Operation QTB and the Porsche gets poll position!

 

After a surreal end to 2025 and a crazy start to this year, modelling content has been thin on the ground. Getting creative at the bench has been near on impossible, but I’ve finally managed the life balance scales to find some time for modelmaking again. And speaking of balance, the reason for the delay is I was diagnosed with an unannounced acute vestibular balance issue at the start of this year, which had been literally disorientating, and very debilitating to begin with. Not only was I dizzy but my vision was also unsteady. Rehab is well underway but it is going to take a little time for complete normality to resume. Although still a little unsteady on my feet, sitting down now presents no such issues. So, with the rehab schedule actively encouraging coordiation excersises, I'm hoping some Quality-Time-at-the-Bench should be just the ticket!

So, with so many unfinished projects vying for attention from last year, I had to crack on and pick one, and inject some much-needed enthusiasm back to the bench again.

 

Incredibly, it's been almost two and half years since I started a new kit due to the allergy I developed with modelling adhesives. Over the last few years I have been shuffling through my embarrassingly large stash of shelf queens, concerning myself primarily with projects that required no construction work at all to complete. My plan was to tip toe carefully back into building work by first completing these projects, then to move onto the builds that required only light construction tasks to complete.

 

Weathering on my Ferdinand, Jagdpanther, and  Wirbelwind builds were well underway and these are all now back on the bench. I then hope to progress onto the Sd.Kfz.7 8-ton and towed Flak gun diorama, as the Italian road dio I started last year gave me some groundwork inspiration. If I can get these over the line smartly and without too much drama, I’m eager to start painting some of these bad boys before we conclude another trip round the sun.

To start the ball rolling let’s look at where we were at with the Ferdinand