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.
Started on the 1/700 Tamiya Hammann. Because it's a good kit I want to do a better job with the camo scheme. Airbrushed Deck Blue, Ocean G (lower hull) and Haze G (upper hull) and am adding camo as I assemble. Reason for 2-color is it's easier to put darker panels over lighter. #HistScaleModels
November 20, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Started on the 1/700 Tamiya Hammann. Because it's a good kit I want to do a better job with the camo scheme. Airbrushed Deck Blue, Ocean G (lower hull) and Haze G (upper hull) and am adding camo as I assemble. Reason for 2-color is it's easier to put darker panels over lighter. #HistScaleModels
Finished my first Sherman - a 1/72 Revell kit. Had so much fun I've already ordered by second - a M4A3E2. #HistScaleModels putteringinthestudy.com/2025/11/19/1...
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Finished my first Sherman - a 1/72 Revell kit. Had so much fun I've already ordered by second - a M4A3E2. #HistScaleModels putteringinthestudy.com/2025/11/19/1...
I am in. My tank fanatic son has helped pick out a 1/72 M4A3E2 with aftermarket duckbill tracks for a Cobra King at Bastogne. It’ll be my second Sherman (once I get the current one written up). #festivetankchallenge2025
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I am in. My tank fanatic son has helped pick out a 1/72 M4A3E2 with aftermarket duckbill tracks for a Cobra King at Bastogne. It’ll be my second Sherman (once I get the current one written up). #festivetankchallenge2025
About done with one more. #histscalemodels
November 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
About done with one more. #histscalemodels
Tanking tonight. Building a less than stellar Revell as my first Sherman. Markings are for a 3rd Armor Div 32nd arm Rgt M4A1 76(W). Can’t find any info on this unit so I’m using “In The Mood” for camo & markings guidance. More weathering and orange recognition panel yet to come. #HistScaleModels
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Tanking tonight. Building a less than stellar Revell as my first Sherman. Markings are for a 3rd Armor Div 32nd arm Rgt M4A1 76(W). Can’t find any info on this unit so I’m using “In The Mood” for camo & markings guidance. More weathering and orange recognition panel yet to come. #HistScaleModels
Progress on several projects. The Starfighter cockpit came in for the Stearman, the tracks and hull on the M4A1 Sherman are complete. And two days after “finishing” the 1/700 Benham, I redid the foremast to correct the height and add a radar & details. Everything not blue is new. #HistScaleModels
November 12, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Progress on several projects. The Starfighter cockpit came in for the Stearman, the tracks and hull on the M4A1 Sherman are complete. And two days after “finishing” the 1/700 Benham, I redid the foremast to correct the height and add a radar & details. Everything not blue is new. #HistScaleModels
Just finished another little DD to escort my 1/700 carriers. putteringinthestudy.com/2025/11/09/1... #HistScaleModels
November 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Just finished another little DD to escort my 1/700 carriers. putteringinthestudy.com/2025/11/09/1... #HistScaleModels
Plugging away on two projects today, first at the East Texas Modelers group build in Tyler and then this evening at home. Adding (and switching out) parts on the 1/700 Benham destroyer, and started on the 1/72 M4A1 76(W) Sherman. #Histscalemodels
November 9, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Plugging away on two projects today, first at the East Texas Modelers group build in Tyler and then this evening at home. Adding (and switching out) parts on the 1/700 Benham destroyer, and started on the 1/72 M4A1 76(W) Sherman. #Histscalemodels
1/72 Stearman is on deck. Primed and many, many coats of prewar orange-yellow with True Blue tail - like the displayed Enterprise TBD. Will match the CAF Stearman in Marshall that Parker flew on in 2019. #HistScaleModels
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
1/72 Stearman is on deck. Primed and many, many coats of prewar orange-yellow with True Blue tail - like the displayed Enterprise TBD. Will match the CAF Stearman in Marshall that Parker flew on in 2019. #HistScaleModels
First occupant of the new 09 cruiser/destroyer dock - a MidShipModels 1/700 USS Benham [DD-397) destroyer. Benham was a TF 16 stalwart in 1942, sunk while successfully screening the battleship Washington during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal of 15 November 1942. #Histscalemodels
October 31, 2025 at 4:15 AM
First occupant of the new 09 cruiser/destroyer dock - a MidShipModels 1/700 USS Benham [DD-397) destroyer. Benham was a TF 16 stalwart in 1942, sunk while successfully screening the battleship Washington during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal of 15 November 1942. #Histscalemodels
And that's a wrap for me for the #HeaviesGB build. I finished the two in my stash, plus a third I picked up last month. A 1/72 B-17, and two 1/144 transport aircraft. #HistScaleModels
October 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
And that's a wrap for me for the #HeaviesGB build. I finished the two in my stash, plus a third I picked up last month. A 1/72 B-17, and two 1/144 transport aircraft. #HistScaleModels
Finally finished my Dixie Clipper. It's my second 1/144 four-engine aircraft, and shows the seaplane as it appeared when it transported President Roosevelt to the Casablanca Conference 1943. It's my third and last entry in #HeaviesGB ! putteringinthestudy.com/2025/10/27/b... #histscalemodels
October 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Finally finished my Dixie Clipper. It's my second 1/144 four-engine aircraft, and shows the seaplane as it appeared when it transported President Roosevelt to the Casablanca Conference 1943. It's my third and last entry in #HeaviesGB ! putteringinthestudy.com/2025/10/27/b... #histscalemodels
“Dixie Clipper” showing the rarely modeled dorsally mounted Copperhead 1500 blockbuster bomb. As usual, my patience with a build runs out some time before completion. #histscalemodels #heaviesGB
October 22, 2025 at 3:17 AM
“Dixie Clipper” showing the rarely modeled dorsally mounted Copperhead 1500 blockbuster bomb. As usual, my patience with a build runs out some time before completion. #histscalemodels #heaviesGB
I’m optimistic we are not headed for a third consecutive overtime home game. Go Cowboys! #dallascowboys
October 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
I’m optimistic we are not headed for a third consecutive overtime home game. Go Cowboys! #dallascowboys
Coming along … #histscalemodels #heaviesgb
October 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Coming along … #histscalemodels #heaviesgb
Starting on a base for Dixie Clipper. Not even embarrassed about how slapdash this is going to be. It would look really good on the shelf! #histscalemodels #heaviesgb
October 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Starting on a base for Dixie Clipper. Not even embarrassed about how slapdash this is going to be. It would look really good on the shelf! #histscalemodels #heaviesgb
Sixth and seventh colors applied and as I had hoped, a wash of FS 35164 intermediate blue brought out the chorus of angels. The brush painting aft is an abomination, but I’m learning. #Histscalemodels #HeaviesGB
October 18, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Sixth and seventh colors applied and as I had hoped, a wash of FS 35164 intermediate blue brought out the chorus of angels. The brush painting aft is an abomination, but I’m learning. #Histscalemodels #HeaviesGB
Getting there on the Dixie Clipper. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB. Five of seven colors applied - enough to assemble.
October 17, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Getting there on the Dixie Clipper. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB. Five of seven colors applied - enough to assemble.
The 1/72 4 engine bomber shelf is done. Think from here on I’ll be doing these in 1/144. #HistScaleModels
October 16, 2025 at 2:49 AM
The 1/72 4 engine bomber shelf is done. Think from here on I’ll be doing these in 1/144. #HistScaleModels
Next project - “Dixie Clipper” as it appeared in wartime camo when transporting FDR to Casablanca in 1943. Found a set of painting instructions from when Minicraft boxed the ‘67 Airfix kit as part of a set. 3 main colors on - next is adding the four intermediate colors. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB
October 15, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Next project - “Dixie Clipper” as it appeared in wartime camo when transporting FDR to Casablanca in 1943. Found a set of painting instructions from when Minicraft boxed the ‘67 Airfix kit as part of a set. 3 main colors on - next is adding the four intermediate colors. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB
Finally finished my Nine-O-Nine B-17G for another installment in #HeaviesGB. putteringinthestudy.com/2025/10/14/1... #HistScaleModels
October 14, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Finally finished my Nine-O-Nine B-17G for another installment in #HeaviesGB. putteringinthestudy.com/2025/10/14/1... #HistScaleModels
The 909 is almost done. I’ll finish weathering tomorrow. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB
October 13, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The 909 is almost done. I’ll finish weathering tomorrow. #HistScaleModels #HeaviesGB
What is need is of course more 1/700 building docks. Docks 6 & 7 have never worked out - they’re too long, and the sides too high. I need something smaller than the #1 I built in 1992, so I now have a cruiser/destroyer dock for smaller builds, and a larger for Essex-sized kits. #HistScaleModels
October 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
What is need is of course more 1/700 building docks. Docks 6 & 7 have never worked out - they’re too long, and the sides too high. I need something smaller than the #1 I built in 1992, so I now have a cruiser/destroyer dock for smaller builds, and a larger for Essex-sized kits. #HistScaleModels
Decals on, larger clear parts added, and masking coming off windows. More detail work ahead, then weathering. #histscalemodels #heaviesgb
September 24, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Decals on, larger clear parts added, and masking coming off windows. More detail work ahead, then weathering. #histscalemodels #heaviesgb