12 Days of Christmas challenge build A

MC, don’t we get 12 days from the start date, whatever it is?

Sarge, you’re doing great. I have a sneaking suspicion that the WWII HF antenna, was the same one that we used on out commo rigs for our GRC-193 H.F. radios. There were 5 three foot sections that screwed together to make the long whip. 

 Nope.

As this is a sort of trial for this year I gave a days grace starting on boxing day instead of Christmas Day.

the 6th is the deadline.

4 days left, guys!

LOL! I was gonna say RATT Rig on my last post, but I figured nobody here would know what that was. So I called it a Commo Rig, as most vets and military buffs understand the word commo. Commo was another MOS (31C2P) that I happened to have, and I know exactly what you mean about antenna mounts... I swear that some antenna stuff, especially HF, has not changed since WWII. But why would it need to? 

Nice fix on your antenna mount Sarge.

My first update of the year! Yesterday after work I I did an airbrushing session- 

firstly some Panzer Gray on the gun mount and the inner faces of the side doors. Then I gave that some time time to dry, masked off the side door areas and floor portion of the gun mount with Silly Putty, and airbrushed on a coat of the interior “Elfenbein” color used on  WWII German closed top AFVs.

I’ll do the floorboards and all the detail item painting here shortly. As you can see, it makes for a nice contrast with the gunmount inside there now, instead of a big dark hole...

Happy New Year fellow FSMers!

Ooookay, here's my build:

https://flic.kr/p/2dNSGq4][/url]Stuart-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Here's the progress so far:

https://flic.kr/p/2b8RR9s][/url]Stuart-08 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Little pics:

https://flic.kr/p/2cvHyfi][/url]Stuart-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Stuart-07 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

VERY nice commander figure with 6-part head.  Although my dumb fingers had a hard time holding the small, irregularly shaped pieces, the end result is worth it.

https://flic.kr/p/2b8RQX5][/url]Stuart-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

More later!

Stik and James, I keep expecting a flood of pictures from members but nothing much is happening yet. Unless I missed something our last day is the 6th which is three days from today.

Don't worry, Harold, everybody seems to be on track.

It is a bit of fun and I am just hitting the painting process and will be posting later today.

I do intend to do a full group build next Christmas/New Year with rules on posting and a badge etc!

Anyone know a good badge man in the community??

James

Sarge, G gave us a nice batch of photos there! BTW G, that is a little beauty of a kit. Nothing in common with Tamiya’s old M3/M5/M8 of long ago... finally.

Snap, I look forward to next years 12 days challenge.

As for me, only one photo to show this morning. I’m very happy with how this is progressing so far. My biggest gripe is diversions from bench time.... and I suppose that adding interior detail has probably doubled my build time so far, especially due to yesterday’s paint session. 

Yesterday was detail painting, which took probably twice as long as anticipated. Ah well. It happens.... not so monotone in there now. Today I will shoot on a quick flat coat in there, followed by a dust coat, and then get it all sealed up, so that I can complete the hull construction...

Getting the StuG done. 

Real G

Happy New Year fellow FSMers!

Ooookay, here's my build:

https://flic.kr/p/2dNSGq4][/url]Stuart-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Here's the progress so far:

https://flic.kr/p/2b8RR9s][/url]Stuart-08 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Little pics:

https://flic.kr/p/2cvHyfi][/url]Stuart-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Stuart-07 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

VERY nice commander figure with 6-part head.  Although my dumb fingers had a hard time holding the small, irregularly shaped pieces, the end result is worth it.

https://flic.kr/p/2b8RQX5][/url]Stuart-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

More later!

 

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I've been wanting that kit!

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

This is my final coat of paint. It was a mix of Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab and XF-57 Buff. I used the Jeep photograph below to match the color. I'll let this paint dry overnight and start on the tires and other details tomorrow.

Harold

Well I've made progress...................

Imgur is so easy to use!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarge and Stik, good progress guys!

Looks like Flickr is not liking my photo uploads this morning, so no new pics sorry.  I did start cleaning up the running gear last night.  A final go with 600 grit sandpaper on the mold lines should do it.  The commander's 0.30 cal, gun tripod, and tow cable still need to be worked on.

The new Tamiya M3 Stuart kit is very easy to assemble and is well engineered as you would expect.  I had to only fettle the bottom of the left sponson front plate a liitle to get it to sit right.  Everything else just fell together.  Some of the grab handles are molded solid with the hull, but Tamiya has stepped up by providing clear lenses for the headlights.  The main 37mm gun has an open bore, but the 0.30 cals do not.  I do wish Tamiya would provide copper wire instead of that dreadful nylon string for the tow cable.  But as an OOTB build, it is pleasant and stress-free.

I won't finish by Sunday, but I am determined to make this kit my first completion for 2019 - January 2019!  My model buddies and I get together once a month and they finish stuff regularly, so I want to have something to show for the beginning of the year.

I am on the painting stage.

On this model I'm using one of the Afrika Korps paints - RAL 8000 as it is quite close to the original Dunkelgelb that was in use towards the latter stage of the war.

Most of the building has been done and there are just a couple of extra bits to add during the final put together.

More priming and painting tomorrow. I may do a part tri colour camo on the shield and barrel.

James

Great work all around here guys! You all are making excellent rapid progress!

It was all ahead full on mine today... and lots of progress was made...

first I did a bit more dry brushing, followed by a flat coat and then a dust coat on the interior. 

then I glued the upper hull to the lower and began gluing everything else in place... I had to modify the front fenders a bit as I was leaving off some parts, based off of photos, and a few other small changes here and there... lastly I added the kit PE screens for the turret, a brass rod antenna, and some stowage and now construction is done ...

Then I primed up the PE turret screens and the areas where I used CA as filler for the mods that I made... I also drilled out the exhaust pipes and altered the stowed Jerry can handles from solid to the three bar look, as they should be...

and lastly I added some stowage to the rear deck area to give a more “lived in” look...

Tomorrow, paint and decals if all goes well...

James, take a look at this website. We can create our own badge to look like a regimental crest with whatever wording we want to use.

https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/shield

Hi Harold,

You might want to try some Tamiya XF-51 Khaki Drab.

I have the same problem with German Grey, to dark for my eyes.

I'll get a color sample up for you when back from the office.

Hi,

I have fallen behind due  to some issues with the kit, or maybe better my understanding of the build sequence.

The main issue is best shown here:

Dragon wants you to install the beam C12 on top of the turret in step 8.

They then want you to complete the gun in steps 15-17 and then in some sort of Houdini-like manouver fiddle the gun into place in the fighting compartment in step 18. 

That just aint gonna happen!

My solution to the problem is shown in the picture, I cut the beam appart.

I hope I can catch up from here, have the 98 pcs tracks in front of me now.

James, this is not really a badge, but rather an award or shield. I am offering it as a suggestion for your consideration in this group-build.

It can be made smaller too.

That looks quite good, Harold.

I'll have a look round that site

Anyone else want to chip in?

Having done this on a different forum for a few years, the best subjects are artillery and AT guns plus Revell 1/32 kits. Not overly expensive not a massive part count, easy to paint but still provide a challenge for 12 days!

Yes, kit selection is important...as is minimal interruptions by family and work... lol!

Base coat of panzer gray on... let all the other color painting commence...

Great progress Stik!

Here is the pic I couldn't post the other day:

https://flic.kr/p/2dUFhmE][/url]Stuart-10 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I fell asleep while talkng to the cat last night, so unfortunately no further progress.    I'll finish clean-up tonight and prep for painting.  Pinkie promise.

Lots of painting done. Nearly there!

Just some paint patching, paint and put the gun and mount together and one or two extra parts and job's done!

There is no way in  I'm going to finish my Typhoon on Sunday, so I'm going to have to bow out. I got a 6 day late start and have been working long hours since returning. Oh well, I want to try again this next Christmas.

You will be most welcome for next Christmas.

The "Warning Orders" will go up in the group build forum along with the rules which will give those wishing to participate chance to declare themselves and what they are going to build and time to get everything together.

The challenge will start on December 25 2019 and finish on 5th January 2020. 12 Days of Christmas!

I will be limiting the build to 1/35 armour/softskins/Arty etc and 1/32 aircraft.

When choosing your build, keep in mind that at the time of year family will have demands etc and you should be aware that time away from the bench will be mandatory and so your build should be simple, part count not too high and painting not too complicated. The aim of the challenge is to have building fun over the 12 Days of Christmas.

It is not a race or a competition but a challenge to build and paint a kit to a reasonable quality over 12 days.

I have found that softskin vehicles, artillery pieces, flak, anti-tank guns etc are very much suitable and relatively inexpensive for this challenge. Aircraft by Trumpeter and Revell are also good too but choose them carefully.

You may add any Aftermarket you see fit to use. Metal barrels, tracks etc sets etc, but keep in mind that this will add time to the overall build time and.

Things such as Tamiyas' 1/32 aircraft, HK Models Lancaster etc are not going to be done in 12 days.... we are not responsible for a divorce!

Armour with full interior should be avoided.

Use the KISS method..... Keep It Simple, Silly!

Rules done in stone will be put up next November!

Well today was mostly detail painting of all the stowage after I got the base coat of panzer gray on. Although I did cheat a bit and applied some Gunze gloss panzer gray in the areas where the decals will go. But the. A quick dusting over adhjacent areas to bless them and lessen the contrast...[br][br]unfortunately by the time I was able to get pictures daylight was gone, and my work area lighting overwhelms the subtle work...[br][br][br][br][br][br]this evening after dinner, I added the decals...[br][br][br][br][br][br]Tomorrow I ought to be able to get the basic build all wrapped up....

Hi again,

Left side Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab.

Right side Tamiya XF-51 Khaki Drab.

Brush painted, sorry for the poor quality.

Svenne

Hello James,

That big gun is coming together nicely.

Like the way you you tackled the breach will follow when I build my 88 later.

The Scout is coming out very nice and detailed Stick.

Are you still planning to add the "mud" camo, seems almost a shame at this  stage?