IPMS-SJ Modeler #2

The September Modeler spotlight is Mr. Diorama, Dave Hoddinott. Dave resides in St. John’s and has had a career as an architectural illustrator. He is a well-known artist where his paintings are in demand and teaches painting classes to innumerable students. Dave was chosen for the spotlight this month for his amazing dioramas that he loves doing and for his figure painting techniques. Dave has given many instructional classes to his modelling peers in how to paint miniature figures. Below is the transcript of his interview along with photos of his incredible work.

 

How long have I been modeling?

Almost 25 years, presently – but in my early teens I discovered Aurora figure kits. I had a dozen or more of them I built and painted plus the odd plane or car model. It was a favourite hobby for me then and still is now.

 

What genres do you prefer to work on?

When I got back into the hobby years ago, my first kit was a Revell Leopard 11 tank. I can remember how impressed I was with the quality of the kit and how well it went together, I was hooked.

Over the years I have built many WW 2 vehicles being, British, Canadian, American, German, and Russian. I like placing vehicles in dioramas with figures which I think lends scale and interest to the models in 1:35 ,1:48 and 1:72 scales. I have built a few airplane and science fiction kits. I am a great fan of Star Trek, Star Wars and Batman so I have built kits from all these movies and stories.

I also like building and painting single figure plastic and resin kits and have built several Dragon and Tamiya 1/16 scale figure kits, - mostly WW 2 subjects.

You can say there are not many types of models that I haven’t built and I still like a variety of different subjects, but the one constant is having figures with the models. I find building a variety of different subjects keeps my interest and skill level up.

 

Are there any specific techniques that you employ or any new ones you’ve started using?

I certainly employ a lot of different techniques as do most modelers. All the models that I build are intended to be placed in a Diorama with figures. I have learned a lot of techniques for doing groundwork from building dioramas. Lately I have been using packaged grass tufts, flowers and leaves from Army Painter and Vallejo. I find they add a new level of realism to the Dioramas and there is such a wide variety, from dead grass in a winter scene to lush green grass for meadows and jungles.

 

Can you give us a brief History of your modeling career and any noteworthy things you’ve done.

As noted, I have been modeling presently for approximately 25 years, building a wide number of subjects. I have been a member of the IPMS Club (St. John’s) for over 20 years. Through the advice and help from many of the members over the years I have become a better modeller. I was also a member of IHG (Island Hobby Group) for 8 to 10 years where we would organize Hobby Shows for those 10 years, featuring plastic models, Warhammer, remote control vehicles and vendors held at several different venues in the St. John’s and surrounding area.

Our St. John’s IPMS Chapter has taken on a similar type of show since the I.H.G. stopped their shows and they have been very special with great excitement and participation. I have been involved in many of these shows as a Judge for our model competitions, which I have enjoyed immensely.

In 2007 myself and Ray Welshman a friend and fellow modeller carried 3 models each (figures on bases) to Chicago to attend and exhibit our pieces in the “Military Miniature Society of Illinois”. It was a highlight to see all the incredible models from all over the world, meet Shep Paine and visit his home, visit the museum where the German WW 2 U-Boat 505 is housed and got to walk through it - a modellers dream. I won a Bronze Medal for one of my models and having it presented by Shep Paine at the closing dinner was amazing.

 

All in all, I still very much enjoy the hobby and hope to keep building for many years.

 

 

 

IPMS-SJ Modeler #1

 

Our first Modeler is Cory Hiltz who has come a very long ways in a very short while. A self-processed lover of Braille-Scale (i.e. 1/72 scale and smaller), he takes joy in taking these itty bitty kits and turning them into masterpieces as the pictures can attest to. Cory has a diverse range of taste ranging from dinosaurs, WW2 and Modern Russian aircraft, Gundams, Star Wars, small scale autos, D&D and Wargaming, modern fighter aircraft and the list goes on. As of late, his builds have won or placed high in several Club Competitions as well as a recent Eduard Facebook Competition where he came second.

Cory really enjoys working with scratch building materials and photoetch especially in the cockpits of his planes turning them into ultra-realistic renderings. He uses artist oil paints for all his weathering work regardless the model genre and has perfected it – so much so he gives demonstrations of his technique to other Club members. Lately he has started to develop his diorama skills and is always looking for new ways to improve. An acquisition of a 3D printer has really opened the doors for the work Cory is doing as of late with the ability to print items that he otherwise couldn’t source aftermarket. We are quite pleased of Cory’s participation with the IPMS-SJ and look forward to his continued development.

 

Cory writes:

My interest in models started when I was young. My uncle used to have a display case of his model kits, and I would just stare in awe at his AH-64, and Delta Dart kits. He had a “Bits box,” where I would play with his unfinished, or scrapped models. I just always remember loving that box, and the red, black, and white CF-188 he never finished.

Uncle Jamie would build me my first kit, a Sea Harrier, in desert pink. I can still recall the feel of the matt finish and I flew it around the house, breaking off ordinance and landing gear. Someday I should repay him for how I treated that kit.

I got my first kits shortly after that. A couple of Snaptites of an F-4, and B-25 in 1/72nd scale. Painted with a limited selection of Testors enamels, and an even more limited supply of thinner, they would have made Jackson Pollock proud. My first glue together kit came the next Christmas, Revells Huey Hog. Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to tear into the box. Nor could I wait to let any of the Testors tube glue dry. Frustration got the better of me on that kit.

Flash forward to March, where I got another couple of kits. Lessons were learned, and patience was gained in my ripe old age of 13 or 14. The first plane I finished would become one of my favorite aircraft of all time, I just didn’t know it yet. It was the Hobby Craft CF-100 Canuck. Sure, the tail was crooked, and it was painted silver directly on the grey plastic with a Testors brush, but the decals were actually put on it, and they were almost straight!

Unlike most, I didn't lose my love of models in high school or college, in fact I built more in those years than before. The only reason for breaks was study, or moving from one province to another. My biggest gap was an eight year gap from when I moved to Newfoundland a second time, but couldn’t get my supplies on the planes.

The itch was always there, growing. I then started to paint D&D mini’s to help, but it’s just not the same. Then in 2017, I said shag it, and got a couple of Bandai Kits, and told Dad to ship up my airbrush and meager supplies. In late October I ordered my first (of many) aircraft kits.

The next day while reading the paper, I happened upon an article about building a Typhoon for a veteran, (sorry, I don’t remember the details) and more importantly to me, a model show that weekend! What luck. I do remember that show, buying kits that I still haven't finished (mostly because they’re 48th scale, yuck), and winning a draw prize seconds after saying “I never win anything.”

The next Tuesday I was at the meeting, thanks to Shawn Duquet’s insistence. After seeing the quality of the other club members, especially the other newcomer Dave Kendell, and his fantastic Spitfire and C.205, I knew I had to step up my game.

 

The rest is kind of history. Since joining I have been asked to do two weathering seminars, participated in competitions, even winning a few somehow. I have also earned the annoyance of various club members in assembling and painting small details without magnifying glasses. I would have never pushed myself so far without the knowledge, experience, and support of IPMS St. John’s club members, so thank you all. It’s your fault I don’t have any money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Just a heads up on a new feature we are presenting to the Club.

We are trying to create content to present the club on the Facebook site/Website on a more frequent basis.

We want to highlight some of the incredible talent in the Club and showcase the diversity of subjects that we all work on. I.e. Auto, Sci Fi, Ships, Auto, Aircraft, etc 

So far we have (or will) profile:  

August – Cory Hiltz

September - Dave Hoddinott 

October - Gary Johnston

November - Tony Bowering

 

Stay tuned!!!