2023: Year in review (It was a great year!)

[tatocorvette]

Hello,

   Happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful new year!   Life continues to be beautifully chaotic.  Very busy with work, family, community and other hobbies.
This 2023 was a very interesting year. Hobby-wise, while 2022 was dominated by cameras and stereophotography viewers restorations, in one of those curve ball life throws at you, I spent a lot of time in 2023 with a modeling tool that became a new hobby in itself: Airbrushes! I now collect, restore and research airbrushes, particularly vintage units.  I have worked in more airbrushes this year than scale models.  Very few cameras were worked this year: serviced 3 but they were not mine. I also worked one or two stereophotography viewers.
I also did an epic trip with my wife to Italy, one of the most beautiful places in the universe.
But talking about scale models, this was a very productive year. For the first time in over a decade I was able to finish 9 models within a calendar year. Granted, most were curbsides so sometimes I feel like cheating 
They were also quite diverse:
4 Corvettes in 1/25 scale
2 Star Wars spaceships
2 cars in 1/32
1 race car in 1/43 
No aircraft models this year, nor any modified Hot Wheels

Here is my class of 2023 in chronological order:

1.  Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1. 1/36 scale   While mostly built in 2022, it was finished in early January so it counts for this year.  AMT kit: Contender for the worst fitting kit ever made.




Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/2962/finished-darth-vaders-ride-advanced 


2. 2012 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe.  1/25 scale. Modified Z06. Very long term project started almost a decade ago.
 


Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/1857/finished-2012-corvette-grand-sport



3.  Red Squadron Leader (Red 1) X-Wing Fighter  1/63 scale  Reissue of the old MPC kit





Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3072/finished-star-wars-wing-fighter


4. 1978 Pontiac Trans Am  1/32 scale.  Monogram kit.  Fun little project.



Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3103/finished-judge-monogram-pontiac-trans


5. 1915 Ford Model T  1/32 scale.   Excellent old Pyro kit from the 1960's   Tons of details added. Complex project. Very happy with the results. 



Link to the build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3111/finished-1915-ford-model-pyro


6. Early C4 Corvette Racer.  1/25 scale. Contender for favorite of the year. Part of a local Corvette buildoff. Heavily modified 1984 promo.



Link to build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff




7. 1990 Corvette Convertible.  1/25 scale. Part of the local Corvette buildoff. AMT kit. One of the worst fitting Corvette kits ever made. Tons of work required.



Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff




8. 1963 Corvette convertible Restomod.  1/25 scale. Part of the local Corvette buildoff.  Quick custom using the Revell snap kit. 



Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff

9. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM (Mille Miglia)  1/43 scale  white metal kit.  A most challenging build



Link to build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3147/finished-43-1956-ferrari-290


What is your favorite?  As usual, your comments are appreciated.
Thank you all for always supporting my builds enthusiastically! 
Looking forward to 2024!

Thanks,
Ismael

[kyledehart5]

Hard to choose a favorite from those most excellent builds Ismael!! I love Star Wars so I like those. That Ferrari is lovely too. But I also love your paint work on that C4 racer. And I remember following along with your Model T in amazement. Just fantastic work across the board. Looking forward to seeing what you build next year.