3D Models by Ron Cole
My first love will always be model making. I spent the
years between age 8 and age 22 devoted to the hobby
that led to my career in the field - and ultimately
aviation art. My father and I traveled the country
during summers to attend various model conventions
and contests - usually hosted by the International
Plastic Modelers Society.
As one of the youngest modelers in competition
(graduating to 'open' classes four years before my age
mandated it), I remember being everyone's favorite kid.
I saw model making as a true art form - as highly
detailed sculpture. I took my craft very seriously, and
rarely produced more than one model for competition
each year, in spite of thousands of hours at my
workbench.
The model contests eventually lost their appeal for me,
but I still built models to challenge myself, then entered
college for model making and industrial design.
Ron Cole
July 23, 2007
My first love will always be model making. I spent the
years between age 8 and age 22 devoted to the hobby
that led to my career in the field - and ultimately
aviation art. My father and I traveled the country
during summers to attend various model conventions
and contests - usually hosted by the International
Plastic Modelers Society.
As one of the youngest modelers in competition
(graduating to 'open' classes four years before my age
mandated it), I remember being everyone's favorite kid.
I saw model making as a true art form - as highly
detailed sculpture. I took my craft very seriously, and
rarely produced more than one model for competition
each year, in spite of thousands of hours at my
workbench.
The model contests eventually lost their appeal for me,
but I still built models to challenge myself, then entered
college for model making and industrial design.
Ron Cole
July 23, 2007
One of my favorite aircraft has always been the J2M3 Raiden of the Japanese Navy Air Force. In 1989 I
started working on Tamiya's 1/48th scale kit. For the first time in that scale I went overboard with the removal
of access panels. In those days there were no etched brass detail kits (and we had to walk to the contests in
the rain, uphill both ways). The fuselage of this model was actually vacuumed-formed in order to achieve
scale thickness. I added interior detail all the way to the tail wheel from the firewall because - in theory - it
could be seen through an open panel on the right side. The model took 18 months to build. I was completely
enthralled to see it show up on the cover of Scale Modeler magazine.
started working on Tamiya's 1/48th scale kit. For the first time in that scale I went overboard with the removal
of access panels. In those days there were no etched brass detail kits (and we had to walk to the contests in
the rain, uphill both ways). The fuselage of this model was actually vacuumed-formed in order to achieve
scale thickness. I added interior detail all the way to the tail wheel from the firewall because - in theory - it
could be seen through an open panel on the right side. The model took 18 months to build. I was completely
enthralled to see it show up on the cover of Scale Modeler magazine.
In contrast to 18 months on the Raiden, I
built this 1/72 scale Japanese Ki-36 in two
weeks. Based upon the Fujimi kit, I
scratchbuilt most of the fuselage, and went a
little nuts with the engine and cockpit details.
The kit provided a really unimpressive
half-engine moulded to a flat circle of
plastic. Because the detail on the engine
face was actually very crisp, I took two from
two kits and sanded off the back plastic. In
the end I had two perfect halves that made
one very nice engine once other details
were added.
The markings for the Asahi Shimbun
newspaper were hand-painted using Frisket
paper and dry transfers as masking material.
built this 1/72 scale Japanese Ki-36 in two
weeks. Based upon the Fujimi kit, I
scratchbuilt most of the fuselage, and went a
little nuts with the engine and cockpit details.
The kit provided a really unimpressive
half-engine moulded to a flat circle of
plastic. Because the detail on the engine
face was actually very crisp, I took two from
two kits and sanded off the back plastic. In
the end I had two perfect halves that made
one very nice engine once other details
were added.
The markings for the Asahi Shimbun
newspaper were hand-painted using Frisket
paper and dry transfers as masking material.
My latest model project - started last year (2006). This 1/18th
scale Ki-27 instrument panel represents an experiment in the
use of a laser cutter and acrylic plastic to manufacture scale
instruments. My intent was to explore marketing completed
aircraft panels to collectors - though now I see that's already
being done.
Each instrument face was digitally photographed and scaled in
Corel Draw. The needles were cut separately, and the dial
details were scored by laser into the acrylic. Washes of
green-tinted white over black acrylic sheet created what you see
at left.
The next prototype was to incorporate scoring through black
painted clear acrylic sheet, back-painted white. Edge lighting
with green-tinted LEDs created an extremely convincing glow to
each instrument.
Still working on it!
scale Ki-27 instrument panel represents an experiment in the
use of a laser cutter and acrylic plastic to manufacture scale
instruments. My intent was to explore marketing completed
aircraft panels to collectors - though now I see that's already
being done.
Each instrument face was digitally photographed and scaled in
Corel Draw. The needles were cut separately, and the dial
details were scored by laser into the acrylic. Washes of
green-tinted white over black acrylic sheet created what you see
at left.
The next prototype was to incorporate scoring through black
painted clear acrylic sheet, back-painted white. Edge lighting
with green-tinted LEDs created an extremely convincing glow to
each instrument.
Still working on it!
Proof that I have devoted myself
to models outside the realm of
Japanese WW2 subjects: In my
early teens I built these 1/72
scale WW1 aircraft. The Polish
'Slowik' was a major conversion
of the terrible old Airfix kit. The
RE8 at right was a project that
kept me frustrated for months -
also based on the terrible old
Airfix kit. I used real wood for
the interior framework,
instrument panels and such. I
never did that again!
The Sopwith was the old Revell
kit, modified into a British
post-war trainer variant.
to models outside the realm of
Japanese WW2 subjects: In my
early teens I built these 1/72
scale WW1 aircraft. The Polish
'Slowik' was a major conversion
of the terrible old Airfix kit. The
RE8 at right was a project that
kept me frustrated for months -
also based on the terrible old
Airfix kit. I used real wood for
the interior framework,
instrument panels and such. I
never did that again!
The Sopwith was the old Revell
kit, modified into a British
post-war trainer variant.
Looking at the date of the article at left, I was just starting-out in high school at the
time. Needless to say, it didn't get me any girls. But it was a happy time.
A couple of years later I was given a screen test for a television series that was to
be produced by PBS. 'Adventures in Scale Modeling' was a great break for me at
my age. The experience looked really good on resumes to come, and on my
college applications.
The long days on the set involved shooting two ten minute segments for each
episode. It took hours, and most of the time those of us on the show (myself and
Mike Lecht - on the left) goofed around getting in rubber band fights and throwing
model parts around. At one point Mike did-in a perfectly good 1/144 scale 757
model by pouring various paints on it. The stage guys took it outside and lit it on
fire. I think I was the mature one! But it was great fun.
time. Needless to say, it didn't get me any girls. But it was a happy time.
A couple of years later I was given a screen test for a television series that was to
be produced by PBS. 'Adventures in Scale Modeling' was a great break for me at
my age. The experience looked really good on resumes to come, and on my
college applications.
The long days on the set involved shooting two ten minute segments for each
episode. It took hours, and most of the time those of us on the show (myself and
Mike Lecht - on the left) goofed around getting in rubber band fights and throwing
model parts around. At one point Mike did-in a perfectly good 1/144 scale 757
model by pouring various paints on it. The stage guys took it outside and lit it on
fire. I think I was the mature one! But it was great fun.
For the exception of my Ki-36 model - all
these pictures of my completed work are
scans of old photographs. Most of my
models no longer exist, or are in the
condition of my 1/48 scale Raiden and
Shiden-kai - pictured at right.
In 1997 the FBI decided to execute a search
warrant at my residence. While they were
searching for some firearms I'd failed to pay
taxes on, they ransacked the house. Holes
were cut in the sheet rock walls. They
collapsed the garage door. Windows were
smashed. But to me by far and away the
greatest injustice was their treatment of my
model collection.
Over the course of a few hours they took
each box of models labeled "fragile," and
shook them like snow globes. Obviously,
things fell apart.
I feel lucky that my 1/48 scale A3N1
scratchbuilt biplane (pictured here in my
'profile' section), and my little Ki-36 were in
the hands of my father at the time.
Everything else is gone.
these pictures of my completed work are
scans of old photographs. Most of my
models no longer exist, or are in the
condition of my 1/48 scale Raiden and
Shiden-kai - pictured at right.
In 1997 the FBI decided to execute a search
warrant at my residence. While they were
searching for some firearms I'd failed to pay
taxes on, they ransacked the house. Holes
were cut in the sheet rock walls. They
collapsed the garage door. Windows were
smashed. But to me by far and away the
greatest injustice was their treatment of my
model collection.
Over the course of a few hours they took
each box of models labeled "fragile," and
shook them like snow globes. Obviously,
things fell apart.
I feel lucky that my 1/48 scale A3N1
scratchbuilt biplane (pictured here in my
'profile' section), and my little Ki-36 were in
the hands of my father at the time.
Everything else is gone.
After reviewing this page I thought to
add some close-up photos of my dusty
and damaged 1/48 scale survivors.
I built the Shiden-kai (at right) first, in
1988 or so. I made the interior parts out
of thin brass. The qualities of the
material made it possible to create tiny
mechanisms for working interior
components: throttle quadrant, stick,
seat adjustment, and rudder pedals.
I went back to using mostly polystyrene
on the Raiden, with brass only for
certain parts and small mechanisms.
But the plastic hasn't held up as well
over time - and abuse. Several knobs
and little pieces are missing. But the
quality of the Raiden is still better
overall, with raised rivet heads on the
formers made from epoxy drops in pin
pricks. The headrest is wood, painted
and appropriately worn through.
The Raiden was my favorite model
project, in retrospect, in spite of the time
involved to complete it. Maybe one day
I'll put aside my aviation art to repair it.
- Ron Cole
add some close-up photos of my dusty
and damaged 1/48 scale survivors.
I built the Shiden-kai (at right) first, in
1988 or so. I made the interior parts out
of thin brass. The qualities of the
material made it possible to create tiny
mechanisms for working interior
components: throttle quadrant, stick,
seat adjustment, and rudder pedals.
I went back to using mostly polystyrene
on the Raiden, with brass only for
certain parts and small mechanisms.
But the plastic hasn't held up as well
over time - and abuse. Several knobs
and little pieces are missing. But the
quality of the Raiden is still better
overall, with raised rivet heads on the
formers made from epoxy drops in pin
pricks. The headrest is wood, painted
and appropriately worn through.
The Raiden was my favorite model
project, in retrospect, in spite of the time
involved to complete it. Maybe one day
I'll put aside my aviation art to repair it.
- Ron Cole
In 2004 I went down to Brookhurst Hobbies near Knott's Berry Farm, looking for good reference material on something I could start building in a nice big scale. I
found a great book on the WW1 Macchi M5 Italian flying boat fighter. I scaled the drawings up to 1/24 scale. I was Head Model Maker for Los Angeles' premier
model shop: 3D Industrial Design at the time - which had already introduced me to many new materials and tools. I used Renshape, instead of old-fashioned
basswood, worked on a milling machine to create the fuselage. Great stuff, though the dust from it can be lethal. I vacuumed-formed polystyrene over that, but
retained a part of the original Renshape buck inside for strength. The pleated leather seat cushion is cooked Skulpy. Real work kept me from getting any further.
found a great book on the WW1 Macchi M5 Italian flying boat fighter. I scaled the drawings up to 1/24 scale. I was Head Model Maker for Los Angeles' premier
model shop: 3D Industrial Design at the time - which had already introduced me to many new materials and tools. I used Renshape, instead of old-fashioned
basswood, worked on a milling machine to create the fuselage. Great stuff, though the dust from it can be lethal. I vacuumed-formed polystyrene over that, but
retained a part of the original Renshape buck inside for strength. The pleated leather seat cushion is cooked Skulpy. Real work kept me from getting any further.