Michael Scarborough Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Greetings all. Backtracking from previous posts, this was my first Wingnut Wings build, the RNAS Sopwith Pup. Backstory: With considerable help from my father, at age 4, I built my first model back in 1957, an Aurora F9F Cougar, my dad brought me from the newsstand at the Pentagon. That would begin what I would call a maniacal model building life that lasted up until my opera career (wild, right?) took off, and living out of a suitcase pretty much precluded any serious model building. This hiatus wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because, as much as I sorta loved model building, I had also found it to be terribly frustrating and the times of real joy had been outweighed by a lot of disappointment. Besides, Opera was providing my life with sufficient drama, onstage and off, anyway. Fast forward 25 years to 2008 when I discovered Hyperscale and, while a lot of the frustration had been forgotten, the passion for styrene was reignited. My first build was a Tamiya 1/48 Gekko and that build, and my reintroduction to the very changed world of model building, were preserved for posterity in a Hyperscale post. http://www.hyperscale.com/2008/features/j1j148ms_1.htms Growing up I had built all of the available WWI 1/72 kits so, following the Gekko, I decided to give WWI another shot and got the Eduard 1/48 Albatros W.4. Trying to do a fully rigged model, and one with floats, at that, was...how shall put it? Well, let's just say the frustration level just about drove me back out of model building. It eventually got completed.......but don't look too closely. I then played around with some armor and some figures, but, having grown up with an aviator as a father, my real love was aircraft, so some 1/48 RAF builds followed. And then, oh happy day, God, and Sir Peter Jackson, blessed the world with Wingnut Wings. The RNAS Pup was my first WnW build and, for anyone considering a foray into WWI models, I cannot imagine a better candidate as a first build. The kit is so well engineered and manufactured that there are no fit issues, no filling required and no hair pulling or cussing involved....and no stacks of incomplete models cluttering the bench. These are things I had never experienced in all those years of model building. It almost felt that the kit just sort of came together. And, the Zen-like flow was so consistent that the idea and creation of the turret just sort of happened. I know it sounds cocky, but I don't know a better way to describe it. I decided to give the plane a fictitious pilot with his own personal markings. I looked at as many photos of the platforms created to launch RNAS planes from ships in WWI and it seemed no two were alike. So, what you see is my idea of a generic launch platform. And, as the scene portrays no specific ship, I christened her, HMS Repulsive. (I hope any insult felt by the RN sailors in the crowd, because of this tacky name, is relieved by the fact that all the knots portrayed are 100% authentic. One doesn't grow up with a Navy Captain as a father and not know how to tie a proper Bowline....even 50 years later and in miniature.) As with the launch ramp, all of the ancillary bits; the tie downs, the tail platform, etc, are all just sort of made up. At some point, I plan to do Wingnuts Ship's Camel on board HMS Calliope and that will be as fully accurate as I can make it. But, for this build, I just went with the imagination flow. I had had a lot of trouble in the past completing builds and didn't want doing lots of research, and agonizing over rivets, to allow that stalling syndrome to happen again. So, I renewed my artistic license and just went for it. I think it's safe to say that this build, and my re-introduction to building WWI, and in 1/32, and, most especially, building my first Wingnuts kit, were an epiphany of how much fun model building could be. That may sound trite but, I was blessed, and cursed, by DNA to be a real perfectionist. This build allowed me to embrace that double-edged trait without killing the joy. I will eventually add figures to the scene, but, one learning curve at a time. Thanks for looking in. Cheers from NYC, Michael tomaszhajzler, Kagemusha, Sammy and 11 others 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trak-Tor Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Wow! Beautiful! Congratulations! Juraj Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Buddee Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Absolutely fantastic! One thing I find very lacking with my own builds is the presentation when finished. Yours, on the other hand, lacks absolutely nothing! Cheers, Wolf Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Scarborough Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 Hello, Juraj and Wolf (Sounds like a good name for a whiskey!) Thanks guys, I really appreciate the kind words. Wolf, I think your builds are so really crisp and accurate that more than a simple base would detract from the beauty and skill level displayed by the model itself. I, personally, am really big into the whole drama and humanity thing (not surprising I chose theater and then decorative arts for professions, and live in NYC, eh! LOL!) and for me, story telling is the number one goal. I believe if I had your skills as a model builder, I'd be tempted to really keep the presentation down to the bare minimum. The good thing is, we can each do what we are most comfortable doing. OK..back to the AEG! Cheers from NYC, Drama capital of the world, MIchael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Michael, Thank you for sharing the build and your story with us. I really enjoyed reading the Gekko link as well as how you came up with this diorama. The Pup looks excellent, and I really like how the diorama is put together. You are full of surprises, and I am really glad you came to these forums. Gaz Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorbenD Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 What a wonderful, wonderful result Michael! Top drawer - I love the setting too as well as all the really authentic looking tie down details. Torben Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to1scale Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) Very impressive! I love your story about how college girls made you forget about plastic models, and that you got back in to it after so many years off. I like it because it mirrors my life and most likely, many people's lives. Many of us have rediscovered our plastic passion after many years away. I am 16 months back into this hobby after a nearly 30 year hiatus. your build here is an inspiration. Edited March 23, 2018 by 1to1scale Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Wonderful Pup scenario, very inspirational. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Scarborough Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 I am really glad you came to these forums. Gaz Gaz, I very much appreciate your kind words and I am glad I came to the forums. There are some real jerks elsewhere!! LOL! I love your story about how college girls made you forget about plastic models Well, if I had my choice...... Wonderful Pup scenario, very inspirational. Many thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Brilliant stuff, Michael! Kev Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Backstory: With considerable help from my father, at age 4, I built my first model back in 1957, an Aurora F9F Cougar, my dad brought me from the newsstand at the Pentagon. Also similar to me, the first completed model I ever saw was the Aurora Cougar but my Dad built it and set it on top of our TV. I was about 4 at that time as well. The first model I built (also with considerable help from my father) was an Aurora JN4 when I was 6 in 1958. Exceptional work from you again Mr. S. Very nice Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigant Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Great work! I am especially looking forward to your future update with figures! Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Bettencourt Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Really fantastic! Thanks for sharing this. Rod Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Excellent Michael, a really super build in every respect. Like you, I was a maniacal child kit builder....everything that Airfix produced in the 1950s was immediately hanging from my ceiling! I returned to modelling 13 years ago as a result of my aviation research and continue to enjoy the hobby and this wonderful Forum. Max Michael Scarborough 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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