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Navy vet, California born and raised. Pretty much came back home after my wonderful adventure in the Navy. Now working in the Automotive industry in the IE in So Cal. Enjoying the So Cal lifestyle. Year around modeling, sports, photography and home gardening. My main subject is Naval aviation in 48th scale. But I don't limit myself as WWII subjects of all nations and aircraft that participated in that conflict I will build as well, some armor, a ship here and there and for a change of pace a car. As a kid that is where it all began with the old MPC Monkee Mobile in 1/25 scale. Thats me in a nutshell.

ON THIS DAY: 5 December 1945, 75 year Anniversary of The Mystery of Flight 19

It is a beautiful warm fall bright shiny day. A fine Navy day for flying. Lt Charles C Taylor was tasked as the training flight instructor for Flight 19. At 28 years old, 2 tours of combat in the Pacific, Lt Taylor had 2500 hours [...]

Douglas A-1H Skyraider, Tamiya 1/48th USN Vietnam 1965 “Special”

It's the last mission day for the USS Midway (CVA-41) before sailing back home to Alameda, Ca. Conducting operations into North and S. Vietnam. The XO of VA-25 " Fist of the Fleet" CDR Clarence Stoddard, Jr. was planning the [...]

Airfix Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 1/48, GiNA, DFC,VC Ft Lt. Nicolson 1940

Flt Lt. Nicolson was at 17,000 ft patrolling near Southampton when he noticed a flight of Ju-88's and started down to engage when he was struck by 4 cannon shells that damaged his left eye,left foot and the gravity tank which caused a [...]

Review: Quinta Studios 1/48 P-38F Interior Detail Set For The Tamiya Kit

As I was finally getting around to get started on the fairly new Tamiya P-38F/G Lightning. It's amazing it has been out for over a year. I have been building Tamiya kits in order that starting with Ki-84 Hayate Frank way back in 1992. [...]

IJA Mitsubishi Ki-46 III Kai Dinah, 1/48 Tamiya PTO

It's late June 1945, the B-29 bombers streams are approaching the Japanese mainland, Lt Fuchida and his radioman Sgt Yamada are in their Mitsubishi Ki-46 III Dinah. Lately the B-29's have changed tactics were not coming as high once they [...]

On This Day 2 August 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait

I't s a nice sunny hot Thursday morning flying up the California coast to NAS Bremerton, Washington. Just left Moffet topping off the tanks for the final leg of the flight. Pilot, Lt Luis "Ball" Saenz,co-pilot Lt Cdr [...]

ON THIS DAY 28 FEBRUARY, HASEGAWA 1/72nd General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark, Gulf War USAF

This day was the last day of combat operations in Desert Storm. For the aircrews of the the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron the last mission of the war was about to launch. Just 2 aircraft with GBU Bunker [...]

ESCI 1/48TH MiG-27 FLOGGER “D” IRAQI Evaluation Demo Anniversay MIG GB

When the Iraqi Air Force settled on acquiring the MiG-23 to fulfill the air combat role supplementing the MiG-21. They also were evaluating the MiG-27 for the close support role as well. With the Su-22 and Su-25 also being evaluated in [...]

Review: 2019 IN REVIEW-A Year and an end to a Decade

So after several attempts finally got it too post. So lets end 2019. It was rather an ambitious plan to build at least 12 models several in Group Builds others just to add variety and planned before any GB's. I was able to actually [...]

Review: 1/48th A/B-26 Invader, ICM/Monogram/Revell Review

With the new ICM new mold B-26B now in our hot little hands. Though overshadowed by the P-38 released about the same time. Still it was an anticipated and long awaited release that a lot of WWII model builders have waited for. I built [...]