Nice job! I completely understand the palate cleanser idea. After I finally finish the seemingly endless decals on my F-4, I’ve got a simple (hopefully) ICM Little Bird waiting for exactly the same reason. Sometimes you just need a nice simple build before diving into the next big project.
Can you post a close-up of the decal that’s silvering? I’ve been fighting some silvering on the F-4 myself and have had some success fixing it. Depending on what yours looks like, there may be a few things you can try.
My USS Constitution is finally done (after 7 years and 2,800+ hours). If you were at Nats, you probably saw it (hard to miss). Anyway, here a few shots. You can see the full build log over in the ships section (USS Constitution - 35 years later).
Wow. Seven years and 2,800+ hours is almost hard to wrap my head around. The finished model is absolutely spectacular, but I think the commitment to stay with a project for that long may be just as impressive.
I’ve got to ask—during those seven years, were you building other models along the way, or was most of your modeling time devoted to the Constitution? And after spending that long with it, what’s it like to finally look at the workbench and realize there’s nothing left to do on it? What in the world do you build after something like this?
Okay, first a seven-year ship and now a 15+ year P-47! Apparently I’ve been giving up on stalled projects way too quickly.
Seriously, congratulations on finally getting this one across the finish line. Fifteen years and four houses means this model has quite a story behind it. I’m curious—was it something you periodically came back to over the years, or did it spend a long stretch packed away before you finally decided it was time to finish it?
I did build a few other things along the way - little palate cleansers. Repaired a couple of other ships for some folks as well. But she did dominate the workbench most of that time.
As for what is next, it is weird not having her down there anymore. Currently fixing up an HMS Bounty for someone who obviously had cats - thing had more fur on it than the cat! Luckily the kitty did not do any significant damage.
I have a few ships in the stash, but I do want to finish up my daughter’s San Francisco cable car, and a few Star Trek starships. Next boat will probably the Victory, but all wood this time.
Thanks for the kind words as well.
Bob
@GAF@Tojo72 Thanks guys! Gary, hopefully you’ll get your Jug GB here, or perhaps on another forum. Tony, I think this will look just fine on my shelf of display instead of the shelf of doom.
Thanks! Yes I would occasionally look at this one every so often, then put it back. But last year I decided I would work harder on my children of doom and get more of them finished. My eventual goal being to completely empty it. But that will take a few years. But I did start off this year by completing the oldest one, a Monogram SBD that I started in the mid 90’s! How’s that for a long gestation? I have a few more that I started in the past 25 years that are up next for their respective home stretches.
Thanks, Bob. I was really curious whether you had managed to work on other things during those seven years or if the Constitution had completely taken over the bench.
The HMS Bounty with more fur on it than the cat made me laugh. At least the cat apparently appreciated the model enough not to destroy it!
You also caught my attention when you mentioned the Star Trek starships. What Star Trek models are you into? I’ve been almost exclusively an aircraft modeler, but lately I’ve been considering branching out into some science fiction models myself, so I’d be interested to hear what you’ve got planned.
Sam,
Mostly TOS and Next Gen era stuff. Klingon, Cardassian, Romulan, and all the Enterprises, and even Voyager. Loved the Picard series, but don’t have anything from that. And yes, they will all be lit up. Enterprise D, Klingon Warbird, Cardassian Galor class, Romulan Warbird, and even a Ferengi vessel are sitting on top of my Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machine. Even replaced the little ones inside with much more realistic versions, including a shuttle.
Bob
Despite some missteps that might be expected with a first biplane build, this Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel was a great learning experience and a lot of fun. At this point I’m going to declare victory and depart the field. On to the next project!
Wow, you’ve got quite a Star Trek collection! And lighting all of them definitely takes it to another level.
Star Trek actually has some modeling history for me. When I was a teenager 45 years ago, I built some of the Klingon ships, so there’s a bit of nostalgia there. I’ve been almost exclusively an aircraft modeler since coming back to the hobby, but lately I’ve been thinking about branching out into some science fiction again.
I’d love to do one of the Star Trek shuttles at some point. That might be a fun way for an aircraft guy to ease his way back into science fiction.
And replacing the little ships inside the Next Generation pinball machine with better models is pretty cool. I’d love to see a picture of that sometime.
