About me

Name:: James H
Nickname:: WildDuckSF1984
Country:: United States of America
Town:: San Francisco
Member since:: July 31, 2021
Communities:: scalemates.com (Scale modeling)
papermates.net (Paper modeling)
gundammates.com (Gundam modeling)
railwaymates.com (Train modeling)
diecastmates.com (Diecast models)
rcmates.net (RC modeling)

Was a casual modeler before I started high school, where I mostly built cars and the occasional plane. The builds weren't too elaborate: Minimal paint work that was somewhat tidy, acceptable decal applications, few fingerprints burned into the plastic because of the cement (Testors red and white tube,) and, well, you get the picture.

Took a bit of a break from the hobby and got back into it shortly after earning my Masters, thanks to a really good friend of mine also getting back into the hobby. In my first outing, we co-built a Trumpeter 1:350 USS San Francisco (1942 Version).

Since then, have been alternating builds between planes and cars.

When building cars (generally American muscle cars, hot rods, and other classic American cars), I try to personalize them as much as possible, either by doing something as ornate as creating a "fan car," which has a number of decals related to the theme I chose applied on the hood, roof, body, etc., or doing something as simple as using a different license plate decal than the one that was included in the box.

I have been dreaming up a rather nice mega project that is related to one of my favorite movies, "Bullitt," but am waiting until I have a bit more time and space available to me so that it can turn out in real life the way I've been seeing it in my mind.

If I'm building a plane (usually ones that saw service in World War II,) I generally gravitate to planes which were used by nations other than the United States, England, or Germany. But, that's not to say that I don't have any USAAF/USN, RAF/FAA, or Luftwaffe birds in my stash. I like to think that by building these planes, that I'm giving a nod of recognition to the planes of the RNZAF, RAAF, Regia Aeronautica, Free Italy, Free France, etc. and the other less publicized air forces that served during the war.

Another quirk related to my building and collecting of these planes is my interest in planes which are synonymous with one country, but bear the markings of another nation (i.e. a Corsair with RNZAF livery, or a Hurricane with Irish Air Corps. livery.) There's also my fondness for planes which have unique camo patterns (such as the RAF camo schemes, Italy's smoke ring and confetti patterns, etc.)

I also have some newer planes that I hope to build in the future. Unsurprisingly, the reason I have chosen these particular models is due to the unique paint job (USAF Skyraider), the fact that it's a plane I think is pretty damn cool overall (F-4J Phantom II), or that it's a lesser known class of plane (FAC Bird Dog and Cessna O-2A)