Models built by a North American
Brand: Trumpter Scale: 1:350 Kit No: 06644 Tooling Date: 2020 Completed: 2026 This is one of several small-scale vehicles I was commissioned to build to add to the customer's collection of ships he served on during his time in the US Navy. This was an extremely different subject for me, as I typically build aircraft either... Continue Reading →
Brand: Special Hobby Scale: 1:72 Kit No: SH72458 Tooling Date: 1992 Completed: 2026 Panel Lines: Engraved This commission came from a customer who shared a remarkable family story—one rooted in the bitter winter fighting along the Dutch–German border in early 1945. His grandfather and great‑uncle served as Combat Military Police in and around Heerlen, Holland, during... Continue Reading →
Brand: Academy Scale: 1:72 Kit No: 12480 Tooling Date: 1992 Completed: 2024 Panel Lines: Engraved
Brand: Special Hobby Scale: 1:72 Kit No: SH72264 Tooling Date: 2013 Completed: 2026 Panel Lines: Engraved Every now and then a project lands on the bench that feels less like a model and more like a small act of remembrance. This 1:72 Vought SB2U Vindicator was exactly that—a commission for a customer assembling a full collection... Continue Reading →
Brand: Hasegawa Scale: 1:72 Kit No: 02472 Tooling Date: 1975 Completed: 2026 Panel Lines: Raised There’s something uniquely satisfying about bringing a post‑WWII naval aircraft to life in scale form—especially one as iconic as the Grumman S2F-1 Tracker. Recently, I had the opportunity to build Hasegawa’s 1:72 S2F for a customer who is assembling a comprehensive... Continue Reading →
The Vindicator at Midway. The Vindicator is a rare airframe with only one original remaining in existence. We are fortunate however to have a few good references for our Midway Vindicator. In John Ford's film "The Battle of Midway", shot during the actual battle by Navy and Marine photographers, we get the opportunity to actually... Continue Reading →
After learning that the Vought Sikorsky "Kingfisher" may not have actually participated in the Battle of Midway, continuing to work on it (at this time) seemed counter to the primary project, which was to build U.S. Naval airplanes that appeared in the skies over Midway Island, June 1942 we decided to pivot to the next... Continue Reading →
The fuselage cannot be assembled until the radome is assembled and fitted in. It seemed reasonable to go ahead and paint it as well. Gives an opportunity to try the paint color I finally settled on ... sort of settled. I had performed some tests on a paint mule I had and settled on 3... Continue Reading →
As always, the build begins with the cockpit. I learned with the Accurate Miniatures TBM-1C Avenger I built to always dry-fit pieces ... again and again until you have a clear plan on how to proceed, particularly when you are dealing with kits you have never seen before. This was no exception. I began by... Continue Reading →
I was recently approached by a retired USAF Col about helping him complete his 1/72 scale collection of aircraft flown at the Battle of Midway! Exciting! Missing from his collect? Sikorsky Vought OS2U Kingfisher and the SB2U Vindicator. After receiving both of the kits, we are starting with the OS2U Kingfisher. Brand: MPC Scale: 1:72... Continue Reading →
North American Modeler 