How Takom's KV-5 ruined a man

So you think you a bad week last week? It probably wasn't as bad as Mark Muller's week. Here's his story, and I promise that most of what you're about to read is true.

On January 12, 2011 Mark woke up on a snowy morning and said to himself, "Self, it's about time I scratchbuild another model." You see, Mark is an award-winning modeler. He's won Best of Show at three AMPS conventions and Best Armor at the 1999 IPMS National Convention with a scratchbuilt Soviet armored train. He's one of those rare modelers who takes the hobby to levels that most of us can only dream of thanks to a unique engineering and problem-solving mindset.

So Mark lay there listening to the sound of sleet hitting the tin roof of his shanty and the barking of his four beagles from the barn out back and wondered to himself, "Self, I wonder what I should build. It should be something where I can use parts from other kits, to make it just a little bit easier on me. And it should also be obscure enough so that those gosh darn rivet counters won't grill me on the details."

"Most importantly," he said out loud to his wife (who, by the way, knows about as much about plants as Mark does about armor), "It should be something that we will never, ever, ever -- not in a million years -- ever see in kit form."

His heart racing at the possibilities, Mark got out of bed and ate his usual breakfast of Wheaties, two bananas, and a kale and brussels sprout smoothie. It was while watching an old episode of Three's Company and thinking what it would be like to live with two twenty year-old women that the subject hit him. "I'll scratchbuild a KV-5! It's cool as heck, it never made it beyond the design phase, and most modelers won't even recognize it." Mark called his friend Graham and joked, "There's a better chance of our seeing three kits of the Object 279 than our ever seeing a KV-5," and the two laughed harder than they had the first time they watched The Flying Leathernecks starring John Wayne.

Over the following years Mark gathered what reference material he could find, which amounted to simple drawings and one-page summary of the tank's concept, which he somehow translated from its original Russian. That may be the real magic of this story!

Anyhoo, Mark was eventually able to begin building his next masterpiece. The only commercial parts it contains are roadwheels and suspension arms from Trumpeter's KV-2, drive wheels modified from an IS-2, Friulmodel track, and eventually two T-34 engines. Everything else is scratchbuilt and, get this, features armor that is scale in thickness! The model is no secret to modelers in the Columbus, Ohio area. Mark has been showing it to friends and fellow modelers, using it as a tool to teach simple and complex scratchbuilding techniques. (Mark is always eager to share what he's learned.)

Fast-forward a couple of years to last week, May 16 to be precise. Takom announces its upcoming KV-5 in 1/35 scale. And the following day Trumpeter announces its kit. What would you do?

I spoke with Mark on Friday evening, and he's taking it all in stride. Because he's using his model as a teaching aid, he said he's in no hurry to finish it, predicting its completion later this year, probably well after both the Takom and Trumpeter kits hit the shelves. Most of us would be seriously bummed out to be in Mark's position, but he's interested to see how his kit compares to the two commercial offerings. He's particularly curious to see if the models are based on drawings made for the World of Tanks video game. He's already noticed a couple of subtle differences.

Here are a few photos of Mark's KV-5. I hope you enjoy it. I can't wait to see it finished!

 

So there you go. I think you will agree that Mark Muller officially had the worst week ever. 

My thanks to Mark for his allowing me to share his story. I've been fortunate to call him a friend for nearly 25 years, and he is truly one of the nicest and most generous modelers I've ever met. Thanks also to Graham Holmes for the photos.

Video book reviews are the future

Last summer I wrote about why most book reviews suck, but I found someone who knows how to do a good book review. Sort of.

It's not really a "review" per se. A review provides an objective assessment. What we really want to know is what does the book contain? For modelers, we want to know not just how many pictures it has, but how large are they? Are they clear? Are they in color? Will it help us build better or more accurate models?

The folks over at MMP Books have found a great way to showcase their products. They're using YouTube to show you literally every page of their releases. Here's one for their book on the MiG-15.

Real reviewers take note! There's no better way to assess the real quality of books, particularly those that are photo-intensive.

If the kit reviews I'm seeing on YouTube are any indication (like this one for the Kitty Hawk 1/48 Jaguar), the medium is quickly becoming a great way to show new products. Books should be no exception.

5 ways to pass the time

How do you stay in the hobby when you're away from the bench? That's this month's topic from The Sprue Cutter's Union.

 Several years ago I was crossing a street in New York City and was hit by a car. I broke my wrist as a result of the subsequent fall, which required surgery to fix and a couple of months to heal. Needless to say, I didn't get much modeling done during that time, and ironically my urge to work on a model was never greater!

There are times in our lives when we have to take time away from the workbench for one reason or another. Maybe you have to travel for work. Family obligations require your attention. The holidays call you to one gathering after another. But even during those times, I remain engaged in the hobby. Truth be told, I think about scale modeling a lot, more than I care to admit to anyone outside of my circle of modeling friends, even when I haven't had my hands on plastic for weeks.

I'll bet you're not much different, so here are five ways that I stay in the hobby when I'm away from the workbench.

1. Watch military-themed movies. Nothing gets me more excited about a project than watching a good war movie. When we're working on models it's easy to focus so much on the craftsmanship that we forget the real-world application of those aircraft, tanks, and ships, and the people who manned them. I won't recommend any movies because I know you have your favorites!

2. Deep dive into the forums. Here's something I bet you've never done. When you don't have the time to sit at the bench, go to your favorite forum and click far back into its conversations, maybe to 2010 or further, depending on how long the forum's been around. You'd be surprised at how much great information is there waiting for you to find it. This is particularly good for newcomers.

3. Catalog your stash. If you haven't cataloged your stash, you should, especially if you have more than 50 models. It's a great resource for your every day usage (ever catch yourself asking, "Do I already have a Tamigawa Fruitbat Mk. Vc?") and a better resource for insurance planning. God forbid your house should catch fire, you'll want to show the insurance adjuster proof of the substantial investment you had. Of course you'll want to store that information in the cloud somewhere. I recommend Dropbox or Box. Or simply email a copy to yourself every few months.

4. Browse your stash. If you're not building the models in your stash, the next best thing to do is look at them. Take some time to peruse what you have and consider the possibilities. Extend your browsing into your collection of aftermarket parts and decals and your excitement is sure to prepare you for your next project.

5. Call friends. Sadly, my closest friends live many states away from me, so when I'm not actively working on a model I always enjoy picking up the phone and talking to them. We always have something interesting to discuss, and I always come away from the conversations more excited than I was before.
One final suggestion, as heretical as it is to this month's Union topic. It's okay to disengage from the hobby from time to time. Life is bigger than our hobby, and it's good to spend time with family and to pursue other interests. I love to cook -- probably should've been a chef -- so I enjoy a day in the kitchen almost (almost!) as much as I do a day in the workshop. If you're passionate about scale modeling as I am, that interest will be there, even when you're away from it for a time.

War memoirs

Those of you who enjoy reading military literature will be interested in an article in a recent issue of The New Yorker (the April 7, 2014 issue). Titled, "Home Fires," it's a look at some of the recent memoirs that have been written by American soldiers who've returned from the Iraq war.

Its author, George Packer, looks briefly at the motivation that drives young men to enlist during wartime and how a select few write about their experiences. It offers several suggested reads for those of you seeking a better understanding of what it's like to fight in Iraq.

Here are the books mentioned in the article if you don't care to read it in its entirety.

Redeployment, by Phil Klay
Thank You For Your Service, by David Finkel
Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting, by Kevin Powers
Dust to Dust, by Benjamin Busch
My Life as a Foreign Country, by Brian Turner

Packer also recommends a 1968 collection of stories by Tim O'Brien titled The Things They Carried, as well as his novel Going After Cacciato.

You should be entering contests!

We're well into the 2014 contest season here in North America with IPMS and AMPS contests throughout the US and Canada. A few weeks ago I attended Mosquitocon, IPMS New Jersey's contribution to the local modeling scene, and next month I hope to visit Noreastcon on Long Island. I'm sure many of you have been enjoying contests as well, but...are you entering your models in the contests?

With the Big One, the IPMS USA National Convention in Tidewater, Virginia, just over three months away, I thought this might be a good time to talk about why you -- without exception, each of you reading this -- should be entering contests.

Show us your models

If you need only one reason, it's this one. People want to see your models. Really, we do. Have you ever traveled two or three hours to go to a contest only to find 50 models on the tables? I have. It sucks. Although these events are centered on the contest, the main reason for entering your models is to share your work with other modelers. The next best thing to building models is looking at them, so the more models the better, right? Look, most of us who enter contests know our models won't be competitive; we know there are visible seams, misaligned parts, glue marks that the judges will find within 10 seconds of their inspections. That was exactly the case with the Hasegawa F-117 I took to Mosquitocon. Major issues. As I'd expected, it didn't place, but a couple of guys complimented me on it, and that meant as much to me as an award.

So friends, I'm asking you to pay it forward. Enter your models. We really do want to see them!

Support the club

I think we've come to take contests for granted. They seem to magically "happen" every year, like Mosquitocon. Or Blizzardcon. Do you know how much money it costs to put on a contest? A club has to lay out thousands of dollars for a local contest. Much more for a regional or the National Convention. That's a big investment, which the club can only recoup if modelers and vendors attend. And then there's the hundreds of man hours of the volunteers. When a contest shows signs of decline, particularly in terms of contest entries, there's a strong likelihood that the show will be discontinued. I've seen it happen here in the Northeast, and I bet you've seen it where you live, too. That's bad for the hobby. It gives enthusiasts few opportunities to engage in the hobby.

Every time you enter a model in a contest, you make a small contribution to the show's success and viability so that you and others can continue to enjoy the models, vendors, and the opportunity to meet up with friends in the future.

Competition does not spoil the fun

I shudder when I hear someone whine, "Contests take all the fun out of the hobby." If I hear that one more time I'm going to stick a rusty #11 blade in my ear and carve out my eardrum. Seriously, how weak-willed do you have to be to let a contest affect your enjoyment of the hobby? I'll be the first to admit that, even though I enter contests with no expectation of winning, I feel a twinge of disappointment every time I don't. I've never been a competitive person...at all. As a kid I hated playing board games with my cousins. I never played competitive sports. But whatever disappointment I feel quickly passes, and my friends always appreciate my work for what it is. I know it's painful to be judged, but you are bigger than the opinion of three strangers who, for just that one day, are deigned to pass judgement on your model. Man up! Share your models and support your local clubs.

As we look forward to the contests ahead, I'm begging you, don't take contests too seriously. As much as I enjoy the hobby, it would be less fulfilling if no one ever saw my models in person. Contests play an important role in the way we should engage in the hobby, so I hope you'll find a way to enjoy the experience, too.

P.S. If you agree with me even a little bit, please share this on Facebook, Twitter, email, or in your local club newsletter to encourage others to enter contests.

Squadron's new flyer

By now you've probably heard that Squadron is moving to a paid subscription for their monthly flyer, and you've also probably heard -- and contributed to -- the subsequent chatter about the value of the flyer. Is it worth $10 per year?

I just received my first issue (received unexpectedly, without having subscribed) and thought I'd do a quick review of sorts, for those of you who haven't received one, and offer my thoughts on its value.

At first glance it looks like Squadron's old flyer, with 64 pages, all color. It differs in several respects:

• A three page feature by Jef Verswyvel show's his build of the Encore 1/32 Blue Max Pfalz. It's a very good article, as good as anything you'd see in FineScale Modeler, and includes 16 in-progress photos and three of the completed model.

• A one-page Customer Showcase gives us five pages of Diego Quijano's Eduard 1/48 MiG-21. You may have seen it on one of the forums or directly on Diego's blog, DQ Scaleworks. If I were inclined to worship multiple dieties, Diego would come in at number two!

• Magazines are now prominently featured right inside the flyer, which makes sense given that magazines generally contain time-sensitive information. Well, such as it is with the internet at our fingertips. A wise move, though, because many of us still buy magazines despite daily visits to Hyperscale, Armorama, etc.

• There are several prominent, full-page ads that feature new or upcoming releases, presumably to entice us and drive future purchases. This April edition includes these types of ads for Meng's upcoming 1/24 Ford F-350, ICM's 1/35 ZiL-131, and several of Trumpeter's newest 1/35 releases.

• Six pages feature new aircraft releases using photos that are about twice as large as what we're used to seeing. Other new releases, accessories, and sale items are featured using the regular-sized images and descriptions.

• Ditto for armor, but with only three pages featuring the larger images. New ship releases are featured on two pages (Hobby Boss 1/350 Kursk!) One page is used for cars and one for space/sci-fi. The remainder of the flyer shows books and supplies using the old format.

• The flyer closes with a one-page feature showing Squadron's very first flyer, though oddly the editor doesn't give us a date.

At the end of the day (to use an annoying cliche) is Squadron's new flyer worth it? It's hard for me to be objective because I've been a customer for nearly 30 years and I'm fond of the company. Squadron is a leader in the industry and many years ago set a standard that other mail order shops have sought to meet and exceed (and some would argue that others have done that). Would I pay 84 cents for the flyer? Probably not, but I don't think we'll have to. I have a feeling that Squadron will continue to send it to those who order regularly from them. The gods know my money has played a significant role in the Carrollton, Texas economy for quite a long time!

A visit to Mosquitocon 2014

One of the signs of spring here in the Northeast is the complete melting of all the grubby snow piles in mall parking lots, but since Old Man Winter was especially bitter to us this year and there are more piles of snow in New Jersey parking lots than rivets on a Trumpeter 1/48 scale jet, we have to look for other signs, such as Mosquitocon, the annual show run by IPMS New Jersey.

Mosquitcon and Blizzardcon (run by IPMS Columbus) are two of the best regional contests I've attended over the years. Both are consistently well attended, have robust contests, and great vendors. 2014 didn't disappoint those of us who, suffering severe cabin fever, ventured out on a gorgeous Saturday to re-engage in our hobby.

The vendors room was better than ever. Guy Holroyd of Linden Hill Imports was back after a long absence. Yellow-Wings Decals made their first appearance at the show (I think it was the first time), showing previews of some exciting new releases. Jeff Garrity of Rare-Plane Detective was back again, anchoring the show with local hobby shop Ridgefield Hobby, both with a great selection of older, hard to find kits. The room was further filled out by many other vendors, professional and casual. There were bargains to be found, mostly from the guys selling from their personal stash.

The contest was as good as ever, with just under 400 models. The 1/72 single engine prop category was probably the largest with some really nice entries. There are some very talented ship modelers in the area, and their work impresses everyone, regardless of what you typically build. I'm afraid the armor category may have taken a bit of a hit this year, as the AMPS convention was held the same weekend down in Virginia.

If you're within three or four hours of Wayne, New Jersey the contest is definitely worth the trip. Keep an eye on the club's web site for the dates of next year's show. See you there!

And now, some of my favorite entries. The most interesting to me was a scratchbuilt, 1/400 scale model of New York's Throg's Neck Bridge. Really cool!

Scratchbuilt 1/400 Throgs Neck Bridge.

Detail of the Throgs Neck Bridge.

Best Aircraft and Best of Show, a Wingnut Wings 1/32 FE.2b by Adrian Davies.

Adrian told me he spent two months rigging his FE.2b and was sick of it by the time he finished!

Beautiful 1/72 Bf-109.

Perfectly executed camouflage on a 1/72 Bf-109.

Nice Minicraft 1/144 Constellation.

Tamiya 1/48 F-16C

Perfectly finished Meng 1/72 F-102.

A 1/72 Fw-190A painted and weathered using the salt technique.

Joe Volz's 1/144 MD-88.

Gorgeous example of Airfix's excellent 1/48 Sea Vixen.

Perfect NMF on an Anigrand 1/72 XA-38 Grizzly.

Italeri 1/35 LVT-4.

Tamiya 1/35 M51 with perfectly done weathering.

Trumpeter 1/35 T-62.

1938 Ford Roadster detailed in 1/35.

Tamiya 1/24 NISMO GT-R.

1/350 USS Indianapolis.

Gallery 1/350 USS Wasp.

Cinart "A Trip to the Moon."