iModeler Aviation

Building, painting and finishing scale aircraft models.

LS 1/144 Scale Kawanishi “Emily” Flying Boat

This kit was a total hoot to build. No interior to worry about, just slap it together, and then have fun with the painting and detailing. I added the bracing wires for the wing floats, the two radio antenneas and the totally scratch [...]

A Grumman formation to end all Grumman formations

Back in 1997, various air museums were having "Grumman flights." Out at Planes of Fame, they pulled off the Grumman Flight to end all Grumman Flights: F3F-2, FM-2, F6F-5, F7F-3, F8F-2, and TBM-3. I got this shot out of the [...]

Video: FineMolds 1/72 Incom T-65 X-Wing: Episode 1

If it's an X-Wing, why are they called S-Foils?

1/32 VF-111 F-8c

Fisher conversion added. Ce MB Mk5 Seat, Eduard color etch, Mr. Color and Floquil paints. Flame holder was scratched, and I did the center wing myself by removing the hump and filling/ reshaping with Magic Sculpt. I was not fond of using [...]

Fisher 1/32 F9F-5 Panther

Built OOB...just like the F9F-8 Cougar a fantastic resin kit! Paint was Mr Color, and gloss was Mr Color out of the rattle can. Thanks, Rob

3 to cure a 3 year hiatus

It's been 3 years since I last indulged in my obsession, I mean hobby. I decided to make up for lost time by bulding 3 at a time. They are almost done, apart from the aerial wires, some weathering and the armoured headrest on Nowotny's [...]

1/48th Cyber Hobby Bf-110D3

I recieved this kit as payment for a brake job from a good friend. I built it out of the box as a review for our local club's news letter. Overall it was a blast to build, with excellent overall detail and generally good fit. It is a [...]

1/48 Otaki F6F-3N

This is the Otaki 1/48 F6F-3 with a Hasegawa F6F-5N cockpit and radome. The canopy is a vacuformed replacement and the decals are Superscale. The underwing insignia is hand painted around the radome. I enjoyed working on this as the kit [...]

1/48 Hobbycraft F9F-2 with adjustments

Here is my Hobbycraft F9F-2, with a new nose section- the Monogram F9F-5 forward fuselage (with canopy) suitably shortened to fit the correct length of the F9F-2. I also used Monogram wing tip tanks. I built the kit as one of the Blue [...]

Major Don Schmenk’s F-100

This is the venerable Monogram 1/48th North American F-100. The kit was given to me by retired Air Force Major Don Schmenk. The plane has the markings of the Hun that Schmenk flew in Vietnam. I had the kit for many years before I finally [...]