FINALLY!!

I cut sprue on the Airacobra, and started on the cockpit. Been a little busy lately. Until this Missouri March-April weather gets settled down, I cant do much painting except by brush, as I have to spray outside. It's either too cold, too windy, raining, sleeting, snowing, or all of the above.

Just letting you know I was still alive.

M1 A1 A2, Can I join this GB? I have Dragon's T34/76 model 1941 in 1:35.

Cheers...

RESlusher – nice job on the PT; we forget how good that vehicle was.

Bondoman – nice job on your builds’ shame the couple of floating tires. I like the ICM kit build.

great subject!

Thanks!  It was a really neat build!  No real problems came to mind!

I'll probably do another one one of these days...

castelnuovo

M1 A1 A2, Can I join this GB? I have Dragon's T34/76 model 1941 in 1:35.

Cheers...

Yep. Added you to the main post. Looking forward to the T-34.

OK, I'd like to add another entry for me to this GB. as far as my Akula goes, it is sitting in my paint area (garage) with anew gloss coat and ready for decals to be applied.

Today I started a figure set I picked up a couple weeks ago at a LHS: Soviet WW2 Tank Hunters with Dogs. I built them up today and really like  this set. Probably the best Zvezda figures I have built so far. Fit was great, the faces are nicely detailed, nearly on par with Dragons latest, and it is a most unusual subject. Anyways here are a few pics. If the weather co operates, I can get the painting started tomorrow.

Box with the cover art. The figures are not quite as depicted here.

All three pairs of dogs and handlers built up.

Walking handler with his dog

Crouching handler commanding his dog to a target.

Prone handler giving cover while dog approaches target.

Ok, Stik.

       Added your figures to the main post.

See ya

Scott

Hi again all, lots been happening since I was last in for a look see. I've had my T-34/76 Sitting on to my comp for a few months now and as time went on I was less and less happy with it, mostley the thickness in someplaces and the whiteness, was just to white. Anyway after doing my first salt weathering effect on a A6M2-N Floatplane and being happy with the result I thought I'd redo this beastie. First up are a couple of shots of what it was like

And now resubmitted, with some shots of what she's like now. Not sure if I should go any further or not, some mud would prolly look great, but I dont know if I want to go there without a small base for it.

Thanks again

Andrew

Today I primed the figures. Tomorrow I can begin painting.

Finaly, some work done on this Ivan...

I normaly avoid PE parts as I don't have the fine tools, skills or a microscope to work with them, but the plastic part looked really plasticky and, after all, I am happy the way it turned out.

BTW, I used Tamiya's Nato green but I think it is a bit too dark. Any suggestion which other coulour to use? Or maybe just add a bit of white to it?

Cheers...

PS

Why are the pictures sometimes HUGE and sometimes kinda normal size?

Casttelnuovo: Sorry I somehow missed your post. Fine looking T34. Depending on how you weather it you could lighten the green then. Or just fade her with a couple of coats of lighter green.

The Pe-2 is nearing completion, just cleaning up some over-spray now. Apologies for the lack of photos but other than her having decals and landing gear there's not much change.

I did get bored and dig out  ICM's VVS Flight Crew. I'm not sure about using them in a diorama with the Pe-2 or anything but they were a nice change in painting something by hand and not fidgeting with the airbrush.

Konigwolf13 I thought your T-34 looked great the first time around and now you go and redo it and it really looks great. Very very well done both times.

Stikpusher my hat goes off to you sir cant wait to see your figures as I cant paint them to save my life.

Casteluovo your Ivan is looking good so far I like your addition of the PE grill. I need to try a tank one day.

Gamera Those figures are stunning beautiful work.

Thunderbolt I started work on the MiG 3 the other day got the engine finished and started on the cockpit yesterday. A word of warning the plastic is very soft and brittle and the truss is a nightmare just to get off the sprue, I broke one side but got lucky an was able to save it. Also I use Tamiya liquid glue and found I had best use it sparingly and not get sloppy with it at all, as it really seems to readly melt the plastic. I will be posting WIP pictures in a day or two. Hopefully I can make the end date

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the heads-up on the plastic -- I had that experience with Hobbycraft's plastic and Testor liquid cement, it was very frustrating. The large wing parts of the MiG went together fine, but the small stuff may well be a different matter. I must make some headway soon, I've been working on the F-84 and a Phantom in my last few session, and just got home from a weekend with friends. More sanding on the Fujimi F-4 before bed tonight...

Cheers, M/TB379

Well guys its time to jump in here if I want to even have a prayer of making the end date. As a reminder I am building the 1/48 ICM MiG-3. I cant call this kit an easy one to build but I have been having an enjoyable time working on it, lots of fiddly detail parts with no locating pins to speak of. Oh and I had to make it a bit tougher by adding interior PE to the kit. So on with the WIP pictures.

A reminder of the kit box art and sprues.

This model of the Mikulin AM-35A engine is a little gem and a kit all by itself. I added plug wires and a couple of oil lines. Once I get it into the fuse I will add some coolant lines, I may add fuel lines also.

Here are the cockpit goodies I just started adding the PE and have been working on the IP as well. I will post more when I have the cockpit together, this truss is gonna be a fun one me thinks.

Bonehead question time, nothing I have shows the seat harness so I dont have any idea what color to paint them. Can anyone help me out with this question ? Was hoping to finish the cockpit today

Wow, your engine looks terrific! Does the kit offer any way to display the cowling open so you can see all the work you put into it?

The instructions in my Pe-2 said light tan for the belts. I'm no expert so I'm not sure if that's right or not.

Did i hear a call for help from Randy??? Kermie to the rescue!

Did a bit of googling and found a pic or three. They all show the seatbelts as light leather. Like this one:

Great work on that Mig Randy and a big hats off to everyone in the group. Just wish there was more time as i have an 1:48 IL2 Sturmovik that just begs to be built..... Sigh.... Ah well

Richard

Gamera thanks I spent a lot of time on that engine and yes I am going to model it with the cowling open or closed. Dont wish to hide all that work I put into it 

Kermit I knew I could count on you I guess you could say my lil pea brain was on strike after putting this cockpit together today, and yesterday and................ I thank you sir

Now for the proof of my endeavors here are some WIP pictures.

This was a rough cockpit to build and another kit in its self not to mention the PE. I still have to add the engine mounts but I think I will wait on that until I am almost ready to close the fuse up as I think things are gonna be a tight fit in there. Again thanks for the help Gamera and Richard.

vetteman42

Stikpusher my hat goes off to you sir cant wait to see your figures as I cant paint them to save my life.

Vette, I am a long way from the skills of most of the figure modelers on here such as Manny, Doog, AJ, and many more than I can name. But I have fun with them and learn as I go. I used a Games Workshop shade of flesh for the base color and Vallejo Khaki for the uniforms so far. I am less than pleased with the results so far. The Vallejos in particular have a sheen to them that I don't like. But it is still early in the process and easily corrected.

More pics to come as progress is made.

Here is my humble Ivan finished.

Castelnuovo Nice Ivan I like Really like your weathering and the way you bent and beat up the fender liners. What did you use or how did you muddy up the tracks ? I have never built a tank and am thinking of trying one. I think the addition of the PE engine grill really did the trick too.

castelnuovo

Here is my humble Ivan finished.

 

AWESOME WORK!!!!

Love the camo. Beats basic D.Green any day.

See ya

Scott

Castel-

Nice tank! I love the paint job. Has a very "field applied" look to it.

Castelnuovo: great job! I really like the fenders too, and good looking paint and weathering.

Gentelmen, thank you very much for your kind words. 

 Vetteman42, the tracks were painted first with Tamiya XF-56 metalic gray and then given a wash with Golden's burnt sienna (acrylic).

Cheers...

Thanks Castelnuovo I put that in my how to notes for a tank build.

Time for some WIP pictures of my MiG-3. This kit does have some problems but I think I am going to look for another one to build, as what I have done so far I really like the kit for the detail. The kit doesn't have much in the way of locating pins so fitting parts together is really a challenge. I did have to move the coolant tank and the oil ( I think its the oil tank anyways) down from the small pin location about 1mm or .040 so the cowl would close. I also found the location of the exhaust stacks on the engine block  ( no location pins at all here ) is critical because they locate the engine and also align the fuse halves. Anyway here is where it is at now hope you like.

It looks like I can also display the model with the lower cowling on or off at this point so I may add some coolant lines, should look good with all the engine mounting tubes don't ya think ?

I set the fuse on the wings last night and its sad the detail that will be hidden on this model.

I would really like to get a hold of 1 or 2 more of them to build and do a maintenance dio with one, have never done a dio before but this would be a perfect first for me. Frankly I was worried this kit might be over my head as it is not a beginners kit at all, but its coming along nicely I think.

Looking good Vetteman! If you should do the maintenance diorama the ICM Soviet air crew figures are excellent. Eduard does a pretty good set as well, but not as well molded as the ICM ones. 

Thanks Gamera I did look at the ICM aircrew set and I will get them if I can find another ICM MiG 3, sadly they are OOP and seem to be few and far between.

I am at a stuck point at the moment, the fuse to wing joint is really bad and at the moment I am trying to figure the best way to handle it. I am not sure if I did something wrong or if its a kit problem, hopefully a bit of sanding and very careful trimming will solve most of the problem.

Hi,

      Everyone.

      It is getting close to the end of this GB.  The date set at the begin of this GB was June 30th as the end. So

this brings about a question:

Should we continue it?   Or end it?

If we end it, I would be happy to start another one this October. 

If we continue it. The question would be for how long?

Also, a third option could be to allow people who have joined to finish no matter what date. And just not take any more entries after June 30th.

All the builds have been looking great!!!!

See ya

Scott