75th Anniversary of 1941 Group Build (World at War)

Good looking results, Steve.  The kit looks like it builds up really well, and you did a great job with the painting.  The brown and green go very well with each other.

Do you have a preference for the front-page photo?  

Hi Jack.

All the paints are Tamiya.

The lower hull was a 2:1 mix of XF-59 Desert Yellow and XF-52 Flat Earth.  The sides were sprayed straight Desert Yellow.  The upper surfaces were initially a 2:1 mix of Desert Yellow and XF-57 Buff, but I didn't think it gave enough contrast with the sides, so I gave it a light overspray of XF-55 Deck Tan.

Dan, great looking build.  

I like the scheme, and the overall colour looks right on.  It's a huge difference from the previous set of wip pictures.  Did you repaint, add some colour washes, or was it just the light source difference?

-------------------------------------

Rob, great work with detailing and accurizing the old M13/40.  Out of curiousity, which brand of paint did you use for the main colour?

regards,

Jack

Nice work Dan, really like how you have done that scheme, going to have to try that. Gret to see it come along.

Nice work, Rob.  I know how it is about the paint modulation.  I usually use some of it for ships, not so much planes, but I find it tricky to avoid getting it either too dark or too light.

Dan:  great results!  Very appealing and a pleasure to look at.  Thanks for being part of the GB.  I haven't built an AFV in decades, but I do appreciate looking at the work of those who do.

Do you have a preference for the front page photo?  There's a few of them that would look good.

Sharp looking Pz IV Dan.  I particularly like the rust effects on the muffler.

I have made some more progress here as well.  Base coat of paint is on.  I am trying my hand at colour modulation (first time).  It looks pretty subtle too me, perhaps I didn't vary the paint tones enough.

Thanks Checkmate: I'm very happy with how the painting turned out, for the figure I used tamiya XF-49. He's from the Tamiya Panzer II kit for the 1970's, not sure If I'm going to finish him.

I'm calling my Panzer IV done, very happy with the painting overall. Letting the Panzer Gray show through the DAK and post shade color I think really gives the tank a weather beatin' look. Only real disappoint is DS tracks, would say there about five to six links short. Maybe on my next Panzer that has a antenna I'll figure out a way to mount it to the hull so it can be move up and down. Thanks Checkmate for hosting this group build.

Close up the nice a thin Dragon decals.

The Panzer IV joins my collection of North African Axis vehicles, Opel Blitz & the Tiger 1. Hans keeps the Tiger clean.

That's a great effect with the paint, Dan; very subtle.

Sharp-looking figure, too.  What kind of paint are you using on him?

Thanks Checkmate & Bish.

Rob: Lookin' good and sharp.

This morning I airbrushed on Tamiya Buff in a mist to give a dust coating, those Dragon decals went down perfect, they are nice and thin. Also attached the antenna in the up right position. I plan to add a figure but he won't fit in the turret, so he'll be outside.

Sharp-looking vehicle, Rob.  Coming along great!

Well I almost finished.  I am impressed with myself for not having lost any of the little PE bits for once.  Of course I still have a few more pieces to add so there is still a chance...

Some more pics below.  At this rate I expect to have it in the spray booth by tomorrow.

Looks good Rob.

I have finally gotten around to starting my M13/40.  This is the older Tamiya kit, with some Eduard PE , a metal barrel, and Fruil tracks.  As you can see I've got the two runs of tracks assembled and built up most of the hull.

Since I want an M13/40 I've removed the vents from the rear deck to replace with the PE ones as they run in the right direction.  Also I''ve removed the full length fenders in preparation for installing the PE "half fenders" (more like one-third fenders I think).  I have these folding but still need to apply some CA to hold everything together.

Hopefully I can finish up most of the assembly tomorrow.

Thanks Dan.

And wow, i love that finish.

Looks good, Dan!  I like the finish you achieved.

Thanks Checkmate.

Thanks Suomi39: The Hurricane is looking great, it's always nice when the two half's go together smoothly.

Thanks Bish: Great job and nice finish on your whirlwind, the figures and tractor turned out great and really add to your diorama set.

After finishing up with airbrushing I glued on the road wheels, then dry fitted the tracks on with the road and idler wheels. Ran into a problem with the DS tracks, at first I though the road wheels were miss alined, but no the DS tracks are about four to five links short. There's nothing I can do about that, this is the first time with using DS tracks that where to short.  Then I added the tools.

Next up I airbrushed on model master gloss clear, then today I applied the decals. They went on like clock work, ripped the number 3 on the back of the turret. They are so thin that the numbers on the side of the turret should not have any problems conforming. The exhaust was painted with a mix of tamiya XF-1 flat black and XF-10 flat brown.

Bish,

You're welcome.  I've corrected my PS for the bombs as examination of the photo seems to indicate they are British 500 pounders because of the type of lug attachment.

Although American 500 lb AN-M64 bombs did have a single lug attachment point (seems like it was an Army / Navy thing), I do recall reading that the British did use the American 500lb bombs utilizing the single lug attachment.  If I run across confirmation of that, I'll let you know.

Another PS>  I do wonder if they're light green because of re-painting the old "yellow" bombs for camo purposes?

UPDATE: After perusing the 1946 Ordnance manual, I did find that American AN-M64s could be used by the British.  They would use the one-lug connection instead of the two-lug connection used by the Americans.  Later in the war, the British added a two lug connection also so the Americans could use British bombs in their aircraft.

Also, after staring at the photo of the Mossie being loaded, it appears that the nose rings may not be yellow, but might actually be red.  The photo certainly seems to be color shifted towards the "green", so that may account for the discrepancy.

Thanks GAF, thats some nice info. It could be that the bombs in the pic i posted are white practice ones then. And it seems that the tail's were simply done in green to fit which ever bomb needed them. I have a number of other RAF builds including a Mossie being bombed up. They look like 500Ib er's in that pic you posted, on a Type B trolley, which is exactly what i was going to do. I think you may have just given me my Mossie dio. I think i may even have a little dog in one of my figures sets.

In regards the yellw band, i assume that British bombs could not be fitted into American aircraft and visa versa. So i would imagine that US Mosquito bombers would have had to carry British bombs. Maybe they just standardize the markings.

I did a little research on this subject for my Mossie.  Practice bombs were "white" and concrete as seen here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Typhoon_rearming.jpg

Note the dark green tail fins which were fitted onto the bombs.

Also, bombs came in a "light green" color, instead of being all dark green.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/3603569783/in/photolist-67x8e8-mwdKzW-6idc5E-pzqaTd-dmcHWj-ciN363-qPJzMy-kyw61S-bowLYe-d87gyN-ek8hPv-c5PYhE-75mKDY-nbCi7H-7ZGG9n-aQ5ov2-84idfN-9zcJ3M-omHJx5-rdna4g-9rKgT2-aaFDmH-6pgLqn-am3Gnw-6ureKv-fAuC33-7zCxtC-df2UMZ-6mSKYn-5FnAjN-am3GLw-5C1f8Y-tnFMzZ-ao9cVH-cffnGS-jQTHFL-9pWc6n-8HNdZm-w6ujqz-uw4XiS-tTPeAm-dxyEyx

Also dark green tail fins.

Gary

PS> Note the bombs have a "yellow" band around the nose, which denotes TNT filled for Americans.  Not sure what is going on here, as the lugs shown for attachment certainly appear to be British.

Well that makes sense guys. I guess that also expalins the mixed colours on the bombs in the pics i found. New green rear ends fitted to older yellow front ends. Maybe i should have gone with that, would have been more interesting.

Thanks guys, i know that will come in useful in future.

Yeah, I wouldn't know either, but being RAF subject, I checked the British forum.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234917818-raf-bomb-colours/

That thread has a PDF linked manual, and on page 4 states HE filled bombs were painted yellow, but switched to dark green around the same time United States adopted olive green on theirs.

regards,

Jack

Bish:  I thought yellow would denote practice bombs, too, at least in USAAF useage.  It got my interest, since I built a Fairey Battle with yellow bombs a couple years ago, following the instructions in the Airfix kit.  Even found some photos.  The yellow one on the left looks like it's got some black and red on it.

Looked around the net today, and the information is that the RAF used a yellowish color early in the war, then switched to dark green--maybe to camouflage bomb dumps and make them less visible from the air.

Good enough for me; curiosity satisfied.

Thnaks check, look forward to some more joinin it soon.

As for the bombs, i have no idea. If you notice on the pics of the real Whirlwind, the bombs seem to have green back ends and what look like very worn fronts. Both the flightpath instructions and the couple of sites i checked said green. And i would associate yellow with pratice bombs, but i can't see practice and real bombs being mixed. And i can't imagine bombs getting worn and weathered much either, its not like they can be re used.

So i found that a little confuseing and just went with the dark green. Jack might have a better idea, as i am sure you can guess, the RAF is not my strong point.

Front page is updated, Bish.  You're the first to finish, so congratulations are due there!

Great photo of the WAAF with the bombs.  Looks like some bombs are green and some are yellow.  Does that mean different types, did the RAF just change colo(u)rs?  

Thanks again for participating.  It will be good to see some of your armor in 1942.

Thanks Jack. Ye, i use the smae scatter materials, but in these i use more of the smaller scatter materials than the longer flock that i would use more of in a 35th dio.

Bish, another great scene you've got there.  Congrats on a job extremely well done.
Is the ground work the same materials you would use for the larger armour scale?

regards,

Jack

Thanks check. The figures areva mix of Revell and Airfix.

There is one pic i used for the tractor which shows a long bomb train.

Now thats pretty impressive. But that would need a big base lol, even in 72nd. Those flightpath sets are very nice, its just a shame the range of figures are limited.

I willleave the photo up to you, as host, that your prerogative

And thanks again. I am already lining up 1942's build. I am thinking armour for that.

Nice job, Bish.  That's a busy looking scenario!  Well-executed and planned.

Where did you obtain the little people? 

Which photo would you like for the front page?  They all look good.

Was just watching a BBC produced WWII documentary on Netflix.  One of the parts featured a long train of bombs heading out to the planes.  It was pretty impressive.

Thanks for being part of the GB.  It's always a pleasure and your builds are always well-done.

Thnaks Steve. I do like adding vehicle to a scene. At some point, i plan on doing a Lanc with a bomb train of 5 or 6 trolleys. That should be fun.