Looking forward to a very hard progression of my work

Modeling Subjects Figures and Misc.
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After a recent count, I couldn’t believe my eyes, but it is all true, I have a steep ladder to climb for the job I had set myself to do.

My dear friends, I apologize for my persistent absence here and for not having shown your more pictures of my long journey through France, but I needed to finally know how much I have still to build in models and figures, at least for what concerns my Diorama and Scenes builds.

So, here is a list of what does expect me for the long future…

VEHICLES, TANKS AND HEAVY WEAPONS (1/35 scale, not counting 1/72 scale)

Landing Barges (American) = 4

Soft body Vehicles & Half-Tracks (British / Canadian / German / American) = 96

Armored Vehicles & Half-Tracks (British / Canadian / German / American) = 45

Light Tanks (British / Canadian / German / American) = 20

Medium Tanks (British / Canadian / German / American) = 36

Heavy Tanks (German / American) = 16

Mechanized Artillery (German / American) = 7

Tank Destroyers (British / Canadian / German / American) = 28

Weapons [Field Guns, Fortress Guns, Anti-Tank Guns, AAA Guns, Howitzers, Rocket Launchers] = 48

TOTAL = 296 Vehicles & Weapons

FIGURES IN 1/35 Scale

British and Canadian (including Regular Army, Paratroopers and Tank Crews) = 234

For Summer and Early Autumn = 200
For Late Autumn and Winter = 34

German (including Regular Army, Waffen, Ground Luftwaffe, Paratroopers and Tank Crews) = 1377

For Summer and Early Autumn = 945
For Late Autumn and Winter = 452

U.S. Army (including Regular G.I.'s, Paratroopers, Rangers and Tank Crews) = 722

For Summer and Early Autumn = 529
For Late Autumn and Winter = 193

TOTAL = 2333 Figures

As said, this is without counting the 1/72 background figures of which I still have to make the count.
Fortunately not too many vehicles in that scale will be in that count.

Further than that, I also have to still count how many WWII 1/72 Aircraft I still have to assemble and paint, as well as all those belonging to the First Gulf War in 1991, which include U.S.A.F., U.S. Navy, U.S.M.C., RAF, SRAF, AdA, FAI, Omani, Kuwaiti, UAE and indeed many Iraqi fighters, strike, reconnaissance, fighter bombers, bombers and helicopters there are.

And if as this were not enough, I also will have to see how many Star Trek models I still have to build, although not in such a vast number and variances, although all fully lit and accurately painted and decaled, together with a few Real Space models which include a Mercury/Atlas on its launch pad, a Vostok Capsule, a Gemini IX Capsule, an array of NASA Space program Rockets and Capsules, The Space Shuttle on its Launch pad and Service Tower, a much larger Space Shuttle with interior and the International Space Station in the 2013 conformation.

All this will haunt me to my end of days, since I doubt I will manage all that before my final curtain call… but one never really knows.

One thing is for sure, all this will keep me very busy and perhaps also preserve my mental faculties for a bit longer than necessary.

Still, knowing that I still have so many tasks at hand - some more difficult than others - makes me happy and gives me hope for a long enjoyment in my old age.

After all, what is life without a true challenge every now and then? Besides, this has always been my dream to start with: to build things with my own hands and produce something that has some value to it, not because of money or public acclaim, but rather knowing that I too can somehow, somewhat contribute to create scale reproductions of either real events in history, or those spaceships that have always made me dream to one day travel through space myself.

In either case I better prepare myself for a bunch of very hard working days (and nights?), but for the moment I still have to complete my inventory in order to be sure to have everything I need to continue my endeavors.

And yet, fear not, I will post the pictures I had promised and will continue to keep you informed about my progress with my “The Last Warning (Normandy, April 14)” diorama as soon as I have something to effectively show you.

Until then, my dear friends and colleagues, be well and continue to amaze me with your own works of art which I am sure are giving you as much joy as those I create myself.

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Wow, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you! Good luck!

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S.Hollowell, and it is such a "good luck’ wish that makes it all so very worthwhile for me. Thank you for that. I know I need much of it. The secret though is to set aside the numbers while I work and just do them one at a time so as not to panic.
Since I am also good at serial work and applying some tricks of the trade might result in a much smoother progression.
The count I made was also to ascertain whether I still have everything in place in order to continue my work without any bad surprises, like missing or lost items.
You know, when you have collected so much stuff like I have, although well catalogued and stashed away by theme, one has to also make sure that he hasn’t mislaid some objects.
So far I am satisfied to know that I did my job quite well and indeed I found all the items listed where they belonged and that they are all ready to go in sequence through my building and painting process.
But this said, it is indeed a long climb with plenty of hurdles along the way.
And with this I return your wishes back to you for anything you are doing right now or are planning to do in a near future.

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Man that is a LOT Patrick. Honestly, just start with one and enjoy yourself. This hobby of ours was never intended to be work unless you plan to make money on commission builds. I’ve seen more than one person get burned out in overdoing things. With that being said, it doesn’t sound like you’re doing this for a business so sit back and relax and enjoy doing what you do brother.

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mustang1989, yes indeed it is a whole bundle and thank you for your concern. But don’t worry, as you said correctly, I will take it slow and easy since hurrying things up always lands in disaster.

As stated before, I also have a building method of my own, sort of a conveyor belt technique and a few tricks up my sleeve that will help me shorten at least some of the building time, if not the painting, weathering and decaling.

For instance, I have in my bundle various similar models, just like many Panzer IVs, Panthers, Tigers and Shermans. Except for a few which are a bit different, such as a Sherman with HVSS rollers instead of the usual VVSS ones, they are practically all the same and can be built all at once.

For the figures, it’s almost the same, except maybe when it comes to camouflage uniforms. But if they wear regular ones all that is needed is to paint them all the same and then add variation shades and weathering on each single one. This can be done very easily if one knows what he is doing with them.
For facial, or in general skin tones, I only apply a base skin color, then just add washes to add depth to their faces. In 1/35 scale you barely see the precise expression of a figure, especially when it wears a helmet or a cap, unless of course it is bare headed and is observing something.
For straps and belts I usually do not paint them, but rather cut strips of thin paper or aluminum foil and paint those, or better said, I paint a large surface and then just cut what is needed to be added to the figure. It results to a much more natural looking belt or strap.
I never paint ranks or lapels but use either specific decals or dry transfers to them.

As you can see, I have my own method which shortens time quite considerably.
I am also good at painting both with brushes as well as with airbrushes of which in time I have acquired four. One for every specific task: thin lines, medium lines, broad painting and general painting. This saves me the time to always have to regulate one for various purposes and makes them all more handy.
Besides, they are also easier to clean when the time comes to do so.

I don’t use expensive ones or famous brands for airbrushes, since I discovered in time that there are much cheaper ones on the market which do the very same job as the renowned ones, and sometimes even better. I know since I had a Pasche, a Badger and an Iwata but they are all gone ever since I discovered some excellent and much cheaper Chinese ones which do exactly what I want and need.

For the rest, well, it’s all a matter of being patient and work with details as they come.

I hope I have given you a general view on my modeling philosophy which spares me from actually being frantic about it all.

As the French say, “que sera, sera” (what will be, will be).

And again thank you for your concern which shows that you have spotted the hurdles I will have to overcome.

I wish you well and as I always say to my fellow “brethren in arms” do a good job and show me your works of art, since I too learn from others and that’s the beauty of it all.