According to a posting on Hyperscale, Rusty White former IPMS Head Ship Judge and owner of Flagship Models has passed away. The post indicates that Flagship is for sale No other details are given

So I guess this is my first completion of 2023. Although it hardly counts as such. This is the old MPC snap together box scale, (1/54 per Scalemates) All Terrain Scout Transport. I had built the basic kit many years ago and started painting it for an April Fools theme at OC IPMS. But my painting skills at the time were not up to what was needed for the end result envisioned, so I just set it aside partially painted. So yesterday at IPMS Phoenix the theme was Star Wars/Star Trek/Battlestar Galactica and I remembered that I had this one sitting around and decided to finish it up. The kit comes with the armored flaps over the vision ports molded shut, so I created some new ones out of sheet plastic to match the shape, then drilled open the ports. Then I glued the new flaps in the open position and proceeded to do a rapid and complete exterior repaint into a standard Imperial look. Once the painting was done, I added some “glass” in the open vision ports using Micro Krystal Klear, and lastly followed up with some slight weathering. Thank goodness for quick drying Tamiya acrylics with lacquer thinner. Not bad for an afternoon’s work.

Now it's a new year and the final Pass in Review has been posted. Time to reopen Maddog Manufacturing and show what is happening this year! Before we show all the new construction, we'll recap some of the projects that had been sidelined in the past. In the Hangar we have these projects in the works that I'm hoping we'll finish this year. Frankly I'm tired of their boxes taking up space! In the first bay here we have this monstrosity, the A-400 Grizzly. It's about time to get this bird done: Next is this one, another large plane that needs finishing. This is the C-54 Skymaster that I need to get done: Another long term project that has driven me crazy is this Japanese Shinmeiwa. Time to get this finished: We also have this Russian Shtormovik under construction: Speaking of Russians, we need to move forward on this Ka-29 Helix: And now on to current projects, This is an ancient Airfix F-5B Tiger II with Iranian markings. We started this as a fast and easy going build. Our first Aircraft started in 2023: Another new project started, another big box model. This is Trumpeter's Russian Tu-95 Bear H. So far all we got done was the wings and tail surfaces. That was hard enough! And a final first start for the year is this Revell Concorde I got from an estate sale. This one will be in British Airways markings because that's all that was included in the box. We started with the cockpit on this one: The tail was a separate assembly so that was next: Revell got smart, they had outer wing panels set to glue into the upper wing sections behind the leading edge so no edge seam can be seen. Then the whole sub assembly is attached to the central lower wing after adding the main landing gear bays: The main fuselage is then put together; first by adding the bulkheads they included to allow it to keep it's shape: The tail is just taped on to mock it up and see how big this beastie is going to be. Speaking of mocking it up, here's how the wings and fuselage look together more or less: That's all that's happening in the Hangar, lets go out to the Shipyards... In our Shipyards, we have the following in our slipways. Our biggest project is this USS Enterprise: She's going to move up on the list of models to do first. Meanwhile, another slipway has the USS Sacramento which is very close to being launched: You can see the additional deck fittings that were added to the superstructure. The hull and superstructure or not glued together.....yet. In another slipways we had laid down the keel to another motor torpedo boat; this one from Vospers: So far that where that one stands, it is stalled due to the two-tone paint work on the hull. It involves a curve that I need to replicate on both sides. Hopefully more to come on that soon. Followed by another Vospers boat in the next slipway, this time the Perkasa Motor Torpedo Boat. First the main bridge interior was constructed: Then the outer cabin was completed....mostly: The engine cover was completed next and the whole boat was mocked up: This is gonna be awesome! That's all that's happening in the shipyards now. Let's see what's going on in the Motor Pool. Surprisingly. there isn't anything being worked on from the previous year, save for this commission build of this TKS. It's slowly coming along: The only other projects we started for this new year in the Motor Pool is this Dragon British LRDG truck. The chassis was assembled first: Followed by the main cab: That was mostly done; I had gotten this from a friend's estate who passed away back in August. He did well, but hadn't done the chassis so I had to build that above. Since he had also completed the back bed, I didn't have to worry about it so I shot this pick of all three sub assemblies altogether: Finally there is this little Roden FWD 3-ton ammo carrier. This was another acquisition from the estate and was about half finished. So, we finished it up and got it ready for paint. Since I have one built with the cab cover and cargo cover; this one will be a 'convertible': And that completes this first tour of Maddog Manufacturing during the 2023 Grand Reopening! Thank you to all for coming along and as always, comments are welcome.

Greetings All, I thought I would try something different and produce a video of the latest updates to the 2023 Convention. I have posted it to both YouTube (linked here) and also to the convention's FaceBook page. I'll be producing more of these in the coming months and as we get closer to the convention.

There's a local "Bf-109" group build that I decided to join in on since I had several in my stash. I settled on 3 different marks and decided to try to build them all together. They are all 1/48; the Hasagawa Bf-109G-6, the Revell Bf-109G-10, and the Gull Models vacuform Bf-109B-2. I added resin interior parts to the Hasagawa and Revell kits only because they were in the box. Since I had a set of resin slats in the Revell box, I added those to it. I decided this would also be a good time to finally tackle the Gull Models vac as when I examined the bag it was in, I discovered it had many spare parts for the Bf-109 that came from 3 Emils that were destroyed in a shelving collapse years ago that would ease the work and help in detailing for it. On to some in progress pics! This pic shows the Hawkeye resin interior fitted into the Hasagawa G-6 This pic shows the True Details interior fit into the Revell G-10, It needed some Eduard belts added to complete it. This shows the resin slat beds added into the Revell wing and the slats, which have yet to be removed from their casting blocks. The starting point for the Gull Models vac. All of the major parts have been cut from the backing sheet and sanded down. There's 3 canopies to choose from, though it turns out only the "kit" vac canopy can be made to fit. You can also see all of the detail parts readily available for the interior and exterior of the vacuform. The spare parts cockpit sides have been added and the spare floor modified to fit. Here, the vacuform wing has been assembled, sanded, and rescribed. The flap and slat areas have been cut away to allow the addition of the spare flaps and slats. This pic shows the gear bays, which were built up using sections of soda straw for the semi-circular gear leg bays, and strip and sheet plastic for the walls and floor of the tire bays. It also shows the bottoms of the Hasagawa flaps, which had bulges for the "E" wing bottom radiators on their inner halves (radiators not on the 109B-2) that I had to grind off and sand flat. This shows the 3 cooling slots in the front top of the vac fuselage that needed to be added to make it a "B-2", as well as the guns that have been installed. You can also see the screening cut for the radiator chin and the vac chin lip. The 109B-2 had no exterior exhaust pipes, and you can see the exhaust and cooling slot holes added. A closer look will also show where semi-circular depressions have been ground into the sides to represent/better define cooling slots. You can also see slivvers of sheet plastic added to the rear canopy angle to better fit the clear vac part. This won't be rescribed until after its assembled. Test fitting the wings to the fuselage..... both of their exhaust areas have been reworked to allow the fitting of metal Moskit exhausts after all of the painting is done. More pics when they're actually together! Comments, questions, and critiques are welcome, as always! Gil

I know this isn't exactly what we expect to see here. Due some serious medical issues in 2022 where some of my fine motor skills are gone, eyesight in one eye significantly degraded and my heart is no longer my friend, I got absolutely nothing done or even started at the workbench, much less finished in 2022. My kids knew how much I missed my modeling so they gave this to me for Christmas. Before you blow off Lego, let me say this. The expert kits have a lot of parts and I mean a lot. This one was just short of 1,800 and all have to be done just right or you get to tear it apart to correct your errors. Just glad to be able to post something.

Do you have a list of vendors and if so when are you going to post it? Enquiring minds want to know! Happy New Year, Mike

I had a fairly productive year buildwise for 2022. I was even able to squeeze in one more than last year. My first completion of the year was this Academy 1/35 M51 Sherman Followed by an Italeri Crusader III AA Tank, built in three four hour sessions for completion with 12 hours Next was a “shelf of doom” completion, the Dragon T-72M2, aka T-72B w/ERA and then a Dragon 1/35 M48A1 “Elvis Tank” Then for my wingy thingies First up, a 1/48 Hobbycraft F8F-1B Next was a 1/48 Tamiya F2A-2 And then I was able to finish up these last two on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve…. A 1/48 ICM Mig-3 and another “shelf of doom” project, a 1/48 Monogram P-40B a fine way to close out 2022

My entire batch of completions in 2022. Pathetic but it's better than zero. Eduard 1/48 Bf109G-10 Weekend Edition - Save for the gap at the end of the upper cowl it's an excellent kit. Get one! Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Bubbletop - I can't add much to the reputation of this kit. It's not perfect but the issues are few and easy to fix. At 20 years old she is still the best of the bunch at this scale. Tamiya 1/48 T34/85 - A total slammer of a kit. It is easily a one-day build if you choose to do so. Ciao!

So 2022 ends and it's actually been a very good year for me, modelling-wise. I got back into reviewing kits and things for IPMS/USA after an 11 year lay-off, and that helped boost my total of completions to 20, which is the most I've finished in a year since I started keeping records in 2007! And, for a wonder, I built almost as many military vehicles as aircraft! Here they are in order: Skunkworks 1/48 RN Tow Tractor: Matchbox 1/72 Mystere IV: Italeri 1/72 F-5B: Special Hobby 1/72 Vampire FB.9: Brengun 1/72 and 1/144 RN Clarcat Type B deck cars: Revell 1/32 Hawk T.1: Classic Airframes 1/48 Fokker D.XXI: Tamiya 1/48 Challenger II: Revell 1/72 Challenger I and Airfix 1/72 Firefly: Tamiya 1/48 Dingo, Tilly and Universal Carrier: Classic Airframes 1/48 Camberra TT.18: ICM 1/32 Tiger Moth: ProModeller 1/48 Kittyhawk IA: Hobbyboss 1/72 MI-2: Airfix 1/72 Anson (the 1962 kit): ICM 1/48 Beaufort:

Here's what I completed in 2022...9 pieces (1.3/month). Certainly not as prolific as my years in the 2000s, but I've learned to slow down and address the minutia more closely. Still, I feel like the older I get, and the more experience I gain (20+ years not counting the 10+ as a kid) the worse I get. I suppose with my busy work schedule and Homelife, 9 is pretty damned good. Goals for 2023 include mastering the Cameo Silhouette 4 plotter/cutter, as the plan is to mask/paint as many markings as possible. Also, a 1/32 Bf-109 extravaganza with all the Barracuda Cast resin detail parts made for this particular kit. Cheers!

Selling the last released (December 2022) detailing sets of Metallic Details: Detailing sets for aircraft models OV-10A Bronco (ICM) in scale 1/48: - OV-10A Bronco. Wheel bays (ICM) - $29.10 - OV-10A Bronco. Exterior Part 2 (ICM) - $9.25 - "Egg-Beater" UHF SatCom Antenna (4 pcs.) - $6.60 - ALQ-144 Infrared Countermeasures device (2 pcs.) - $6.60 Detailing sets for aircraft models A-10 Thunderbolt II (HobbyBoss) in scale 1/48: - Pylons - $33.00 - Landing gears - $26.45 - Exterior - $23.15 - Ejection seat ACES II - $8.60 - USAF Chaff/Flare Dispensers Type 1 (6 pcs.) - $9.90 Detailing sets for aircraft models AH-64 Apache (Academy, Hasegawa) in scale 1/48: - Main rotor - $22.00 - Main & Tail rotors - $44.00 - Longbow Main rotor - $44.00 - Tail rotor - $22.00 - AH-64E Apache. Engines (Hasegawa) - $33.00 Detailing sets for aircraft models Bell AH-1 Cobra (ICM, Special Hobby) in scale 1/48: - AH-1Q/S. Hughes M65 LAAT Sighting Unit - $19.85 - AH-1. Exhaust - $8.60 - AH-1G. Emerson Electric M28 Turret - $16.50 - M197 Gatling gun - $16.50 - M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun - $16.50 Detailing sets for aircraft models in scale 1/48: - Supermarine Attacker FB.2. Landing gears (Classic Airframes, Trumpeter) - $26.40 - F-4B. FOD Cover (Tamiya) - $8.60 - TR-1A/B. Exterior (Italeri) - $26.45 - U-2A. Exterior (AFV Club) - $26.45 Detailing sets for aircraft models in scale 1/48: - Polikarpov I-15. Landing gears (AMG, Classic Airframes) - $16.50 - MiG-17. Landing gears (HobbyBoss) - $19.80 - MiG-29. Landing gears (GWH) - $16.50 - Su-35. Landing gears (GWH) - $16.50 Detailing sets for aircraft models Antonov An-14 Pchelka (Amodel) in scale 1/72: - Interior/Exterior - $13.20 - Engines - $13.20 - Landing gears - $13.20 Detailing sets of engine Pratt & Whitney R-1830 in scale 1/72: - B-24D. Cowlings with PW R-1830 Engines (Italeri) - $46.30 - Pratt & Whitney R-1830 - $11.25 Fiat G.50 in scale 1/144 - $52.90 Aircraft model kit contains 3D-printed, photoetched and vacuumformed parts, decals for assembling the aircraft model Fiat G.50 (1/144).

The year is coming to a close in just a few days. This year I completed eight builds. The first build completed was the Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. This build was for a museum to display during a celebration in April. It included fully detailing and illuminating the hangar deck and displaying the ship at sea. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-350-uss-hornet-cv-8-doolittle-raid/ The second build was a Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Razorback. This was a commission build. The aircraft was fully detailed and custom decals were made replicating the “Gail Ann” of the 381th Fighter Group, 19th Fighter Squadron at Isley Field, Saipan. It was mounted in an acrylic case with the base representing the airfield. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-p-47d-razorback-gail-ann/ The third build was the Trumpeter 1/48 C-47. I converted this to the R4D-5 called the “Tropical Tilly”. This was tribute to the aircraft used in the 1952 Sci-Fi classic movie called “The Thing from another world”. The build incorporated a resin conversion kit to add on the snow skis, scratch built interior to match the movie, and was mounted on a base covered in snow to replicate the scene when they first arrived at the “Thing’s” flying saucer. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-r4d-5-tropical-tilly/ The forth build was the Brengun 1/48 MQ-8B Fire Scout. This was the first full resin kit I have built. The Mq-8B is a U.S. Navy helicopter UAV drone built by Northrop Grumman. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mq-8b-fire-scout-drone/ The fifth build was the Revell 1/48 F/A-18E super hornet. I built this as a tribute to my old U.S. Navy squadron VA-37. When I served with them they were flying A-7E Corsair II’s. Right after I left the squadron they were re-designated as VFA-37 and were flying F/A-18C’s. A few years ago they upgraded to the F/A-18E super hornets. This build utilized some resin accessories to add details. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-f-a-18e-super-hornet-from-vfa-37/ The sixth build was the ICM Do-17Z WWII German light bomber of the Kampfgeschwader 76 (KG 76) stationed in France during August 1940. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-do-17z-2-german-light-bomber/ The seventh build was the ICM 1/48 C-18S “Magic by Moonlight” Air show Aircraft. The aircraft was also nicknamed the “Beech Twin 18”. The pilot, Matt Younkin performed aerial stunts at many air shows. One of the most visually stimulating displays was Matt performing his stunts at night with all the lights (plus extra lighting) turned on. With that in mind, I built this “in flight” and used many LED lights, some fiber optics, and created the smoke trail to replicate the aircraft performing its visually stimulating night time routine. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-c-18s-magic-by-moonlight/ The eighth and last completed build was the Great Wall Hobby 1/48 P-61B. The P-61 nicknamed “Black Widow” was the first aircraft specifically designed to be a night fighter. It was built by Northrop at their Hawthorn California facility. The aircraft was used in most of the theaters during the war. The scheme for this build was the “Lady in the Dark” which is “unofficially” credited with the last Allied air victory before Japan surrendered (VJ day) in 1945. For this build I used the Eduard “BigEd” detail set which has eight photo etch sheets to detail this kit inside and out. The full build can be seen at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-p-61b-black-widow-lady-in-the-dark/ I am currently working on the Trumpeter 1/32 A-7E as a tribute to the squadron I served with and will be making this my commanding officers aircraft. It is being fully illuminated with LED’s and fiber optics. This will be the first build to be completed in 2023. The build is currently at its sixth week. You can follow along at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/1-32-a-7e-corsair-ii-va-37-the-bulls/ To preview some of the builds planned for 2023, I have some commission builds. So far one is the 1/35 scale of the Jupiter 2 space craft from the TV series “Lost in Space” which will utilize the light kit and a sound board designed for the kit. Another commission build will be a 1/48 AV-8B Harrier to be built representing a special flight for the client. There will be lots of other regular builds as well. Have a Happy New Year!

Just wanted to show you the latest additions to my 1/32 military aviation “museum”. When I look at the models y’all post it makes me pause - but what the heck. I still have to rig the Stearman Kaydet Biplane (ICM) and the Sopwith Triplane (Wingnut Wings). The ceramic wire I purchased is too thin for the 1/32 scale. Recommendations? Both of these models went together well. The decals provided with the Kaydet were very troublesome and I had to use paint to “fix” a few of them. They take quite a while in the water. The TBM Avenger (Trumpeter) was the most challenging model I have built (of course there have only been 11). The color markings in the instructions were inconsistent to say the least. I had to use online model paint conversion charts to determine the color and the codes in the plans appear to sometimes refer to one brand of paint versus another. For example, if I went by the code in the instructions I would have painted a detail “tan”. However, every photograph I could find online showed this particular detail interior green. This happened a total of three times in the plans. Also, the photo etched parts along the “seam” of the folded wings were very tough to attach and I could not get the wings to seat cleanly when unfolded. Thus, the folded wing display. I had to do a lot of dry-fitting and sanding in several areas of the build. Great news for me though, the boss has approved the purchase of an airbrush so those ever present brush streaks will soon be a thing of the past. I’ll have to do a lot of research on the best airbrush to start with. Recommendations are always welcome. As always please feel free to critique. Hope you don’t mid but I also added the current status of my museum.

Happy Holidays everyone! I'm currently elbow deep scratch building cockpit details of my next build: Monogram's Devastator TBD-1. (pics to follow shortly). I was thinking about the next stages of the build and what others use to hold the model as they are actively building. Does anyone use a jig to help after assembly has been completed and working on other parts?. Just curious and thanks! Maybe something like one of these: https://imodeler.com/2021/07/assembling-and-using-a-model-jig/ https://www.bulldogmodels.co.uk/products/aircraft-holder-jig-for-1-48th-1-72nd-scale https://masterpiecemodels.com/product/scale-model-jig-72-48-scale/ Mark

Found these two figures by Nuts Planet and finally figured out where to use them. A back alley in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The wall was made with AK interactive carving foam, the debris came from a variety of sources. The car is from Takom. Graffiti is also from AK. The door is too big. Somewhere along the line, I got careless and switched the Murphy's rule around and accidently used the 1/32nd side when measuring. Well, Duh! Dak

Will there be a display only category or area for the 2023 Nats? Didn’t see one listed for the 2023 categories. If there will be, will registration be any different from the usual categories (entry fee, registration process, etc.)?

… I am advised by the legal department to post this message instead: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2023, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, neither to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only "America" in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee(s). IMPORTANT: This message is intended for the use of the individual addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humor, or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is not authorized (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social faux pas. Unless the word “absquatulation” has been used in its correct context somewhere other than in this warning, it does not have any legal or grammatical use and may be ignored. No animals were harmed in the transmission of this message, although the Yorkshire terrier next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you! Those of you with an overwhelming fear of the unknown will be gratified to learn that there is no hidden message revealed by reading this warning backwards, so just ignore that Alert Notice from Microsoft; however, by wearing a tinfoil hat and pouring a complete circle of salt around yourself and your computer you can ensure that no harm befalls you and your pets. If you have received this message in error, please add some nutmeg and egg whites and place it in a warm oven for 40 minutes. Whisk briefly and let it stand for 2 hours before icing. Close cover before striking. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Well, three aircraft and a helicopter.... Despite having almost no time this month to do anything, I managed to squeeze in an hour or two occasionally on the bench. Thanks to Hobby Day though; which gave me a lot of time to work on things, I completed the following aircraft: 1/72 scale Hasegawa US Marine AV-8B Harrier: Yes, the canopy is a fogged out mess! That is the result of using Mr. Mask liquid masking agent. If it didn't remain sticky the whole time it was on the canopy, it dried up so bad I had to scrape it off with a chisel. The sticky part wouldn't even come off without major persuasion; it would just stick back to the canopy when I tried to scrape it off. I used Goo Gone to try and clean it; I coated it in Furture, you see the results of both attempts. I will try to source a new canopy and windscreen for this model. Until then, I'm calling it done. If I waited till every model part was found or damaged ones replaced; I'd never be able to claim completions! Moving on..... The next one is a 1/72 scale Revell German Ho-229 Horten Flying Wing "Blue 4": Followed by a 1/72 scale Trumpeter FC-1/JF-17 Thunder done in Pakistani markings: Finally we wrap up with another US Marine subject, a 1/72 scale Dream Models US Marine AH-1Z Cobra: There you have it, the last aircraft built in 2022 . My apologies for the picture quality, I still haven't found my camera. Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Rounding out this month, we have three more vehicles coming out of the Motor Pool. First is the 1/72 scale Takom German Leopard 2A7: With that Leopard done I now have the entire line of 1/72 scale Leopards ever released. Next is the 1/72 scale Aoshima Japanese AACV7A1 RAM/RS. I'm not sure what RAM/RS stands for, but this is a pretty impressive vehicle. Finally there is this 1/72 scale Trumpeter M1120 HEMMTT Load Handling System (LHS): There they are, the (probably) last vehicles for 2022. My apologies for the picture quality, I still haven't found my camera. Thanks for looking in, comments are welcome.