Ben,I got this one too,I was thinking about trying out the AK Russian Green modulation System.I think Dupes used the German one on his Panzer III and liked it.Anyway i won't start mine till later this year,but will enjoy watching yours.

http://ak-interactive-usa.com/product-AK028.html

Tojo72

Ben,I got this one too,I was thinking about trying out the AK Russian Green modulation System.I think Dupes used the German one on his Panzer III and liked it.Anyway i won't start mine till later this year,but will enjoy watching yours.

http://ak-interactive-usa.com/product-AK028.html

Hi Tojo,

Well, I've decided on the Soviet one. I'm thinking that a simple basecoat of XF-61 (?) Dark Green over a black pre-shade will look really good but like you say I'm tempted to try a bit of this 'Colour Modulation' lark?

The Russian Green AK Modulation kit was on several trade stands that I looked at when I was at that model show at the weekend. I can see the principle behind it but am wondering if just lightening the basecoat in stages would maybe give the same effect. Food for thought?

I bought my usual magazines for the month last week and in one they have a big section where the author assembles, paints and weathers Dragons SU-100. I noticed the feature today as I have been too busy over the last few days to sit down and read them all! What perfect timing for that article to be printed!

All the best,

Ben

Which magazine is that Ben,I would like to give it a read

Tojo72

Which magazine is that Ben,I would like to give it a read

You have pm Tojo

Cheers buddy,

Ben

I'll be watching this one closely Ben...I picked-up the same kit a few weekends ago and it's sitting on the edge of my workbench waiting for me to finish my Sd.kfz 7/1...I'll likely start it in a couple weeks (if I get my act together...lol)

Initially I was partial to the deteriorating winder scheme of the 7th Mechanized Corps, Hungary 1945, but nixxed that idea 'cuz my half track will be in winter scheme. I've ultimately decided on the first scheme you listed from the Eastern Front 1945.

I've heard the same "as long as it's green" advice as you and am still looking/reading/watching/listening before I settle on which way to go. They've just started selling Vallejo at my LHS (finally), so I was hoping I could make something work from their range to give them a try.

I'll have to look around through the mags for that article you're speaking of. I hope it's one of the few that my LHS carries, 'cuz you're right about the timing being perfect.

Cheers

Cheers Cass,

I hope I can knock something together that looks the part.

I do like a bit of Soviet Armour and the article is great - I'll pm you the name of the magazine. I'd put it on here but don't know if I'll get told off if I did so!

My last few builds have been very heavily weathered so I'll be taking it easy with this one for a change.

I'll be making a start tomorrow if I have time, otherwise it will be Sunday.

Watch this space chaps!

Take care,

Ben

I'm eager! Start building it!

Hey Lasse,

I'm eager too matey!

I've got a bit of an 'all-over the place' day today so will probably have to suspend starting building until tomorrow but I might get the chance to get some basics done later on today.

All the best,

Ben  

Sorry - double post!

Hi guys,

Here we are - the first wip update!

I decided I wanted to get a all the fairly 'uninteresting' lower hull stuff out the way and also get the road wheels and running gear assembled. By doing this it means I can drop straight into this build tomorrow and start the casemate work to get thing moving.

I thought this would take an hour tops but 4 hours later I was finally at section 5 in the build guide - the section where I wanted to be for when I start tomorrow. A couple of years back it would have taken me less than an hour but I take my clean-up really seriously and the road wheels needed some work on them not to mention the hubs and tow points - the instructions were a liitle bit 'misleading' in places too and caused some backtracking

Anyway, here we are so far. The wheels are dryfitted to allow for the assembly of the Magic Tracks which I'll then remove along with the roadwheels for separate painting. Idlers and drives are on and the suspension housings which are very nicely detailed are on too:

* The suspension housings and the little bit of springs left visible through the slots:

* I wanted to complete sections 1 through 4 on the build guide so tomorrow I can start hitting the upper hull assembly. 

* Running gear detail - shame most of it will be very well hidden (note: the wheels are all dryfitted and check out the crisp moulding on some of the wheel detail - nice): 

 Thanks for looking guys - I hope you like the look of her so far.

 I'll get stuck into the upper hull assembly tomorrow and things will start taking shape.

Take care folks,

Ben

Rolling right along with this one Ben! It's good to hear you say you're taking more time with the builds and focusing on the details like parts clean-up and such, it's paying off in your finished results every time. Look forward to seeing what you do with this one.

Fast start,I did the  T-34/85 a few years ago,and these steps are the same.Looks good keep going

Tojo72

Fast start,I did the  T-34/85 a few years ago,and these steps are the same.Looks good keep going

Hi guys,

Thanks for looking in Tojo & Bill,

Bill - slowing down and meticulously cleaning up all parts has proved invaluable! I'm not getting the fitment issues that I did when I was a newbie and everything looks neater too.

Tojo - I know next to very little about Soviet Armour hence me wanting to learn a bit which is why I decided a nice Dragon kit, some books and the internet would be a good start to learn. You've got to love Soviet stuff - brutal looking stuff! I've only built one Soviet piece before and that was the superb Tamiya JSU-152.

Is this a standard T-34 chassis then. Can anyone let me have the correct Friul number for the links I'd need to Friul this up. I probably won't but you never know

My older JSU from Christmas / New Year 2011 (great kit):

Cheers guys,

Ben

Hello guys,

Just a quick update on my new SU-85M build.

Casemate dryfitted and additional armour fitted. PE grille on the engine deck went together very nicely (I'm getting the hang of this PE lark and as I was working today I planned my session for tomorrow and cleaned up a bunch of parts ready to complete the upper hull assembly tomorrow.

I had to make a decision - Friuls or Magics? I thought I'll try and assemble a side and see how they look and tbh, it was not too bad so I assembled the other side too which actually wasn't as good as the first attempt. It's a link too long but obviously removing a single link isn't possible due to the guide horns. The only way around it is to remove a link at the drive sprocket where the missing horn won't be noticed? The problem being the links are obviously square and they just don't have a snug 'wrap-around' like Panzer I - IV links but I'm going to persevere as they do work, paint up well and have saved me £25 too.

The beat up fenders look really good and will be ideal for hiding over-length Magics when I fit them! You can see them nearly in place in one of the photos.

Note: All wheels are dry-fitted and the tracks left removable for painting off the vehicle

I hope you like her so far guys:

The 'good side' of track links:

These are optional 'beat-up' effect Fenders which I like. There are optional beat-up or normal fuel cans too. If you look at the tracks on the right (as you look at the photo) you can see that that run is slightly longer. An easy fix I hope:

Thanks for looking guys.

As usual feel free to offer comments and advice

Update tomorrow,

Ben  

Looking nice Ben. I love your JSU-152.

Cheers TM,

That Tamiya JSU is a truly excellent build that all WWii armour fans should have. Just be sure to get a decent replacement metal barrel. Mine was from RB.

You should search out my blog - I built it about 12 months ago now.

I'm hoping to get a fair chunk done tomorrow so keep an eye out for my update.

All the best,

Ben

Hi guys,

It was coming together very well but I'm just not 'feeling' this build at the minute-infact it feels damn near annoying.

As so it's been put back in the box and I'm going to pick something out of the stash that feels like fun to assemble and pick this up at a later date.

Ben

Sorry to hear this build lost it's 'magic', but I understand what you're saying...it's no fun when it feels like work, and this is suppose to be a fun hobby.

I'll keep an eye out for when the urge to pick this kit up again returns...

Cheers,

caSSius

Sorry to hear this build lost it's 'magic', but I understand what you're saying...it's no fun when it feels like work, and this is suppose to be a fun hobby.

I'll keep an eye out for when the urge to pick this kit up again returns...

Cheers,

Cheers Cass,

I'm glad you understand that feeling. Normally I'll look at the instructions to plan ahead and find myself saying "I can't wait to get to that bit-looks great" but that isn't happening?

I've left her in a tidy state (minus the Magic Tracks as they looked awful close-up) and will hit her again when I feel like it. I mean, how many modellers have unfinished kits??? LOTS!

Anyway, good news. I've had a look at the stash which is now reduced to a massive 3 kits (lack of space means no big stash - I buy kits when I'm running low or when something really takes my fancy like this SU did). The plan was to complete this SU-85M and then turn my attention to the Tamiya Willys Jeep in my stash so I've put the SU box away and have got the Jeep kit out to have a look at.

A nice looking simple build (it is Tamiya after all) which I've already got some upgrades for. I have an RB replacement barrel for the .30 cal, some Resin oil/fuel cans (square type-not Jerry cans) and a replacement windshied with a cover on it that is designed to sit flat on the bonnet (I'm undecided on wether to use it it yet in place of the kit windshield but I'm tempted as it's a bit different.

If you look at the link below you'll see the Brass upgrade set which costs peanuts and from what I can see allows the correct radio to be made up. Food for thought?

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/models/vehicles/tam35219.htm

Now I just need to find someone to paint the figure for me

Sorry to let you all down re the SU-85M build but at present it was just not happening

Take care,

Ben

Oh, I understand about taking breaks. One of these days I may complete my Zero that I started 3-4 years ago. 

That is one beauty of having a stash when things aren't going right with another build.

Oh gosh, don't get me started on taking breaks tigerman...lol...I'm just this week getting to the home stretch of an Sd.kfz 7/1 that I started 19 years ago...lol. I built the AA gun and lost interest...re-boxed it and set it aside until the mood hit again. It finally returned several weeks ago . But that's an extreme case I hope!

No worries Ben...you haven't let anybody down. Good luck with the Jeep...the AM kit looks really nice.

Cheers,

Don't feel bad Ben, lots of builders have 'shelf queen' projects with varying lifespans. It's good that you aren't trying to force it as that's generally when disaster strikes!

wbill76

Don't feel bad Ben, lots of builders have 'shelf queen' projects with varying lifespans. It's good that you aren't trying to force it as that's generally when disaster strikes!

Cheers guys!

You've made me feel better about the whole affair now! Roll on the Jeep!

Ben

Looking GOOD!  I think  the details on those beaten up fenders might be a little soft?

Can't wait for more!

caSSius

Oh gosh, don't get me started on taking breaks tigerman...lol...I'm just this week getting to the home stretch of an Sd.kfz 7/1 that I started 19 years ago...lol. I built the AA gun and lost interest...re-boxed it and set it aside until the mood hit again. It finally returned several weeks ago . But that's an extreme case I hope!

No worries Ben...you haven't let anybody down. Good luck with the Jeep...the AM kit looks really nice.

Cheers,

That would make an interesting thread. What was your longest build from start to finish? I guess mine my be around 5 years. At least you're going to get her done

caSSius

Oh gosh, don't get me started on taking breaks tigerman...lol...I'm just this week getting to the home stretch of an Sd.kfz 7/1 that I started 19 years ago...lol. I built the AA gun and lost interest...re-boxed it and set it aside until the mood hit again. It finally returned several weeks ago . But that's an extreme case I hope!

No worries Ben...you haven't let anybody down. Good luck with the Jeep...the AM kit looks really nice.

Cheers,

That would make an interesting thread. What was your longest build from start to finish? I guess mine my be around 5 years. At least you're going to get her done

Another reason why it takes me forever to finish and post a project is that I (every time, never fails) just lose interest somewhere along the line.

 Instead of starting something else I'll stop and well, just think about it for a while.

  Eventually, the enthusiasm comes back and I'll get reanimated ........ once I determine where I left off.

Sorry to hear you've gotten burnt out there Ben, I know how it feels- been there, done that, got the tee-shirt...

Take a little holiday from modeling and you'll feel better.

Cliff

Yup , that happens Ben . I'm in the same place right now with my M4A3 . No use in forcing  the build when  the feeling isnt there to keep building it .