Official Odd Animal Group Build *Extended until MAY 31*

MAJ Mike

Here's an update on the Maus.

 Added some pioneer tools from a DML Panther II that I gave up on.  The turret is roughly the size of a Soviet T-34/76.  The upper deck has a bow in it and was/will be a challenge.  The radio mounts were in the wrong place and will be repositioned.

Here are the parts for the suspension.

Guess that's enough for now.  Have good weekend, y'all.

dang that's a lot of parts!  Nice to see you trucking on with the Maus

Thank you, Ms. Owl.  Hope the German final went well.  Any thoughts on the docent job at the museum?

MAJ Mike

Thank you, Ms. Owl.  Hope the German final went well.  Any thoughts on the docent job at the museum?

I hope the German Final went well too. And I did look into the museum, but they are not hiring anyone right now, and with this economy, there aren't a lot of other businesses hiring as well. 

My son's having the same problem, so he's in summer school.

On the plus side, more time for model building!

More modeling time is about the only plus in this situation...    But I am putting it to good use!  The cockpit of the Warthog is all painted up. Detailing things this small is probably why I need glasses! 

and the pilot at home in his office

OWL

I especially like the 1:1 mock-up of the human fingers, there.  Very realistic.

More Maus:

This is my first experience with "smart" tracks.  This makes me appreciate "rubber band" tracks.  However, each build is a learning experience.  When I do another Maus, I'll be better prepared.  Attached lower hull to upper deck.  The bow in the deck will/was a bit of a challenge, but I'll get everything lined up when I attach the side skirts.  The model was primed in red brown (including the tracks).  The track links were airbrushed in Testors' Steel and attached to the suspension with Super Glue.  There's better methods and I'll try them in the future.

Track installation done, side skirts installed.  Putty, sanding, filing required.

Aux fuel tank installed, still need to reattach PE fuel tank restraints.  Will attempt pre-shading after filling, sanding, etc.

Enjoy the weekend, guys.

Sehr schon zu sehen, dass Warzenschwien entlang OWL kommen. Schon Tank MAJ konnte ich nicht machen so etwas! Miene bauen kommt entlang bald, ich hoffe, finden eien job OWL und viel Gluck mit, dass die deutschen Finale!

the real red baron

Sehr schon zu sehen, dass Warzenschwien entlang OWL kommen. Schon Tank MAJ konnte ich nicht machen so etwas! Miene bauen kommt entlang bald, ich hoffe, finden eien job OWL und viel Gluck mit, dass die deutschen Finale!

Danke (I think).

MAJ Mike

the real red baron:

Sehr schon zu sehen, dass Warzenschwien entlang OWL kommen. Schon Tank MAJ konnte ich nicht machen so etwas! Miene bauen kommt entlang bald, ich hoffe, finden eien job OWL und viel Gluck mit, dass die deutschen Finale!

 

Danke (I think).

its called german  

the real red baron

MAJ Mike:

the real red baron:

Sehr schon zu sehen, dass Warzenschwien entlang OWL kommen. Schon Tank MAJ konnte ich nicht machen so etwas! Miene bauen kommt entlang bald, ich hoffe, finden eien job OWL und viel Gluck mit, dass die deutschen Finale!

 

Danke (I think).

 

 

its called german  

Ahhhhhhh!   So it wasn't Serbo-Croatian. 

CallSignOWL

 

MAJ Mike:

Here are the parts for the suspension.

 

 

 

 

dang that's a lot of parts!  Nice to see you trucking on with the Maus

 Got some update pics on the Bulldog.

 First I glued strips of plastic for the stringers, then primed with flat white.

Made a copy of the IP decal then punced out the inst. faces for an overlay of the IP to add some relief. 

Cockpit showing IP with overlay in place. 

Using Testors flat white with a couple drops of  light tan for a "linen" look, Painted the inside of the "fabric" covered areas. Then a wash of water based red acrylic to give a look of the exterior red bleed through.

Then the metal areas painted MM aluminum.

Finally , paint the stringers with wood.

A few pics of the completed cockpit , by itself, fuse. halves together, then with the wing center section mounted.

The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 parts tree. 

 I have been running across a fair amount of flash and other problems associated with kits reissued from old  molds.  Nothing that basic skills can't handle. This Odd Animal is gioing to look cool.

Howard

Wow!  Howard that's really looking great!!  My Maus will, in no way, measure up to your build.  The talent i see displayed in this forum among the various threads is truely impressive.

Looking forward to more photos.

More Maus:

Crude attempts at pre-shading.

Needs practice.  Every build is an experiment.  Will proceed to final paint and decaling.  Mke it a good day. 

daddy1: that is some outstanding detail! 

MAJ: The Maus is coming along nicely. Dont worry about the pre-shade. Things dont weather in precise lines, but at different rates.

CallSignOWL

daddy1: that is some outstanding detail! 

MAJ: The Maus is coming along nicely. Dont worry about the pre-shade. Things dont weather in precise lines, but at different rates.

Thanks.  I normally use flat black for a primer coat, it tends to "pop" the detail when I paint the later coats of paint.  Just thought I'd try this.  I think I'll go back to flat black primer unless I want to use the red/brown in the color scheme.

I really admire the detail work on the pilot and his "office".  Nicely done.  Do you use a magnifier or are your youthful eyes up to the task unaided?

well, I have glasses, so I dont know about unaided...  But no optivisor, that was done by holding up the cockpit into my clear zone: less than 6 inches in front of my face where I dont need glasses to see.  But I think I did go cross-eyed for a while there!   

Last of the Maus:

I got caught up in "the groove" this weekend, finished (mostly) the Maus, but I neglected to takestep-by-step photos.  Sorry 'bout that.   I consider every model a WIP, so I'll tinker with this for a while yet.

The finished work never  matches what was in my mind's eye.

Comparasion of size with a Sherman M4A3:

Every kit is an experiment,  Thanks for your interest.

and the award for "First Completed Build" goes to... MAJ Mike! Congrats on a nice tank. I do like the camo pattern. That was free-hand, Im guessing? 

Yes, it was free-hand.  I'm still a beginer with the airbrush.  The kit was really a simple build except for the track pads and fitting the side skirts.  Thanks for all of the positive comments.  I'm still not at the skill level that I see displayed here.  

Thanks for looking.

Very nice Maj Mike!!! Looks great. I really like the number on the side too.

MAJ Mike

 I consider every model a WIP, so I'll tinker with this for a while yet.

The finished work never  matches what was in my mind's eye.

Every kit is an experiment,  

Ain't it the truth!!!

 Nice work MAJ Mike. Dang!, those Germans built some wild stuff . What a monster!

Howard

very nice job loveed the pics .

Ron

Wow Maj Mike, it sure doesn't look like a rust bucket anymore!   I really like the finish on it, even if it's not the perfect "dunkelgelb" (whatever that is)

All of you are too kind.  Thanks.

Mike, nice finish! Your dunkelgelb looked a tad too light before, but I think it looks nice now, blended and complimented by the dark green and browns you have there. Also nice how you posed it by the Sherman, like a Mastiff next to a Chihuahua....and finally, great 229 reference. Keep up the good work.

As for me, I've not had much bench time so the Jaguar sits dormant. I'm already about two weeks over due for another GB....

Life....

Here's an update on the Warthog. Ive gotten the main assemblies together, and used a bit of putty. I had to take care when getting rid of the main seam on the fuselage because there is a lot of raised detail in that area. Damage was minimized by using the back edge of a hobby knife to scrape down the seam marks. The knife offered much more control than sandpaper. The red stuff is the Bond putty I used to fill in the gaps.

OWL

Ms. Owl, the Wart Hog is coming together beautifully.  Good work on the seams!!

Looking forward to more photos.

Dear Miss Owl,

I was just wondering,... Is the designation for the F22 "Raptor" by any chance referring to the "velociraptor" dinosaur, made famous by the jurassic park movies? If so, i guess it would qualify for the GB? I just happen to have Revell of Germany's offering in 1:72 scale in my stash.... Trying to clear it out a bit you see.

Btw, Looks like revell's warthog in 1:48 isn't it? I started one myself a while back but stopped just because of the delicate seamwork/ sanding... Might wanna pick that one up too again.....

Richard

kermit

Dear Miss Owl,

I was just wondering,... Is the designation for the F22 "Raptor" by any chance referring to the "velociraptor" dinosaur, made famous by the jurassic park movies? If so, i guess it would qualify for the GB? I just happen to have Revell of Germany's offering in 1:72 scale in my stash.... Trying to clear it out a bit you see.

Btw, Looks like revell's warthog in 1:48 isn't it? I started one myself a while back but stopped just because of the delicate seamwork/ sanding... Might wanna pick that one up too again.....

Richard

Interesting question regarding the F22. I would think, because the logo has the head of a predatory bird, "raptor" refers to our feathered friends and not the dinosaurs.

my kit is indeed the Revell kit. It says so on the company stamp!  There are a few seams to clean up, but I think the blade scraping worked fairly well for me. How far along were you on the build? Previously started kits are accepted, you know.