Tellis- LOVED the camo job on the Sherman!   Reminds me of  those Shermans in North Africa and Italy campaigns during WWII.

Good to see everyone is ok, I live about 45 mins north of the North Carolina border and ended up getting a pile of rain but nothing else thankfully.

DP: Nice work! Looking forward to seeing them in the M24.

Tellis: Good stuff! Love the camo pattern and like how you muted and toned it down. She really does look dusty. Nice job on the storage too, she really looks lived in.

OK guys, I'm calling this one done. To recap, it is Dragon's 1/35 M4A3E8 Sherman. It was built per the instructions with the exception of; AFV Club tracks, Jordo Rubio barrel, transmission cover from an Academy kit, and relocated the machine guns based on the references I had (Squadron/Signal's Armor in Korea). The color scheme is the summer cammo pattern of tan over the base color. The look I was going for is a veteran machine after a long dusty summer. I hope you enjoy it!

WOW!  Too close... I lived in Kansas for two years and I never forget how powerful wind it was during major storms and often saw hail storms.  Glad everybody is OK. 

Finally I can say that I am done with the figures... here's the tank commander for my Chaffee. Painting the eyes were way more difficult because its plastic face lacked details.  But glad it is finally over...

Now I can go back and finish the M24 Chaffee. 

1/8th of mile?  Dang Pepper, that is a close one!  Luckily, San Antonio is boring.  No earthquake, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, blizzards, hurricanes, or tornadoes.  When it floods, it generally is the roadways, and the people who die, do so driving around barricades.  Whenever I feel like complaining about what a low class place this is, I just turn on the news.  Then I appreciate what I have, and where I live.

As for Korea builds, I finally snagged an F-80!  Since it is an old Airfix kit, I was patient until I could get one cheap.  For a little more than what some are willing to pay, you could just get one of the new Sword ones.  I did order a pe set for it though, since I was already ordering some other stuff. 

Cheers,

Greg

Helo H-34

I hope you guy's in the U.S are okay ?

I was watching the 6pm news and those Twisters and Storms scare the "crap" out of me !

I sincerely hope everyone and their family's are alright .

                  John .

We had one tornado go by our house less than an 1/8th of a mile from our front door ... being a native San Diegan (Southern Californian), I'm used to the odd weather and such ... grew up with earthquakes - now spending my dotage with twisters ...

pepper

I am with you John (Helo), I hope everybody is alright.  The loss of life is heart-breaking. 

Cheers,

Greg

Thanks for asking, we are fine here in South Georgia. We had bad storms, lots of wind and rain but thankfully no tornadoes. Alabama got it much worse than we did.

I hope you guy's in the U.S are okay ?

I was watching the 6pm news and those Twisters and Storms scare the "crap" out of me !

I sincerely hope everyone and their family's are alright .

                  John .

Gamera-  Thanks buddy!  It was probably the easiest part... be sure to stir the thinned oil paint often because they separate quicker than most paints.  I will always remember those figures as zombies... that was funny!

Guys-  Safe to say that the American GIs are completed... of course except for their rifles which I am working on now. 

What do you think?  I am not sure if I should apply another dark wash around the eyes... I am always open for feedback.  Will post the tank commander tonight as soon as the paint is dry.

Draken: Sorry guess I wasn't clear - I've been told just the interior of the hatches would be the exterior colour. The rest of the interior should be white- just the way you painted it. Sorry not trying to be anal- just that years ago a judge at a show whacked me over having white insides to the hatches on a Sherman.

And yeah from what I've heard your opinion on Red China and any future Korean conflict is spot on. I think the Chinese got fed up with the crowds of NK refugees flooding across the border into China looking for a better life. Frankly I was just looking for an excuse to post some photos of my new stuff. The Chinese female troops may be 'bad girls' but they sure are cute.

DP: A guy demostrated a simular technique on adding the shadows to figures at one of our IPMS club meetings last month. I like what I see. I'm going to have to give it a try myself.

Funny, when the photo scrolled up I thought 'zombies' too. Scarey idea that we all seem to think alike

LMAO!  You made me laugh out hard that I woke up my wife.  Oops!  She isn't happy... your fault! 

detailfreak

                                      ZOMBIIIIIIES, LOL

I'd say, "BRAINS!!!!!!!" but the top of the heads are gone.  Zombies done been there already. 

                                      ZOMBIIIIIIES, LOL

                                                                      Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Pepper- Thanks... anytime! 

Draken- Looking good.  I echo other guys comments about paiting inside the hatch same color used for the exterior coat.  Way too little for me... I am too old for this.   Wait a minute I am only 40 years old...

Gamera- Nice choices of kits you brought... would love to see how those beautiful Chinese girls come out!

Guys- Safe to say that my figures are ALMOST completed.  I wish I can finish the eyes but the oil wash were still wet so it was best to let it dry overnight. Painted all metal details using MM Metalizer Gunmetal.

Then applied W&N Raw Umber wash heavily thinned with Mona Lisa Odorless Thinner like 90/10 mix. 

American GIs...

I always liked Raw Umber wash because it makes details come out at the end.  Can't wait to finish this so I can return to my Chaffee.  Like always, comments and inputs are welcome.  Thanks for looking!

@Gamera:

Thanks for the props on the builds.  I'd seen a built kit recently of a tank destroyer from WWII and the whole interior was white.  It kinda flumoxed me, as I had figured (as you stated), that the visible interior would be OD green.  I used that as a reference for the M-18.  And did the interior of the turret green anyway.

As for the Chinese in a modern Korean fracas...  There's serious doubts about that.  Although the Chinese have stated that they will not allow the South to invade and take over the North, they have very serious misgivings about the Kim dynasty and its rule of the North.  Current thinking is that if the DPRK were to initiate hostilities again, neither Russia or the PRC would assist.  And while the Russians would likely suspend all commerce, the PRC may not.  Having said that, the PRC would also likely demand cash on the barrel head for any and all transactions.  Current war plans suggest that the DPRK would only have a two week supply of fuel for land forces and possibly far less than that for aircraft.  It's also believed that the second line and reserve DPRK troops would find reasons to 'sky out' and merge with local RoK refugees once they get a glimpse of life in the RoK.

The DPRK Navy is the one force that really would be an issue to fight.  They are very sub intensive, have a large commando force and do a considerable amount of training as opposed to the air and ground forces. 

My personal assessment is that (were it to take place within the next five years) the DPRK would do a grand job of getting close to Seoul, and perhaps might make it a bit further down the peninsula on the East coast, but would run into very serious issues on day 13-15.  At that point, not only would they be running out of supplies, but the international forces would be arriving in large quantities.  It is also my personal guess that there would be decapitation strikes against the Kim family and the UN might allow the international force to take Pyongyang and stop there with a border from Pyongyang to Wonsan.

Blah blah blah blah...

Just my opinion, not to be taken seriously! 

BTW: Picked these kits up last week. I guess being Red Chinese they would sorta kinda relate to any modern Korean conflict eh?

Nice work Draken!

Um I may nitpick though? I've been told the insides of the hatches should be painted the exterior colour. It's supposed to stand out less so a sniper's eye won't be attracted to the open hatch. Still great work and thanks for letting us see them.

BTW: Funny off topic post, I think we've all had days like that. Well maybe not quite THAT bad but something like that

Way off topic, but still funny!

Someone must've had a bad experience building models as a child.  I've had my share of knife scrapes and whatnot, but this is kinda funny. 

http://www.funlol.com/15983/Build_your_own_chopper.html      

BTW, That's the Monogram 1/48th UH-1 Huey Hog, I believe...

Finally, the initial pictures of my recent builds.  I'm starting out with the Milicast M-18 and comparing it to the Fujimi M-36 Jackson.  The M18 isn't all that much smaller than the Jackson, and judging by the Fujimi kit being near spot on 1/76th scale and the hatches, seats, etc. of the Hellcat being smaller, I'm going to guess that the Milicast products are closer to 1/80th, half way from HO to 1/72.  Not a big issue to me, but I would've preferred to know in advance.  The pictures were taken in my classroom with my Android phone.  I'm missing my SD card adapter and can't use my regular digital camera to take pics without it.

I really like the above shot!  It shows off the brass on the exposed rounds, the metallic tone of the breech, and the off white of the interior.  I was VERY disappointed by the driver's area on the M-18.  The hatches were molded open, and the interior was essentially a squiggly tunnel that went straight through and back out the bottom of the vehicle.  Unless I had a motor tool and a helluva lot of scratch building experience (okay, so I only lack the motor tool), this was a pain in the butt and had to be left as is.  In retrospect, I should've at least thrown in a bottom hull piece.

Now comes the M-18 and the M-39, then onto the M-39.  This shot shows well the damage done to the Hellcat's tracks.  The M-39 came out pretty good in that area.  BTW, I have no idea what or how the shaded areas at the bottom of the photos showed up.  I tried all sorts of shots to not have that happen and never could get rid of it consistently.

And I now see all of the painting areas that I couldn't see without a close-up and bright light.  ARGH!  The M-39 actually had drivers' seats, the transmission (that white blob) and a decent hatch system.  I wish that they had used the same parts for the Hellcat.  All of the stowage that's on the vehicle is molded in, including the pioneering tools.  The only thing that was changed is the swapping of an Academy 1/72 M-2 MG.  Strangely enough, the Academy MG wasn't that much bigger than the one in the kit.  The two were far closer to each other in size than anticipated.  I just didn't see me being able to put together a four piece MG in that small of a size.

The Airfix Centurion was a blast!  I never expected it to go together as quickly or easily as it did.  It nearly fell together like a hase-jimi style kit.  I had been dreading it due to the fact that I detest doing wheels.  I hate them.  Monotonous and irritating if you flub something.  But I came home WANTING to do it.  For something like that, that I hate, when my brain says go, I just do.  And I finished it far earlier than anticipated.  No decals on it yet, I'll be getting to them this weekend, maybe, but wanted to display it in my classroom with the other two.

That's all for now.  I don't know what's up for tonight.  I'm wanting to get some room on my shelves for my FAA and RAAF kits, so I might start on some more Airfix stuff to open up that space.  Or, i could actually start work on some bleeding danged Communist armour for a change.  Something that the build is sorely lacking in. 

Type to y'all later!

@Doc Win:  For the most part, the moldings for the tracks were great, didn't need much clean up besides sawing off the mold stub.  that's where things went wrong, because the plastic was flexible, even though I wasn't bearing down on the razor saw, it snapped a bunch of the track sections off.  Getting the broken off sections free of the stubs is where I had the issues.  Most of the rest of the build was acceptable.  One big issue was the fit of the quarter skirts on the M-18.  Just plain poor fit combined with poopy CA glue.  Yeah, yeah, yeah...  I COULD'VE waited until the next day to buy new glue.  Bugger it, I'm three steps from being done.  They're out of shape, it's battle damage.  Ran into some trees n shite.

Everyone else:  HOLY POOPY!  Started and finished a kit this evening!  HAD NOT PLANNED THIS!  Apart from decals, the Airfix Centurion is complete.  Weathered and all.  I started it right after getting home from work and it's now 00:28A.  Not only is that a record for the build, probably, it's a record for ME, personally.

Once again, I'll put up pics when I get a chance.  It doesn't look too danged bad, either!  I'm deciding whether or not to tone down the weathering before I take it to the classroom and display it.  I just think that there's an awful lot of mud where there may not need to be any... 

Next up, I have no freaking clue, I really thought that this one would take longer. 

Heya deafpanzer:

Love the figures ... many a day I get up and feel like the guys in the top photo ... wonder where the  rest of my head went :-) ...

Nonetheless, they're looking super ... thanks for sharing with us ...

pepper

@ Draken, how or what did you use to clean up the tracks on them or were the mouldings already like that? I've found that a metal pointed bit on multi tool at moderate speed works quite well at cleaning up resin tracks without breaking them. Look forward to seeing the photos...

P.s the VVS P0-2 is currently on Ebay UK and has 5 days left to run... ;)

Doc.

Well, I've finished my Milicast 1/76th scale M-39 and M-18, and they are currently on display in my classroom.  I'm a bit disappointed in them, the tracks on both were kind of hit and miss.  The M-18 is missing huge chunks of track because of how brittle they are.  I was being incredibly careful, but still, poopy happens.    I'm starting on the Airfix Centurion tonight, it's a wizz-bang of a build, and should go together fairly quick.  One major issue is that the mold for the turret leaves a hole in the rear bustle, and there's a huge sinkhole in the bore evacuator. 

No pictures at the moment, but I'll post some when I can.  The -39 is factory fresh with the molded in equipment, but I went ahead and did some drybrushing weathering on the M-18 to attempt to hide the few minor issues that I ran into.

Great work everyone!  I'm seriously jealous about the Po-2's Doc Win, they're beautiful!

Thanks Stikpusher!  I wish I painted the tools separately... that would have made things alot easier but for the rest it hasn't been that hard.  I like the term 'TDY'... my wife is going to like this.  No worries... she has a great sense of humor too.

Quick update... haven't touched my Chaffee but continued to work on the American GIs by adding lighter paint tones to the uniforms and gears.  It is almost done!  All three figures will only need final wash of burnt umber and of courses paint the eyes along with little details...

I hope I can finish the figures within two days... thanks for looking!

the_draken

Heya Helo,

What color do you use for the control surfaces?  Just curiosity's sake, that's all.    I'm using the AS-12 for NMF a/c and I've been brush painting the control surfaces Testors' bottle flat Aluminum.  Select panels get steel and exhausts are usually painted either a rust for piston engines or Academy metallic grey for turbine engines.  I save the Academy flat Aluminum for landing gear.  It's just so much darker and 'flatter' than the Testors' paint.

Andy , it seems you and I do pretty much the same thing ;

AS-12 overall

Tamiya's XF-16 for the control surfaces , XF-56 Metalic grey for exhaust pieces

If the aircraft build is non NMF but the landing gear is metal , I usually just airbrush with Tamiya XF-16 Flat Aluminium .

In a couple of day's time I'll re-mask for the black de-icer on the wing leading edges .

                                             John .

Deafpanzer that tank is looking sharp! Watching your step by step of painting after all stowage is on place is something I will have to try on one some upcoming AFV build. Sorry to hear your TDY (Temporarly Divorced from You) is over... Domestic duties sure do interfere with hobby time... It has for me most of this month...

Hey, there's a lurker... go after him!  LOL  Glad you have been lurking my friend... it has to be one of great GBs I have been in. 

                           Still lurking,great work here,would recommend this G.B as high quality lurking material.

                                                          Greg"Deailfreak"Rowley

Pepper, DP, and John - great stuff guys. Please keep the photos coming!