Here Bish: The Duke's 2013 Year in Review

A whole bunch of nice builds there Duke. I do like those two big German guns.

Holy moly do you sleep or just build 24/7. Awesome builds

Thanks for the compliment Johnny; and yes, I sleep alright. Eight hours every night. I have to. I use power tools in repairing people's homes and since I want to keep all my fingers; I need my sleep! Trust me Johnny, this is a small Year in Review for me, just ask Stik. I usually complete between 45 and 55 models each year. Hopefully in 2014 I'll be back up to my usual output.

Thanks Bish! I enjoyed building both those guns, even though Dora scared me the whole time she was being built. The other one was just a great walk down Memory Lane.

Yeah, I know that the Dora bit off a big chunk of your model building time this year. This is a small crop for him. Very nice work my friend. I wish I had been able to attend more IPMS and AMPS meetings last year and seen more of these in person. I really like he H-39, Halo, TOS-1s, and of course... Dora. Heck each of these AFV builds will liven up the armor section here.

Thanks Carlos. I do have a couple contests that some of these can come to, so if you make them, you'll still see them. Or, if you want, let me know what you want to see in person and I'll bring it to a meeting.

Now back to the bench....

Duke Maddog

Thanks Bish! I enjoyed building both those guns, even though Dora scared me the whole time she was being built. The other one was just a great walk down Memory Lane.

I bet it was scary, but I would like to try one of those one day. I have been thinking about getting one of those guns, 35th might just be a bit to much, but I think the 72nd one is a bit more sensible.

That Dora is absolutely majestic!

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it.

Bish, I've seen the 1/35th scale one finished; it is a six-foot-long monster! I did this one because I build all my armor in 1/72 scale and this fit right in with my collection. It is a great kit, but you'll have lots of seams to fill and/or sand. Expect to spend a year and a half or more on it.

Thanks Jet!

Killer collection there, Duke! The railroad pieces are particularly outstanding!

hi duke

saw many of these at nationals. very nice.

bish i jave the 1/72 DORA. i have seen it as low as $200 US though shipping would be a tad more than usual. if you look at it as really 8 kits the price seems more reasonable. i lay my own track because it doesn't take any longer than it does to paint and weather the plastic which still looks like plastic. DORA would be a bit of a challenge because of the parallel tracks. i would have to build everything in comoponents or i would never get it out of the bunker.

Thanks guys! Wayne it is great to see you posting here. I was fortunate; I got my Dora for $165.00 with no shipping costs. I know a guy. Wayne the Dora felt to me more like 12 separate models, plus a few detail sets. I kept her in all her separate sub-assemblies until after I had painted her.  

waynec

hi duke

saw many of these at nationals. very nice.

bish i jave the 1/72 DORA. i have seen it as low as $200 US though shipping would be a tad more than usual. if you look at it as really 8 kits the price seems more reasonable. i lay my own track because it doesn't take any longer than it does to paint and weather the plastic which still looks like plastic. DORA would be a bit of a challenge because of the parallel tracks. i would have to build everything in comoponents or i would never get it out of the bunker.

O don't try and tempt me. Hannants have it for £139.99, about $230. I think that sounds like a sensible way to build it. One of these days, you never know.

Duke Maddog

Thanks guys! Wayne it is great to see you posting here. I was fortunate; I got my Dora for $165.00 with no shipping costs. I know a guy. Wayne the Dora felt to me more like 12 separate models, plus a few detail sets. I kept her in all her separate sub-assemblies until after I had painted her.  

And he built a "baby coffin"  to transport her all around in like a psycho killer with his prize! ;-)

amd he was the last one to clear the contest room saturday night. we were breaking things down around him.

All very nice Duke!  

How big is your Dora?  If Wikipedia had correct info and if I did my math correctly, just the barrel would be about 16" long?

stikpusher

And he built a "baby coffin"  to transport her all around in like a psycho killer with his prize! ;-)

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Actually, my friend built that for me; free of charge!

waynec

and he was the last one to clear the contest room Saturday night. we were breaking things down around him.

Yeah, that's what happens when you bring 110 models to a Nationals. It takes two days to set them out and a mad three hours rush to pack them all up again. 

schmidty

All very nice Duke!  

How big is your Dora?  If Wikipedia had correct info and if I did my math correctly, just the barrel would be about 16" long?

Thanks Mike! She alone measures out to 42 inches long from the front of her barrel to the rear munitions elevators with the barrel lowered all the way. Her barrel by itself, from the end of her breech block to the other end; measures 24 inches. She is about 6 and a half inches wide, but her base is nine inches wide. Now you can see why I need the "baby coffin" to transport her!

Thanks Steve! The Morser on the railcars was hand painted freehand camo.

Whew !

That sir is an impressive amount of building ! The Subject matter is good too .All 1/72 ? Wow .  Tanker - Builder