SPA Modeler

Now that the year is ending, and I've completed all the models that were very close to the finish line, it's time for my annual Pass in Review. This is the year that I resolved to build as many of the larger kits in my stash to reduce the number of large boxes taking up space. I also wanted to finish off models that had been languishing for too long on my workbench. I think I did pretty well on both counts. This was also the year I reached a major milestone in my collection of vehicles early on in the year.



Now on to the Pass in Review....

I'll start with my Aircraft first, all of which will be in 1/72 scale.

First is this 1/72 scale MQ-9 Reaper in British markings:



This next one is another British subject by Revell, the Concorde SST in British airways markings:



Next is the Italeri US Air Force B-66 Destroyer in the bomber configuration:



Another MQ-9 Reaper, this time in the markings of my nephew's bird that he flies:



Next are two Badgers by Trumpeter, this one is the Egyptian one:



Followed by the Iraqi one:



Here's a small one I did that I'd been wanting for awhile, the Israeli S-199:



Another Big Box model done, the Trumpeter Russian Tu-95 Bear:



Another Russian aircraft, a Yak 15 jet, made by Matchbox of all companies:



Another Matchbox kit, the J-29 Tunnen:



Next is a Canadian Otter by Hobbyco:



Followed by one of my favorites, the Special Hobby JRS-1 Flying Boat:



Here's another Big Box model, the ancient Aurora DC-9 in Hughes Airwest markings:



Followed by the Atlantic re-pop DC-9 in TWA markings:



Another Big Box Heller model and TWA subject, the Super G Constellation:



Going back in time to with the bagged kit from Eduard, the Fokker DR.1 Red Baron:



Another Eduard Bagged kit of the German Albatross:



Here's one of two kits in an Airfix Dogfight Doubles kit, the Eindecker E.II:

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And the second kit in the box is this British Be-2 biplane:



And finally, the Italeri B-58 Hustler:





That's it for the aircraft this year, now on to my ships and boats launched from the Shipyards...

There haven't been too many, but I must say my Shipyards have been busier than in past years.

First is the Hasegawa Japanese Nitta Maru luxury cruise liner in 1/700 scale:



Next is the Renwall 1/500 scale USS Shangi-La:



The Germans then took delivery of this Mirage 1/400 scale Hiddensee Tarantul-class missile boat:



Next is the Mirage 1/700 scale HMS Middleton destroyer escort:

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This is the Tamiya 1/72 scale Japanese PT-15 MBT:



Followed by a civilian luxury cruiser the Revell 1/72 scale Sunseeker Predator108 named after my sister:



Next are three 1/700 scale Encore Models WWII Soviet submarines, the first is the D-Type:



The next is the L-Type:



Followed by the S Type:



The next is the Dragon 1/700 scale USS Roosevelt Arleigh Burke class destroyer:



And the last one to be launched this year is the Dragon 1/700 scale USS Freedom LCS-1 Littoral Combat Ship:





That's all from the Shipyards, now to see what rolled out of the Motor Pool....


All of these are in 1/72 scale as well.

This first one is the Modelcollect Russian SCUD C:



Next was a Dragon US Marine M103A2 heavy tank:



Followed by my 900th vehicle model, the Roden Type B Omnibus WWI mobile pigeon loft:



Another addition to my Stryker family of vehicles, this is the Trumpeter Stryker engineer vehicle:



Next is my Fore Models US Army M109A7 Paladin gun:



This next one is the Caesar Miniatures German IG-8 Infantry supply wagon:



Followed by a Military Wheels (?) PK-43 Russian Field Kitchen:



My Syrians needed more vehicles so here's the Dragon T-34/82 in Syrian markings:



Another Syrian tank, this time the ancient ESCI PzIV with the machine gun mount mod and additional 12.7mm Russian machine gun:



Another Syrian vehicle, a Dragon StuG III Assault Gun. Yes, it still had Zimm on it:



Next is a UM Models Egyptian Su-100:



These were followed by four Swedish light tanks from IBG, first is the M38:



Then the M39:



And then the M40K:



Last but not least, the M40L:



With those, I doubled the size of my Swedish Army. Next came another Syrian, the Trumpeter BTR-70 Late:



Another UM Models British Achilles M-10:



This next one is an S-Models US Marine M247 Mule that I added a recoilless rifle to:



That thing is an inch long. This next one is the Trumpeter T26E4 with some scratchbuilt mods added to it to reflect the first attempt they made to add a longer 90mm gun:



Nobody ever released a kit of that particular tank so I got tired of waiting. Moving on....

This is the Academy French Le Clerc T-5:



Followed by an Eastern European company's Russian Gaz AAA cargo truck:



This is another IBG kit done for a recovery vehicles group build somewhere, the Chevy CWT-15 Holmes wrecker:



An ICM kit barely worth mentioning, but I did finish it so... German G-4 staff car:



ACE French AMX-61 Self Propelled gun is next:



Modecollect again with this German flatcar with a 128mm anti-aircraft gun mounted on it:



A great little civilian fire truck from Trumpeter, the American La France eagle pumper. Yes it is 1/72 scale:



Another Abrams model from Academy, this is the Egyptian M1A1 Abrams:



Finally, this last one is the Trumpeter Russian Uragan MLRS:





And last, here's some of the miscellaneous models I completed in between all of those above.

First is this Military Wheels 1/72 scale Russian AS-15 Kent cruise missile set:



Then I finished up an HO/OO scale Atlas Lumber Mill:



To show I do finish the occasional car, here's the AMT 1/24 scale 1929 Coke Delivery Can:



And finally, Pegasus Hobbies 1/144 scale Jules Verne's Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea:




And that completes this year's Pass in Review. It has been a wild and fun ride through my "factory floor" this year. Granted, most of these are nowhere near the quality shown by most everyone else, but I'm happy with them and thrilled to have gotten so many done this year to clear out my stash. Having only bought or received only ten models this year, I managed a build to buy ratio of 6:1 this year! Cool.


Anyway, thank you all for looking in and taking in this Pass in Review with me. Hopefully, next year will be just as productive.... or more.

You’ve had a busy year in 2024, Mark. Well done!

That is simply astonishing, Mark! Wow, what a year, and what great looking builds, too!

Yeeeeeooowwwwwwwww! More than one per week! You could have a war right in your own living room!

Wow! That's pretty impressive Mark!

Thank you Bruce! That variety keeps things fresh!

Thank you Tom! It was a good year this year!

Thank you Gary!

Thank you John! Yes I could but the collateral damage would upset my wife....

Thank you Mike!

Looks like Mad Dog had a great year

tempestjohnny wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:40 am Looks like Mad Dog had a great year

Indeed, what a bunch of builds, really great ones ! And many unique, at least for me.

I like the passenger jets, the classic DC-9:s, great memory associated to that plane type.

Did I count correctly, but 63 builds in total ??


- Kari

Thank you Johnny! Yes, I did have a good year indeed!

Thank You Kari! I also love the DC-9's; I only wish more civilian airliners were done in 1/72 scale. Yes, you counted right: I completed 63 models this past year in 2024.