Michael Smith

A classic!

Mission accomplished. Stern gallery railings in place - main deck railings in place on starboard quarter.

This afternoon’s project is the stern gallery walkways on CV-31 (1952). CV-31 (1945) looks like a good guide, and was based on the Tom’s Modelworks PE set. So let the fun begin. #HistScaleModels

1/72 P-40B/C Warhawk - Flying Tigers P-40 Trumpeter - iModeler By Michael Smith - Three day build complete. P-40B/C Flying Tiger - spring 1942 - 1/72 Trumpeter kit. The aircraft is actually a Hawk H81 A-3, which was Curtiss’ designation of the P-40B/C aircraft pu...

imodeler.com/2021/09/1-72...

Yes - a Trumpeter Flying Tiger. I used the Vallejo Curtiss paints.

Thanks! There’s one more but it doesn’t fit time wise - but maybe I can work on that. Just found out tonight I’ll have more cases to work with than I thought.

Thanks! It’s emphasizing that the top build spent 35 years in a box with the others, and then had a serious dose of aftermarket products and research applied to it - look what it could be!

Oh, I’m just getting started! The museum exhibit is organizing the builds by subject matter, and there will be (for some) graphics under them that show relationships - boxes enclosing the aircraft from Midway or Pearl Harbor, etc.. Right now I’m just testing out what fits in the cases.

Here’s where it gets weird. The example of a resurrection build, my 1/530 Revell Essex with partial base will be positioned atop a pile of the other eight Revell Essex models in the attic box it came out of. Aircraft and broken masts/elevators will be scatttered around the base. #HistScaleModels

This will be the case showing OOB, kitbashed and scratchbuilt (left to right) with tools. The unpainted Revell Intrepid will help make the point, as will scratchbuild FDR in the build dock. I’ll add more framing, paint parts and fit some of the 3D parts to show how that works. #Histscalemodels

Thanks! There will be colored boxes under them to show the conflicts and colored outlines to show the relationships between the ships (the three CV-31s) and maybe some arrows to show the modifications. Just trying to figure out what fits right now.

Pacific war aircraft display mockup. The aircraft are arranged by type and will eventually have boxes under to show relationships - two at Coral Sea, four at Midway and three in the March ‘45 Tokyo raids. #HistScaleModels

Doing mockups for a museum exhibit of models. This will be the Essex class case. Five WW II builds, two Korea and three Vietnam, including all four SCB-27s - original SCB-27, a SCB-27A w/angled deck, SCB-27C with angled deck and SCB-27C/125 - with CV-31 in all three wartime rigs. #HistScaleModels

Assembly of this terrific little kit complete without driving me nuts. Finish coat of Dunkelgelb down, steel and rubber applied, and starting on red and green camo for a “light and shadow” scheme. #histscalemodels

I am really enjoying the kit. I will be keeping my eyes out for more.

Couldn’t help starting this Panzer IV/70 (V) by Hasegawa. Really enjoying this build - fit is excellent, detail good, and no tiny parts! The attention to accuracy is noteworthy - the first two road wheels are all steel, as they should be. #histscalemodels

Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."

Two major jobs done on BHR ‘51. Got the bow gallery catwalks done - turned out the structure on BHR ‘45 wasn’t quite right so I did it another way. Also installed the #3 elevator guard rail. Primed pink & finished yellow to match the photo. (BHR #45 in back has #1 down). #Histscalemodels

Decided to resume work on my Korean War-era USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). I put it up end of 2024 for other projects, but it’s time to get it over the line. First job is the bow catwalk. I did a pretty good job on the 1945 version, and am using it as a go-by. #HistScaleModels

Finally finished this state-of-the-art 1/72 tank kit. Now have three tank destroyers, a StuG C/D, a Hetzer, and now a StuG III G. "Very" good kit, but the parts are very, very small. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/30/s... #HistScaleModels #BuildtheStash

Stealing Matthew’s idea here as well. Per my rotation, a ship is up. Finish Enterprise, landing craft, Independence, Bon Homme Richard or Hornet, or start Gearing, Baltimore or Chicago? #HistScaleModels #buildthestash

Mk IV

Done. Post tomorrow. #histscalemodels #buildthestash

Weathering underway on the MiniArt StuG III. “Lots” of spare parts from the kit. #HistScaleModels

Well now WW I tanks would be fine!

I use a couple of Vallejo glosses and am not happy either them either, but all I am trying to do is help decals lay flat and odds are o am not applying them remotely correctly. So not much help, I am afraid.

My son printed them for me, as well as a vise. Haven’t used it much, but the sprite holders I am.

Thanks! I’ll never lean in close enough to see the defects once it’s done. I keep telling myself that.

Yep. In 1/72 there really would not be much difference.

Still looking good! I hate that part of the build where for every two pieces I glue on one comes off.