Modelling Philosophy

I started this collection in 1998 with Tamiya 1/12 kits bought on Ebay or QXL.  I found Ebay (in particular) an amazing source of kits I honestly never thought I would ever see again - let alone be able to buy at sensible prices.  Since then, I estimate that I must have bought more than 250 kits on Ebay or at shows, shops or occasionally, directly from the manufacturer.

I realised some years ago that I had to develop a strategy with my hobby as otherwise I would die with dozens of models unbuilt.  I decided that I would focus what detailing skills I have on larger scale subjects where the work can mor easily be seen.  In practice therefore, my detailing efforts are these days focussed exclusively on 1/12 racing cars, 1/12 motorbikes and 1/32 aeroplanes.  

The rest of the collection, in particular the smaller scale cars that form the bulk of my collection are completed as "kerbside" replicas with no attempt to complete any serious interior detailing that cannot be seen externally or without turning the subject upside down.  Bonnets do not open and engine covers cannot be removed.  Undertrays, lower suspension parts and internal bulkheads are routinely simply painted black after a decent join is made with sufficient glue.  

Whilst this approach may not appeal to the purists (I used to be one!) it certainly speeds up the building process.  I believe it also helps the decalling process as well as the lacquer finish if you no longer spend time worrying about opening doors, under-bonnet details, under-carriage wells and the like.  All this said, I do enjoy constructing 1/20 and 1/24 cars with pose-able front wheels and 1/48 planes with propellors that turn where possible (or in the case of the 1/48 Wyvern, counter-rotating propellors!) 

I generally manage to complete a 1/20 single seater, a 1/24 sportscar or a 1/12 motorcycle  - in about a week, or sometimes even less.  1/48 planes may take a few days longer but it is only the 1/12 and 1/32 subjects that routinely take more than a fortnight.  MFH kits have raised the bar for detail as well as size and complexity.  Metal and resin also takes much more preparation time than traditional plastic models.  My most recent MFH kit - the Jaguar XJR9 took me well over two months - even though under "lockdown" I was at home the whole time.  

I will attempt to maintain a modelling blog as part of my work on this website in which I will attempt to record my progress with models of different sizes and subjects.  If you are interested, please check back from time to time.  Oh, and please feel free to contact me if you have thoughts, comments or questions about the models or the collection as a whole!