Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: Battle off Samar and the USS Johnston

For Naval history fans, this is well known; otherwise less so. Probably one of the best examples of bravery in the Face of Certain Doom, and doing your duty anyway, that I have ever read. Although I wish this was given the Big Screen / Hanks/Spielberg treatment it deserves, go read Hornfischer's book and see if you don't agree. Then come back and follow the posts as I try to recreate the moment that Commander Evans decided to attack...

2024 Modeling Year in Review - How'd You Do?

With a new year now underway, it often happens that we assess the old before planning out the new. First, how did I do on reducing My SOS in 2024? (I have to admit I did no such evaluation at the end of 2023, so let's catch up).

 

End of Year 2022:

 MDC HO Consolidation

• DIY HO Layout pavement (rebuild)
• Tyco/Mantua Pacific (rebuild)
• ICM 1/48 Yak 9
• Airfix 1/72 Typhoon
• Monogram 1/48 B-26
• Monogram 1/48 ME-410
• AMT/Ertl 1/72 YB-35
• AMT/Ertl 1/72 XB-70
• Monogram 1/48 A-6
• Monogram 1/48 F-117
• Trumpeter 1/350 CV2 Lexington
• 1/6 ABC War Robot
• Williams Bros 1/32 Schoenfeldt Firecracker
• Lindberg 1/48 Snark (rebuild)
• Tamiya 1/12 Yamaha 1990 FZR750R
• Precision Scale HOn3 UTLX tank car

 Completed in 2023

ICM 1/48 Yak 9
Airfix 1/72 Typhoon

Monogram 1/48 B-26

Monogram 1/48 ME-410

AMT/Ertl 1/72 YB-35
AMT/Ertl 1/72 XB-70
Monogram 1/48 A-6

Monogram 1/48 F-117

1/6 ABC War Robot

Williams Bros 1/32 SchoenfeldtFirecracker

Lindberg 1/48 Snark (rebuild)

Tamiya 1/12 Yamaha 1990 FZR750R

Precision Scale HOn3 UTLX tank car

 Items remaining on SOS at end of 2023:

 DIY HO Layout pavement (rebuild)

• Tyco/Mantua Pacific (rebuild)
• Trumpeter 1/350 CV2 Lexington
• Now let's add in those items I had agreed to build for others:
• 3 x 1/200 HE-111 repaint to Battle of Britain colors/Squadrons fore Wings of Glory
• US Infantry boxed set for Bolt Action (28mm Historical Miniatures)
• 1/48 WACO CG-4a Combat Glider correct, paint invasion stripes, add nose art
• Box Scale Lindberg LCI(L) - modify to resemble earlier square bridge LCI(L) #3
• 1/96 Mercury-Atlas "Everything is Go!"

Now, how productive was 2024?

 

2024 Stash adds and completions

Stash as of 1/1/2024:

1/48 Hasegawa F-14 A

1/48 Monogram F4

1/48 Hobby Boss FM-2

1/48 DML JU-188

1/48 Kinetic EA-6B

1/48 Revell B-24G

1/48 Monogram F-117A

1/48 Monogram AH-54

1/72 Revell X-15 ( x 2)

1/200 Revell Germany Silbervogel 

1/144 Lindberg AVRO Vulcan

1/72 Italeri WACO CG-4a

1/72 Italeri Airspeed HORSA

1/72 Academy B-29 

1/24 Monogram Lunar Lander

1/?? Monogram Apollo CSM

1/24 Monogram Plymouth Prowler

1/48 Monogram Gemini Capsule

1/48 Monogram Mercury Capsule

Added to the Stash in 2024

1/350  Trumpeter USS The Sullivans

1/24 Aoshima Lamborghini Aventador SV

1/72 Revell B-17F

Completed in 2024

1/72 Academy B-29 

1/87 Athearn SD-45 - Accurized paint and details to 1972 #5610

1/87 MDC Consolidation - build, detail, paint, decal as fictional; DRGW # 362

1:1 scale 3d printed Luftgekuhlte Maschinengewehr 08/15

28mm GW MESBG Troll 

28mm GW MESBG Warg Riders

25mm Baron's War Knights Templar force

"For a Friend" Builds: (Note - Some have been in my queue for a long time)

28mm Bolt Action US Infantry Miniatures (build and paint)

1/200 ARES Wings of Glory He-111 (x3) (repaint / decal)

1/48 3d Printed WACO CG-4a

1/72 Revell B-17F

1/24 Aoshima Lamborghini Aventador SV

Added to the Shelf of Shame:

1/200 Revell Germany Silbervogel (waiting for paint)

1/144 Lindberg AVRO Vulcan (waiting for paint)

1/48 Monogram AH-54 (waiting for decals)