I think I have a syndrome

[Miko]

For years I've be quite disciplined in that I only build one kit at a time, being quite a quick builder this doesn't usually present a problem, of course I've had lapses where I've taken a break from one build to start another, usually for a technical reason, needing a part or a paint colour or maybe further research but very rarely because I've lost interest because my attention has been gripped by a new shiny subject or kit, or more often the build isn't going well because I made a mistake or the kit isn't going together as well as I'd hoped!

So to have more than two builds on the bench at the same time is unprecedented! However, a while ago I started an Amodel 1/144 Comet 4 (thanks Dave) but it wasn't going as expected, 1/144 isn't my scale, it's really a strain on my eyesight, the kit too is quite challenging, with my particular subject in mind being a modification of the box subject added to the complexity of the build! at the same time I was studying a 'what if' idea of a 'raspberry ripple' Lightning T5 based on the ETPS aircraft at Boscombe Down in the 80's, this was too much of a temptation and a Sword 1/72 T5 was acquired! The Comet was packed away for a rainy day and the T5 commenced, Sword kits can bring about further challenges being 'short run' and this one having brass etch, something I'm not too familiar with, then I discovered there was a part missing! No cockpit tub! I contacted the retailer who to his credit dispatched a replacement in good time, this left me with a window of a few days over a weekend where my modelling mojo was quite high so I needed a simple 'quick fix build' to see me through until my replacement part arrived.

to be continued

[Miko]

[too much text for one post!]

part two

A Hasegawa 1/72 Lightning F6 out of the stash found it's way on to the bench! a simple kit from the 1960's, a mold they shared with Frog back in the 70's, I commenced the build when a domestic issue occurred preventing me from continuing with modelling for a month or so! Now I am in a position to build again, I completed a little anime snap kit in the figures section as a reintroduction back to the bench, in the mean time I had visited my local model shop (yep, I'm lucky I still have one!) to get some supplies where I saw an Airfix P1127, a classic kit dating back to when the Harrier prototype was still a new and exciting technology, a small amount of cash was handed over and I scurried home to check out my new purchase! Box opened and with a penchant for British prototypes (I have a few in the stash) my mind thought 'I could put this together in a day or two!' . . . kit number four was now bench bound! My conscience was aware of my shattering of my own personal law of not to build more than one kit at a time! but the Lightning and P1127 were simple classics, I could have them done in a few days! Not so, The fit of 'Hawkers' finest isn't good, I know I can make a good job of it I'm confident I can complete it satisfactorily, so, a couple of weeks later and hours of work refining the P1127 into something I'm happy with later, I thought I'd do something with the Hase Lightning, it was at a point where I add decals, I do this before adding the parts that can be damaged by handling, undercarriage, pitot aerials and antenii etc, now, recently I've built ancient Hasegawa kits such as an F-104 and the decals performed flawlessly, not so this time! they refused to budge from the backing sheet and after much persuasion the broke into many pieces! so, replacements sought and ordered! Today I discovered the nose wheel landing gear leg is missing!! I suppose I could build it 'gear up' but it's not what I really do! So, here I am, I have the kit in front of me with decals ready to go, I'm just not inspired! When this happens I'll pull a book from my really quite comprehensive library on cold war British jets and study for a while, this usually reignites my interest, either that a YouTube search, lots of inspiration there, where it be a history video or a modelling channel, there's lots I subscribe to,
it was during a YouTube session I stumbled upon an anime series (I do enjoy anime, probably since the Airfix TSR2 MS from Stratos4) where second world war era tanks are used in a competitive international sport called 'tankery' the various national teams that compete follow national stereotypes, the Germans are very tutonic and efficient, the Russians are led by a tiny dictatorial commander, the Americans are filled with bravado and unlimited resources, the British are polite and gentile and constantly drinking tea! The French are always infighting and the Japanese are all 'Banzai!, the animation is first class and the battles are convincing and the tanks are commensurate in performance and firepower with their real life counterparts! Highly detailed and historically appropriate! A bizarre concept in that no one ever gets hurt further more in that all protagonists are high school girls!!

So I've just ordered a couple 'preowned' of tank kits from King Kit!

I think I have a problem, I need some advice, what's your thoughts guys?

Miko (full disclosure, I also have a half built 1/20 Tamiya Honda F1 car, i started a couple of years ago, somewhere?)

[PaulTRose]

A bizarre concept in that no one ever gets hurt further more in that all protagonists are high school girls!!

Aaaah.......youve discovered Girls und Panzer!!!.....enjoy! Lol

Im like you.....hate having multiple kits on the go at once.....tends to feel more like a production line than a hobby

[Airborne01]

i'm perplexed - what's 'Girls und Panzer' (apart from the obvious!)?
Steve

[Miko]

Aaaah.......youve discovered Girls und Panzer!!!.....enjoy! Lol

Yep, and then some! Although I'm not a prolific armoured fighting vehicle builder I've certainly assembled quite a few kits in my build history, mostly 1/76-72 Airfix and Matchbox as a kid and later 1/35 Tamiya kits post ''Operation Granby', so on seeing 'Girls und Panzer' I recognised some of the tanks, in episode one of the first season where Miho and the girls of Ooarai Academy battle with 'St Gloriana Girls Academy' I noticed the Churchill VII and being a modeller I immediately thought 'That's the Tamiya kit!' , later I also checked what was available on Scalemates for Matila II in 1/35, the other tank employed by 'St Gloriana Girls Academy' ! It was there I discovered the size of the 'Girls und Panzer' phenomena in the scale modelling universe!
The Japanese manufacturer 'Platz' has produced a range of kits from 'GuP' (I'm down with the kids here, 'GuP is what all the cool kids call it! Ha!) as can be seen here, it seems they've borrowed molds from other manufacturer such as Meng, Border Model, Tamiya and 'Amusing Hobby which could explain why they are 'ruinously' expensive having to pay licence to those other companies, however, thanks to our Chinese friends over on Ali Express and Temu there are decal sets and scaled anime character proportionate figures to crew these kits! Which is a good thing because I really didn't want 'Japanese Schoolgirl figure' in my search history! Ha! Missus Miko is already suspicious of me binge watching this anime, asking 'Why on Earth are you watching that!' I'm not sure my reply of 'Research' did me any favours! Ha!

On return to the local model shop I got myself a Tamiya 1/35 Panzer Kampfwagen IV Ausf D which when complete will look something like 'this' being the AFV of choice for the main protagonists of the series

Miko (I think I'm developing a different syndrome!)

[Miko]

i'm perplexed - what's 'Girls und Panzer' (apart from the obvious!)?
Steve

A bit of a Pandora's box for the stash conscious and the unwary stash builder!

It's quite entertaining for those who have an interest in WWII tanks but with a massive twist!

Luckily not too much fanservice unlike Stratos4, the subject of Airfix TSR2 MS which was gratuitous in the extreme!

Miko (I now have the theme tune song as an earworm! . . . ''I just feel my wind, I just feel my shine. . . !'')

[Tim Marlow]

Next stop, Stug life and Hetzer and friends…….

[Miko]

Stug life and Hetzer and friend

Ooooooh, interesting!

Thanks Tim

Although have a GuP 'der film' and a few OVA's to get through first, luckily it's a four day bank holiday weekend!

Miko (I'm too far down the rabbit hole now to easily get out!)

[Tim Marlow]

Ooooooh, interesting!

Thanks Tim

Although have a GuP 'der film' and a few OVA's to get through first, luckily it's a four day bank holiday weekend!

Miko (I'm too far down the rabbit hole now to easily get out!)

I’m sure you’ve seen them, but just in case…. “Grave of the fireflies” and “The wind rises” are very worth the time effort as well. In fact, anything by Ghibli is not to be missed, but I’m starting off the subject now.

[PaulTRose]

Miko (I'm too far down the rabbit hole now to easily get out!)

When you bump into Alice say hi from me

[Miko]

I’m sure you’ve seen them, but just in case…. “Grave of the fireflies” and “The wind rises” are very worth the time effort as well. In fact, anything by Ghibli is not to be missed, but I’m starting off the subject now.

Yep, I'm a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki, and I did enjoy the semi biographical 'The wind rises' telling the story of Jiro Horikoshi and his contribution to Mitsubishi aero in the late thirties

However, 'Grave of the fireflies' is the most depressing and deeply upsetting thing I've ever seen, seeing war orphans Seita and Setsuko, and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of the Pacific War, to watch a young happy go lucky little girl die of starvation and radiation sickness was just too much for me! It's a brilliantly produced anime classic, one of best from Studio Ghibli but just far too melancholy, it affected me for days after, I'll never watch it again

Miko (just missed out on a ticket to see the live version of 'Spirited Away' in London!)

[Tim Marlow]

Yep, I'm a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki, and I did enjoy the semi biographical 'The wind rises' telling the story of Jiro Horikoshi and his contribution to Mitsubishi aero in the late thirties

However, 'Grave of the fireflies' is the most depressing and deeply upsetting thing I've ever seen, seeing war orphans Seita and Setsuko, and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of the Pacific War, to watch a young happy go lucky little girl die of starvation and radiation sickness was just too much for me! It's a brilliantly produced anime classic, one of best from Studio Ghibli but just far too melancholy, it affected me for days after, I'll never watch it again

Miko (just missed out on a ticket to see the live version of 'Spirited Away' in London!)

Totally agree with your synopsis, it is a very hard watch, but it’s possibly the best anti war film ever made.
Saw spirited away….and have tickets for Totoro later in the year (smug grin )….been to Studio Ghibli as well, fantastic place. I got to sit in the cat bus

[Miko]

When you bump into Alice say hi from me

When you say Alice do you mean Shimada Arisu chan 'All-Stars University Team' ??

I'm also a huge fan of the works of Lewis Carroll

Miko (the bug has well and truly bitten)

[Miko]

Totally agree with your synopsis, it is a very hard watch, but it’s possibly the best anti war film ever made.

Yep, it's really harsh!

Saw spirited away….and have tickets for Totoro later in the year (smug grin )….been to Studio Ghibli as well, fantastic place. I got to sit in the cat bus

You can probably see the green glow of envy emanating from my direction right now!

Miko (Ghibliophile)

[Tim Marlow]

When you say Alice do you mean Shimada Arisu chan 'All-Stars University Team' ??

I'm also a huge fan of the works of Lewis Carroll

Miko (the bug has well and truly bitten)

That looks very like my daughter at that age, she’s the one that got me into Ghibli, and bought me “Fireflies” as a Xmas present. Oh, and she’s called Alice……