SPA Modeler

Nice interview Tom. Great to have those memories of your Grandfather helping you get started in the hobby!

That key memory on my grandfather is never forgotten. In fact, I was very close to my grandparents on my mom’s side. I took it hard when he passed away in 1981 of leukemia. I was very devastated when my grandmother passed away in 1995. I still miss them to this day. I guess it’s true for everyone who have grown close to their grandparents and still misses them.

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2026 1:29 pm Thank you all for the kind words.

Yeah, John…. what was I thinking pulling off all those parts from the sprue trees?
Here’s the funny thing about my dad. He worked at Chicago Pneumatic for over 40 years as a draftsman (engineer by today’s standards)

In case anyone is curious why my screen name is BlackSheep214. It’s self explanatory since I used to love watching Baa Baa Black Sheep during the 70s, plus I’ve read Boyington’s biography. Not to mention the Black Sheep Squadron and the F4U Corsairs. I need to build a few Black Sheep USMC Squadron aircrafts through the years. The Harrier, Skyhawk, F/A-18 Hornet(?), F-35, etc…

Nope, they never flew the Hornet. They went from Skyhawks, the Harriers, to Lightnings…

According to Wiki:

F4F Wildcat (1942)
F4U Corsair (1943–53)
F9F Panther (1953)
F2H Banshee (1953–57)
FJ Fury (1957–62)
A-4 Skyhawk (1962–89)
AV-8B Harrier II (1989-2022)
F-35B Lightning II (2022-present)

A great interview Tom - it's always nice to know a bit more about you guys. Your Grandfather sounds like he was a really great Dude.

SPA Modeler Interview with Impisi (Martin)

East Frisia, Germany


Tasca 1/72 Akuyaku Tank (Bad Guy 1) with Humanoid Pig Crew - concept by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki


Smer 1/50 Ansaldo SVA 5 (ex-Artiplast) with 1/50 Architectural Figures


Lucky Toys 1/72 Attila and the Black Huns - “Somewhere on the Asian Steppes” scene


Revell 1/13 Dimetrodon (Sailback) - Early Permian period (roughly 280–265 million years ago) mammal like reptile not a dinosaur, became extinct 40 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared


Waterloo 1815 1/72 Dutch and Belgian Artillery Units - Battle of Waterloo


Italeri, ESCI, Heller, Revell, Tamiya and Dragon Figures and Tamiya Vehicles 1/35 - Feldlager Spätsommer Ostfront - Field Mess, Eastern Front (Russian Front)


Matchbox 1/72 Henkel He 115 - Battle of Britain air rescue scene


KP 1/72 Letov S 231


KP 1/72 Letov S 328


ICM 1/48 Me 109 F-2 - The 109 F-2 of Lt. Max-Helmuth Ostermann, Staffel Kapitän of 7 / JG 54 Swenskaya (Leningrad area), Autumn 1941


Revell 1/48 F-86D - The F-86D-35-NA Sabre der 445th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of Capt. A. G. Limpantsis, Geiger AFB, WA December 1954


1. What was your first model kit?

I can no longer really remember my first model; it was almost certainly an Airfix kit.For the first few years, I built nothing but Airfix models. I do remember the F-5A and the 1/24 scale Stuka, and there was a *Bismarck* included as well. I think my very first models were the soft-plastic vehicles and tanks—at least, I remember playing with those together with a friend. We painted those small figures and also the vehicles and then played with them.

2. What is your preferred scale?

I once imposed a self-restriction to 1/72 scale, but that was in another modeling life—or rather, in the time before I took a break from modeling in 2013. Nowadays, the scale makes no difference to me.

3. What is your preferred subject or subjects?

I mainly build aircraft. Every now and then, figures come into play as well. Since getting back into the hobby during the pandemic, I’ve been trying to build a small scene with every project. However, I won't be able to keep this up, as I'm slowly running out of space. 

4. What’s your favorite model built to date?

My favorite is always the most recently built model—well, almost always. In terms of craftsmanship, my best piece is the B-2, although that dates back to my earlier days of model building.


Testors 1/72 B-2 - The "Spirit of New York" based at Edwards, Air Force Flight Test Center

5. What’s your hardest model built to date?

The most difficult model so far was the B-2. I worked on that one for over a year—with interruptions, of course.


6. What’s your Holy Grail kit?

My Holy Grail is a 1/32 scale Dassault Mirage III R with various aftermarket parts. I have the kit in my stash, but so far I’ve had neither the inclination nor the time to actually start it. Will I ever start it? I don't know.


7. Who’s your favorite kit maker?

I don't really have a favorite manufacturer. I do have a certain soft spot for Mach2 and other short-run kit makers, though. To spotlight short-run kit makers may at first seem unusual as a response, but I believe short-run kits deserve more attention.


8. What’s your favorite glue or glues?

No, I don't have a favorite glue. I usually use very thin-viscosity glue or CA from small tubes.


9. Who makes your favorite paint?

I nowadays use only pure acrylic paints, as I can no longer tolerate the smell of solvents.In addition to acrylics, I also use oil paints, which I thin with odorless solvents. I don't have a favorite manufacturer; I use Vallejo, LifeColor, Schmincke, and a lot others.


10. What started you as a modeler?

Oh dear—when did it all start? I didn't have a father, uncle, or grandfather who built models. I received Lego and Fischertechnik very early on, and as a child, I was always tinkering with something. Then, one day, my mother brought me home a model kit—and that’s likely where it all began. I couldn't say exactly when, though. What I do remember is that, at around age 11 or 12, I took on my first job just so I could buy more models—Matchbox models, specifically.

A great interview Gents, and I have to say Martin it's nice to know a bit more about you after all these years.

What can I say about the builds - Stunning. I remember you building a lot of them. I still love the seaplane dios most of all because I love the water bases (and the Hun's running through the stream). Interesting too that you like the short run companies - I've not built much short run stuff outside RS models and a few Special Hobby. I've often wondered about KP and some of the others. I need to have a go at some more.

Long live Matchbox!

Wow, Martin! What a selection of superb builds! Great to learn your history.

A great interview. Your builds are incredible. We'll done, Martin!

Those are all very well done builds. Nice to learn a bit about you and your style.