Mark Vaughn
| ASM Member Since: | 2014 |
| Division: | Basic |
| Day Job: |
Retired Mechanical Engineer at Sandia Consulting Biomedical Engineer, Research Professor at Michigan Tech. |
| Online Profiles: | (none) |
| Modeler of the Year Winner: | Yes |
| Model of the Year Winner: | Yes |
| E-Board (current/past): | No |
Background
How/when did you get started?
I was 6 years old and my dad brought home a small Revell kit of a B-47. He and I put it together and I was hooked. Being a fighter pilot in WW II, he built models himself in the late 40’s. I wish he had kept his old models. I’ve been modeling for 59 years, but with a lot of hiatuses. I always had something “going”. But school, a career, two kids and other hobbies: well, you know.
As for ASM, Harry Davidson of the Cavalcade of Wings got me started by bringing him sometimes. Later I started entering some of the stuff I was doing for him and CoW.
What do you like to build?
Sailing ships, mechanisms, real spacecraft. Some armor, lately. I like technological transition stuff, transparent stuff. Right now I’m finishing a 1/32 Apollo that has two large transparent sections and am in the middle of a Visible Horse. Starting with my CoW involvement, aircraft, of necessity, but not really fun for me. When did they stop including pilot figures? That was the best part, for me, making them look like humans.
How many models have you built?
No idea. Hundreds. I like to give them away, particularly to folks that had something to do with them or they are somehow special to them. Many are in spares boxes. I built a lot as a teenager. They were a lot cheaper then and I had more time.
How many models do you build a year on average?
Lately, during Covid, 10-12. I do a lot of old kits and they take a lot of time. It seems like I do an oldie out of necessity right before someone comes out with a new mold.
Bench
What are your favorite tools?
My latest favorite is the glue looper. Intended by the maker for CA but I’ve found if I’m fast it works for liquid cement, though they don’t recommend it. My all-time favorite, particularly for scratch builds and verification, is the Gerber variable scale.
What are your favorite paints?
Enamel. Until I run out. I find acrylics fragile but much easier to shoot through an airbrush. Depending on the brand sometimes acrylics are difficult to brush the small details. Of course, I don’t have to go to the garage with acrylics.
What is your airbrush of choice?
Lately, two cheap Iwatas, one gravity for most enamel jobs and one siphon for acrylics. I have an old Paasche siphon for bigger enamel jobs. It spits sometimes; it’s real finicky about the viscosity.
Stash Management
What’s your favorite build?
The old three foot sailing ships, Revell, Heller. They take a year but they are grand. I had one going in the background but finished it.
What’s your dream build?
Heller Preussen. Also Heller Victory. Well, also the transparent AFV Club T-34/85.
How large is your pile of shame (unbuilt kits)?
Hundreds, I would say. I like to get a sealed kit and a “started” or incomplete kit when I can, so when I goof up, it’s not such a disaster, so right off the bat it doubles. If the subject is common enough, I like to get several different brand molds and select from there.
Do you have a build horror story, accident, or mistake that haunts you?
Oh, the usual—forgetting the nose weight once or twice, airbrush spitting, carpet monster, stuff like that. But no real horror story. I did convert to CA adhesive a while back and made the mistake of using it for structural joints. After several minor disasters, I went back to liquid cement for stuff that needs to take a lot of stress, particularly in shear. I still use CA for the small stuff, small gap filling.
Accolades
Do you compete outside of ASM contests?
No. Just State Fair stuff.
Have you been published in a trade magazine (picture or article)?
No. Well, I sent in a couple of mails to FSM that they used but that really doesn’t count.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in modeling?
Several of the old 3 foot sailing ships. The hardest model I’ve done lately was the Athens double barrel cannon; pewter and wood. I made several jigs for the wheel spokes: I had to resort to using a dividing head on my mill. They were a CA nightmare I don’t want to repeat. I should have used Duco or epoxy or something else.
