Model Fleet

"...Thanks for the opportunity to post this note. I wanted to introduce myself to you and your board members.

My name is Kevin McClure, I live in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri with my wife and three young children. I am co-owner of a small design-build residential general contracting company called Design Build Solutions, Inc. My partner and I started the company in September of last year (I know - great timing - right as the economy tanked!) We're hanging in there by keeping our overhead very low and managing our projects very closely.

I have been a modeler for most of my 52 years, with an 'intermission' between the ages of 16 and 30 or so. My first model building was with (by) my father, and my first kits built with him were the Monogram 1/48 Wildcat with the folding wings, and the Aurora 1/48 T-37. My Dad was an officer in the Air Force, and I was born while he was stationed at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington, so we naturally had an interest in aviation. He was a very good modeler considering the limited tools and resources he had available to him at the time, and I always admired his clean builds. Maybe it rubbed off on me. My late Grandfather was drafted into the Navy during WWII, even though he was quite old and had nicknames of 'Pops' and 'Grandpa' because he was twice the age of his comrades. He served on an ammunition ship (yikes!) and also was detached to a group of Seabees.

I have gone from modeling aircraft exclusively, to building ships, space, and armor. I used to have an extensive unbuilt model collection numbering up to 800 or so, I'm down to about 100. I sell kits on eBay and as a vendor at local hobby shows and at my IPMS chapters annual 'Gateway to the West' Invitational. I am a local and national member of IPMS and AMPS. I am particularly interested in and research USN and Marine naval aviation, the USMC and amphibious warfare, and space exploration. I discovered resin ship building by picking up an old 1/350 waterline Viking USS Texas (yikes!) and converting it to a USS New York in 1945 fit. Now I'm hooked! My models place (and occasionally win) at the local / regional level.

I also love building old box scale plastic ship models - and that is how I found my way to (Matt Stein Models) and (then to ModelFleet here). Yes, I was a 'lurker' for a long time! I am currently building the 1/540 Wasp by Revell in a late 50's/early 60's fit. I am using (Matty's Models') new and improved (Single Open-Mount) 5" guns and aircraft, GMM's nice brass detail set, aftermarket decals, and a bunch of photos! I have completed the flight deck and a scratch built hangar deck, I'm working on the island and other details. I'll send you some photos soon!..."

So what's on your work bench other than Wasp?

Cheers,

Don

Hi Don! Well, let's see what all is on the workbench:

1/400 Mirage V-105 Destroyer 80% brass/weathering
1/350 ISW LSM 60% subassemblies/brass
1/350 ISW Bainbridge DD1 90% weathering
1/350 ISW USN S-Boat sub 90% weathering
1/700 AKI Sangammon 80% brass/weathering
1/700 Tamiya Hornet 80% brass/weathering

1/35 Italeri LVTA1 converted to LVTA4 Finished!
1/35 Italeri LVTA1 converted to LVTA5 Finished!
1/35 Italeri LVTA1 (upgraded) 60% subassemblies
1/35 AFV Club LVTP5A1 80% painting/weathering
1/35 Italeri LVT4 10% collecting materials
1/35 Tamiya LVTP7 90% weathering

1/48 Tamiya Wildcat/KMC conversion to FM2 80% final assembly/wethering
1/48 Czech Model FJ1 Fury 60% assembly

That's about it. As you can see, I bounce around and do what I feel like working on any given day. This is how I avoid burnout and each project stays fun. I finish about 10 to 12 projects a year, as time permits. Right now, I have been on an LVT kick, and have completed a TRAKZ LVT1, an Italeri/TRAKZ LVT2, LVT2A, LVTA4 and LVTA5. Last year it was naval avaition and "what-ifs" like an F111B in service, an A12 Avenger II, an F35B, etc.

Thanks,

Kevin

Just an excellent "hello", Kevin - and one which I'm sure many another "lurker" could echo, almost word-for-word!

Your building prowess - as well as your earlier collection - sounds quite impressive indeed. I'm sure you will be able to weigh in authoritatively, on our continual discussions of the "box-scale classics".

Meantime, please do show us pics of your completed builds (I'd love to see your New York, in particular) - which you can send straight to me, with description, and I'll post them for you, if that's easiest.

Also, although you used the dreaded "A-word" (armor

), be advised: anything amphibious is also "fair game" here at ModelFleet, so we'll exhibit your USMC (and probably most of your US Army) Heavy Metal, as well. (Just don't be too enthusiastic about it!

)

Seriously though, welcome to ModelFleet, Kevin - a great intro - and it's great to have you aboard, buddy!

Cheers,

-Matty