Online Reader Gallery: August 30, 2021

Joe Conowitch
Evans, Washington
This detailed diorama shows Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery with his troops as they relax, restock, and test their equipment during a brief respite from the relentless battles with German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Joe built the 1/35 scale scene out of a Tamiya LRDG command car, Tamiya British Special Air Service jeep, and numerous figure kits. He made everything extra dusty with Ammo by Mig Jimenez weathering products.

Christian Gurney
Franksville, Wisconsin
Christian built this beautiful 1/32 scale Gloster Sea Gladiator from ICM before manning it with a British pilot figure, also from ICM. Believe it or not, this model was his first rigging attempt. He used Uschi standard rigging thread and turnbuckle eyelets from Bob’s Buckles. He painted the camouflage with Vallejo Model Air colors and the exhaust collector ring is painted with Alclad II. Flory dark dirt washes lightly weathered the biplane and Testors Dullcote sealed it all.

Gordon Smoak
Alexandria, Louisiana
This sleek looking ride is a Revell 1/25 scale 1999 Chevy Silverado. Gordon reworked a lot of the kit by first cutting the frame down and scratchbuilding the lowered suspension from sprue and spare parts. It sits on giant tires and rims from a Dodge Charger kit with larger, scratchbuilt brakes. “For the body I cut the roof off along with the B- and C-pillars,” says Gordon. “I left about three quarters of the windshield and A-pillars for the Cali-cruiser look. To accommodate the lowered suspension, I cut open the bed and painted everything with Testors metallic blue spray paint. Inside the cab, I cut out the backseats and put in a sound system enclosure. The two giant subwoofers are old laptop speakers that actually play music through a headphone jack underneath the truck.”

Greg C. Leblanc
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
“It’s fun to make a model of a fictional subject because it gives you a chance to use some artistic license,” says Greg. “I picked Bandai's 1/72 scale TIE Interceptor for this reason.” The color scheme is a First Order TIE/ba Interceptor piloted by Major Elrik Vonreg from the animated series Star Wars Resistance. He painted with Vallejo Model Air and weathered with Tamiya panel line colors, filter washes, and dry-brushed silver.

Hunter McNaughton
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
The subject of Hunter’s first diorama is Trumpeter’s 1/35 scale Spanish Army VRC105 Centauro  Recon Combat Vehicle. He painted with Rust-Oleum spray paint and weathered with Ammo by Mig Jimenez products. The base is an old picture frame and Sculptamold with some rocks and dirt from his backyard. The figures came from a Fine Molds modern JGSDF Jeep and are painted with Ammo acrylics.

Charles L. Lipkin
Naperville, Illinois
“I found this 1979 vintage Airfix 1/72 scale A-26B/C Invader on eBay and grabbed it to fill a gap in my propeller-driven warplane collection,” says Charles. He airbrushed the model with Testors Model Master acrylics, bleached the yellowed kit decals with sunlight, and made his own decal for “Moonbeam” from clip art. Well done, Charles!

Henry Lee
Chelsea, Alabama
This model of the USS Guam was constructed from a 1/350 scale resin kit from Iron Shipwright. “The Guam was the second of the U.S. Navy, two vessel ‘Large Cruiser’ Alaska-class,” says Henry. He enhanced the kit with photo-etched metal railings and radars, anchor chain, rigging, and flags. He painted with Model Master acrylics.

Larry Morris
Blytheville, Arkansas
Larry built this model of Steve ‘The King’ Kinser’s sprint car way back in 1988! It’s a 1/24 scale Monogram kit that Larry jazzed up with lots of scratchbuilt parts, which he says were needed to make a good replica car back in the day.

Luk Vanstappen
Mechelen, Antwerp, Belgium
Luk says this was his first attempt to re-create a scene from a World War II photograph. The picture (and diorama) shows a group of U.S. soldiers inspecting an abandoned Sturmtiger. Nicely done, Luk! The Sturmtiger is from Tamiya, figures are from Luk’s spares stash and MiniArt. The tree came from a hydrangea flower that he stripped of its pedals. Everything is set on a plaster base.

Martin Jacques
Cheltenham, England
Using an early 1/48 scale Monogram kit, Martin built this Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The fuel truck and figures are from Tamiya. He airbrushed everything with Humbrol and Tamiya paints. The decals were sourced from Lifelike and Kitsworld. “I love American World War II piston-engine aircraft, especially the south pacific campaign,” says Martin.