1945 GB

Alright, I'm considering doing group builds, but I have a habit of not being able to see the forest through the trees on this sort of thing... I guess I'm worried I'll start worrying more about badges and enjoying the hobby less. Anyways, I'll let you know if and when I'm ready.

Moff, thanks for expressing an interest on whether I will be creating a '46 badge.  I haven't thought about it, plus I don't know if I will be joining that one.  Just not sure I've anything in the stash that falls into that category, but will wait and see what the particulars are and decide then.

regards,

Jack

jgeratic

Moff, thanks for expressing an interest on whether I will be creating a '46 badge.  I haven't thought about it, plus I don't know if I will be joining that one.  Just not sure I've anything in the stash that falls into that category, but will wait and see what the particulars are and decide then.

regards,

Jack

 

You're welcome! No hard feelings to Bish, your design just appeals to me more. If you would consider doing a badge it would be greatly appreciated. 

About not having an adequate kit, it's 1946! You could build a Gundam Bearguy with a German tricolor scheme and a Balkenkreuze 

Thanks BrandonD: The figures that came with the Sherman kit are much easier to put together, than the Dragon figures.

Thanks BrandonK: Yeah I really like to flexible tracks, just got to put the glue in the right spot. Your Kitty Hawk turned out great, I like the look of decals when they sink into the detail. What wire do you use for the antenna wire? Hoping to get my 1/32 Bf 109 done soon, I'll be adding a antenna wire to it.

Thanks Joe Rix: Yes adding tools and anything else that will not be painted to main color, makes it much easier. CA glue is a must for that. Your P-47 is coming along great, nice detail work in the gear area.

Thanks Bish.

Johnny: Your 190 is looking good. Did you have any trouble with the Hasegawa decals?

Been adding more parts to my Sherman, light guards, spare tracks, turret hatches. Some spots I'm going to airbrush on low PSI with one of the Model Master dark Olive Drabs. The total part count is around 600, with out the tracks its around 300. I'm debating on weather to use the Dragon figures or not, from there not being any interior the driver and co-driver position are in a open area. But they still need more painting.

The Hetzer on the other hand, has the tracks and road wheels glued on. Not sure if I should post shade the dark yellow and red brown or just wait till I give it a dust mist coating with Tamiya Buff? Don't know if its just me but the wheels seems big. Took a picture of the Hetzer next to its bigger brother. My Dragon Jagdpanther.

Dan, I like the colour modulation you got going with the Sherman, particularly on the turret.

Bish, don't want to stray from the theme here, so once you have a dedicated thread up for 1946, I 'll ask my questions there - thx!

regards,

Jack

Dan, I love what you doing with your Sherman and Hetzer. They are turning out fantastic. Thanks for sharing how you do your tools. That's certainly my take on how to do them. Your doing great. Now bring 'em home.

Hi all. Been hassling with midterms and it has gotten in the way of more important things.

First, very nice work here. Brit Hellcat is very nice - more interesting color than the late war USN cats (unless you like blue.) And very nicely done - your attention to detail is better than mine. (Like the tip about a paint pen for checking seams.)

Sherm and Hetzer both look great. You got good depth on the Sherman's finish - it's a real challenge to give visual interest to the model of a weapon that was inherently ugly in color: some US Army bigwig described our OD as looking like "pig dung." The Hetzer has a tricky paint job - I did an Alamein Sherman that way it and it very difficult. And yea, it's a dinky thing. The Skoda chasis used for the Pz38t was so solid that it invited conversions galore - but by 1944 it was a flea sized thing.

Why do German models get so much attention? I think it's a little bit like Star Wars - the Empire was "high tech" and had very neat weapons. German aircraft had excellent engineers behind them. There was a saying in the WWII era among designers that "if it looks right, it flies right." German fighters all show uncommonly clean lines - there's not a dog among the lot. (The Dora flirts with dogness - that long snoot just doesn't have lovely look of the radial versions. I think the US Corsair suffered from the same defect.) In my humble eyes the only plane that beats the 109, fw or 262 for utilitarian beauty was the Zero: the perfect airplane. The best allied planes always had something that was a little too prominent that threw off harmony. The Spit wing was an engineering wonder, but is too busy for my eyes. The P51, the war's greatest piston fighter, looks a bit like a pregnant guppy. The P-38 is simply odd - two planes glued together. The other allied planes have a certain workman like (and brutal) appeal - but I don't think that anyone could call the Jug, Hellcat or Hurricane a thing of beauty. For my money the sweetest allied plane was the B-17 - especially the early models. (I'm commiting myself mentally for a WWI cycle, but it's very tempting to get out my Academy B-17C - dressed in very neat Coastal Command colors and put it in the Boeing Build. Also have the Italeri Sunderland and it breaks records for funk appeal.) Pretty much the same with tanks. Anyone going to claim that the Sherman or Cromwell have lines to match the PZIV or Panther? Or the camo schemes? Maybe the nation that can be ignored for eye appeal was the USSR. Colors on armor not great but the T-34 has great lines. The LA5/7 is a real treat and offers neat camo to boot. Wish Tamiya made them. Tam did make an IL-2 that I might do next and it's a great kit of a pretty ugly plane.

OK: I've got my Revell Spit XVI underway. (It's a Hasegawa rebox.) The kit itself is pretty good - fine detail and good fit.

The cockpit and more detail than I expected and fit into the fuselage with zero trouble. I made up the color myself and am pleased enough. You'll note that it's done without any washes or chipping simply because the kit only has a closed cockpit and the interior will be essentially invisible. I don't micro-detail for my own satisfaction. I did however stumble into a neat technique. The decal seatbelts self-destructed. Just because I was curious I checked around for scratch built belts. On YTube some gent showed how they could be made with Aves Apoxie Sculpt - a product I like a lot. The lighting isn't good in the photo but they looked very good - much better than PE to my eyes. They'll be a little visible on the completed model.

I didn't take any build photos - let's face it, it's just another Spitfire. (Although the first one I've built. Figure that one.) It did have a nasty centerline seam which took time. I've got most of it together and primed it with Vallejo primer so it's ready for paint.

I will make a few comments about the painting. I like to try something new on every kit - probably guaranteeing that I'll never master any single approach. Makes things interesting though. On this model I'm going to use Golden High Flow paints. I've used them a little before and have been very pleased. They have 45 colors but nothing identified as military so you do need to do some mixing - which is genuine fun for me. (The cockpit is a High Flow mix and I think it looks good.) It is favored by some of the top gurus on Model Warship. In the past I have found this stuff to lay down beautifully and it must have conditioners in it that retard drying because so far it's been splendid on tip clog. We'll see, but if it works well, others might be tempted into spending on $4 on a bottle - cheap considering it's 1oz/30ml, has a great Vallejo style bottle and has a BB inside. And Golden makes some of the best paint on the planet - they cater to the art crowd and that's a bunch that's pretty picky. (Vallejo started in the same place and the model paints developed slowly but are now huge. I really hope Golden can see a market there too - I'm sure they'd make the best water-based acrylics available for modelers.) That said, we've got some major masking ahead. No fun. Wish me luck.

Dan, your E8 looks ready for stowage and mud to have teh proper Spring '45 look.

Brandon, your FAA Hellcat has been added to the final roster. Thank you Bish for the assist- again.

EB, You are on a serious roll tackling another 1945 subject here.  Less than 2 months to go until the year is out!

Two months left. Tempting to try to get the IL-2 in too. Rooskie planes did play their role in late war. It's more complex than most 1/48 planes but everything I've heard is that Tamiya has a gem there which means it will go together quickly. It looks like Tamiya wants to reassert itself as #1 in the aircraft field and be a major player in armor. (Very tempting to do one of their 1/48 tanks for a Zen build.) The recent Zekes are exceptional reviews similar to the IL-2. Their new 1/32s are getting even higher praise. The new tool Tamiya Jagdpanzer was a great build and I've heard very good things about the just introduced Panther D. (I've got their new Brit MKI and it looks great - I intend to install the motor: never had one when I was a kid. That will be part of the WWI cycle upcoming.) One thing I've learned is that paying more for a good kit is worth it if you don't love sanding, filling and scratch building. And Tamiya kits are nothing if not clean.

If the Spit paints quickly, I'll have December free. We'll see.

Eric

Ok, sign me up for this build! I'll be doing my Tamiya 1/35 JS-3 with Eduard PE, an Aber barrel, and Friulmodel tracks. 

Here's some pics: 

I assume I can just pick up the badge now?

Doug, i was just thinking the other day i had not seen you in a while. Good to see you back, sorry to hear you have been having some problems.

Ok you lucky people, the 1946 GB thread is now up.

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/29/p/168478/1854066.aspx#1854066

Well guys, we are into the home straight with 1945, but the year is not over yet. How are we getting on.

Bish

Well guys, we are into the home straight with 1945, but the year is not over yet. How are we getting on.

 

I just started repainting the JS-3, but it's coming along nicely. I'll upload pics, I'm just a bit busy right now. 

Funny you should ask Bish. Over the past 3 weeks I've fought through a head and chest cold followed by a rather nasty sinus infection and then had family here visiting. So, I was limited in my bench time. But, all is clear for now and I should be able to start making solid progress. I've got the fuselage all puttied and sanded and I'm now on to the wings. I'll be painting the wheel wells prior to gluing them together.

I've got some catching up to do here on the GB also. I'll get to that in short order. Glad to see and hear that some solid activity is still happening here.

Ah....status reports...well....the King Tiger has the lower chasis & road wheels assembled and painted.  Planning on sitting down at the kitchen table Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving at the in-laws kitchen table and getting the assembly complete.  Will work on painting & weathering once we are back home....I really want to get this one done but been in a bit of a funk lately-going to tackle the Weekend GB this weekend-sometimes this helps me get started.

I have a couple of Monogram/Revell airplane kits in the stash with decals for circa 1945 planes-I may try do a quick build of one or more of those before the end of the year.

I have really enjoyed watching the quality of the builds by the group-very nice work all.