No More Excuses GB....end date extended

Mick, I love the Bren carrier and was not aware that airfix made one in small scale.  Wish I could find one that was actually 1/72 and not 1/76 as 1/72 is my preferred scale.  I also like the scratchbuilt cover.  Very nice

MIke, the BTR is looking good too.  Sure is an unusual looking vehicle but then I don't do much modern stuff.

Boba, I think that is about the only part I miss about being in school.  Spring Break, Summer holidays, Teacher in-service days, etc. etc. etc.

I've heard through the grapevine that our fearless leader Roy is having computer troubles but hopefully he'll be back on-line soon.

Here's an update of where a couple of my builds stand. 

I've fired up my airbrush for the first time since last summer, and have gotten busy in the last week or so. 

Stuka has been painted, needs a bit of light weathering and a dullcoat, and she'll be done:

M13/40 finally has some paint:

Roadwheel hell:

I've been having issues with paint crazing on the roadwheels.  I'm trying to paint the rubber portion, but its splitting while drying.  I've never seen anything like this.  I wonder if the paints are incompatible.  I used Gunze for the basecoat, and am using MM Acryl for the rubber.  Weirdness, and its aggravating because there are so many to fix:  Any suggestions?

Jeff

Mick,

That carrier is way cool, but it must be TINY! 

Jeff

razordws wrote:

Boba, I think that is about the only part I miss about being in school.  Spring Break, Summer holidays, Teacher in-service days, etc. etc. etc. I've heard through the grapevine that our fearless leader Roy is having computer troubles but hopefully he'll be back on-line soon.

Oh, I didn't know Roy was out of commision. I've kinda been out of the loop (That's what hanging with those Navy Air wingers get's me! ) Yup!Can't beat those breaks!

Thanks RBaer,

I'm thinking about spraying the wheels with some Tamiya clear laquer, to provide a barrier coat between the two layers of acrylic.  We'll see...

Jeff

An evening in the kitchen yields some KV-1 progress! Not a bunch, but it's time to paint! I'm probably going to do some fender damage, as I want to model a vehicle in service around 1943 entering Vyborg. These vehicles came from the Leningrad Front and were typically older, second rate and beat up due to the isolation of Leningrad.  Pics are under natural light and shadowed. I should  of waited about 15 minutes, as the later pics (of a Sherman) are much better. Oh well, kind of gives them a "propoganda poster" look......

Pics with and without fenders (they're not glued on yet, more indecision....)

Rbaer, the KV is looking great.  Can't wait to see some paint on it.

Jeff, I've had that exact same problem with the exact same combination of paints that you have described.  My solution was to strip the paint and start over with a different combination of paints.  In your case you might just want to paint over top with some enamel paints.

Dave,

Thanks for the heads up - I guess Gunze and MM are just not compatible. 

I'll try the clear overspray to see if that helps.

Jeff

Spoke to our fearless leader Roy earlier today . He is still without a computer, he is hoping to be up by next week sometime.

The good News is he has been getting some work done on his Corsair and has been out Riding his Mountain Bike also

Summit wrote:

The good News is he has been getting some work done on his Corsair...

Summit wrote:

...and has been out Riding his Mountain Bike also

razordws wrote:

Mick, I love the Bren carrier and was not aware that airfix made one in small scale.  Wish I could find one that was actually 1/72 and not 1/76 as 1/72 is my preferred scale.  I also like the scratchbuilt cover.  Very nice

Thanks razordws!

Lt. Zogg wrote:

Mick, That carrier is way cool, but it must be TINY! Jeff

Thank you! It's certainly not a big one. Just about 48 mm (1.9 inches) long.

Well Guys, I'm happy to say this shelf queen is finally done!  I've finally got an American Sherman tank on my shelf next to the Tiger, Panther, Panzers and T-34!  Sorry to take so long, my excuse is the drain of work.  Funny how the year ended on the slow side, but the first quarter of this year has been a real buttkicker!  Its not over yet, but I managed to put in a couple of hours here and there on the bench. 

Anyway, weathering is on the light side.  I usually don't like my first representation of a vehicle on my shelf to be very dirty or worn.  Maybe sometime in the future I'll add some stowage or the like, but for now I like it the way it is!  Again, this is the 1/35 Italeri M4A1 Sherman 76mm.  I hope you like.

BTW, for those of you interested, heres a breakdown of the AM parts I used for this build:

Eduard PhotoEtch

Verlinden Pioneer Tools

Formations Tow Ends, Holders, Clasps and Cable (nylon)

Dragon T48 Indie Tracks (from their M4A1 kit)

Academy .50 Cal MG

Archer Casting Numbers

5-Min Epoxy Headlights (LOL!!)

I don't know if I'll have time to complete another shelf queen....maybe I'll try finishing the Pz IV that's nearly assembled

Hey!  Now I can claim the badge!

Yo, Buff! As a fan of the less-is-more approach to weathering, I'd say she's a lil masterpiece! The whole thing, from the dusty tracks to the stenciled markings, is A-1! Pat yourself on the back, buddy, and take a bow!

Mike/TB379

Ernest - that is HOT! Great finish on that build.

I was ogling the .50 cal pic, then saw it was Academy in your AM list...is it plastic???

Mike, Bob, dupes, Rbaer, thanks for the very kind words!  I'm glad to finally get this one off the "to do" list and onto the display shelf!  2 1/2 years is WAAAY too long to sit unfinished!!

dupes, yes the Academy .50 cal is plastic!  Its part of their "U.S. Machine Gun Set" reviewed here http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd1384.htm  I also have the Tasca U.S. MG set and its REALLY nice but more $$.  I decided to use the Academy MG first just because!

Bufflehead, your Sherman is gorgeous! Great work! Every detail is eyecatching without being overdone.

Roy, I pulled out my T-34 again and made some progress during the midday here. One side of the tracks are painted and installed. I am gonna start painting the other side shortly and plan to have some progress pics by the end of the weekend. I am gonna knuckle down and concentrate here over the next while and see what I can get taken care of here....

Bufflehead! I love that Sherman!

Spraybooth time! I just shot a coat of light gray on the lower surfaces of my B-17. Waiting for it to dry, and the olive drab will follow on the upper sides.

Roy, great to have you back my friend.  Glad you got your uter back!

Bufflehead, that is one superb looking Sherman!!!  Every detail looks just right and is a fine inspiration for some kits hiding in my stash. 

Fett, lets see some progress pics on your Fort!

As for me, today went according to schedule. So tomorrow will be dry brushing, mounting the tracks and road wheels on the other side, then pics.

Very cool Fett! Once you have it in warpaint, then get some pics done...

Tracks are on... so here are a few pics... I may be able to get some majot completion work donw now. I need to touch up the tracks, mount the fenders, then finish the paint and weather... perhaps by the end of next weekend I'll be up to the weathering point...

Very nice T34. Looking forward to seing this one move along.

I got a full day of modeling in this weekend, with some progress on the KV 1. The base coat is Tamiya USAF OD (it was on the shelf) over MM flat black. Anothe day or two drying time and I'll start the washes.

Looks like a Russian junk yard at the moment......

bufflehead: I finally got back to this thread to comment on your Sherman. I like the subtle weathering, light but very noticable.  I like the cast hull texture...did you do that?...how? 

The dust effect is perfect...it makes me feel the weight and mass of the steel of this beast!  Really impressive work around the markings.  I like how you dusted over them a bit...great blending. 

 I could go on and on!...you sure have me fired up for my up-and-coming Sherman.  In fact, it's the cast hull variant I've been wanting to do...the bar certainly has been raised