Spitfires for 2013

The new year looks good for Spitfires.  Even my planned theme builds align mostly to Spitfires, so unless I get distracted by some special Kit-That-Must-Be-Built I hope to complete quite a few.

To be reported over on my other blog, the list is extensive and if I can sneak in a couple of additional models, I certainly will.  I like doing multiple builds of the same kit, such as my modifications of the Airfix Spitfire I/IIa kit into a Mk Va and PR Mk XIII.  Both are very straightforward and the only challenge is finding decals...well not so challenging given all the available decals out there.

I'm also looking forward to another Seafire.  I finished that CMR FR.47 at the end of 2011 and after looking at my Merlin Seafires on the shelf, I need to update the stable with some better looking kits.  My old conversions from Airfix Mk Vb/c kits are just not cutting it anymore and other than an example of my skills 5 years ago, need replacing.  I'll include photos of those older builds alongside my updated models, of course, but I doubt I'll do the same subjects.  Too many good subjects out there to keep redoing the same ones.

My Spitfire/Seafire plan for 2013:

• Frog Spitfire Mk XIV with V-1 (drones or unmanned)
• CMR Speed Spitfire (Need for Speed)
• Airfix Spitfire IX as Dr Who Spitfire in Space (Science Fiction)
• AZ Model Isreali and Egyptian Spitfires (Friend and Foe)
• CMR Seafire F.IIc (Anniversary)
• Hasegawa RAAF Spitfire VIII (Down Under)
• Heller SAAF Spitfire XVI (Korean War -- loose connection here)
• Airfix Hawk T.1 in Spitfire commemorative scheme (Build The Same Kit)
• Sword Spitfire VI (Failures -- okay, the VI worked, but not as well as it should have)

Plus I plan to clear out my queue of "in work" Spitfires:

• Airfix Spitfire XIII conversion (paint & decals)
• Airfix Spitfire Va (paint & decals)
• MPM Spitfire XVIII (assembly)
• Fujimi Spitfire XIVe (assembly)

And of course, make some progress on that Spitfire Mk III.  I'm nearly ready to cut some fuselages...

Thanks for reading...

Looking Back at 2012

Really?  Not a single Spitfire all year?!

One could call this my Mayan apocalypse.  I did at least start 4 Spitfires...

But I got totally sidetracked by the Museum builds.  One of which was not something I signed up for, and the other was a total drag as it was the Matchbox Halifax.  Not a bad kit, but I wanted more out of my build than I should have expected.

Now for my guilt trip...it seems that somebody is actually reading what I write.  The number one post, in terms of pageviews, is my Fujimi FR Mk XIVe from earlier this year.  A close second is 2011's CMR Prototype Spitfire K5054.  Over on my non-Spitfire page the top read post is about Academy's F4F Wildcat -- go figure.  What about these subjects makes them interesting?  What did I put in them that is causing them to pop on search engines?  Obviously I should post more...

And in that vein, I need to make more progress on my Spitfire III.  I pick it up every weekend, but put it back down after pondering the surgery needed to make it.  That Matchbox Halifax and the Revell Condor are not ego boosters for me, in terms of my skills.  And I totally botched two Tamiya Spitfires last year attempting to cross kit and make a cannon-armed Mk I and Mk Va.

I did complete 15 models for the year, and I may actually sneak in another before year's end.

Hopefully everyone has a great holiday; I know I will, even if I only handle some plastic instead of actually finishing a model!

Thanks for ready...Merry Christmas!