Throughout this site, I'm going to talk about models, show you pictures
of my models, talk about modeling tips, and share my love for the art and my passion and hunger for military history - especially
that of World War II. I'll give a bit of history on the subject models, as well as some background on how I got involved in
building models. And, of course, I'll include lots of pictures of the results of my hobby.
The key to making good models is simple. TAKE YOUR TIME. BE PATIENT with
yourself and let your talents grow. Rome was not built in a day, and neither is talent. HASTE MAKES WASTE was never more true
than when applied to building models.
Typically, I try to be as thorough as possible in my research and assembly.
Research is usually about 4 to 5 hours for each model.
The average tank takes me about 40 hours from start to finish. Larger tanks
can take 60 hours.
Each figure averages about 10 hours, especially if laden with equipment.
A face can take forever, and I often do them over 4 or 5 times. As a result, some faces take 1- 3 hours.
Aircraft can take from 60 to over 100 hours. Sometimes, I make dreadful
mistakes and I have to buy another kit to get parts I have destroyed or blemished beyond repair. My record is 4 kits used
to build the Monogram F-14A shown on this site. Extensive modifications to the stock model were the cause of many bloopers
on this F-14!
Accidents DO HAPPEN, so never give up. In building the Dauntless SBD, I
spent many many hours doing the interior, and set the fuselage halves on my work desk to dry. One of my cats, Audie Murphy,
took a stroll across the desk that night. I had neglected to tightly cap my Testors liquid glue and he knocked it over, turning
half the fuselage into a mass of liquified plastic. This SBD was an old Matchbox kit long out of production, but miraculously,
I looked on EBay and someone had JUST POSTED the same model for sale. I bid an absurd amount to get it, and the result can
be seen in the photo album. Fortune favors the deliberate.
The good pictures in this site were taken by my sister, Rica (Rickie) Asaban. The lousy ones were taken by me.
As the site progresses, I will add better photos!
