It is about this time last year that I decided to seriously get into the hobby. I was able to build a few kits (mostly aircraft) when I was in college (about ten years earlier) and my interest was really still burning inside. For two years I was just contented with looking at the beautiful kits in the hobby shop hoping that the day will come that I will be able to eventually pick one up and build it.
And it happened one day. When we passed by the hobby shop I told my wife that I will just go inside and have a look. And she said to me, “You have been in and out of this store for so long now without buying anything. And the salespersons already recognize you and they are probably talking about you now as you come in. Why don’t you buy something for heaven’s sake.”
So I went in and tried to choose. I never had interest in armor and I don’t know why I picked up a Dragon M4A4 Sherman for my first kit.
A year later, I have completed about thirty something kits (aircraft and mostly armor). With the help of FSM mag and website, I was able to learn a lot of things that really aided me in my work. No, I don’t consider myself an expert or something, In fact I feel that I still have a lot to learn.
Let me take this time then to thank FSM and you guys for your help and encouragement. It has been a good year for me. A very dark year, I mean. And allow me to bore you with some of my early works. These are not really good ones but sometimes, I guess it is good to look back at our humble beginnings…
This is my first armor kit. The indy tracks really shocked me but well I have to do it anyway.
My second armor kit. An Academy M1A1. My first M1. Not so accurate but I don’t mind. This was originally in NATO 3 color camo but I recently repainted it.
A Tamiya Tiger Late was a Christmas gift from the wife.
My fastest build (4 hours I think). Tamiya T34-85.
I almost hated this kit with so much fit problems. However, this was the only JS-2 kit that I could find. A Dragon JS-2m.
Again…thanks to all your help guys. I really see the light in the darkside and I intend to stay.
Dwight you have alot of great work there that I had not seen before, thanks for posting it .I for one can say I appreciate the help that you have given me in the few months that I have been building armor. It’s been guys like yourself that has made it an enjoyable adventure for me that I am glad is just begining.
I’ve only been modelling again for 10 months, but have yet to really finish anything…spent way too much time super-detailing the LVTP7A before the wife tipped it.
Woody: I am glad that you like them even though those are my early works.
Lizardqing2: I am happy that I was able to help, too. Perhaps every modeler is able to discover something that will be useful to others. It is not easy to begin because it is so frustrating at time because we are too excited to finish the kit and end up not liking the outcome. That’s why I value the help of you guys.
Pete: I was very fast at first because I am always too eager to finish something. However I did not always like the finished product and end up re-doing it. But now, I have learned to take it step by step and avoid many mistakes. I probably built the majority of my completed kits in the first six months and lately I have slowed down and have become more meticulous in my work. Thanks for your help, too.
Dwight I agree about the first builds. My first few I did pretty quick and thought they were ok. Now I’ve gotten to where I have started taking my time and enjoying paying attention to the real details. I have been doing my leopard for over a month now, longest I have ever spent on a kit. Plus I figured out that it’s alot cheaper to spend the same time on 1 kit as it is on 4 kits.
Quote: I have been doing my leopard for over a month now, longest I have ever spent on a kit. Plus I figured out that it’s alot cheaper to spend the same time on 1 kit as it is on 4 kits.
Tigerman: I honestly believe that what I have learned here is very much a part of my work. Things like weathering and drybushing became a part of my methods only because these have been very well discussed here in the forum. It is really a big help.
Mark: Well, I think I am happy to share them, too.
Sherm: You have been very helpful to me. If I remember it right…you were the first person to welcome me here in the forum and among the usual guys to give me tips and answers. Actually, every once in a while I take a peek at your website and try to study your work. As you can see, I have 2 Shermans already and a Pershing. Actually still trying to convince myself on Italeri M-36. (M-36b1) But I might as well wait for Academy? But the AFV M-18 at the local shop really looks cool. Will it be a good deal at US15.5Dollars?
Did your website just go up??? I just now noticed that you had a website, and clicked on the link. Very nice!! Some good looking models posted here, and on the website too. Oops, the site is gone now, you must have just put it up for a test run. Anyway, I liked the background, and what editor are you using?? I wish the FSM forum would have a listing of members websites to check out. Yes, I too often check Sherms website, and a couple other members sites too.
Dwight - in regards to the M36 B1, I would wait on the new offering from Academy. The Italeri kit has some problems with the turret interior. Unless of course you can get it for a great price. Not sure on what your model pricing is like there but I’d buy it for $15.50 in a heartbeat. I think it runs around $49 Canadian.
Edog: I had that website since July but as you can see, the pictures are not very clear. I was just trying out the webpages that I made if they work fine. Well, the webpages still have some bugs and I am currently re-doing it and replacing the pics with high-res ones. I am using the Microsoft Frontpage.
Beans: Well, actually it is in SM Megamall. I buy 95% of my kits there. 5% from Park Square 1 and other sources.
Sherm: I’ll take your word for it. I’ll wait for a while. By the way the Italeri M36 costs about US$12 while its the AFV M18 Hellcat which costs US$15.5.
Dwight - sorry for the confusion in my last post … the pricing is in reference to the AFV M18.
A little more clarity on the M36 variants from Academy and Italeri. The Academy kit is of the M36 and I believe, though I could be mistaken, can also be made into the post W.W.II M36 B2. The Italeri kit is the M36 B1 which was basically the turret placed on an M4A3 Sherman hull.
Congratualtions on your one year of darkness! your models are excellent with no hint that you are ‘new’ at this. Keep it up! And remember, enjoy yourself! Especially if you have a wife willing to let you get kits now and then!!
