14th October 2025
Today I did what I always do at the start of an aircraft build: I worked on all of the smaller sub-assemblies, and anything in two halves.
With all of my other bits and pieces now complete for Scale Model Challenge this weekend, I could spend today working on the ICM Marauder, my next build for Brett and the centrepiece of my Hobby Company display at the IPMS Scale Model World display, Telford.
Having bought this kit not long after its release, I have been looking forward to getting started on it for some time. Part of this is because I love the Marauder, but also so that I can lay to bed the ghost of my disastrous attempt to build the Monogram kit! This time around I hope everything runs on rails, and that I finally have a Marauder for my collection!
Today I did what I always do at the start of an aircraft build: I worked on all of the smaller sub-assemblies, and anything in two halves. This is done for two reasons. Firstly, it allows parts to dry for a while so I can clean up seams and not have to worry about the glued joints being too soft to work. Secondly, it gives me something of a head-start, emptying the box as much as possible on the first day so it looks like I’m getting somewhere early on. Of course all of this is complete nonsense, because I’m not saving any time, the work needing to be done at some point, whether that’s all in one go or in dribs and drabs. Still, it makes me feel better to see that box emptying and those sprues flying towards the waste bin.
So far, the model has been a joyful experience to put together. Everything fits really well and thanks to the soft plastic, the parts are easy to clean up. Detail is superb as well, especially the surface detail that I assumed upon a cursory first glance to be rather simplified, but proved anything but upon further examination.
I may get a few more hours in tomorrow, though that will depend on how much time it takes to pack my models for the weekend, custom packing boxes being needed to safely transport my work to Eindhoven. Still, I’m happy to have made a start and know that now I should hit the deadline with SMW without too much stress, all dependant of course on keeping the gods of cockups at bay and my concentration levels as high as they need to be. What’s that? I have a Revell Meteor to build? Oh for…
See you tomorrow.
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
Hi Spencer. I have the “Flak Bait” edition in my to-do pile, so I’m really looking forward to seeing this build in progress. Good luck at the show. Cheers DT
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I think most of us thought that Monogram B26 was going far better than you did ! How are you getting to Eindhoven ? Ryanair ?! Lots of us looking forward to Meteor but hopefully in a cheaper ‘boxing’ .Then again the last 1/32 Meteor was around 100£$€ also and I’d prefer the book to a 1/144 appetiser freebie
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