2024 Model making goals
As we move closer to a new year, I thought now would be a good time to write about my 2024 model making goals.
But before I do put in words what I hope to achieve in 2024. I thought I’d do a very quick look back at the kits I finished in 2023. Don’t worry, there are not many of them.
2023 Builds
April 2023
In April 2023 I completed my first build the Italeria 1/35 Land Rover 109 (link takes you to the project blog post).
May 2023
In May I managed to finish 2 Airfix 1/72 Jeep kits, one as a WWII British Airborne jeep (with its own little diorama). I built the other one as a USAF Police Jeep to go with my Korean Air War builds.
Also around this period, I also made a start on building some excellent CMK 1/72 USAF Korean War pilots.
July 2023
Inspired by the jeep builds and the fact I had worked on a little diorama base from Amera Plastics. I completed my first aircraft build, and you can read all about it in the F-80C blog post.
August 2023
It looks like I got my skates on and finished the Academy 1/72 F-86F Sabre, another Airfix 1/72 Jeep and a CMK USAF Korean War pilot to go with the jeep.
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December 2023
The final build finished this year was the ICM ZiL-157 truck. Bit of a fiddly build, as the location of parts is not that clear. But at least we have Russian equipment for Cold War diorama purposes.
2023 model making goals
So now we get to the meat of the post. I did the 2023 round-up to show how slow my model making is. All the kits above were not big complicated builds. Yet I only managed to build seven full builds, one a 1/35 figure and two 1/72 figures. Plus some diorama bases.
Now in my stash, I have 54 full kits (a mix of periods, but mostly Cold War) and 2 started. So effectively at my current build rate, 7 1/2 years worth of kit builds. Now considering some of the kits are much more complicated, maybe closer to 9 to 10 years!
My solution, to TRY and not buy any more kits in 2024. However, I do currently have three Airfix Bristol Bloodhounds on pre-order. Plus when I re-new my Airfix Club membership, that comes with a kit or kits. In addition, if I’m given kits as gifts, I can hardly say no!
The plan is to build what I currently have in my stash. However, I will allow myself to purchase after market accessories to help enhance the various kits. This could be conversion parts, decals, enhanced additions, accessories, complementary figures etc.
I’m quite excited about going down the route of maximising what I have in my stash. I feel that it will help me to improve my creative skills and think outside of the box. Plus in these current times, my bank balance.
Will it last, will I be able to ignore the lure of new releases? I hope so, but we will see this time next year!
Another area I would like to explore more in 2024 is diorama building. I have had so much fun this year putting together some simple little diorama bases. It would be good to explore this part of the hobby some more.
I like my builds to be set in a little scene that puts the build in context or tells a little story. Not possible with every build, but certainly something to aim for.
So that’s what I hope to achieve in 2024. No more kit purchases, build what I have in my stash, build more diorama bases. Quite a simple goal, will it happen?
Stuart Fowle is a participant in the Airfix Affiliates programme , an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Airfix.This means that when you click on links to various products on this site/post and make a purchase, this can result in a commission that is credited to this Stuart Fowle. This does not impact the price you pay.
