Hello,
I am a life-long modeler, though the last WWI aircraft I built was in 1999. I don't know why I left it, but I'm really getting back into the genre. My favorite aircraft is the Fokker D.VII, followed by the Gotha bombers, of which I'm currently working on Roden's G.Va. I'm very excited about the quality of the available models (much better than the late '90s!), and especially the incredible decals, such as Aviattic.
I hope to learn much from this forum and the wonderful expertise that resides here, just please be patient with me as I haven't studied WWI aviation as much as most of you, so I may ask some pretty rookie questions.
I've attached some pictures of my last WWI build from 1999, my 1/72 Eduard Stripdown Sopwith Camel, it has survived remarkably well considering it suffered four moves overseas and back to the US mainland while I was in the USAF. I added a great deal of internal detail and all internal rigging (beyond what Eduard provide). I scratchbuilt the stripdown Snoopy and doghouse, and yes, they are scaled to 1/72. Don't look to hard at Snoopy, or you will see he has only four ribs, ha!
Personally, I'm a retired USAF Major, but started life as a military brat and lived all over the world. My father flew AH-1G Cobras in Vietnam, West Germany and the US. I started my military career as an enlisted Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, working on the AH-1G, UH-1A, UH-60A, and OH-58A. Then I went to college and received my BS in Industrial Engineering and an ROTC commission as a Lieutenant in the USAF. My first assignment was prevention of/destruction of the world as a Peecekeeper ICBM launch officer (missileer), then followed by more peaceful pursuits in logistics, with many incredible TDYs in remote areas doing disaster and famine relief, with two tours in Hawaii (hey, someone had to do it!) doing POW/MIA investigation and recovery, mostly concerning the Vietnam War. I especially enjoyed being a Deputy Commander of our POW/MIA detachments in Hanoi and Vientiane, Laos (1999 and 2004, respectfully).
I now reside in western Washington State and enjoy hiking our beautiful land and staying in shape.
Cheers,
Don Hinton
