The Ostfront (eastern front) GB 2010/11

Well, Richard, I was hoping you'd have Ostfront Two up by now, but since not, I'll post this here then repost it there when it's up!

Here's my next build for Ostfront - Dragon's Tiger I Late Production 3-in-1.

I'm planning to build this one up in the markings of s.Pz.Abt.505 in 1944. The color scheme is dunky with dark green striping and a yellow barrel band. The kit includes markings for tank 334, but I may opt for some Archer transfers for #312, which can be seen here. Is it just me, or is the barrel just primer?

This kit is dense! Lots of sprues, excellent detail, and so far, excellent fit. Very reminiscent of the Panzer III and IV, not the Cyber-Hobby M4A4 Orange Box I'm also working on (NOT a fan of that kit).

There's been some discussion elsewhere on the forums lately about tracks...well this one comes packing some DS tracks, which I think are just fine since the Tiger has so many wheels there's not really a chance for sag. But...the detail on these DS tracks has to be the best I've ever seen on rubber bands.

Here's where it's at so far - completed step 1! Richard, you'll note that it has the same weird suspension getup as the Panther. New to me, since I'm by no means a German armor expert.

Okay...now on to the fun stuff! Aftermarket!

First, a metal barrel. I believe this is an RB barrel. I think. 

Next, Cavalier zimmerit. I know Dragon's making a zimmed version of this kit now, but this isn't it. I considered the Eduard PE zimm, but I saw it on a Tiger at the show last weekend, and it was awful. The Cavalier set includes not just the ultrathin resin zimm for the hull, but replacement mantlet and hatches.

Have to say, I'm looking very forward to this one! 

Everyone,

If you are currently building a model for this GB by all means feel free to complete it here.

Saturday has started here on this side of the pond so today i will fire up a new thread for round two. Since there are people still building for round 1 and wanting to finish it here i will hold the final post and the attaboys untill we are all there at the finish line So not to worry and just keep going guys

And since we are discussing tracks....

My first brush with indy links.... 8 down...202 to go...

My next update will be on the new thread as i am still some distance away from completing my Panther

Richard

Andy/Deafpanzer - i used .5mm sewing pins on my Friuls for this very GB!  They make the tracks sturdy but kind of stiff so drill out to .6mm to accept them.

Cheers

Andy(Lundergaard)

FRAGGLENUTZ!!!!  For the past week I've been looking at the calendar at work thinking Oct 1st was on Tuesday!  This morning I realized someone had changed it to from September to October!!   I didn't realize that Oct. 1 is tomorrow......   I thought I had a few more days left to finish my 3 builds, but looks like I'll be late.....

Anyway, I might have a couple of them done by the end of the weekend, but not all.  Is it OK if I finish the rest next weekend?

As for an update:

RPM T-26T - Painted with filters and pinwash applied.  Still need to paint the details and then finish the weathering.  Turns out I lost the driver hatch during the move in June  ......I will have to scratchbuild a replacement and paint it up.

Bronco F-22 Gun - Painted with filters and gloss coat applied.  Need to add decals, paint details and weather.

Italeri BT-5 - Assembly done.  Need to primer, paint, decal and weather.

I'll post a better update when I get home from work.

Doogs- Thanks for the info about Fruil tracks.  I can't remember who but somebody likes to use pins instead of wires... maybe Pvt Mutt (Tony).  I can't wait to try it for myself in few weeks. 

Richard- LOVE the camo job on your Panther!   Its one of my favorite tanks and I might build it for Ostfront GB II but I probably will need to take a break from those tracks for a while.

I like it. On my freehand camo that is similar I sprayed the darker on top of the lighter as you did then went back to touch up the light, then overspray to blend it in. For freehanding I turn the pressure as low as it will effectively spray, get in tight and take lots of time.

Guys,

Little update from my end of things...

Decided on not masking the lot as i figured it would take 4 pounds of putty to cover all the yellow.... Instead i tried to outline the camo pattern with a green pencil before freehanding it again. After that was done i misted on a thinned coat of dunky in order to tone down the contrast and blend.

Only had a right side profile picture to work with so i had to improvise like 75% of this scheme.

I am still not sure wether to recoat it with dunky again and have another go or leave it as is....What do you guys think? No need to be gentle. I know i seriously need to work on freehanding skills...

Richard

No need to apologize Kermit.

Doogs, I hope you get lots of trigger finger exercise during the move - you're going to need it.

Andy - believe me, this build and set aside thing is KILLING me! So far it's the Tasca M4A3(76)W, the KV-2...tonight it'll be the Cyber-Hobby M4A4. Next probably the Tiger I Late (which is Ostfront...confirmed that last night!). After that? 

We're moving on like the 29th. I imagine I'll be totally out of commission for about a week and a half, and I'm hoping to have the bench fully operational again by Thanksgiving.

As for the friuls - that's actually the wire that came with the set. I've read suggestions to use metal rod, and did that on my Pz.IV and didn't like it. Far too rigid. At least on those 40cm tracks, just drilling them out can warp them slightly, and the wire gives you enough play to arrange them straight once you have the whole thing pinned.

Think I may try some of those tailor's pins for my next set though, just to see how well they might work. Sure be a lot easier than cutting wire to length!

Bouttime,

Sent a PM back and problem solved My sincere apologies.

Deaf,

I like to do one year GB's just for that same reason you mention. It gives people plenty of time to plan this GB in. Hope you can join mate.

Richard

Richard- If it is going to last for a year again then I can jump aboard after July 1st and it will allow me enough time to build something.  Maybe something with wheels instead of tracks or even a plane! LOL

Just keep me posted... thanks!

Kermit,

check your pm's

Deaf,

It would be a real pity if you couldnt participate in round 2.... Good side of the story is that i run my GB for a full year....

Ok,...

So Vetteman wants to complete for round 1....Doogs wants to carry it over, also due to him moving soon.... Got it gents!

Will have to soon figure out who's building and who is not... there have been a number of people entering builds and not posting wip's... If i make any mistakes with that i would like to officially say soooorrrryyyyy and just PM me to have me correct it

Also i will start reading through the full GB thread to try to catch any completed builds i missed.

Richard

Thanks DP! I exchanged gas cylinders today so have a fresh tank to work with, and hope to have the topside camo on this weekend, maybe even get to the clears and decals...

M/TB379

Quick update on the figures to go with my panzer IV.  Shame on me for not posting earlier... they are almost done.  Little more detail painting, final work on flesh and eyes and dark wash at the end.

Those two figures at the right are for my earlier build Marder II...

Slings for the MP40s... a must!

Hope to finish the figures over the weekend so I can start my next build StuG III Ausf F/8 for my GB I am hosting... late start.

Mike- Your 109 is really looking good especially the pre-shading job!

Doogs- Great process on your KV!   Are you kidding me?  You are going to make us wait on the edge of chair for few weeks until you have it painted... man, you are so cruel!   Kidding, hope the move goes well and none of your models will not be harmed or you will be hearing from PETM.  Yes, People for the Ethical Treatment of Models. 

I have ordered Fruil tracks from a local shop and it will arrive in two weeks or so for my StuG.  I am not in a hurry anyway.  But I see you are using pins instead of the wiring that come with the set, correct?  If so, what size or where can I find those pins?  I remember reading that wiring are not that good...

Guys- I like the idea of doing second round but I am not too sure if I can make it.  Over committed right now I can say but for a good reason because I am hosting Pz III GB right now and it doesn't end til July 1st.  So far I have committed to build three and you know how I build at snail pace.  So depending on time frame I may make it or not but I will definitely be a fan wearing a cheerleader outfit doing all of those crazy cheering dances.

Doogs I think I will have to get me one of those.

Alright. I'm calling the KV-2 as built as it's going to get until the move, when I get the airbrushes set up again. 

I think the left track is looking a bit too saggy (think I got them swapped when I test-fitted tonight so that's the new run), so I'll probably pull a link out. 

Overall impressions. The kit is a step behind Tasca and the Dragon/Cyber-Hobby Panzers I've built recently, but definitely out front of the Cyber-Hobby M4A4 that's on the bench. 

And I think I'm going to do the chainy one...

Hey guys,

Looks like I will have to duck out on this one. The place I stayed for the last few months wasn't very model-friendly, and it will be a few weeks before we get settled again. Sorry Kermit, this is the second GB of yours that I've ducked out on. Hopefully soon I can have more reliable time at the bench.

kermit

You betcha!

In order to make things easier for everyone i will allow everyone building their models and posting recent updates to finish their builds in their own time in this thread. Or do you guys prefer me carrying the lot over to the new thread?

A new thread for Ostfront II will be started on the appropriate day (oct 1st). Anyone who wishes to participate in the GB can post in this new one

If you guys have any suggestions or thoughts about changes for Osfront II i'd be very happy to receive your comments through PM.

Richard

Mr Kermit Sir, I would like to finish my Yak-7A in this group, should be only a few days late. And if you please I am up for round 2 I do have a small request as to a rule change, please allow vetteman42 more time at the bench during Ostfront II. 

I'm definitely up for another round, and any rules you set are fine. It's October in a couple of days and despite the fact I've made strides on my 109 it won't be done until at least next week. Still, that's only a little bit after the end of OF 1 so I'd sure like to collect the badge for this one.

I'll roll my StuG III F-8 over to round 2.

Cheers, M/TB379

I'd prefer that my KV-2 carry over.

I'm also planning on kicking off ANOTHER Ostfront build. Maybe even tonight. I think. Need to doublecheck that it's an Eastern front that I'm building - but Dragon's Tiger I Late 3-in-1 with Cavalier resin zimm. Looks stupid-epic in the box.

You betcha!

In order to make things easier for everyone i will allow everyone building their models and posting recent updates to finish their builds in their own time in this thread. Or do you guys prefer me carrying the lot over to the new thread?

A new thread for Ostfront II will be started on the appropriate day (oct 1st). Anyone who wishes to participate in the GB can post in this new one

If you guys have any suggestions or thoughts about changes for Osfront II i'd be very happy to receive your comments through PM.

Richard

Is everyone still up for round 2?

Jeff

Kermit -- I cleaned the AB thoroughly and did the tip-grind thing, I use a sheet of optical glass and rotate the needle against fine abraisive on the surface... I'm not sure, it's still spotting a lot, and I don't think it's the paint mix. A new needle will be needed before I do any freehanding, such as the StuG IV that's waiting for its camo...

M/TB379

PS: Sorry to hear the turret woes, don't you hate it when you chase a problem in circles, fixing this, then that , then the next thing?!

Vetteman,

The wings look spot on my friend! Very well solved!

Doogs,

Oooooh...that barrel just looks gorgeous I must say it's one of the weaker parts of the trumpy... Plus the way overscaled grooves in it. Some say that the grooves shouldnt be there at all but i have seen a wartime pic of one that had, just much less pronounced.

And the tracks are equally as beautiful. I MUST bring myself to buy stuff like that..... Oob is nice and gives great results but the difference with these is just the thing to make it a contest winner. Sag looks very realistic!

Thunderbolt,

Coming along nicely i see! Cant wait to see what you do with the camo.... I take it you got the AB problem under control?

Been working on my panzer off and on last week but encountering problems along the way...

Just when i wanted to start camo spraying i found out that i glued on the bottom plate of the turret in a light angle causing the turret to not sit straight.... So i carefully cut the part off and reglued.....only to find out some glue oozed on the outside turret, wrecking the paint job

So i resprayed dunkelgelb and waited for it to cure. Being enamel i gave it half a week.

Just now i fired up the AB and started freehanding the green stripes according to a profile picture somebody pointed out to me in the armor section...

Now i find out i thinned too much and using too high a pressure setting making the camo look really runny and just plain awful......

Sooo...... back to sanding and re applying the gelb again... Next time i will use putty to mask my work! Anyways.... gonna take a bit longer

Richard

Thanks, Trey! Today's progress, RLM 76 applied:

This is a homebrew from Tamiya Acrylics. The prehsade shows through quite definitely, I might zap on a bit more 76 here and there to tone it down.

I'll be changing my gas cyclinder tomorrow or the day after, then I can cruise to the finish. With the last available bar of pressure I can tidy up a few spots on this and other models, there are the prop blades to spray as well. Today's session included gear bay door exteriors for this and my Ho 229. The gear bays will be masked and sprayed after main shades are complete, including clear coats.

I'll keep on plugging away, we might see a completion next week.

Cheers, Mike

Great looking preshade on the 109 Mike and Doogs the Kv is looking great as well, keep up the great work !

Loving those tracks, Doogs -- one day when I get deeper pockets I'll take a crack at them myself...

Yep, I heard it last week, somewhere on one of these boards, ICM have gone belly up -- I wouldn't have expected it, they've been one of the best of the new blood from the east.

Progress:

Okay, preshading touched up, RLM 76 (homebrew) next...

M/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Pity about ICM going out of business, i find I quite like their product. Never mind, the molds will do service under other labels for many years, I'm sure.

Wait what? This is the first I've heard of this! Maybe Eduard'll pick up the molds and profi-pack 'em...

Couldn't resist a few iPhone shots of the KV-2 tonight. This is with 85 links...I tried the recommended 88 and the tracks were sagging down onto the main wheels!

And for comparison, next to the hull of the long-chassis M4A4 that I've cracked into (because I can't just do friuls all night...)