The Ostfront (eastern front) GB 2010/11

Hinksy

One question which someone can erhaps answer me is this................

As you can see I've got a cracking Verlinden German 'Grey' Stowage resin set. Having not used 'Resin' items like these before Is there anything that I need to do with them before painting them or will they paint up as normal?

ATVB

Ben

Ben - Usually a good washing is in order for resin before you lay the paint on. I've heard people say to soak resin in Bleach White and other things but I usually give the resin pieces a good wash with dish soap and water using a soft toothbrush (be careful of smaller pieces as resin is brittle) and I've never encountered a problem. I've even ground off the plugs and shot paint on them with no cleaning before although that was probably taking a gamble.

Hinksy

One question which someone can erhaps answer me is this................

As you can see I've got a cracking Verlinden German 'Grey' Stowage resin set. Having not used 'Resin' items like these before Is there anything that I need to do with them before painting them or will they paint up as normal?

I hit resin parts with a good base of primer.

In my previous modeling life, I tried my hand at a few Verlinden 120mm figures, and was too impatient to deal with primer. Found that enamels, at least, didn't cover or cure very well. 

I havent worked with resin much and to be honest I dont like it, but I have found that a primer coat ( I use Mr Surfacer) is a must. I tried brushing paint on some after washing it with soap and water using a soft toothbrush, that the paint peeled off way to easily. I had no problems when I primed it before painting.

Duplicolor sandable automotive primer.  You get color choices, it sticks to metal, plastic, resin, putty, pretty much anything, is sandable, and sprays a very fine mist for $4.99 a can at any auto parts store.

after about 4 or 5 primers tried with varying results... the best i've found for ALL materials is Alclad II primer and micro filler.  Just pour it out of the bottle into the airbrush cup and it's ready to go.  Dries fast and smooth.  Kind of spendy but since i only build about 2-3 kits a year it's fine.

andy

Cheers guys,

I'm only going to be using a few of the Verlinden items on this build so I'll give the parts a good scrub & I'll try my usual rattlecan Humbrol primer and see how it goes.

ATVB

Ben

So today I decided to go ahead and order a bottle of Gunze Orange Yellow for my Wildcats. I was going to just try to mix something close enough with either Tamiya or Vallejo, but now that I'm thinking about using some of the fuselage ring decals, I'm more comfortable going with the kit recommendations.

Anyway...you can't just order a $2 bottle of paint and then eat the shipping costs, right? Have to make it worthwhile. So I perused GMW's sale section ended up with a 1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A for $18 and the 1/48 Eduard Yak-3 for $13. I'd have gone for the La-7 to go with my La-5s, but their releasing a Profi-pack version with some interesting marking options. Wanna see how that looks first.

So anyway, I guess sign me up for an Eduard Yak-3 while we're at it...

oh boy talk about being antsy!! sorry about jumping the gun on the date i am just stoked about this GB, and i deeply appreciate the fact that you would bump the  start time up so i could make my dead line for my show. so in the interset of fairness ill just have to make a t-34 for my entry (oh the horrors of building another model!!)  ill let you know what make after i see what the vendors have at the show. thanks

Ok,.. another GB build finished... Bring out the I-16!!

Ordered this baby a week or two ago and been frothing at the mouth eversince. It will be my first Eduard kit, my first attempts at working with PE, first time model with colored metal IP...etc. etc.

Some introduction pictures:

Sprues.... intended finish...:

Yes, that's an AA size battery... this plane wasn't big:

Extra goodies! This kit offers decals for no less than 5 different finishes. Also an option for the usual decalled IP is provided:

Now tell me those straps and that IP don't look sweet...:

Richard

Well,... an afternoon ahead in time i came up with this sofar:

Love the way this all looks. Too bad the I 16 has a really narrow and tight cockpit so all of my work will be hard to see in the end but i must say that working with the Eduard PE has been great fun.

Richard

Richard - think you might have missed it, but I'm adding a 1/48 Eduard Yak-3 to my GB list.

And, since I apparently have zero self control, I ended up walking out of the LHS with this today.

May as well toss it up there, too!

Doogs,

Will do ASAP

Progress on the I 16 is moving ahead at lightspeed. Kinda astonished with it... One day into the build i have already finished the sanding/ putty stage.... This is ridiculous even for my standards...

As much as i love the PE part of this kit, i have to sadly admit my expectations of the kit itself were a little too optimistic... Detail is great but the fit is....well....terrible. Also, as you will be able to tell from the next pics, my pitwork is invisible for the most part. Even if you deliberately try to look at that gorgeous IP, you simply can't see it...

Heard so so much good stuff about eduard kits but i really can't say i concur... This I-16 is nice but i consider the quality of a same standard as a mediocre revell kit.

Richard

Hi guys,

It has become apparent that, at least until I can get replacement Sprue, that my Tiger I kit is missing a Sprue - an important one!

So I have now changed my GB project and will be building the Dragon early StuG IV with marking that put her in 'StuG Brig.277, East Prussia 1945'.

It's an expensive kit so I'm going to try and use the Magic Tracks instead of wimping out and buying Friuls!

She's an involved and complicated build and won't be finished quickly!

Kermit - sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused you but could you change the front screen so my build is listed as the StuG IV please. The Tiger can wait - I'll build her next year when I've got that Sprue!

Here she is................................

I'm going to start clean up on some items now and the WIP will start properly tomorrow. The kit has no Zim so I'll be adding Zim in the places that my research has suggested i.e. in the box art picture there is no Zim visible on the lower hull behind the running gear/tracks etc. This was correct. I've not made my own Zim before so this should be interesting!

The Zim seems to be used on the frontal armour and around the mantlet. Also, on the sides and rear of the crew compartment and at the rear area around the muffler.

ATVB & can't wait to get started!

ATVB

Ben

So let me get this right, your Tiger I was missing a complete sprue. Well someone back at Tamiya has made a bit of a balls up.

But still, look forward to seeing your stuG in a proper armour scale What you going to be useing for the Zimm.

Hi, I would like to join your GB, I can build a Russian BT-7A and a German Flampanzer II. Thank you.

Sorry to hear about the I-16, Richard. I've read mostly positive reviews, but it seems we all experience kits differently, and that what fits for one person turns into a living hell for another. I'm having a similar "letdown" with the Hobbyboss F4F-3s right now. 

But this does have me thinking I might kick one of the Eduard kits up a few places in my build order, just to see for myself.

Hi lads,

Right, mind change time again!

Bish - the Tiger was missing a Sprue! An entire bloody sprue! I can source a replacement easily enough so no worries, I'm a bit gutted though.

Re the StuG: I was going to use Milliput and the Tamiya Rake Tool for Zim BUT I'm not happy with that & I've found some ATAK Zim on Lou Steners site so I'm ordering that when he's back into work(he's currently moving house). StuG IV on hold!

Luckily I have a coule of build left in my stash, one a Tamiya Hetzer and the other a Dragon Panzer I Ausf A c/w interior (Smart kit).

I'm going to use the Polish markings so I'm going to enter this Panzer I into the GB followed by the StuG IV. The Panzer is tiny so won't take long to complete if I commit myself (and Kermit allows it)! Poland is East of Germany?

The markings will make her part of the 1.Abt., 15. Pz. Rgt., 5.Pz.Div., Sandomierz, Poland, 1939.

Magic Tracks, nice PE & a well moulded kit!

The lower hull tub - the pound coin placed inside it gives you an idea of how small this build is! It's 1/35 too!

I'll be starting tomorrow - get ready!

Kermit, again sorry for the inconvenience but this is my first entry and I'm going to put the StuG IV in too - I just need the Zim!

ATVB

Ben

Depending on how the Wildcat engines go tonight, I'm going to try to get cracking on the first Zvezda La-5 tonight. I'm rapidly running out of things to do on the 'cats before I have to stop and wait for the vacform canopies to show up, and the diversion would be nice.

Now the real question. Do I use the Vector cockpit set, or save it for the second La-5?

Doogs,

Might i suggest trying the first La5 OOB in order to see if there are difficulties during the build...? Just a thought...

Ben,

Your Panzer 1 will be added/ changed to the front page as soon as i can No prob.

Richard

kermit

Ben,

Your Panzer 1 will be added/ changed to the front page as soon as i can No prob.

Richard

Thanks Kermit,

Sorry to be a PITA, the StuG will be my main build but this will keep me busy. I love Panzer I's!

For the record:

The markings will make her part of the 1.Abt., 15. Pz. Rgt., 5.Pz.Div., Sandomierz, Poland, 1939.

ATVB

Ben

 Ben Ye, i contacted Lou a few days ago as i am trying to get some bit from Hauler. I have never tried AM Zimm, though i do have two Dragon kits with it already on. But i much prefer to add my own useing Milliput white. It can be time consueming and a bit of a pain, but like everything else, not so bad once you get used to it. I prefer it because then each one is different and you can simulate damage easy. Give it a try. I got a set of stamps from hannats which allow you to do 4 different patterns.

Richard,

I know I am late into this thread  but I would like to enter with Dragon's # 6264, Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E.
I have had the kit in the stash for a while (over 4 years) and it is already started.
The bogies and gun mantlet assemblies are semi finished..

That is roughly 40 pieces out of 1082 ~4 % done.
I can post progress pictures today already

Very Best Regards
Johan

Johan,

Late...? The GB just started my friend. You can build 20 more by the time a year passed Ofcourse you are welcome to join and i am glad to have you. Your build will be added to the roster. Have great fun sir!

Steady progress this weekend... The initial camo is on my "ishak". Needs some retouching but it went rather well. Tried applying putty first but removed it and decided on a hard edge camo using masking tape like the build instructions suggest. Flat black over light olive drab:

Thanks for watching

Richard

Hi Kermit, can you put me on the list as doing Zvezda's T-34/76 and Ark Models' Flampanzer II.

Thanks, ozzman.

This is GREAT!  More people joining the GB... you know what it means?  Bigger group hug!!! 

Wow lotsa nice stuff goin on here, cant wait for the chance to start my Yak.

Richard your Ishak is lookin good there buddy, it still amazes me how fast you can build. I cant get over how small the eastern front fighters were, your build got me to thinking and I set a MiG-3 I have been working on next to a P-40, the size differance is really something. The Yak looks to be a bit smaller than the MiG even.

Johan and Ozzman,

Your builds are listed now. Have fun boys!

Randy,

Umm... well this one has kind of astonished me too. Assembly was a real breeze. Great stuff for the weekend build coming up in november Thank you my friend.

The I-16 was alot of things but never big. Very nimble though. Rollrate was supposed to be lightning fast. A messerschnitzel entering into a turning fight with any VVS fighter was mostly a bad decision.

Going over the ever increasing rollcall i did notice i neglected to add your yak as confirmed build. My apologies. Don't hit me...

Richard hit you ????? I shudder to think what Cindy would do to me ifin I dun that

And hey don't sweat not adding my build I am happy just to see my name on that long and distinguished list.

My guess would be that the Russian fighters would have turned inside anything in the air at that time. Although from what I have read about the MiG-3 they killed more pilots than the German Pilots did. Would I be far off in saying that the Yak and Ishak had the same stability problems the MiG had as well ? Course I read somewhere that the Me 109 lead to the demise of more German pilots than the Allied forces did. Would have taken a very brave person to even get into some of the WWII aircraft me thinks.

vetteman42

Wow lotsa nice stuff goin on here, cant wait for the chance to start my Yak.

Richard your Ishak is lookin good there buddy, it still amazes me how fast you can build. I cant get over how small the eastern front fighters were, your build got me to thinking and I set a MiG-3 I have been working on next to a P-40, the size differance is really something. The Yak looks to be a bit smaller than the MiG even.

I thought the Yak-7 was one of the bigger boys of the VVS? At least, it certainly looks chunky next to the Yak-3. Or maybe it's the Yak-9 I'm thinking of.

But totally with you over how small some of the planes are. The La-5 almost looks like it's in the wrong scale. And I'm still in awe of that Zvezda 109. I've built 109s before. They're tiny. How they managed to cram almost 200 pieces into that thing is a mystery to me. It'll be a fun one to solve, though!

The I-16 is looking good, I have an ICM 1/72 I-16 I may pull out of the stash once the MiG-3 is done. It is a very small fighter looking more like it belongs alongside WW1 aircraft.

I got a start on the Hobbyboss MiG-3, it is one of their EZ kits and it lives up to the name. The parts come very well protected in a vac formed insert. The decals are pretty basic with options for 2 aircraft with a white or green paint scheme.

As I said, it is a very simple kit, I've reached this step after assembling a total of 4 pieces. The cockpit is actually fairly well detailed but unfortunately there is no detailing at all for the panel.