Thank you all for the kind words. It does suck, but i already have 2 offeres so i hope to be OK :)

Nothing on the model front i am afraid, been running around a lot and such. Soon :)

Thanks Bish.

Joe: The cockpit looks great.

Thanks Joe Rix: Yes I'm pretty excited to start the Eduard Kit, really like how they packaged the clear parts in separate bags and not have thrown them in other bags so they get rough up.

Last evening I worked on the Sherman T66 tracks, that are fully workable if glued right.  The trick is to put glue only on the flat part of the track, not in the area where the pin from the next tracks goes into.  At first I had the bottom tracks lined up, that turned out to be not so great.  Where they would lift up or seperate, when you would just barely bump them.  So just like the Dragon/Cyber Hobby "Smart Tracks", it is better to hold and glue each track link one by one.  From start to finish, it took roughly 90 minutes to glue up 77 links for one side.  That comes out to 13 1/2 inches or 34.29 centimeters.  I used a clear ruler and plastic sticks from a Tamiya late production Tiger 1 kit, to keep the tracks straight.

Yes it is a lot of tracks, to help speed things up I apply glue with a old paint brush to the bottom track, then attach the top part.  The injecter pin holes are on the inside, which hides them very well.  Cutting all those out, and cleaning them up took for ever!  Working on the other side now.

I removed the layer of paper from the drywall tonight. I started by wetting it down. The easiest way is to get it really wet and start rubbing it with your finger tips. My finger tips are a little numb now. LOL  I'm not sure how wet I made the drywall, but, I'm going to let it dry over night, then, I'll start cutting the cobblestones into it. Pictures will happen tomorrow.

Dan - Those tracks look really great.

Here's the latest pics. I want to let the drywall sit longer. It still feels cold and wet. The jeep didn't turn out as good as I would like. Maybe I'll turn it into a wreck. I had my LHS order Italeri's #ITA550314. It looks nice and it has a trailer. What do you all think?

Still haven't got my classes running properly and it has harmed my priorities. Anyway, still inching forward - not so far frome done actually. (The cockpit will go - want it open.)

Eric

Dan, those tracks look like as much of a handful as doing real tracks! Nice work!

GT, looks like your composition for the dio is coming together exactly as it should. In my limited experience, that is the hardest part.

EB, excellent work on the distressed paint for your Zero. She certianly looks the part of a war weary fighter about to set off on her final mission. Did you see the Japanese film of about 5 years ago or so on the Kamikazes?

Thanks Stik, I think its getting there.

EB - I agree with Stik. Great job on the paint on the Zero. I've tried that a couple of times. It just doesn't seem to look right when I try it.

EBergerud, that weathering and chipping is just amazing. It looks real.

BK

Bish

Ken, nice work there, I have been looking for a few mins and I think you have the layout down nicely. The only thing I would change is to angle the building and the sign slightly so the road is not going parallel along the front. And I recognise that building, I used one of those myself many years ago. Its one of the only dio's that has survived from my early days,

 

Thanks Bish The sign isn't set in stone yet. It's just set in place for the mock up I'm thinking on how to angle the building. It is/was set in stone, I have the basement cut out, but even that can be changed by cutting out more for the basment.

Eric, Dan, Greentracker - great job. I'm really enjoying seeing all of your builds come along. Lots of good stuff.

-BD-

BrandonD

Eric, Dan, Greentracker - great job. I'm really enjoying seeing all of your builds come along. Lots of good stuff.

-BD-

 

Brandon. You do a great job as well.

I don't think I'm that good. Look at that jeep. I know I won't be taking it to any shows

I probably will make it into a wreck.

Thank you and every one for the encouragement and the kind words

Ken

I knew I lost some of this post before

Here is the start of my cobblestone street, I would like everyones opinion. Does look okay? Is there too much damage to the cobblestones. Remember its Berlin in July 1945

Well, some mighty fine builds coming together in here. I am nearly done with my X-wing so the F6F is on deck and the box is open. I am truly excited to get started on this one. WHOOT WHOOT !!

BK

GT, your cobblestone work is superb! You really are giving the street an excellent battle damaged look!

Bish

Ken, I do like the look of those cobbles, I think you have it about right. Not sure if I missed it, what are you using for that.

 

Bish The base in the wood the frame in drywall. I know it has different names It probably doesn't go by that name where you are. But i can't think of it now. It's what you would use put up a wall your house. Home Depot sells them in 4x4 sheets Or half of the 4x8 sheet of already made up plaster.

Bish

Ken, I do like the look of those cobbles, I think you have it about right. Not sure if I missed it, what are you using for that. BK, looking forward to seeing you start that. BK

 

Thanks Stix oops I meant Bish Sorry. Its tedius work. Thats why stopped last night and went to bed LOL

Bish

Just did a search, its what we call plasterboard. That's a novel use for it, must be a bit messy. My brother is a plasterer and I used to work for him so have put a lot of that up.

 

MY late ex brother in law call it Sheetrock. I had to do a search on it. I couldn't remember for the life of me what he call it.

Yea it's getting messy. I'm not going to sweep the floor untill I finish cutting it all out. LOL

Alrighty then!! I am finally ready to get going on my F6F Mk II.

So, here we go. I can't explain how stoked I am to finally be building this kit. I have really wanted to build it SOOOOO bad for quite awhile.

This is a Hobby Boss 1/48 F6F Mk II Hellcat for the British Fleet Arm-1945.

Upon opening the box I found every item neatly packed and rapped to protect it from damage. They even went further to protect the plastic parts by rapping them in foam and plastic bags. The glass is super clear and free of defects. ALL the parts on the trees are super nice, sharp, highly detailed and FREE of any flash. I am blown away by how clean this kit is. 

The paint call outs are for Mr Color, which is nice because that is my preferred paint at the moment, but Tamiya will have to fill in on some colors, NP. 

The instructions are easily the most understandable and most descriptive of any kit I have yet to work with. This kit should go together with little trouble, but you never know. At this point I am not planning on any aftermarket or scratch on this kit, strictly OOB.

So, without further waiting; the pics of the start.

BK

Looks like a nice kit, can't wait to see how it comes along.

I agree with Bish, Brandon K. It looks like a great kit. I'm sure we all will be watching it come together. No, theres no pressure; right! LOL

I'm not sure why, But I seem to be on the other side of the world and doing ETO/ally things. Even my future builds are allied/ETO.