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~ ! Clash in Tunisia ! ~ { Final Photos on page 37 }

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Friday, October 23, 2009 8:48 PM
~Thanks for breaking your Non-posting-anything-streak to talk about that Mac~ I just think that of all the things Verlinden could have included in the kit.... well. nevermind, it could add that something-unexpected among all the HeerGear. In the '90's we had a little expression  It was " Use an Accordian --Go to Jail ! "   They just don't ROCK.

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    October 2009
Posted by Macktheknife on Friday, October 23, 2009 2:41 AM
Congradulations-you win the doorprize!.....Yes, I've been meaning to mention, a few modelers elsewhere have I.D'd those items for me as an acordian(what a strange addition to that detail set-but more-so with the desert in mind. The keys on it are not at all defined, although the many small buttons are, and the big strap on the back)explains why I couldn't figure out what model radio it was suposed to be!!Big Smile [:D]


~The other items I guessed we're the batteries have since been I.D.'d as field kitchen-prepared food canisters,as used in the very famous manuver "Operation Sourkraut" "Censored [censored]who knew

 

Not as strange as one might think. Accordion proficiency would have been relatively popular in the Bavarian/more Slavic influenced areas of Germany. Besides the violin it was probably the most common personal instrument to be found. It was only in the 1950s/60s that the accordion really lost a lot of influence in contemporary music although it was very prominent from the 1850s until then.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:55 PM

~~~Ok, so it's back to building up the figures. A few simple conversions, and a couple more advanced ones.    Easy to see the improvement made by the Hornet Replacement Heads(these can never be recommended enough)     A HUGE improvement,still had the expression I had in mind too Old DML/Warriors set  

 This one was maybe the most improved   The 1st attempt{back in the spares box!} Rifle sling added. I see now it needs some adjusting.   I'm calling this lad the 'Rookie",as he does'nt seem to know quite what's in store Not much more expression than before, but well suited anyways Helmet is alot better than DML's I'd say   Thinking of leaving this covered MKII for variety, if there's no objections   This guy was always part of the  plan   As usual, most of the equipment additions I will paint seperately, but add to the soldiers after the basic painting is done, but before any part of it is finalized, so I don't knock myself out  detail painting  more than I need to, and in case modifications become nessessary, I won't have wrecked much. ~This concludes this installment ~ Thanks for joining us (me), back soon with details about the heavier converts.                         !   ~  Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:09 AM
 Macktheknife wrote:

 I may be wrong on this... but that "radio" looks rather suspiciously like a piano-style accordion!

Congradulations-you win the doorprize!.....Yes, I've been meaning to mention, a few modelers elsewhere have I.D'd those items for me as an acordian(what a strange addition to that detail set-but more-so with the desert in mind. The keys on it are not at all defined, although the many small buttons are, and the big strap on the back)explains why I couldn't figure out what model radio it was suposed to be!!Big Smile [:D]

~The other items I guessed we're the batteries have since been I.D.'d as field kitchen-prepared food canisters,as used in the very famous manuver "Operation Sourkraut" "Censored [censored]who knew

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    October 2009
Posted by Macktheknife on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 11:58 PM

 I may be wrong on this... but that "radio" looks rather suspiciously like a piano-style accordion!

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Carmel, IN
Posted by deafpanzer on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:12 PM

Indy, keep sending us those great pictures!  Because it will help me a alot when I build mine.  I think I have the same kit... but maybe older version because its colors on the box are pretty much faded and blue. LOL  Bought it via eBay along with 20 kits stash for a very good deal. 

Thanks!

Andy

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: I am at play in the fields of the Lord. (Texas)
Posted by m60a3 on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:20 PM

 

 Nice progress dog shot, Indy! The build is going very well!

 

                          60

"I lay like a small idea in a vacant mind" - Wm. Least Heat Moon "I am at the center of the earth." - Black Elk My FSM friends are the best.
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Monday, October 19, 2009 11:39 PM
 bbrowniii wrote:

INDY

That is nice... that is really nice.  Really REEEEEAAALLLYYYY NICE...

I'll be on the edge of my seat following this one.  Got anymore of those 'Friday personal days' planned?

  HAHA,,Thank you, thank you BBoyd Buddy...more personal days...? (honestly the shops been a tad slow,was a good day for it....)BUT..the Wife is going to her parents this weekend...which means less interuptions "O'course!!! heheheeeee

 ~ Build48 Guy ~  That rifle rack came on the Verlinden P.E. sheet

and was a big improvement over the kit item, but I gotta reccommend you find another detail set as this one was not very user-friendly

~ Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posted by IBuild148 on Monday, October 19, 2009 1:41 PM

Indy,

Did you make the rifle racks or buy them? If you bought them can you tell me where from?

Thanks

IBuildOne48

Teach modeling to youth!

Scalefinishes.com

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/NMF%20Group%20build%20II/Group%20Badge/NMFIIGBbadgesmall.jpg

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: 41 Degrees 52.4 minutes North; 72 Degrees 7.3 minutes West
Posted by bbrowniii on Monday, October 19, 2009 12:54 PM

INDY

That is nice... that is really nice.  Really REEEEEAAALLLYYYY NICE...

I'll be on the edge of my seat following this one.  Got anymore of those 'Friday personal days' planned?

'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing' - Edmund Burke (1770 ??)

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Monday, October 19, 2009 1:41 AM

~Rob ~ thanx, yeah the kits small, full of small parts, the kubel update kit had some really fiddley parts, my 1st go at a bad P.E. sheet(spoiled by Lion Roar & Eduard) this was doubble-thich copper and no folding lines cut into anything, try to scribe them in and the part cracks off there when you bend!

~FootHills guy ~  Welcome to supper ~ Come back real soon too

~Narayan ~ Thanks, always fancy appreciation from a modeler of your caliber. I don't mind painting it ~ that's my favorite part ~ But I know what ya mean, I was just saying the same thing to friend about his build!

~ Steve ~ I will be shooting for "fantastic Dio"--you betcha! I'm very happy with several of the figures, a few, not-so-much...that's the next phase, getting those in-line too. thanks  the "The detailing is amazing on the pak and kubel." remark ~~ really the detail is just adequate to my needs ~ enough to appear really detailed in the scheme  of the Dio (I hope) without going totally overboard and taking so much time on them the Dio  is just a distant dream(I know you know what I mean, my friend! )

One more cool shot of my Kubel(from the same site) The caption read "Somewhere in Russia", but going by the CAMEL! in the background, I'm guessing around Tobruk maybe.

 

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Monday, October 19, 2009 12:00 AM

This is going to be a fantastic dio. All the figures (especially that grumpy-lookin' German) are posed so well, and have great expressions to work with.

The detailing is amazing on the pak and kubel. I can't wait to see the next round of updates.

Steve

 

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Boston MA
Posted by vespa boy on Sunday, October 18, 2009 9:57 PM

Exceptional detailing there Indy. Sometimes after all that work, its a shame to have to paint it!

http://public.fotki.com/nkhandekar

This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B.,
I ain't got time for that now

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posted by IBuild148 on Sunday, October 18, 2009 6:25 PM

Hey Indy,

Your "Shameless Plug" in armor worked for me so I jumped over to the diorama section to see what was up.

Man am I glad I didn't haven't dinner. I wouldn't have been able to keep it down after seeing all the ingredients for whatever you a cooking up!!!Chef [C=:-)]

This is going to be tasty so I have pulled myself up to the table to see the final outcome!

If the drive wasn't 6 hours I come by to see it live!

IBuildOne48

Teach modeling to youth!

Scalefinishes.com

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/NMF%20Group%20build%20II/Group%20Badge/NMFIIGBbadgesmall.jpg

 

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: mass,USA
Posted by scratchmod on Sunday, October 18, 2009 5:08 PM

Knowing how small those kits and all the nice work you've put into it is very impressive Thumbs Up [tup]. Look forward to the next round of pics.

 

Rob

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 18, 2009 5:04 PM

~Con't

~QUESTION ~ Can anyone identify this radio. It came with the Verlinden stuff. What vehicles would this be found in? Is it correct for desert Kubel? I've thrown some Dark Yellow on so you can see it a little better. Came with 2 each. I guess these are batteries for the radio? Is it likely to have 4? Or 2? Or 1?... Not finding any info about this even on really nice radio sites.......If you know, please share.   !The rest of the resin pieces we're self-exxplainitary. Four good Jerrycans provided with only one! mounting strap(thanks Verlinden-I'd like to mount 2! Guess I'll improvise 1) Theres some German personal equipment(easy to find elsewhere) and some nice templates on the P.E. card for license plate and nazi air I.D. banner, both of which I don't want on my model   Everything with be broken down for painting for a while...   Until next time...............thanx for tuning in again..............  

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 18, 2009 5:02 PM
The Tamiya Kubelwagon Type 82 ( kit # 238) is a very nice old kit.  
Probably the easiest kit I've ever built. The Verlinden update set  however (resin & photo-etch {double-sheet Copper !} was a bear at every turn. You might say a perfect combination!  
~~ I don't intend to entirely blog this build, as it's been done elsewhere, and it's an old kit, and honestly I went at a very quick pace and really did'nt take my time at all. I'll just show a few things I did'nt see in other builds and are unique to the Verlinden detail set, which, was a little difficult to get along with~~   Injection pin marks (4) inside each door -easy to remove with a # 16 blade & light touch Mark removed (left), still visable (right)   Ehausts drilled out and  coated with liquid putty & stippeled for heavy rust later Glue puddled on engine door seam to later create nice unsightly oil stains
The 2-peice tires are nicely cast, but theres that fine mould line that runs all the way around the center, and after you sand it away the tread detail is destroyed. It's easy to replace it with scripe tool, ...........but takes a long time. One little thing I found funny about the kit, and would consider a mistake, is the destructions show(and the parts were cast)  to depict a car in neutral with the brake off !!
I moved mine into 1st with the brake pulled up far, like its worn-out (I guess a bit of putty would improve that shift boot, eh?)
   ~~Some P.E. additions we're quite worthwhile, like the doorhandles(big improvement)   However I didn't scrape off the kit hinges and replace all 8 with those oversized copper squares you see here and then file them down & then apply 32 tiny bolt heads to them, but I supose some modellers might. ~Up front there's alot to fit and none if it fit with each other. The provided covered windshield was far too large and I wonder if anyone's made use of it.  I fit the kit windscreen and made my oun cover from Miliput, and my own retaining brackets for it, as the P.E. little fiddely parts snapped-first bend!

While I was at it with the Miliput, I sculpted a tarp to hang on the door, like it had been thrown aside to reveal the gear on the backseat.     { The stuff seen here is just a serving suggestion, in fact the seats & wheels are not yet fitted to make painting go smoother. They are just held in place at the moment with some small bits of clay.}

The rifle rack is much better than the kits. These things were really clunky things on the real deal.
    

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 18, 2009 4:54 PM
Moving right along................................
~Over the weekend (friday was a 'personal' holiday day ) I've gotten the Kubelwagon built up & super-detailed       Per some these historical examples:   I really liked the position of that Jerrycan & the pickaxe in the rope up front.  
Here's a few with the big flotation tires fitted for North Africa   These are different. Flotation profile with a road tread-  - go figure(does'nt look like these chaps are having a fun mission, does it?) Note all the good filth on that thing.    (photos courtesy of www.afrikakorps.org/)   Will be continued with detail on those details................

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 18, 2009 3:14 AM
~The Pak 40 is complete and basecoated   It's just a light coat of Tamiya TS-46 Light Sand. This will be the perfect base for the 2 tone Tropen camo, and it's a little newer & a bit different than the Dark Yellow the vehicle will get. At this point I'll set it aside, and not weather until the base is ready to accept it. I'm working on the conversion of a few figures in the role of firing &...           Iv'e been waiting  on completing a few more Brits  until my Hornet heads arive.       These are just fantastic. HM-HBH03 Those will probably do it for this build, but I also got HM-HBH06 And while I was payin shipping(you know I'll need these next build!) Some G.I.'s too HM-HUH01  Yes, I got them from Colorado Miniatures(pictures courtesy of Co. Mini's) BUT, before I return to the job of finalizing ALL those figures, I'll build & super-detail the little Tamiya Kubelwagon............next post...... Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:36 AM

Thanks for check'in in Tex. Progress Dog,......LOL...this is him......

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: I am at play in the fields of the Lord. (Texas)
Posted by m60a3 on Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:20 AM

 

 A progress dog is checking in. Happy, is he. Will return!! Nice work, bro!!

 

                 60

 ETA;  All of your page 2 belongs to me. Whatever... You are the owner here! Keep it going!

                               edited 60

"I lay like a small idea in a vacant mind" - Wm. Least Heat Moon "I am at the center of the earth." - Black Elk My FSM friends are the best.
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:12 AM

~Rob

~Bill     } Plese stick around. Just gettin started, more up very soon.    I was just reading this account of the events surrounding my build , on http://www.worldwar2database.com/

 

 Left Hook round Mareth Line

~~~ On February 23,  1943, massive air bombing drove Rommel back through Kasserine Pass attempting to reach his prepared positions on the Mareth Line.

Again the Americans paused. Rommel made it to his fortifications, a twenty-two-mile line built by the French against an Italian invasion of Tunisia

. He reached the Mareth Line on February 25. The next day Montgomery's Eighth Army attacked, and in a series of probing battles weakened the Axis forces. Coming into conflict with the split Axis command, Rommel clashed with General von Arnim over tactics and logistics. Rommel had lost the one battle he was never allowed to direct. Allied forces on Malta had cut his supply lines, and he was running out of food, ammunition and fuel.

 

Rommel's Final Departure from "AFRIKA", February of 1943

On March 20, The Allies broke the Mareth line and linked on April 8, 1943

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:18 PM

OK, Indy, I'm hooked with my simple base, you had me at "pigment."

Now I have a front row seat for a diorama proper from the planning stages.  I'll be watching and learning.  Interesting and underrepresented subject.

Bill

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: mass,USA
Posted by scratchmod on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:58 PM

Those are some nice looking figures Indy, I can't wait to see those guys painted.

 

Rob

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:03 AM

~SternO ~ Thanks to you & will do !

Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Charlottesville Va
Posted by Stern0 on Monday, October 12, 2009 5:34 AM
Looking good INDY, as stated, good to see brits in action and the gun looks great....Keep it comming!
Always Faithful U.S.M.C
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 11, 2009 11:00 PM

My fieldpiece is built,and I added just a few modifications, namely, empty strap for the shovel, as I thought it would be in use   Added a few bullet dings to the shield while I was there. Most pix of the Pak40 show shovel missing*mine wil be nearby in the dirt) ~ See for example on the pak40 Robin Buckland recently photo'ed   And on another one I really fancy that Camo! It may have some infuence on my paintjob(perhaps a gun being sent to Italy was re-directed to theatre?)Sounds like a likely story to me....eh? 

 The kit of course has one the typical shovels with moulded-on clasps, so I filled the mounting holes with styrene rod, and cut & bent some new parts from Photo-Etch scrap.

   
Also, I added in these spacers between the shields(most striking omition to the kit, to me)   See here Just some tiny bits of styrene rod   Question : Can anyone identify this piece of gear for me :     Almost forgot, filled these injector dings (hadn't seen this pointed out before, and not likely to be seen after placement, but to play it safe.....   I also added a screw to fix the gun to the carriage, not just for removal for painting, but so I can adjust the gun's aiming point at final placement Not many injector pings,and NO flash or parting lines in the kit, just lots of pour 'nodes' to removed (maybe 300 of them !) Nice to build a kit without parting lines !!!

~So yes MARK ~ I'd say a very good kit. From what I've read, so is the Tamiya kit, but both have different minor strengths & weaknesses. Cookie Sewell summed it all up in a tech-heavy comparison on Perth, http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6249.htm

  There we have The Dragon Pak 40       Next up(while this goes to the paint dept.)       is The Kubel  
Thanks for your interest guys ~     Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

mmc
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Posted by mmc on Sunday, October 11, 2009 3:24 AM

Morning *INDY

I've been looking at the Dragon Pak 40 kit for a while now having built the old Tamiya one a couple of years ago, it looks a nice little kit from the picture.

Mark

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Friday, October 9, 2009 7:41 PM

 deafpanzer wrote:
Oh boy!  I am going to have fun following your build for sure.  I have to ask you this... how big the diomara will be with all of the stuff you listed?  Good luck with your build!!!  

~Many thanks Andy ~ The (estimated) working size is aprox. 11 x 15. Should be about right for what I have in mind, although I will build up all the models and test the spacing before I decide for certain.

~Today, I've built the fieldgun, and am adding just a few small improvements   It's a great likeness right OOTB (even if some builders quibbled a few very minor inaccuracies) I'm just going to do a little work to some obvious areas mostly involving the gunshield. ~That's it for now ~

~Indy out

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Carmel, IN
Posted by deafpanzer on Friday, October 9, 2009 3:27 PM
Oh boy!  I am going to have fun following your build for sure.  I have to ask you this... how big the diomara will be with all of the stuff you listed?  Good luck with your build!!!  

Andy

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