Wow that is a bright green Rob. 

Sorry, not much going on this front either. I've been poking along on a set of Spade Ace tracks for a 1/35th Type 95 Ha-Go... 

bufflehead

I see why you chose that color Rob, its nearly perfect!  Switching to the black frame and wheels would give it a really  authentic look!

 

That is my plan, although I may do that for my Tamiya one. I forced myself to build this kit because it was there and it isn't worth trying to sell.

Rob, I really like the color on your car.  I think the black frame would look great.

Gamera, those tracks look good, although a bit tedious.

Just to throw it out there, when this GB is done in November, I am thinking of starting another GB for German Armor, and then maybe UK armor the year after.  This has been a great GB, and I think the above GB's would also be great.  What do you guys think?

Oh, I got home yesterday, and there was a package on my stoop.  The compressor arrived days ahead of schedule.  Hooked it up last night, and am really pleased.  Now what needs painting? 

Dwayne: Congrats on the new compressor. I'm sure you'll find something to paint. I'd suggest the dog or cat probably isn't a good idea. Though I have thought about painting my sister's little dog with glow-in-dark paint to see if we get anyone mistaking him for a Chupacabra.

Not sure if I've got anything for a German GB (yeah I'm probably the only armour guy on the forum with nothing Wehrmacht). Since this GB included Cold War hardware as well as the Second World War would something from the Cold War/modern Bundeswehr be kosher? I have had a hankering to build a Leopard II. 

And I'm certainly down with a UK armour GB. 

Gamera

Since this GB included Cold War hardware as well as the Second World War would something from the Cold War/modern Bundeswehr be kosher? I have had a hankering to build a Leopard II. 

 

 

Thanks, that's something to think about. I need to concentrate on getting this one finished right now. 

Gamera

Dwayne: Congrats on the new compressor. I'm sure you'll find something to paint. I'd suggest the dog or cat probably isn't a good idea. Though I have thought about painting my sister's little dog with glow-in-dark paint to see if we get anyone mistaking him for a Chupacabra.

Not sure if I've got anything for a German GB (yeah I'm probably the only armour guy on the forum with nothing Wehrmacht). Since this GB included Cold War hardware as well as the Second World War would something from the Cold War/modern Bundeswehr be kosher? I have had a hankering to build a Leopard II. 

And I'm certainly down with a UK armour GB. 

 

 

It also opens it up to Cold War Soviet armor; after the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany, Revell of Germany reissued several Dragon modern Soviet armor with Bundeswehr markings since they absorbed former DDR (NVA) military units.

ManCityFan

Rob, I really like the color on your car.  I think the black frame would look great.

 

Just returned from my local hobby shop. They were closed for a bit while the owner ran and got lunch, but when he got back I was able to get some Tamiya Deep Green and Semi Gloss Black to paint this kit.

Good point, I didn't even think about the East German hardware!

Ooooh.....German Armor GB!?!  UK Armor GB!?!  Sign me up!!  I'm sure I have a kit or two in the stash that will suffice for either!

Dwayne, looking forward to the great work you'll do with that new compressor!!

So the assembly on the Tamiya JS-3 is practically done.  I just need to add the tow cables, periscopes and MG ammo box, which I may not do until some paint is on her:

Here's the JS-3 next to Tamiya's JS-2 that I built several years ago.  Nice to compare the two and see the evolution.

Now its time to switch to the Tamiya T-62 and get it to roughly the same stage as the JS-3!

Hey Rob, good point on the East German armor.  I had not thought of that. 

Ernest, the JS-3 is looking good.  The comparison with the JS-2 is interesting.  The 3 has much more sloping armor, and I must say, looks meaner.

Compressor is hooked up.  Had to fuss with some connections, but finally got to do a coat of Stynylrez on the rubber band tracks last night, and the compressor worked like a charm.  I got a Point Zero with a tank, under $100 delivered.  Starts up at 40 psi, and stops at 58 psi, so even if the pump is working, I don't lose pressure when spraying like my old compressor.  So far, worth every penny. 

Ernest: Looks great! The 'pike nose' and new turret are very obvious here. 

Dwayne: Great to hear the compressor is working out.  

ManCityFan

Hey Rob, good point on the East German armor.  I had not thought of that. 

 

When I was a young lieutenant in Germany, we figured that the Soviets would use the East German army to try to punch a hole through our defenses and then exploiting any success. I've had an interest in their stuff ever since.

I'm not too sure these guys look very Ethiopian, but what the heck. LOL! 

 

I have finished the lower hull.

Some pictures of the fighting compartment:

And the engine:

Time to build the superstructure.

Griffin: I dunno but they look pretty darn good to me. Nice work! 

Dutchman: Wow, great job there. I hope you're leaving the hull unattached so you can remove the top to show all that detail. 

Great interior! Really really nice bud.

Hey Griffin, very nice job on the faces on those figures!

Hey Dutch, all I can say is WOW.  That interior is incredible!

Yeah Griffin, those faces look great!  The figures are going to look quite nice on the tank!

Dutch, that is one sweet SU-85 interior! 

bufflehead

Ooooh.....German Armor GB!?!  UK Armor GB!?!  Sign me up!!  I'm sure I have a kit or two in the stash that will suffice for either!

Dwayne, looking forward to the great work you'll do with that new compressor!!

So the assembly on the Tamiya JS-3 is practically done.  I just need to add the tow cables, periscopes and MG ammo box, which I may not do until some paint is on her:

Here's the JS-3 next to Tamiya's JS-2 that I built several years ago.  Nice to compare the two and see the evolution.

Now its time to switch to the Tamiya T-62 and get it to roughly the same stage as the JS-3!

 

Bufflehead, 

I have the Tamiya IS2 and am going to start building it within the next week or two. I was wondering, does the cast texture on the kit show through the paint or is it to subtle? Otherwise should I do my own cast texture using Mr. Surfacer?

Kien

Kien

 

Bufflehead, 

I have the Tamiya IS2 and am going to start building it within the next week or two. I was wondering, does the cast texture on the kit show through the paint or is it to subtle? Otherwise should I do my own cast texture using Mr. Surfacer?

Kien

 

Kien, in my opinion the cast texture is just right and still shows through after primer, paint and weathering.  If you want a really heavy texture you can add more with Mr. Surfacer but I don't think the casting of these tanks was that rough.  Here's a closeup pic of the turret. 

BTW, I don't remember if those casting numbers were already molded on or if I added them...

bufflehead

 Kien, in my opinion the cast texture is just right and still shows through after primer, paint and weathering.  If you want a really heavy texture you can add more with Mr. Surfacer but I don't think the casting of these tanks was that rough.  Here's a closeup pic of the turret. 

BTW, I don't remember if those casting numbers were already molded on or if I added them...

 

Bufflehead, 

Thank you for the close-up picture, the cast texture looks like the perfect amount so no need to add any. Fantastic work on the IS2, the close in really shows the great weathering around the turret and fenders. 

Kien

I agree with Kien that JS2 looks great Buffle. I'm pretty much done with the figures and dry fitted them and the DShK to see how it'll look. Now I have to start doing the weathering and the tracks. It's getting there. 

 

Griffin: Really nice job there! The T-55 and the figures look great! I built a Type 59, a Chinese copy of the T-55 a few years ago and now I've got the hankering to build a T-55 too. 

Ernest: Those close-ups look really good. I've tried to get the texture of cast steel right, yours looks perfect.  

Griffin, very nice looking figures and the T-55 is looking great too! 

Gamera, Tamiya deserves the credit!  They molded a pretty good cast texture on the JS series!

I was working on the tow cables for the JS-3.  Kit comes with this heavy string for the cables:

I dinked around with the string and kit cable ends, but didn't like the look.  I dug around the stash and found this in an older Dragon JS-2 kit!  I'm sure these will be much better!

I just went thru all the pages of this GB. Lots of great stuff here! 

Can I jump in with a 1/35  Zvezda/Dragon BTR-70 that is maybe 20% along? 

stikpusher

I just went thru all the pages of this GB. Lots of great stuff here! 

Can I jump in with a 1/35  Zvezda/Dragon BTR-70 that is maybe 20% along? 

 

Ernest: Ah ok, Tamiya quality! Nice tow cables, they look much better than the string or plastic ones. 

SP: Welcome aboard! 

Hey Ernest, those AM cables look like a huge improvement!

Thanks guys! I look forward to having some time to get this one done up here.