Display models
On this page Nick, Alex, Dotti and myself will share the static models we have built. These will range from structures models to cars, boats, trains, planes, military equipment and anything else that perks our interest.
I'm hoping to have my old 1956 Mercury restored by the time I turn 80. It was my first car and towed my Volvo race car throughout its racing career. The model will be finished to represent the real car as I'd like to have it restored. The body is an after market resin kit from F- F Resin Casting (now defunct). The resin body is intended to be used in conjunction with an AMT 1956 Ford kit. I purchased two of the resin kits in different forms. One is intended as a curb side model with no engine and the other complete with engine and underbody detail. I plan on using the curbside version to model an early NASCAR racer and the other for my restoration project.
This set of photo's share a few of Nick's current modeling projects. Nick has been building models since he was first able to manipulate tools. When he was three he loved to sit on my modelt bench and watch me work. At the time I heavily involved in working on my friend Dave Hayhurst's model railroad building everything from bridges to rolling stock. I can recall Dotti coming into the room and being appalled to see three year old Nick with an Xacto knife in his little hand.
As can be seen, Nick is a fan of Star Trek. Here you see several finished works with more under contruction.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
A Monogram sprint car chassis nears completion. Careful painting of the various parts goes a long way toward infusing the model with authenticity.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
The finished "Sammy Swindell" Outlaw spring car. All it needs now is healthy spattering of mud.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
A beautifully finished WW-II Army half track. This is how one might look today after restoration. For a diorama depicting a scene from the front during WW-II, it would be heavily weathered, dented and mud spattered. We'll have to see if we can talk Nick into trying his hand at a WW_II battle diorama sometime.
Phot credit - Nick Polimeni
Nick has a good many other modeling projects in the works including a 1/32 sale WW-II PT boat. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of Nick's superb modeling. Next online on this page will be a few entries from Dotti and myself.
This HO scale structure began life as Downtown Deco cast plaster kit. Dotti painted and detailed it as you see it here. This was her first attempt at finishing a model structure.
Photo credit - Dotti Caldwell
Nick was winning Junior class model building contests at the local IPMS (International Plastic Modeler Society) meetings in Fairfax by the time he was seven. By the time he was eight, I had him move to the adult class as it was no longer fair to the other kids to have to compete against him.
​
A Lotus Europa model ready for the paint shop. Nick restored a real one of these when he had his restoration shop. Currently he maintains a pair of them, including the one he restored for a good friend of ours. He'll have to inform us as to whether this will be finished as a model of the one he restored.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
A WW-1 chain drive Mack army truck. This is a rather small model. Quarter inch scale if I recall. I'll have to ask Nick for more info on this one. I believe he did something interesting to create the grill mesh on the side of the engine cover.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
This pic gives a fair idea of the size of the Mack WW-1 Army truck. The squares are 1" X 1". Delicate work.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
A right side rear view of the WW-II army half track. Crisp, clean model work.
Photo credit - Nick Polimeni
Although the structure and ship models as finished by Dotti and myself are intended as model railroad scenery, we've decided to display them here as they would also work well in a diorama scene as a stand alone model.
Another Downtown Deco kit as finished by Dotti
Photo credit - Dotti Caldwell
I originally built this fishing vessel for my friend, the late Dick McEvoy for use on his Barneytown & Scupperville model railroad.
​
Dick had the ship un-built in his workshop. It had been intended for the harbor scene at the entrance to the layout room.
​
Other projects took priority and the ship languished on the shelf. I offered to build it for Dick with the result you see here.
Photo credit - Dotti Caldwell