IPMS Stream of Consciousness #1

I have a plan. What I have done in the past is to present posts as a string of "build" articles. Instead, I will put up stuff in a more stream of consciousness way, show a few pics of what I am working on. "Build" articles will still get put together, but more and more these will simply end up in the IUJ (IPMS USA Journal). The purpose of the "the Joy" will be more to be a window into my world of model building and the stuff surrounding it.

A big part of this has to do with my (new) role in the IPMS. A couple of years ago I volunteered to be the Ad Manager. In that role I handle all the ads for the IUJ. A little over a year ago Jim Pearsall passed away and I took over his position as the publications director/historian for the IUJ. So my hobby experience has really changed in the last couple of years. So this blog will allow the curious to see what it looks like to volunteer for the IPMS. Let's just say it will make it easier for me to get posts out. This will be an interesting place to talk about all the texture which surrounds model building-spouses, the war in Europe, why I build what I build... I'll just dive in and see what comes of it.

Here is what I have been working on. This is a Kotobukiya kit SOL HORNET. There are a couple of things going on here. The first is the building of the kit itself, which is the orange mecha girl, who is 1:1 scale, btw.

Finished At Last! Building The ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #8

We have reached the homestretch. The client and I decided that the interior looked so nice that the top should be changed to the down position. The first thing is to figure out how it is actually stowed.

What a wonderful image, even after building this model, I considered building another of this scene. Finding 1/24th scale children would be an interesting challenge, more than likely it would be best to simply build them from scratch. OK. This shows the working method of the stowage for the top quite well. Everything on the vehicle is made with simplicity and practicality in mind. The top is not unlike two hacked together tops from a pair of giant non-existent baby buggy's. The frames (or "bows") are broken up into two separate sections, each comprised of a pair of "U" shaped frame supports. The front section is simply removed from its anchors on either side of the front seat and is reconnected on top of the folded down rear frame. The fabric is folded in on itself and the whole unit is held together by a pair of straps on either side, which are plainly visible in the above photo. In some photos there is a cover to protect the folded top with more straps to hold it in place. I opted to not make a cover to keep things simple, especially since nearly all of the model was already built and painted.

Building the ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #7

My energy level as of late is not congruent with my ambition. I really want to get this wrapped up, but also must be careful not to take a shortcut that ends up taking more time to fix. Model building is a delicate balance of completion and process.

In our last episode, the wheels got done, the car was centered on the base and holes were drilled to attach the wheels. I can hear my wife now "you said you were going to build it out of the box!" I know. Yes, that was the plan, but things evolve.

Building the ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #6

 

The model will eventually end up in the box. It's like a magic trick where you saw the nice human in half. The saw used is always quite ridiculous, I think they only make those with the mastodon teeth just for magic acts. Look, if I hold up something shiny you might forget what's really going on here. I've forgotten already.

Building the ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #5

In model building it's important to rehearse the drama to ensure all the actors are working together. It's mildly thrilling after weeks of coaching, blocking and flubbed lines to see a coherent performance emerge. This is a story of a scale replica Model-T touring automobile, circa 1910.

Building the ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #4

Before going any further I needed to clean up. Disorganization creates a sort of mental chatter which I find very distraction. Cleaning also gives one the illusion of control. I garbage-picked a nice dining room table and moved it into my workspace, you can see the edge of it on the right. For me, there is never enough flat workspace. So, lets take a deep breath, hold and release...

Building the ICM 1/24 Model T 1911 Touring #3

 

ICM did not do the best on this kit. It's ok, but the engineering is a bit sloppy. For example, they give you the three control pedals, but there is nothing under the floor openings to connect them to. A section of strip is cut and fitted underneath.