Steve Samuels
Westminster, Colorado
Basing his vignette on a reference photo, Steve calls this
1/48 scale scene “Turkey in the Soup.” “It depicts a TBF-1 of VT-24, USS Belleau
Wood, that ditched on takeoff on September
2, 1943,” he says. He cut out the fuselage bottom of Accurate Miniatures’
TBM-1C to give it the desired swamped situation, and fully detailed the cockpit
and turret with homemade handles and placards as well as Eduard pre-painted
photoetched-metal seat belts and harness. The antenna wire is micro nylon
sewing thread. Figures are a Tamiya F4U-1D Corsair pilot and two gunners
comprising Monogram, Reheat, and Warriors parts. Steve set the scene afloat in
a sea of acrylic gel medium painted with water-based colors. “I’ve been
modeling since about 1958 and have enjoyed watching the hobby grow,” he says.