"Space Laser" 1/72-Scale Paper Model

Rep. Green actually made this outlandish suggestion in a public speech in 2018. The extreme absurdity was too much to ignore, and DissentPins.com came up the "Secret Jewish Space Laser Corps" patch. I thought their effort deserved at least a prototype, so I built one. It's a joke; no offense intended.

DeHavilland Canada DHC2T Turbo Beaver "Raven" -- 1/48 scale paper model

This was a beta build of Design Group Alpha's (DGA) newest livery in their series of Turbo Beaver kits. Wingspan is just about twelve inches. I spent about 20 hours building the kit. I added toothpick spars in the horizontal and vertical tail and stripwood spars in the wings. And I added an extra layer of cardstock to the rudders--probably the most fragile parts of the model. Otherwise, it's "straight out of the box." The kit should be available soon here. Other liveries are available now in both turbo and recip versions.

The floats were much easier to build than I expected. DGA's design provides a sturdy and good-looking float with a minimum of fuss.

I found the instructions generally very good. They were a bit vague in a few areas, but photos of the finished kit made up for it. As with all of the DGA Turbo Beaver kits, those photos will be posted and downloadable with the kits. The artwork is excellent, fit of the parts is good to excellent, and the finished model is eye-catching. The kit includes parts for floats, skis, and conventional landing gear.

I think I'll pick one of the other liveries and scale it up to 1/32.

"Sakrison Supply" from Carolina Craftsman Kits -- HO Scale Laser-Cut Wood

 A few years ago, I drew up a plan for a mill that I wanted to scratchbuild for my HO-scale model RR. I based it loosely on a diorama I'd seen on the Internet, and I shared the drawings on this site. I didn't get around to building it, but someone out there in the Chronosynclastic Infindibulum saw it and built it. Someone else saw the drawings or the build or both and contacted Jeff Grove, owner of Carolina Craftsman Kits to say, "Please, please, please offer this as a kit!"

Jeff contacted me, and I said, "Hell, yes!" and sent him the original drawings. This morning, in my mailbox was a copy of the CCC's latest kit -- "Sakrison Supply." As Andy Warhol once said, "Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame." I could do a lot worse. Thank you, Jeff! Thank you, Scott Alvord for a beautiful and inspiring test build! And thank you to all of you who begged for the kit.

 Here is my original drawing. (Feel free to share it.)

Here is Scott Alvord's outstanding test build of Jeff Grove's pre-release kit. (Wow!):

And here is the kit:

I guess now I really ought to build it.

Ma.K. (S.F.3.D) "Jerry" 1/20th Scale Plastic Model (Nitto)

I have mostly sworn off plastic models. This is a "shake the box" build from several years ago. The "Jerry" model stands about six inches tall. I'm guessing that it's a scout, lightly armed and fast-moving.

The Ma.K. gear fascinates me, but the prices for the models have gone through the roof. I'm still looking for paper models of the S.F.3.D fighting suits. So far, aside from a few scratchbuilds (with no kit offered), the only one seems to be for the "Snowman" Super Heavy Fighting Suit. Some kitbashing might be in order. 

So many projects, so little time!

Martin Baker M7 Ejection Seat, 1/12th Scale Paper Model

This was a challenging build due in part to some fit issues and to the instructions, which were often vague and occasionally wrong. Still, the results were worth the effort, if not exactly contest quality. At 1/12 scale, the seat stands 4½ inches tall. The build took about a week of evenings. The kit is available at ecardmodels.com.

U-Boat Type VII-C - 1/72-Scale Paper Model

The kit is designed by "Kooklik." It is an excellent kit with detailed construction drawings. The finished model is just over three feet long. I built it several years ago, and at the Midwestern Model Ships & Boats Contest held 19-20 May 2023 at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, my U-Boat received a Gold Award.

2023 Midwestern Model Ships & Boats Contest

The contest was held on 19-20 May at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. I took six paper models for entry and one for display. I brought home six Gold Awards. The photos were taken by museum staff. These are the paper models I took to the contest. 

Click on any photo to zoom in.

Australian paddlesteamer Alexander Arbuthnot, 1:100 scale

Siluro a Lento Corsa Italian manned torpedo, 1:18 scale

Australian paddlesteamer Adelaide, 1:100 scale and New Bedford whaleboat, 1:30 scale

1:200-scale battleship Bismarck and 1:72-scale U-Boat Type VII-C

Contest models by other modelers:

•  photos by museum staff:  Photos - Google Drive

•  my photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/198476792@N04/albums