Scale Plastic Aircraft Modeler Modeler Interview
Mustang Joe 1989 / Joe
Corpus Christi, Texas
1. First Model Kit:
1/48 Monogram Dauntless Dive Bomber. The year….? Must have been somewhere around 1979-80 at a Moses 5 and 10 cent store in Gainesville, Texas. What was to follow was a slew of those old Monogram aircraft builds.
2. Preferred Scale:
For aircraft it’s always 1/48. Small enough to not take up just a whole lot of display space yet large enough to show generous amounts of details. For auto builds it's normally 1/24--1/25 scale.
3. Preferred subjects:
With aircraft builds it is WWII fighter and light bombers and with autos it is pretty much anything performance wise but I do love building custom builds/pro street and things of that nature. Stock/O.E.M. is just boring and limiting. I mean in aircraft history I feel comfortable building things in a historical accurate manner, but with cars the gloves are pretty much off. I don’t really like adhering to the “correctness” that O.E.M. builds require and custom builds let my imagination run free.
4. Favorite model built to date:
I have to split this one up because I have two “firsts.” For aircraft AND autos I have the first time I ever felt like I pulled off a decent paint job. My Focke Wulf Fw190 D-9 is hands down the best aircraft model I have built to date. Everything with that build just clicked together and went right—from the details all the way to the paint and weathering job.
As for auto builds, my Monogram 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A is not only my favorite build but has a lot of sentiment tied to it as I built it around 35 years ago originally. Ironically it was my favorite build as a kid as well because it was the best gloss finish I’d ever achieved at that point. 35 years later another best gloss finish would follow. Both of these builds place at every show they go to and even receive “Best Of” awards.
5. Hardest model built to date:
Man…..that is a toughy. I built a 1/24 scale Trumpeter Bf109 that was definitely a real PIA but I think the hardest one I have had to contend with was my Revell ’56 Ford F-100 (a 1983 release kit). That kit was just flat out garbage and I’m being nice. I can’t think of another kit that I so wanted to put in the trash can at multiple stages of the build. The fit was bad, the flash was horrible and there were ejector pin marks everywhere. The kit just did not want to be put together. Had it not been for all the money that I threw at it (and I’m ashamed at how much I did put into it) I probably would not have even finished it. It fought me to the bitter end and to me it didn’t turn out to be “all that” like I initially envisioned. Despite the somewhat decent outcome it was a real disappointment for me.
6. Holy Grail kit:
Wow! You really asked the big one there. There are several but I can narrow it down to two-one of which I’ve acquired. On the auto side it was the Revell “Mean Mudder” van kit that was released in 1978, which is very sought after. The prices for this kit are terribly expensive but I managed to get mine for a steal. It comes with a detailed interior and a dirt bike. Pretty cool kit. I built it once as a kid and have always wanted a second go round at it.
On the aircraft side it’s the 1/48 Zoukei Mura Ho-229. I have a 1/32 scale ZM Ho-229 that is still in the box but I feel like it would take up way too much display space if I built it. I am probably going to sell or trade it for the smaller scale version. I have always liked this bird and hopefully will have the opportunity to build this beautiful bird in scale.
7. Favorite kit maker:
That is another hard question but I think I can narrow it down. Autos: Revell for subject matter and and for ease of build and accuracy. Aircraft: Tamiya. They just don’t make ‘em any easier to put together folks.
8. Favorite glues:
Tamiya Thin Cement, Loctite Industrial Strength CA and 5 minute Epoxy.
9. Favorite paints:
Autos: Testors Lacquer System for exterior finish is the only way to go in my book. Model Master Enamel and Acrylics for smaller areas.
Aircraft: I really like Vallejo Air for the exterior finish and Model Master Enamels and Acrylics for all interior and detail work.
10. What started me as a modeler?
When I was growing up in the small town of Bowie, Texas my parents didn’t have a whole lot of money so we never went anywhere or did anything outside of town. I did have friends and we would play outside pretty much all day long riding bikes as youngsters, motorcycles and playing football as early teens and working on our cars and racing as older teens. Rainy days sucked because there was nothing to do inside except play on the Atari 2600 (I know I’m givin’ away my age) which I’m glad to say that I never got addicted to. Don’t get me started there. Lol. I was really into WWII aviation at around 10 years old and when I saw a model kit of a Dauntless that was it. I was hooked. My first paint jobs were brush on enamel paint using gasoline as a thinner. Crazy stuff right? But I had a lot of fun doing it and this was the perfect rainy day hobby. What restarted me as a modeler in adult life?? I am a recovering alcoholic and will be sober this June for 6 years. In my recovery, modeling has given me something in which to feed my busy mind and to give me something to show for my time besides another drunk episode. I am truly thankful for this hobby for an outlet and to my fellow modelers who by way of either example or through instruction (as well as laughs) are helping me along the way. I only hope I have been as much help to them as they have been to me.
