My Year in Review, 2022!

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I managed to get four builds completed in 2022. Not too bad considering that for the last three months of the year I was unable to get any significant bench time in.

First out of the gate was the Polar Lights Ecto-1 kit. Because, who doesn't want an Ecto-1 in their collection? Started October of 2021 and finished in May of 2022 with approximately 100 hours invested.  Between the two kits offered (the other is by AMT) this is the more simple of the two. Requiring, in my eyes at least, a bit more work to bring it up to an acceptable level of detail.

 

The rear bumper is borrowed from the AMT kit as are some of the rooftop detail items. I also scratch built a fuel filler.

 

I scratch-bashed the AC fan and added some wiring along with the parts borrowed from the AMT kit.

 

I built quite a bit of detail for the interior including a rack of Proton Packs. I thought it would be a shame to not be able to see all that work once the model was completed, so I also lighted the interior. It's my first attempt at building a lighted model and I'm pleased with the way it came out.

 

Here's a shot of the lighted interior showing the Proton Packs and some of the other delightful clutter I built for added visual interest.

 

 

The second one for 2022 is the Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino by Revell. Started April 2022 and finished in May with 33.5 hours invested. This was built as a "Seven Day Challenge" which ended up taking me fourteen days. This kit was a birthday gift from my wife.

This is the title card I made up for the challenge using PaintShop Pro.

 

I built this one mostly straight out of the box. If I remember correctly, the one detail I added was a power cord I made for the roof light. 

 

It's a nice kit and goes together well to yield a respectable representation of the car made famous on the Starsky & Hutch TV show from the Seventies. Speaking of the Seventies, gotta love that rake with the over-sized rear tires!

 

 

Third is the Batmobile based on the 1968 DC Comics illustrations. Started 5/9/2022 and finished 7/5/2022 with 51.5 hours worked. I picked this one up at the 2022 Desert Scale Classic Swap Meet and Model Contest in Phoenix.

This kit comes complete with Dynamic Duo figures. The figures are well cast and paint up quite nicely. Though Batman looks a little pudgy to me, they are a nice inclusion in the kit.

 

This kit is very well done and nicely detailed though the designers made some unusual engineering choices when it came to mounting the rear axle and engine to the chassis. Both of which required some modification to fit properly.

 

Though the directions call for a black paintjob, I opted for a dark metallic blue. It just seemed to me a better option. Also seen here is the nicely detailed interior. 

I was honestly surprised by how complete and detailed this kit actually is. Especially considering that it's designed and engineered from comic book illustrations done in the Sixties. 

 

And finally, The Mummy Machine.  Started on 7/5/2022 and finished 8/28/2022 in about 43 hours. This is the Mummy Machine by AMT-ERTL.... and MPC at least according to the logo cast on the bottom of the body tub. Originally released in (I think) 1972, I first encountered this kit around 1974 or 75. So yeah, this is another nostalgia build in which I try to recapture my youth. I don't believe that I ever completed building it as I can remember having the mummy head and other various bits around for years afterward.

There was an actual show car like this in the early Seventies.  I'm still not clear if the kit is based on the show car or vice versa. In any event, this kit is very basic and offers little to no actual operational automotive detail. I thought about making it more mechanically accurate but opted not to, deciding that the feel of the model was more important to me than its function. 

 

There is huge seam where the front and rear halves of the mummy head join that caused me some concern. I think I addressed it pretty well. I'm also pleased with the way the gold paint turned out as gold can sometimes be tricky.

 

I like the detail in the mummy hands. The sculptor worked in what looks to me like a bit of bone in the forearm.

 

I worked in a little added detail of my own on the bottom. A small brass scarab that I found on Etsy.

 

The interior sports a tongue shaped seat but other than that, there's not much to see. I am happy with how the flesh turned out, it has a nice desiccated leathery look.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post a comment or two.

David G.

[TooOld]

Very cool collection David  , I like all of them ! 

[David G.]

27 minutes ago, TooOld said:

Very cool collection David  , I like all of them ! 

Thank you Bob.

David G.

[slusher]

Fantastic models Dave, enjoyed watching you build!!

[David G.]

6 hours ago, slusher said:

Fantastic models Dave, enjoyed watching you build!!

Thank you for your kind words Carl.

David G.

[ChrisR]

NICE!!

[Zippi]

Pretty kewl looking builds for 2022.

[David G.]

23 hours ago, ChrisR said:

NICE!!

Thanks Chris.

22 hours ago, Zippi said:

Pretty kewl looking builds for 2022.

Thank you Bob.

David G.

[spencer1984]

Great looking group, nicely done!

[David G.]

8 hours ago, spencer1984 said:

Great looking group, nicely done!

Thank you Bill. Knowing the quality of your work, your opinion means a lot to me.

David G.

Edited January 31, 2023 by David G.
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