Michael Smith
@mcsmith.bsky.social
Lawyer dad in Marshall, Texas, mostly federal courts & patent litigation. Interested in WW II, scale modeling, history, books, & learning. Scale fundamentalist - only 1/700, 1/200 & 1/72. Extremely fond of the rule of law and almost as fond of Canadians.
Here’s where it gets weird. The example of a resurrection build, my 1/530 Revell Essex with partial base will be positioned atop a pile of the other eight Revell Essex models in the attic box it came out of. Aircraft and broken masts/elevators will be scatttered around the base. #HistScaleModels
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Here’s where it gets weird. The example of a resurrection build, my 1/530 Revell Essex with partial base will be positioned atop a pile of the other eight Revell Essex models in the attic box it came out of. Aircraft and broken masts/elevators will be scatttered around the base. #HistScaleModels
This will be the case showing OOB, kitbashed and scratchbuilt (left to right) with tools. The unpainted Revell Intrepid will help make the point, as will scratchbuild FDR in the build dock. I’ll add more framing, paint parts and fit some of the 3D parts to show how that works. #Histscalemodels
February 4, 2026 at 5:02 AM
This will be the case showing OOB, kitbashed and scratchbuilt (left to right) with tools. The unpainted Revell Intrepid will help make the point, as will scratchbuild FDR in the build dock. I’ll add more framing, paint parts and fit some of the 3D parts to show how that works. #Histscalemodels
Pacific war aircraft display mockup. The aircraft are arranged by type and will eventually have boxes under to show relationships - two at Coral Sea, four at Midway and three in the March ‘45 Tokyo raids. #HistScaleModels
February 4, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Pacific war aircraft display mockup. The aircraft are arranged by type and will eventually have boxes under to show relationships - two at Coral Sea, four at Midway and three in the March ‘45 Tokyo raids. #HistScaleModels
Doing mockups for a museum exhibit of models. This will be the Essex class case. Five WW II builds, two Korea and three Vietnam, including all four SCB-27s - original SCB-27, a SCB-27A w/angled deck, SCB-27C with angled deck and SCB-27C/125 - with CV-31 in all three wartime rigs. #HistScaleModels
February 4, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Doing mockups for a museum exhibit of models. This will be the Essex class case. Five WW II builds, two Korea and three Vietnam, including all four SCB-27s - original SCB-27, a SCB-27A w/angled deck, SCB-27C with angled deck and SCB-27C/125 - with CV-31 in all three wartime rigs. #HistScaleModels
Assembly of this terrific little kit complete without driving me nuts. Finish coat of Dunkelgelb down, steel and rubber applied, and starting on red and green camo for a “light and shadow” scheme. #histscalemodels
February 2, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Assembly of this terrific little kit complete without driving me nuts. Finish coat of Dunkelgelb down, steel and rubber applied, and starting on red and green camo for a “light and shadow” scheme. #histscalemodels
Couldn’t help starting this Panzer IV/70 (V) by Hasegawa. Really enjoying this build - fit is excellent, detail good, and no tiny parts! The attention to accuracy is noteworthy - the first two road wheels are all steel, as they should be. #histscalemodels
February 1, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Couldn’t help starting this Panzer IV/70 (V) by Hasegawa. Really enjoying this build - fit is excellent, detail good, and no tiny parts! The attention to accuracy is noteworthy - the first two road wheels are all steel, as they should be. #histscalemodels
Reposted by Michael Smith
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
Two major jobs done on BHR ‘51. Got the bow gallery catwalks done - turned out the structure on BHR ‘45 wasn’t quite right so I did it another way. Also installed the #3 elevator guard rail. Primed pink & finished yellow to match the photo. (BHR #45 in back has #1 down). #Histscalemodels
January 31, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Two major jobs done on BHR ‘51. Got the bow gallery catwalks done - turned out the structure on BHR ‘45 wasn’t quite right so I did it another way. Also installed the #3 elevator guard rail. Primed pink & finished yellow to match the photo. (BHR #45 in back has #1 down). #Histscalemodels
Decided to resume work on my Korean War-era USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). I put it up end of 2024 for other projects, but it’s time to get it over the line. First job is the bow catwalk. I did a pretty good job on the 1945 version, and am using it as a go-by. #HistScaleModels
January 31, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Decided to resume work on my Korean War-era USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). I put it up end of 2024 for other projects, but it’s time to get it over the line. First job is the bow catwalk. I did a pretty good job on the 1945 version, and am using it as a go-by. #HistScaleModels
Finally finished this state-of-the-art 1/72 tank kit. Now have three tank destroyers, a StuG C/D, a Hetzer, and now a StuG III G. "Very" good kit, but the parts are very, very small. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/30/s... #HistScaleModels #BuildtheStash
January 30, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Finally finished this state-of-the-art 1/72 tank kit. Now have three tank destroyers, a StuG C/D, a Hetzer, and now a StuG III G. "Very" good kit, but the parts are very, very small. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/30/s... #HistScaleModels #BuildtheStash
Stealing Matthew’s idea here as well. Per my rotation, a ship is up. Finish Enterprise, landing craft, Independence, Bon Homme Richard or Hornet, or start Gearing, Baltimore or Chicago? #HistScaleModels #buildthestash
January 29, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Stealing Matthew’s idea here as well. Per my rotation, a ship is up. Finish Enterprise, landing craft, Independence, Bon Homme Richard or Hornet, or start Gearing, Baltimore or Chicago? #HistScaleModels #buildthestash
Done. Post tomorrow. #histscalemodels #buildthestash
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Done. Post tomorrow. #histscalemodels #buildthestash
Weathering underway on the MiniArt StuG III. “Lots” of spare parts from the kit. #HistScaleModels
January 29, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Weathering underway on the MiniArt StuG III. “Lots” of spare parts from the kit. #HistScaleModels
One towing cable short of completing assembly tonight. Tomorrow is detail pant and camouflage. #Histscalemodels
January 28, 2026 at 3:42 AM
One towing cable short of completing assembly tonight. Tomorrow is detail pant and camouflage. #Histscalemodels
For anyone thinking of taking up armour in 1/72 - don’t. I’ve never seen pieces this small. They simply cannot be handled. This isn’t a kit any more, it’s a sentence. All I can think is how cool this vehicle would look in 1/35. #HistScaleModels
January 27, 2026 at 2:40 AM
For anyone thinking of taking up armour in 1/72 - don’t. I’ve never seen pieces this small. They simply cannot be handled. This isn’t a kit any more, it’s a sentence. All I can think is how cool this vehicle would look in 1/35. #HistScaleModels
Solid day on the Ausf. G StuG III, shown here with a C/D I made last year. It’s a really good kit, but the instructions are sometimes off. Fortunately Parker’s here to help - sometimes after we watch an AusArmour video on their restoration of a G. #HistScaleModels
January 26, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Solid day on the Ausf. G StuG III, shown here with a C/D I made last year. It’s a really good kit, but the instructions are sometimes off. Fortunately Parker’s here to help - sometimes after we watch an AusArmour video on their restoration of a G. #HistScaleModels
Back at work on my most advanced model kit - the MiniArt StuG III Ausf. G last Alkett production that Parker gave me. AusArmour’s restoration videos note that it should be base coated chocolate brown, not Rot Braun, so making that change before I do anything else. #HistScaleModels
January 25, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Back at work on my most advanced model kit - the MiniArt StuG III Ausf. G last Alkett production that Parker gave me. AusArmour’s restoration videos note that it should be base coated chocolate brown, not Rot Braun, so making that change before I do anything else. #HistScaleModels
Continuing to #BuildtheStash with a 24 hour build of an Airfix kit that's as old as I am, and about as decrepit for a trio of Japanese subjects. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/25/1... #HistScaleModels
January 25, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Continuing to #BuildtheStash with a 24 hour build of an Airfix kit that's as old as I am, and about as decrepit for a trio of Japanese subjects. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/25/1... #HistScaleModels
This old Airfix Val is going together quick - will be a 24 hour build, easy. Using leftover Dragon decals and Bert Kinzey’s book to model EII-206 from Zuikaku. 206 was photographed at Coral Sea - presumably it was a Pearl Harbor veteran as well. #histscalemodels #buildthestash
January 24, 2026 at 5:32 AM
This old Airfix Val is going together quick - will be a 24 hour build, easy. Using leftover Dragon decals and Bert Kinzey’s book to model EII-206 from Zuikaku. 206 was photographed at Coral Sea - presumably it was a Pearl Harbor veteran as well. #histscalemodels #buildthestash
Finished another #BuildtheStash - this time a new-tool cruiser to pair with an old-tool sister ship. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/22/1... #HistScaleModels
January 22, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Finished another #BuildtheStash - this time a new-tool cruiser to pair with an old-tool sister ship. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/01/22/1... #HistScaleModels
Won’t have photos and post up till tomorrow, but the new-tool Mikuma is done, and ready for her place alongside the old-tool Mogami.
Started work on the next project, an old Airfix Aichi Val as a Pearl Harbor Zuikaku aircraft. Interior is aotake and exterior IJN ash gray. #HistScaleModels
Started work on the next project, an old Airfix Aichi Val as a Pearl Harbor Zuikaku aircraft. Interior is aotake and exterior IJN ash gray. #HistScaleModels
January 21, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Won’t have photos and post up till tomorrow, but the new-tool Mikuma is done, and ready for her place alongside the old-tool Mogami.
Started work on the next project, an old Airfix Aichi Val as a Pearl Harbor Zuikaku aircraft. Interior is aotake and exterior IJN ash gray. #HistScaleModels
Started work on the next project, an old Airfix Aichi Val as a Pearl Harbor Zuikaku aircraft. Interior is aotake and exterior IJN ash gray. #HistScaleModels
Reposted by Michael Smith
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January 16, 2026 at 10:31 AM
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Thanks for the tip - enjoying the book chat now.
Feeds like #histbookchat and #histscalemodels are an important tool in BlueSky for building communities. Pin these communities to quickly see content updates by going to Feeds > Search for Discover New Feeds > and clicking pin.
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January 18, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Thanks for the tip - enjoying the book chat now.
Construction complete! My compliments to Tamiya for not having a ridiculous parts count on this one. The float planes will take a bit longer to decal and get in place, and then I’ll start on some light weathering. #HistScaleModels
January 14, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Construction complete! My compliments to Tamiya for not having a ridiculous parts count on this one. The float planes will take a bit longer to decal and get in place, and then I’ll start on some light weathering. #HistScaleModels
First big difference in the newer-tool Mikuma - a much larger and more complex foremast. The blast bags are also there now, as are the Midway operation recognition flags on the turrets. #HistScaleModels
January 13, 2026 at 4:10 AM
First big difference in the newer-tool Mikuma - a much larger and more complex foremast. The blast bags are also there now, as are the Midway operation recognition flags on the turrets. #HistScaleModels