Ooops , I goofed badly on the wheels . Thank's for the tip Stik

I did use flat black on the wheels of the previous armour builds and I did grab the jar of black to use on the Pershing and noticed it was nearly empty . I was just too lazy to walk downstairs to the back room to grab another paint jar and reached for the H-18 Steel instead .

Anyway I'll call the Trumpeter M26 done ; It's a fairly clean finish , not a lot of weathering above the wheels .

I'm holding off continueing on some of the stalled larger cargo planes for the time being as I've got other projects to finish for other GB's but I want to have a steady week to week continuation of Korean War builds coming off the bench , so I'm starting on the Tracks and Troops No. 7 Wrecker conversion of the Heller GMC 353 Truck

I'll start on the Chassie assembly tonight and WIP pic's tomorrow

John .

Looking good there Helo, but why steel rims on the roadwheels? The Pershing (and almost every US AFV I can think of, had rubber rimmed roadwheels. We have never had a rubber shortage in vehicle production like the Germans and Soviets did that forced the use of steel rimmed wheels. your just about done now though... very sweet! I always like the look of the Pershing. Has a no nonsense look like the Centurion.

Gamera, I know what you mean about Korean ladies. For the past several years at work we had a Korean secretary who worked at my station who also could qualify as the tallest Asian lady I have ever seen, and was also quite lovely. And where I am located there is a plethora of Asian ladies of all ethnicities: Filipinas, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese... anyways enough daydreaming before I get the mods on us here...

IIRC, I remember seeing somewhere about during that time period that the average Viet male was around 5'2" or so. I was thinking of scrounging up some old Monogram 1/35 US Infantry type figures since their basic uniforms and equipment are correct and they were molded a bit on the smaller end of the 1/35 spectrum. Grind off stuff that I could replace such as canteens, with my Dremel, then use some of those Tamiya gear sets and Hornet heads with Tamiya steel pots. Dragon's 1/35 ARVN types in the SOG and ARVN Ranger sets are not posed or equipped right for track toad soldiers...

A couple of WIP pic's of the 1/72 Trumpeter M26 Pershing ;

The wheel rims painted with Gunze H18 Steel , support suspension arms glued in place and some of the smaller bits added to the upper hull

Wheels and tracks fitted with a little Tamiya weathering powder brushed on and the turret fitted in place

First thing in the morning I'll glue the upper hull onto the lower section and then add a little black enamel wash to a few area's around the hull .

John .

SP: Thanks! I just went ahead and used a regular figure since the Korean-Americans I know are about the same height and build as European-Americans. Used to have a big crush on a gorgeous waitress who was about 5'9". Tallest Asian gal I've ever met. Yeah Vietnamese are somewhat shorter I think but I'm not sure how much on average. You could always go with regular figures and then use a 1/32nd scale US figure standing with them to make them look slightly smaller.  

Helo, your four gun bunny creations have been added to the front page... What's next?

Gamera, great work on the Jeep and I really do like the figures I am likely going to do an ARVN M113 next year, but am wondering what to do for the smaller stature of those guys to crew it up. The Hornet heads are a great idea, but I need to find some smaller 1/35 figures in US fatigues.... 

Hey thanks John! If you ever want to do something in 1/35th the new Tamiya Jeep is a gem of a kit. Perfect fit, great detail, and a fully detailed engine under the hood. And I had a blast with the figures, I've gotten to really enjoy 'plastic surgery' on the lil guys.

WOW , Cliff ;

Amazing build .

Everything looks perfect to me and excellent work on the South Korean figure with all that 'successfull surgery' in putting the guy together .

Awesome ...

John .

There's a few small things that still need fixing but still I'm to the point of sticking a fork in 'er...

Jeep: straight outta-da-box Tamiya kit.

Driver: Assembled right-outta-da-box.

Corporal in the back: mostly Dragon figure with replacement arms.

South Korean translator: Frankenstein monster figure, tush and legs from an old seated Tamiya Kubelwagen figure. Hornet east Asian head, Dragon torso and helmet, and arms from the spare parts 'arms' box.

Cliff

Thank's guy's .

I noticed a small error with the M4 Tractor and the front windscreen panels . I forgot to paint some frame lines around the edges , so I'll touch that up in the next day or so .

Welcome back Andy , glad to hear your settling back in okay . My condolances on your aunt passing .

I should have some more WIP pic's to post tomorrow .

John .

Now that is the Helo we have come to know and love in this GB... cranking out the completed builds! After more than two years running, we have less than a year to go here. I will get them up on the front page soon.

Gamera, I don't know how many times that I have found "missing- presumed lost" parts in a similar manner... how the heck did it get there I think to myself... the ballistics and geometry of the bounces defy reason... I am happy for you there.

Draken, welcome back to the land of the big PX. I don't mind a pic of the Predator for us to see your current work. I would not be surprised if there was not a bakers dozen of those things in the ROK these days. My current builds are Vietnam and WWII subjects.

Andy: I bet SP won't mind if you post one non KW subject here. Good to see things are mostly going well for you. Gee, I've buried way too many family members these last few years- sucks about getting old.

Well, hit the cable office and then it clouded over and started raining so I still don't have photos of the Jeep...... 

Will post photos when I can get good natural lighting. And hope the cable ISP is up tomorrow - it seems to come and go now. Hopefully they can get a repairman out here soon to look at it.

Hey John!

For what it's worth, as hard as you think that the ACE M-101 is, the Revell gun that comes with the CH-46 Tarhe is FAR more difficult!  Love the work you've done on the arty!

For me, I've JUST NOW gotten intertubez installed at home.  Three weeks in teh states and I've started cleaning the house, organizing stuff, getting re-oriented.  I've gotten some models unpacked and stored, KW kits stacked ready to build(more in the mail!) and I've completed my first kit!  Unfortunately, it's not a KW kit, just something to get me into the swing of things and get all of my supplies and materials prepared (had to buy lotsa stuff!).  I put together the Accurate Miniatures 1/72 Predator UAV with Hellfire missiles added from spare parts since I had the old unarmed kit.  I specifically modeled it as one flown by the local ANG unit.

I'll maybe show a pic later on, I'm just too lazy now.  I've got to take a half week off to fly to Ohio for a funeral and then back at it!  An aunt who's in her 70's and sufferd from diabetes complications.  It's very sad, but lessened by knowing that it was on it's way for a while.

Peace out, dudes!

John: Those guns look really good! I am still amazed at how much detail you guys can pack in a 1/72nd kit. And the M26 looks like a nice kit, looking forward to seeing you work your magic on her.

Well., back here in the Twilight Zone I found the MP's head. There was a small box of airbrush supplies not far from the bench. The box was closed except for a 1 cm or so crack at the top. Thankfully I decided to do some cleaning and went though the contents of the box... 

Yes, somehow the head bounced off the floor and went though a 1 cm crack into the box.....

Anyway the Jeep is done. The Micro Crystal Clear I used to attach the headlights hasn't dried but I'll take photos when it does. However; now my ISP at home has gone all wonky and I don't have constant internet connection. Going to call the cable company but if nothing else I should be able to post the photos on the work computer Thur or Fri! 

Well Stik , I put in quite a big effort this weekend and finished 4 of the 5 builds . I'm still working on the Ace 105mm Howitzer but here a some finished pic's of the other four ;

Matchbox (PK-86) 1/76 M40 Gun Motor Carriage Korea 1953

Hasegawa 155mm Long Tom Gun

SHQ M4 Tractor ; Taejon , Korea 1950-51

Another Matchbox 1/76 M40 Gun Motor Carriage

I'm very happy with the finished builds and it's great to be able to finally post some finished pic's .

Next off the bench is another partially started armour build ;

Trumpeter 1/72 M26 Pershing heavy Tank

I had pre-painted the parts a little while back , so tonight I'll paint the rims on the road wheels and start attaching the suspension arms to the lower hull .

John .

No Court Martial is pending for you here, but an administrative action is hanging over your head mister. I want to see some work from you, our main mover, shaker, and producer or you will be ordered to extra duty at the bench.

I've been going at it most of the weekend and I'm almost finished

I found the Ace 105mm Howitzer to be really difficult to get together . I guess I'm not really an artillary guy and struggled with the build . The Hasegawa 155mm Long Tom was slightly easier but the wheel axle -suspension bits are a bit of a loose fit ; It's all together though . The M4 Tractor and M40's just need some clear flat to be sprayed and there done . Hopfully finished pic's later today .

John 

It may not look like much progress but I worked on the two M40's for most of the day

Painting the wheel rims flat black took a bit longer than I thought but their all done . I also did a few touch ups on the main body of the M40 with some olive green and everything is ready for a couple of clear gloss coats and then some thinned black wash . One of the M40's will be in travel mode with two crew figures sitting up out of the front cupola's and the other M40 will have the gun elevated and the recoil spade lowered .

To avoid the fore mentioned self imposed GB 'court martial' for not having any builds completed in the past few months , I did say I should be finished by Sunday night . However I may have to envoke the 'ol "International Date Line" defence and imply that it will be Sunday evening , US time ; Which makes it around 10am Monday morning Sydney time ..... I just wanted to clear up any confussion !  

Cliff , you may have seen this before but I'm sure even "oddball" will get a kick out of it ....

I have experianced each one of those modelling pitfalls on at least one occassion .

John .

Thanks John! I'll find a small plastic part the same size and give it a toss tomorrow to see what happens. I did check the bottom of my shoes- that's generally the way I find stuff- by stepping on the part and breaking it!

Thanks for the positive thoughts- I'm trying to conjure up some positive waves here myself!

Cliff , Have you tried dropping a small piece of plastic roughly the same size as the soldiers head onto the floor and see how it bounces and rolls . I've done a few times when I have dropped stuff from the bench and couldb't find it . Once I found the small part in the top of my shoe , tangled in the laces and another time in the chunky tread underneath . I must of step back onto it . Obvisiously a head would be quite noticable stuck to the under side of your shoe . I dropped one of those 105mm Howitzer wheels onto the floor and I thought it bounced and hit the leg of the stool but actually landed inside a plastic bag that a small opened box of Bi-Carb Soda is sitting in .

I'm sending postive thoughts through the airwaves in the help of the MP's head re-appearing .....

John .

John: That M-101 looks fantastic, I can't imagine how teeny those parts must be there! I notice you're painting them on the sprue- good idea when dealing with parts that small!

Sorry about the rant guys. Just that the friggin' head fell on a bare concrete floor, if it had been shag carpeting or something like that I can understand it vanishing - but bare concrete floor? There is nothing around for it to hide under except the bench and I moved it a few times. Plus the head is covered with a gloss white MP helmet (I was spraying it with flat varnish after putting the MP decal on it). I can see it vanishing if it were painted a dark grey or olive drab - but it's a shiny white part against a dark grey surface- I'd think it would stand out a little! Less mad and more really puzzled at this point, I think I want to figure out what the hades happened as much as I want the part back!!!

Dang, at the very least I'll paint another head and helmet - I know that will cause the original to show up again. And if I find the parts to your howitzer John I'll mail 'em to you!

I swear there's another dimension right next to this one where all this stuff goes. The parts are probably laying right between Amelia Earhart's Electra and the Holy Grail...

Cliff , stay calm buddy ; I did smile quite a bit with your latest post . Not about loosing a head from one of jeeps crew but your colorfull explanation as to what happened .

I forgot to mention that the M36 Jackson is a Nitto kit , their both 1/76 but should fit in okay with my other Korean War 72/76 armour builds .

Excellent F-100 super Sabre build Stik ...

Like Cliff said the dirty finish and burnt area around the exhaust is superb ; Competion Quality right there !

I built one of Hasegawa's 1/72 ancient F-100D kits a while back with a SEA camo scheme . I didn't have the appropriate markings to suit and I just put some 'HE' letters on the tail fin . The overall build is too shinny and clean for a Vietnam bird but I did have a try at a faded camo paint around the exhaust area , which came out okay . Probably the only part of the paint finish that looks accurate .

Anyway I went to start on the Revell Howitzer and discovered that a couple of pieces are missing , their probably lying in the same corner as Cliff's missing head 

So I got out the ACE M-101 US 105mm Howitzer kit and decided to build that instead and hook it up to the M4 tractor

Instructions provided show lots of little fiddly pieces to play around with .

 I attached most parts in place and kept them a seperatly assemblies

Then a few coats of olive green

I'll let the paint dry overnight and first thing tomorrow I'll glue everything together . I'm about to paint the wheel rims on the two M40 SPG's and I'll let those dry over night as well and I can get them fitted in place tomorrow . Everythings going to plan more or less ; More WIP pic's tomorrow

I hope you find the guy's head Cliff !

John .

John: Nice! They're coming right along.

SP: Great work there on the Hun, love the dirty grease and grim look you've given her and the nice work on the burnt area around the exhaust. Sorry, when you posted her before she slipped right past me, this is the first time I've seen 'er.  

Guess I spoke too soon about the Jeep. Was spraying on the final matte coat to finish her and one of the figures somehow flew off the bench and knocked the guy's head right off. I saw clearly where the head went right into the corner but after an hour's searching have not been able to find it. How the can a head the size of a pea wearing a SHINY  WHITE  HELMET VANISH!?!?!!

Sorry about the language, I'm just now cooling a little down. Sometimes I don't 'get' modeling- I thought this was supposed to be a stress reliever- it tends to create stress in me......

Short of holding my own GB 'court-martial' where I appear as all three , defendant , judge and jury ; There's no valid reason that by Sunday evening these builds should not be finished

All the parts for both Matchbox M40's are already painted , so assembly is just required and then a little touch up with the paint , some weathering and done . The M4 tractor only needs a little assembly as well and the same with the 155mm Long Tom . I found the Howitzer from the Revell CH-54 Skycrane kit to hook up behind the M4 tractor , not many parts to put that together and a little paint as well and done .

Nothing like a boot in the rear to get things happening !

John .

Oh, I thought that you had seen my Hun and were being facetious... I finished and posted it about three weeks ago or so...

here ya go

You sound like you have a solid days work ahead to complete that jeep. Or a weekend at a more relaxed pace...

I want to get my F-86 finished soon for a family photo with the Hun

Hmmmm, saw your Mirage SP but don't remember the F-100- in that case consider the advice retracted 

Maybe just go up to your stash, close your eyes, and pull out a box at random? 

Yeah, with the Jeep I need to:

* Mask the windshield areas where the wiper blades would sweep and then spray some dust on the rest of it.

* Add a strap to one guy's carbine

*Matt coat everything

*Add the windshield glass and headlights

*Add some dried mud to the guy's boots and pants legs

Hope that's all! 

Consider the whip cracked Helo Or a nice shiny jump boot placed in your fourth point of contact to help you on your way...

I'm a fan of that camo'd ROK M36 as well

Funny how you would mention a F-100 Gamera, when I just finished one... I know what you mean about seeing those last little things. At that point it is a time for saying how much more do I want to do is this good enough?

SP: Well since I think the next logical step from a F-86 Sabre would be a F-100 Supersabre...

John: Nice! Is the Jackson a Nitto kit? Haven't seen one of those in awhile. After seeing the cool camoed ROK M-36 in the Squadron 'Armour in Korea' book I've had a desire to try to replicate it in 1/35th. Thankfully I've developed a little more self-control and am trying to finish off stuff I've started and already bought instead of picking up yet another kit!

Hopefully if the Good Lord is willing and the creeks don't rise I'll have the Jeep done by the end of the weekend. I'm to the annoying part when I'm 99% done and keep finding little teeny things that need to be fixed before I can consider her finished now.  

Well , still nothing finished from me , although I'm still adding to the Korean war stash .

I forgot I bought these about three weeks ago and they arrived today

I alway's liked how Andy's M30 and M36 builds went together and now I have one of each to build as well .

The family have curtailed my spending on any more kits for the rest of the year , with AM decals the only exception . I guess this means less time browsing and drooling on the net and more time at the bench

Crack the whip Stik

John .

Well I have been looking at my F-86 and contemplating how to get it finished... and then wondering what to build next...