meantime I build P-40B after reading Gabreski’s “Fighter Pilot’s Life”

currently I am finishing Gabreski’s Jug

and few other kits…

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I’d say that is great results for a years worth of relaxation!!! I love all of the birds with ties to the Polish in Allied service in WW II! Keep up the great work!

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Wow! All this in a year? You’ve certainly come a long way in 12 months - a long way indeed!

You’ve done some very nice work, mate. Very nice.

Only one comment…the P-47 prop blades look odd without the data stencils or manufacturers logo…it was a little unusual to not have them on an aircraft in service. They gave servicing info and serial numbers for the ground crew.

Otherwise, great pics!

Thanks for sharing the pictures, mate.

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Youve come a long way in a year. Your "good" got better..buy a long shot. My hat is off to you sir. I got back in it about a year and ahalf ago. And so far I havent finnished a kit. I have a F-105 thats about 73% done, A f86 thats about 15% done and a GB corsair thats just started. So your doing excelent my friend. Thanks for the pics and keep building and posting…Harv

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Wowie! Great thread, friend. AND INCREDIBLE MODELS! Luv 'em all!

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Thanks for your kind words Gentlemen !

Some pictures are of unfinished models, however the Pengie IV still waits for prop stencils [:)]. I will take care of her when I finish next Jug. I promiss [:)]

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That explains it ! - I remember hearing a whooshing sound around the end of last June. That was probably your modelling skills surpassing mine.

Greg - those are some seriously impressive builds. Very nice. I remember seeing a few of them over this last year. That’s some really nice weathering on the last jug.

Chris

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Great work, Greg! That is one full year’s worth well done. I’ve only managed three decent builds in the last year or so - golf keeps getting in the way. [:-^]

Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your pictures.

Ken

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Great work on your builds and it has been a great year since you joined. Glad you stuck around.

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Greg,

Incredible work! I remember each and every one of those models, and watching your skills develop to where they are is inspiring to say the least! Seeing your work and talking to you led me to read Gabby’s book, as well as “A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron”. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for these birds, I look forward to many more to come! [:D]

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OK, now I’m embarrassed. It’s taken me a good five years to arrive at at my current level of mediocrity! [sigh]

Forums like this one really, really make you a better modeler though.

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Comparatively I feel like I’ve been

Great work!

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LOL

It is a good one [:)]

I appreciate your kind words gentlemen. What I presented here are just snapshots from my work while being with you for a year. I am glad I did. I apreciate all your help and support. Without this forum and great people here, I would not be able to do what I did and definetely I would not have so much fun while doing it.

When I saw my signing date , it got to me and I placed this post here: as a tribute to all the help I got from YOU !

Sure, I pull brain of some indyviduals on other forums , especially near Vistula River [:)] however this is the place where a lot of fun exists. So thanks again for your support, help and all fun we can get here !

THANKS TO YOU ALL !!!

[bow]

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Excellent work, Greg. Very nice indeed. I always enjoy seeing your projects. You’re atrue asset to these forums.