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USMC M50A1 ONTOS - National Museum of the Marine Corps

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  • Member since
    November 2004
Posted by snapdragonxxx on Friday, May 1, 2020 4:03 PM

looks great Harold. It looks just fantastic!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:44 AM

Yeah, that looks fantastic!!! 

And I love how you worked in the pin and the plaque. Looks forward to seeing how you work in the finished brass parts when you get them back! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Friday, May 1, 2020 5:39 AM

I love the way you've decided to display this excellent build, Harold!

Beautiful work on this kit!

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Friday, May 1, 2020 4:51 AM

I received the new display dome today and confirmed the ONTOS does fit under the glass, please see the first photograph below. Then I determined how the Division pin and dedication plaque should be located. I created temporary paper plaques to use for illustration and to send to the supplier. There will be two brass plaques with black lettering: one in memory of Corporal Bosquet on the front of the base and one to Captain Seely underneath the base as shown in photographs below.

Harold

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 5:37 PM

TigerII

Nicely done Sarge. IMO I'd stay with the matte varnish to avoid any extra work if there is a shine from the satin varnish. Vietnam vet Marines will definitely love this.

 

Thank you TigerII. I agree, matte varnish only - good advice!

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: East Stroudsburg, PA
Posted by TigerII on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 1:52 PM

Nicely done Sarge. IMO I'd stay with the matte varnish to avoid any extra work if there is a shine from the satin varnish. Vietnam vet Marines will definitely love this.

Achtung Panzer! Colonel General Heinz Guderian
  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 5:51 AM

Est.1961

Thoroughly enjoyed your build Harold, along with the contributions and anecdotes from the other guys has had me glued. No pun intended

 

Thank you, Est.1961. It has been my pleasure to share this build and the background with our Forum members.

Harold

  • Member since
    July 2008
Posted by Est.1961 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 2:08 AM

Thoroughly enjoyed your build Harold, along with the contributions and anecdotes from the other guys has had me glued. No pun intended

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Monday, April 27, 2020 7:58 PM

Gamera

I've had mixed results with black washes on olive drab equipment but she looks great! I can't argue with your results!!!

Nice work!!!

 

Thank you Carlos and Gamera. I was really starting to get concerned when the dark brown washes I tried did not show up very well. And when the gun barrels turned out near perfect grey-black using a heavy application of Vallejo Black wash over Yellow Olive paint it convinced me the Vallejo Wash simply takes more applications on the darker colors.

The next step is to remove the tracks and give the ONTOS a good coat of clear Satin Varnish to seal the paint, wash and decals. If it turns out to shinny then I will give it a light coat of Matt Varnish to take the shine off.

While I have the tracks removed I'll give them a coat of Vallejo Tyre Black to take the shine off the rubber and Vallejo Rust to dirty them up a bit. I'm waiting for the smaller glass dome to arrive on Thursday then I can decide what size to have a brass plaque made.

Harold

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, April 27, 2020 5:37 PM

I've had mixed results with black washes on olive drab equipment but she looks great! I can't argue with your results!!!

Nice work!!! Yes

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, April 26, 2020 1:23 AM

She’s looking better and better Sarge! Very nicely done!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Saturday, April 25, 2020 8:21 PM

Thank you GMorrison, Carlos, James, Gino and Gamera.

I gave the ONTOS a pin-wash with Vallejo #76.518 Black. I tried several colors and combinations of color and found the dark USMC green does not allow the Vallejo Model Wash to be seen very well unless it is nearly back. However, the black wash did exactly what I wanted on the 106 mm gun barrels.

If the photographs below look right for color and pin-wash I will seal the paint and decals with Vallejo #70.520 Matt Varnish, or #70.522 Satin Varnish.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, April 23, 2020 7:34 AM

Personally I like AK Interactive's dark brown wash for olive drab vehicles. I've tried mixing my own wash but it's a pain getting it exactly the right thickness and it won't store well. The AK product is pre-mixed and ready to go, which to me is worth the cost. 

Sorry, I wasn't sure what you wanted to use- so I just suggested van D y k e Brown since you can just look it up online to get the right colour. But yeah- dog poo is pretty close. Stick out tongue

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, April 23, 2020 7:13 AM

Looking really nice.  The color and decals look good so far.  A wash should bring up the details well.  

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2004
Posted by snapdragonxxx on Thursday, April 23, 2020 4:11 AM

KISS

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Thursday, April 23, 2020 4:02 AM

In other words the color of dog poo?

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, April 23, 2020 12:07 AM

Somewhere from here to there... or as GM suggests, depends upon what the dog eats...

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 11:53 PM

Van *** Brown is mostly red/ yellow and some black. Kind of, umm, well, follow the dog outside.

The CMYK coords are 0, 21, 31, 73. No blue, red, yellow and black. 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:38 PM

The green looks good to my eyes in these photos Sarge. 

VanDyke Brown is a dark brown similar to Burnt Umber, but a bit darker I would say, a great color for pin washes. It’s an artists oil color. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:14 PM

Gamera

Harold: I think I'd use a dark brown for a wash - sorta a van  D y k e  brown. James or someone else here might have better advice though.

 

Gamera, I have limited selection of dark Vallejo model wash: Dark Brown, Marron Brown, European Dust, Oiled Earth and Black. I am not familiar with VanDyke Brown, but perhaps one of the dark washes I have will be similar?

I removed the masking from the hatches and doors and added decals, so I am ready to do the pin-wash tomorrow. The third and fourth photographs below are taken with better lighting and hopefully look more like the USMC green.

Harold

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:34 PM

Harold: I think I'd use a dark brown for a wash - sorta a van  D y k e  brown. James or someone else here might have better advice though.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 12:45 PM

Gamera

I like it! It looks fine but yeah a slightly smaller dome would probably look even better. 

 

Thank you Gamera.

Harold

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 7:25 AM

I like it! It looks fine but yeah a slightly smaller dome would probably look even better. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 4:15 AM

snapdragonxxx

The glass dome is confusing the camera firmware. If you use Mk 1 Eyeball and it looks right then it is.

I think that the size of the case is just fine especially when the brass plaque is done. This looks great and the KISS acronym works every time. Rather than the pin, could you get that engraved onto the plaque?

Just a thought.

 

Just the tracks now. Looking great there my friend!

 

So, I showed what I have to my wife and she agrees with James less is more in this situation. However, we agreed I would order a smaller glass dome to see how it looks and whichever dome I do not use she will keep for a model lighthouse.

This new dome has a solid wood base with a nice matte finish. The dome shown below is 5.5" diameter x 5.5" high. The interior dimensions are 5.4" wide x 5.125" high. The ONTOS model is 4.5" long x 3" wide x 5" high at the top of the antenna. There should be room for a dedication plaque and a pin on the side. This would place the ONTOS side profile facing the front which in my opinion is its best feature.

I will investigate having the Division emblem etched into the brass plaque when it is time to order. I will also find out if a plaque can be made with a curve shape to match the radius of the base. Another detail is the frame for Rae's company photograph. I will be the one providing the frame and black, walnut or oak is fine with him.

  • Member since
    November 2004
Posted by snapdragonxxx on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 3:38 AM

The glass dome is confusing the camera firmware. If you use Mk 1 Eyeball and it looks right then it is.

I think that the size of the case is just fine especially when the brass plaque is done. This looks great and the KISS acronym works every time. Rather than the pin, could you get that engraved onto the plaque?

Just a thought.

 

Just the tracks now. Looking great there my friend!

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 8:09 PM

DRUMS01

Your build turned out great!

Please show us a final photo with the glass cover and dedication plaque. 

Ben

 

Thank you, Ben. The glass dome arrived without damage, but it looks too big for the ONTOS. Originally, I planned to have some ground cover, a single tree, and a Marine figure next to the ONTOS. Then my friend wanted to make this a memorial to a man he served with who was killed in Vietnam. So, I decided to leave the ground cover, tree, and Marine figure out, just have the Division pin and a brass plaque dedication. But I did not down-size the glass dome.

So I have a few options: I can order a smaller glass dome, 5.5" x 5.5" with the same type of oak base, or change the style of display case altogether, or I can add some ground cover and a tree with the Division pin and brass plaque in the existing 8" dome. Or another option is to add some ground cover, a tree and a Marine figure in the existing glass dome and make the company picture the focus of dedication by putting a brass plaque on the picture frame.

I should explain that today my friend told me the picture of his company with their ONTOS is 36" long x 12" high. I suggested we mount it in an oak frame to match the glass dome base and he liked that idea, but a small dome will be dwarfed by the large picture. Also, I had planned to weather the exterior of the ONTOS since I gave the interior a pin-wash to dirty it up a bit. So, I think it would look better to have ground cover and a tree with weathered paint. I don't know it's getting complicated.

Look how dark the ONTOS appears in the glass dome, it is almost black... I believe that is a combination of LED lighting and the shape of the dome - weird! The last photograph below is with camera flash only and is the actual color of the ONTOS. However, when you look at the ONTOS through lens of the camera the camera sees the effect of blown glass that my eyes really don't see. I do not plan to use the Division patch shown in this photographs below, but I ordered the patch just because I like the style.

 

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Sunday, April 19, 2020 11:18 PM

Your build turned out great!

Please show us a final photo with the glass cover and dedication plaque. 

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

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1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Sunday, April 19, 2020 2:55 PM

Thank you Gamera.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, April 19, 2020 12:44 PM

Bob: As I've said before I've never been the military much less shot at. Thanks, for your advice. 

Harold: She looks good, as I said before and I'll say again that's some really nice work on the recoiless rifles. Looking forward to any washes or other detailing you add.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • From: Vancouver, Washington USA
Posted by Sergeant on Sunday, April 19, 2020 4:23 AM

CapnMac82 and Carlos, you guys really know your gear. I received this so called Marine figure today in the mail and it didn't look right to me either, but I had no clue what was off except the 8-point cover. Carols you're also right about the P56 uniform material. As a side note one of my veteran friends still has his P53 USMC Herringbone twill shirt issued after Korea that he wore in the early days of Vietnam.

Harold

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