Thanks Mike. Enjoy the old Tammy kit, always a fun build for me. Holler if you need any bits, I have boxes full.

RBaer

 

 

Pawel

Hello Russ!

Nice track!

I personally would like you to do something out of Vietnam or some Cold Warrior, but knowing you it probably will be some Magach...

Good luck and have a nice day

Paweł

 

 

 

 

Thanks Pawel! You made me chuckle, I have a few projects in mind, and you're right, a Magach is one (or two) of them.

 

That's no surprise lol!

Next goal for me is simply a Tamiya M-60A1. I remember my dad building that one several times over the years. Now I want one for my garage.

Fantastic work as always, Russ! Looks amazing to me!

Pawel

Hello Russ!

Nice track!

I personally would like you to do something out of Vietnam or some Cold Warrior, but knowing you it probably will be some Magach...

Good luck and have a nice day

Paweł

 

Thanks Pawel! You made me chuckle, I have a few projects in mind, and you're right, a Magach is one (or two) of them.

Hello Russ!

Nice track!

I personally would like you to do something out of Vietnam or some Cold Warrior, but knowing you it probably will be some Magach...

Good luck and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks G. I'm actually somewhat glad to have finished this one, it looks good in the case with a couple of Shermans.

Oh nice work!!! Great job on the Hellcat, love the way the storage turned out!

One day I have to get mine built...

I'm calling it done, unless I see something else......

IMG_4272 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4271 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4269 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4268 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Now what to do next......

T'anks!

Oh she's lookin' good!!! 

stikpusher

 

 

RBaer

Thanks guys.

Actually, Concord's "US TDs in Combat", cover and pg 38.

 

 

 

 

I want to say that this M18 served in Italy.

 

And you would be correct.

With tracks, and a little more touch-up:

IMG_3861 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3862 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3863 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Tow cable is on, working on turret 50 cal and a couple of small items.

RBaer

Thanks guys.

Actually, Concord's "US TDs in Combat", cover and pg 38.

 

I want to say that this M18 served in Italy.

Nice worn grimy look! 

With some weathering, wheels installed, ready for tracks:

IMG_3860 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3859 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Thanks guys.

Actually, Concord's "US TDs in Combat", cover and pg 38.

'Same unit as the one in the book'? I'm guessing Squadron's 'M18 Hellcat in Action'? Yup, got it around somewhere. Nice job, I too really like the work you did on the sprockets and idlers. 

Looking fabulous, Russ.

I love what you did with the idlers and sprockets.

A couple hours here, a couple there, and I have decals on. I couldn't find anything commercially available, so this is a TD from the "same unit as the one in the book".....

IMG_3665 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3664 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I also did a bunch of work to the drive sprockets and idlers, adding midding lightening holes and thinning the rims of the idlers.

IMG_3663 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Thanks G. It'll get a little more blended in when I do the final weathering, hoopefully not too much. I'll have to be careful.

Looks good, storage stands out but not too much. Nice work!

Thanks! I read that crews in the PTO kept stowage to a minimum, just gave the Japanese something to hang a satchel charge on.

So, as it is now, pretty much, dark green wash on the tank itself and some detail painting. Still trying to keep the stowage high contrast....

IMG_3526 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3525 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3524 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Shopping decals now, all I have is what came in the kit, and the sheet from the Academy M10, which I may finish after this one. It's another very long term shelf queen, with most of the assembly done.

Man that stowage looks dead on! You nailed the gypsy wagon look of US armor in Europe. PTO US AFVs tend to be more stripped down of stowage in combat photos. 

Thanks Stik.

First colors are on the stowage now, trying to maintain lots of contrast between highlights and shading, since weathering will blend a lot of that.

IMG_3364 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3363 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

puhfrugherterbrururbbpfthhft

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

 

I do t think that its so much the perfect fit, as it is the o we engineering of many new kits.

For myself, I lose steam during the complex subassemblies. 

RB, that is looking good with the OD on now. 

Yah! Looks very American with the olive drab on!!! 

I'll have to look into attaching the storage before painting, anything that saves time. Or more importantly keeps me from losing stuff while painting... 

puhfrugherterbrururbbpfthhft

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

 

Puh (no way I'm copying the rest of that, LOL) I'm right there with you. Most of my favorite buildsstart with older kits. It's just more fun. I have an AFV Club M60 started, just can't seem to stay motivated.

So, it's green:

IMG_3270 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3269 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3268 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I have a couple of little things to fix, then detail painting and weathering can begin. I also need to look at the kit decals, see if they're usable after all these years.

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I think sometimes I actually enjoy building fixer-upper kits more than perfect-fitting ones.
There's a real sense of satsifaction from converting trash to treasure.

T'anks.

I like to do anything "soft" before painting, since I use putty to make it conform to whatever surface it's on. Items lllike crates or jerry cans I'll sometimes add after painting, as long as there are no tarps involved. As a general rule, I like to stow it up before painting though, just seems to work better for me.

Looks cool to me!!! 

Although I always put on the storage after painting the vehicle. Does that work better for you? 

Turret stowage is pretty much done, just need a couple of buckles and tidying up of a couple of straps. I used some Academy parts, some resin stuff I have no idea where it came from and some scratched stuff, using Aves putty. I did end up making two hooks from wire, where the water cans are hung.

IMG_2988 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2989 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2990 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_2991 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Once the putty sets up, it's time to prime.