70th Anniversary: Norway WWII GB 2010!

Oh man, sorry to hear about this... at least you can always buy another Stuka kit one day to make up.  Which kit would you recommend if I am going to get a Stuka in 1/48 or 1/32 scale?

I hate to do but I must officially withdraw. My heart and motivation just isn't in this PoC Revell Stuka and now I've botched the paintwork and I'll be stuffed If I'm gonna strip it and start again. So my apologies to Huxy and the rest of you guys

Andrew

Andy, yeah I've always had a soft spot for the stuka as well, the wings are one reason, the other is it was the first plane I ever completed a model of (matchbox 1/72 scale)

Andrew

Andrew, ur Junker is looking good so far! I am not into wingy things but I promised myself that Ju-87 will be the first airplane kit for me to build whenever I am ready... probably in 1/48 or 1/32 scale!  Always liked the way the wings were shaped...

Well this birds going together fairly quick...

Cockpit and engine mostly done, had to use some putty on the engine as one side on top was higher than the other (oddly they were fine on the bottom)

Engine and Cockpit ready to be closed up

Wings on and Oh no, thats not hole thats a crevice . Time to break out the putty, Thats all for now

Andrew

Very nice Panzers Guys, now I dont feel so bad about not building another one.  Well with 2 weeks left and my Swordfish finished I'm about to start my Junker's 87, I also found cammo and marking for a stuka serving with I/SG5 in January '44  so all set to go :)

Box and sprues, have started the engine. Looks like lots of flash on this build.

Andrew

Good afternoon guys,

Feeling pretty rotten today so I have phoned in sick so no work today. I definately do not feel up to any building but I have cleaned up that main headlight lens with Future and have scratched a couple of temporary small side lights to replace the lost ones. I've also straightened up that Notek light.

I've just given the two sidelights a coat of grey and have painted the front 'lenses' with deck tan and then I painted over them leaving a slit. I'll make some proper replacements with cloth blackout covers but these will be okay for now. I hate having an unfinished model on my shelf!

For now, this is my first GB entry - COMPLETED!

I know it's a bit of a bodge job but it will definately do the job for now!

ATVB

Ben   

Good afternoon folks,

Right, not happy with the base whatsoever so as you can see I removed said tank from base - luckily I hadn't fixed it - and am going to keep this as a stand alone build. I did want a snowy base so I might have another go yet. In the meantime I'll keep the other base as it will no doubt be ideal for a future build!

So, this build is definately finished! I've done a bit more pigment work on the road wheels and tracks to make them match (thanks for pointing that obvious oversight out to me, Andy Deafpanzer) and have added some highlights to the drive sprockets & raised areas. It's as good as it's going to get now (with my abilities anyway) and I'm totally happy with her so I feel better.

I'm just glad I went with the Magic Tracks - I'm sold on them now! That'll save me some money!

I've taken a couple more photos of her off the base: I'd love to hear any comments chaps.............................

Thanks for looking (again) guys,

I'm a lot happier with it now that base has gone.I'm definately calling this one finished now and at least without the base I can at least fit it on the shelf!

I'd really appreciate any comments, critiques or general f eedback that you can give me!

Have a great week everyone,

ATVB

Ben  

Not much at my end because I applied Future floor wax on Panzer I last night so I can apply decals tonight or tomorrow.  Gonna let it try for more than 24 hours before I can do anything... I couldn't wait so I worked on the tools and started working on DML 1/16 American paratrooper for Figures GB. 

I will be looking out for your Shermie!

Hey DP,

Thanks for looking in matey.

When I did the wheels I used Gulf War Sand mixed with water which looks just like a nice dry dusty mud. In the shots I took today it made the earth coloured pigment look as it should but my camera always makes the Gulf Sand stand out terribly and look almost green - talking of green, the grass is a mix of dead grass, spring grass and winter grass but again the camera makes it look very green!

Oh well, I'm loving her!

How you coming along?

Yep, Dragon Sherman IC Firefly is up next!

ATVB

Ben

Hey man!  Looking great!  I have to admit that your DML kit has better details than my old Tristar kit.  I am always a big fan of DML kits but I bought Tristar for only $20 at a model show especially that it came with MK tracks! LOL  I have to try those Magic Tracks one day... my next build Marder II has those and I shall overcome the fear.

I only have one comment for improvement... I noticed the yellowish color of pigment on the wheels don't match the tan & sandish one you used on the tracks.  Maybe my eyes are not as good as they used to be... it would make better sense to use same pigment.  That was my only thought...

What will you be building next?  Oh, something very green?  Sherman Firefly should be fun! 

Guys, it has been three weeks since my last update.  New part for my broken airbrush has arrived a week later but my parents from FL were in town visiting for a week (mom will not leave me alone but I  her!) then I had to go away on a business trip to NC for five days.  Now I am back and the BEST part is that I will be a bachelor for three days... no wife and no kids even no dog too... they all are away on a fall break trip while I am stuck working BUT I am loving it!  Please don't tell them I said this...

With my airbrushing work like new, I applied highly thinned MM Grey Panzer (50/50) so it will not hide the pre-shading and it worked better this time.

Painting wheels can be no fun but not if you do this...

Circle template is the way to go... it even worked for those tiny wheels!

Gotcha!  Painted wheels in minutes... I  you my circle template!

Letting the paint dry for at least 20 hours before I can airbrush a coat of acrylic Future for the decals.  

Unfortunately not everything went smoothly, I accidentally applied too much paint on one of the muffler guards as you can see...

I think I have to do it again... I doubt I can use green stuff Doog used on his Patton recently because I used an enamel MM paint.  Will a paint thinner do the job if I can let it soak in a cup overnight?  If not, any tip to remove enamel paint off the PE?

Thanks again for looking!  Two more night of bachelor life for me...

Hi Ben - looks great so far; nice job on the links, that requires patience! Speaking of patience, I have been boring out the portholes on my pocket BBs... yes, all 200+ of them! A few at a time....  hopefully, will be able to post pics next week once we get the dig cam back (left at daughter's college).

Hey DP,

Funny that, I was just going to post the work for today - not much as I had to go to work this morning but here you go...................I posted this on my normal blog and have copied it btw as I'm in about to watch a film!

Ben,

Loving your little panzer... no question it showed us that it has saw alot of action!  How is the magic track job going?  Believe it or not I haven't done any of those magic tracks... thanks to wbill I am addicted to MK tracks.  But some of my DML kits come with magic tracks and I have to give it a try so I can save $25-$30 if possible.

Good question about our friend Husky... am afraid he has been kidnapped by a bunch of good looking Swedish ladies this time.  He said he had to work on something first before he can return to us. 

Thanks Jmart!

I'm glad you like her - I lover her! My best work yet (imo anyway)!

Feel free to steal the track jig thingy idea, it's sooo simple and obvious but works great

ATVB

Ben

Hinsky – Congrats on the finish, very well done! I think the washes were a success, I like the look.  Turret details are nice and sharp. I like your track-jig, I may steal the idea if I ever do tracks of the type!

Not much to report at my end; still fiddling with the turrets and (get this) drilling all the portholes with a 76drill bit. Yes, the pocket BBs are 700 scale; but it really does not look “right” to simply paint them over. I will post pics some time next week I hope.

Hey GB'ers,

I've been busy this weekend as you'll soon see! I'm calling the weathering and the main build in general complete

I've got the Magic Tracks to do which I'm going to start on now and then the snow covered Norwegian base.

Here she is so far. I hope you like her and the photos reflect what a lovely build that I've got here! Comments VERY welcome!

The Main Weathered Build.....................

The 'Undercarriage'................ 

A full rear view showing the Jack Block, Smoke Candle Chain Pulls and also chain on the Tow Hitch....................... 

My homemade Magic Track assembly board made from Sheet Styrene. The two lengths stuck on top are just a tiny bit wider than the links to keep them straight.......................... 

Thanks for looking chaps. My next update will be next weekend at which point I'll hopefuly have the Magic Tracks in place (or have ordered Friuls due to frustration)!

Have a great week everyone,

ATVB

Ben  

Hey DP,

Wbill said that the pipe at the front was rubber with rubber mounts too so I've painted it a different shade of grey.

I'm back at the bench now so WIP update later.

..............and where on earth is Lasse?

ATVB

Ben

Ben,

Loving your work!!!  Wish I have painted my panzer with panzer gray by now but my airbrush broke so had to order a replacement part... can't wait to join you at the finish line.  So far you haven't spared details and I am looking forward to weathering result. 

I am not sure about the rust on the pipes because it was made of rubber or some kind of cloth... gonna check my reference book again to see what color they had. 

Re museums in Denmark; There is a great arms museum i Kopenhagen:

Tøihusmuseet has on of the biggest small arms collections in the world. And outside you will find a guntube of 38cm calibre, similar to the guns used on Bismarch and Tirpitz.

In Århus you will fid the danish army museum with every sort of armor from WWII to today.

On the northern part of the westcoast you will find all kind of bunkers for big guns as well as machineguns. Some of them are easaly accessible; I climbed into some of them this summer!

Hinsky/Ben – Panzer is looking great; good attention to detail and a great WIP so far. Love the interior work you have done.

I am still building for this GB… spent too many hours already just detailing the turrets of the DKM pocket BBs in 1:700 scale. I will hopefully post some pics of my feeble progress next week.

Hi guys,

Right, here she is so far with decals on and smoke candle chain pulls fitted: remember she has just had a coat of gloss so she will look a bit, erm, glossy! 

Decals on.................

Chains fitted on the smoke candles and tow hitch........................ 

MIG 'Cold Grey Wash' & the SIN 'Blue for Panzer Grey' Filter....................

I've just noticed that I forgot to paint the rear light red - I'll do that now!

I hope you like her so far

ATVB

Ben  

I thought I had missed the end date for this build. I thought it ended on Sep 30, just noticed the extension to mid November. Ok I'm still in, the bank manager says I cant do tank, but I do have a Ju-87 D/G in my stash and I found reference that a few of those models did serve in Norway (Luftwaffe losses I/SG 5 flew them till '44).

If anybody has any idea of Stuka marking for norway that would be great

Andrew

Here she is so far, I hope you like her: Am I the only one building for this GB now?

Primed wheels & tools.............

PE Guards fitted........................

First base coat of Flat Black........................

Painted Panzer with tools fitted................................

Thanks for looking chaps - I'll update todays work later on

ATVB

Ben  

Good afternoon folks,

Due to the Formula 1 being on television this afternoon and an unexpected invite out tonight todays modelling session was rather brief - but productive!

Wheels and tools all ready for paint, gaps filled and the main build primed all over and everything generally tidied up. By this time next weekend she should be looking halfway there!

Gaps filled..................

Build fully primed...................

Tools and wheels ready to go.....................

Thanks for looking chaps,

Have a good week!

ATVB

Ben

deafpanzer

Loving your turret interior details.  That's the only thing I wish my Tristar kit comes with... it is nothing inside the little panzer!  I am glad you posted the picture of your Ausf A and Ausf B... I am not sure if it is playing trick on my eyes but A seems to be smaller than B.  I thouught both were same in the size! LOL

Hey DP,

Thanks buddy. She's looking good and is coming along nicely - I'll get them gaps filled today and get then some primer on her so she's ready for paint. I'm going to follow Wbill's paint steps from when he built this kit and posted the blog on his site (if you haven't been on there you should - there is a little link at the base of all his posts and a couple of his blogs have saved me a lot of trouble). He went from very dark grey right up to an almost light steel grey in about 4 steps-each step just letting a bit of the previous coat through pre-shade style. Beautiful job!

You are quite right about the B being bigger than the A, well, longer at least. I'd say the straight fender on the B is about 10mm longer than that of the A's so work that one out! It does have the muffler on the rear of course and the smoke candle holder sits over that too making it look longer still.

This A kit is a lot more detailed - as you can see the inside of the hatch has no real detail but my current build has handles etc. The B has no interior, just a ledge for the Commander figure. I don't normally do figures as I'm crap at them but he makes you realise just how small these things were-lus he didn't turn out too bad as my figures go!

I'm surprised that the Tristar version has no inner turret detail as the main interior is very good from what I can see of the other Tristar builds. Are they cheap kits? I'm not familiar with them really? I'm not using any figure with this kit but it's good to be able to look inside the hatch and see fine detailing.

Anyway, today I'll fill them gaps, get the wheels assembled and on cocktail sticks ready for painting next week. I'm going to have to fill a few gaps around the turret walls plus the LHS fender drooped a bit when it was setting (I didn't prop it up enough) so the base of the turret wall where it should butt up to the fender has a nice gap that needs attention. Nothing serious though. I'll also be hand painting the tools so next weekend I can get the air brush out and concentrate on that. I don't have my own dedicated workspace so I like to get all my air brushing done over the course of one day.

Btw, where on earth is Lasse?

ATVB

Ben