2022 is now in the logbooks! Looking back there were several enjoyable builds and a few which were problematic. I am struggling to determine any which truly stand out, I didn’t really build anything particularly unique or show stopping in any way. I did have fun though which counts for something, but I do feel you can have fun and also build something unusual.
I attended five IPMS model shows in 2022, even after missing a few due to conflicts with my daughter’s volleyball tournament schedule. The shows I did get to were the Dayton Wright Field Modelers, the Indianapolis Roscoe Turner show in Lebanon, Military Modelers Club of Louisville, a new show held by IPMS Duneland in Hobart, Indiana, and the Cincinnati show held at the Tri-State Warbird Museum in Batavia, Ohio. Two of the shows I skipped entering models – Dayton so I could spend the afternoon in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and Hobart because it was a new show and I didn’t know what to expect. Hobart turned out to be a full-fledged show right out of the gate with a great vendors’ area and over 500 models on the tables. I’ll definitely bring some entries next year!
The publishing industry seems to have picked up some, and there are finally titles making their way down to the overstock and secondary market which is where I pick up a good number of books. I have also been listening to audiobooks while I model, downloaded from the Indiana State Library. Listening at the bench is a good fit, as it doesn’t interfere with modeling in any way. Sadly, two authors which are well represented on my shelves passed away this year, Jerry Crandall and Lawrence J. Hickey. Both will be missed.
Blog Statistics and News
The Inch High Guy blog has completed year four! A big thanks to all who visit on a regular basis and I am happy to report that I again managed to make a post each day. Total posts surpassed 1,500 last week, so there is a backlog for any new followers if you’re interested. It’s gotten to the point where even I’ve forgotten some of the posts! The blog received 168,566 views and 66,305 visitors this year, up from 139,675 views and 55,483 visitors in 2022.
I have never counted the models lurking in the display cases in the Secret Underground Workshop, but given that I post 2 completed builds per week with 8 photos each, that’s over 400 models and 3,200 photographs so far. The problem with that is, even with new completions, I will run out of finished models to post sometime this year and will have to upgrade my WordPress plan as all the storage space will be filled. The other topics regularly in the rotation show similar numbers – 200 book reviews, 200 walk arounds, etc. It is likely that there will be some point where the blog will only be updated a few times a week instead of daily. This may open up other possibilities with other formats, time will tell.
Models Built in 2022
41 completions, 31 aircraft and 10 vehicles. When I counted them up I was surprised that this was 7 more than last year. Only 3 figures this year though, which is down quite a bit. Everything was built to 1/72 scale as is my preference. The mosaic has a picture of each build, construction posts and additional finished pictures can be found by searching the blog.
Pavla Curtiss AT-9 Fledgling (Jeep)
AZmodel Vought OS2U Kingfisher
Hasegawa Brewster Model B-239 Buffalo x2
Hasegawa Curtiss SOC Seagull x2
Special Hobby Seversky P-35
Revell Sd. Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther
Dragon Jagdpanzer IV L/70
Revell Sturmgeschütz IV
Arma Hobby North American P-51 B/C Mustang x12
Arma Hobby Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate “Frank” x6
Hasegawa Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate “Frank” (Repaint)
RS Models Kawasaki Ki-100
North American B-25 Mitchell x4
Airfix Sherman Firefly Vc x2
Plastic Soldier M3 Stuart Honey x3
Vickers Light Tank Mark VIB Resin Prints x2
What’s Ahead in 2023
What IS ahead in 2023? Boy, I could really get into politics here, both international and domestic. Let’s leave it as hopes for a just end to the war in Ukraine, and a lack of interest on the part of other dictators in starting new conflicts.
On the modeling front, most of the immediate plans are for my typical builds which are gradually becoming more routine. There are also a few ideas for unusual subjects, but these are more involved and tend to take much longer than shake and bake kits. I am always kicking around ideas for another ship, but ships in any scale tend to consume bench time at incredible rates. I’m not sure that 50 work in progress posts on the same subject is a good thing.
On the home front Ms. Inch High’s weakness for dogs manifested itself again and we’re now up to four. Both of the new arrivals were rescues adopted in the same week. Franklin had been returned to the shelter a couple of times but is a great dog, Elenore was rescued from a dog hoarder and had had a rough life. She was traumatized but has really come around now and is the most energetic of the pack.
May you each live long enough to build every model in your stash!
Inch High Guy 