Bishop Hobbies

 

Feb 21, 2010 – I attended the Model Expo 2010 in Petaluma California.  I have attended this model show for the last several years but this was the first year that I did not enter anything.  I actually haven’t finished any models in the past year.  I was also fighting a cold – so this year I could leave earlier.  I was just looking forward to enjoying great model building and talking to friends from the model clubs I attend.  It ended up to be that and a lot more.  Following are some pictures that I took. 

This picture shows the models I won in the raffle.  I purchased $50.00 in raffle tickets.  I just used the same $50.00 that I won in the 2009 show from 1st place in the speed build contest.

 Left to right:

1. Dragon 1/35 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.J mid production Aug-Sept 1944 Smart Kit.  This is really nice and cost $49.55 at Great Models

2. FineMolds 1/72 Millennium Falcon.  I believe this is out of production.  About 900 parts and quite rare from some reports.  This model looks absolutely fantastic!!

3. Dragon 1/350 USS Gearing DD-710 Smart Kit.  I this a very nice kit and is selling now at Great Models for $44.75

4. Down in front a little model by Starfix in Israel of the Northrop T-38 Talon in 1/72.  This is out of production and sells for $.99 to $3.25 on e-bay.

5. This is a 1/48 scale German Kubelwagon Type 82.  It’s a finished model and really nice – except the windshield is broken off.  That’s a simple fix.  I can’t see who makes it other than the Philippines.

 

Here are some more pics of the Millennium Falcon:

Here’s a photo of me holding the Millennium Falcon – this is a seriously big box!!!

I also bought a 1/48 scale model of the FM-1 Wildcat by Hobby Boss.  This is the jeep carrier version of the F-4F after the fleet carriers were converting to the F-6F.  This is a great model that I bought for only $8.00 – a bargan.  See the pic:

And now here are the other pics I took of the really fantastic models at this show…

 

 11/1/09

Attached are some of the photos I took at the 2009 Fremont Hornets model show in Newark California.  It was a wonderful show and I was fortunate enough to receive 2nd place in the 1/48 and larger Allied armor section for my 1/16 scale Russian T34/85 tank by Trumpeter (see last photo).  The award plaques are unique in that they have Russian type writing – very cool.

First off is a picture of the stuff I came away with.  On the left is the 1/350 scale model of the Graf Spee by Academy that I won at the raffle.  Judging from the pictures on the side with no previous knowledge of this model I was led to believe that it came with photo etch.  It doesn’t – and the reviews aren’t great on this model either – evedently the Trumpeter version is much better in every way – big goof on my part – I should have picked something else.  In the center is a book on detailing the WWII German SkKfz 251 halftrack – I have a model on one of these which I haven’t built so this may be of some use. I also won this in the raffle.   Last of all is the best of the lot to me – the Dragon 1/35 M2A1 SEP Abrams tank.  This is simply the best model out of the Abrams and one that I’ve been looking for – I got this from a vendor for $25.00 – a very good price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My venerable 1/32 Trumpeter SBD-5 didn’t place – I noticed when I when to pack up the model that the pitot tube was crooked.  It isn’t glued in and I just didn’t notice the problem when I set the model on the table – I gotta pay more attention.  But there could have been another reason it didn’t place – maybe the other models were just BETTER.