ARMOR - Towed Gun Group Build (ends 7/1/04)

QUOTE: Originally posted by ShermanFirefly UPDATE: heres the update for me. I FINISHED MY PAK 40!!. The base for the dio is done, the grass, road and hedgerows are on and finished. 5 of the 7 figures are done and the last two are verlinden figures and they are almost finished. ill have to post pictures soon and im almost done wohoo!

Great SFF, you are closer to the end than I am! I'm going to give my black primer another day, and then shoot the OD on the truck. Eventually it will catch up with the gun and then I will work on both together -- woo hoo! I might just finish these two models by the deadline.

UPDATE:
heres the update for me. I FINISHED MY PAK 40!!. The base for the dio is done, the grass, road and hedgerows are on and finished. 5 of the 7 figures are done and the last two are verlinden figures and they are almost finished. ill have to post pictures soon and im almost done wohoo!

Ok, my Mack NO is black primed. I've got to give it a day or two to dry before I can start laying the olive drab on it. I'm excited to see what it finally looks like in fewer than five different colors! (Resin, vacuformed plastic, injected molded plastic (the grill), brass photoetch, and copper wire.)

Then I can weather gun and truck together.

In the meantime, I'm fiddling with some partly done builds. I've got a 38(t) that's largely done, and I did the last of the building on it. Am starting to weather it now. I've also got a Panther to weather, and a Sherman to finish building and then paint and weather. Oh, and a Weird Russian half-track and 152mm howitzer in 1/72nd. Good golly, Miss Molly. After that, I'm taking a break from modeling for a few months, to work on wargaming miniatures. Except for August 8, of course!

Thanks for the suggestion Dwight. I've not painted my figs yet, but I think I'll give them a try this weekend. They're just sitting there, all lonely, so they have to get finished. I have my damn final exam tonight, so afterwards, should definitely find the time, finally

Well, two weeks to go & the Long Tom is sorta shaping up.
I've been making bigger sub-assemblies out of smaller ones, which in some cases has been akin to re-arranging deck chairs ....
I've started painting, which is good, but bad in that a couple seams showed up, so they needed fixing.
I've sanded down the Masters Production wheels so the gap is reduced.
My airbrake lines on the limber are a bit sloppy so I'm trying to fix them.
I have two things to scratch -- the aiming posts in canvas bags & the ammo hoist -- they are on the trails in travel mode.
It all looks do-able, but down to the wire (the HST went by the board weeks ago). Will be lots of little details, both PE/scratch & paint the further I go.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jratz Say it ain't so, you left the model at home & took the wife & kids ????

It ain't so! I am just on a home, bumming around vacation. I like to take one every year. But I've been cooped up in the house because of bad weather, so I've been offline mostly, working on the Mack NO. It's almost ready for the primer. In fact, I may go finish a few details on the windshield, and then wash the sub assemblies so they can be primed. See ya tomorrow!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn Awsome! I'm on vacation, so not posting or online much, but I wanted to take the time to thank you for this! See you guys next week.

Say it ain't so, you left the model at home & took the wife & kids ????

QUOTE: Originally posted by JKWilson Hi everyone! I've recently been corresponding with Larry about his Mack and he invited me over to the group. Unfortunately with my current schedule I'll never make the GB, but it is on my project list (Mack NO with a 155mm Long Tom). The reason I popped in was to offer help with your chain hoist rigging Larry. Hopefully this picture will help. http://home.mindspring.com/~mopony/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/hoist.jpg

Awsome! I'm on vacation, so not posting or online much, but I wanted to take the time to thank you for this! See you guys next week.

Dwight,
thanks!
last night i painted the helmets field grey w/ some metallic grey mixed in.
also painted the rounds for the gun,
and painted the seats for the Quad (leather).
i have no reference for this, but i figured they must of been leather or canvas,
and i wanted some contrast in the interior.

did a bit more assembly on the Quad, w/ transfer case & drive shaft for winch.
painted the fan belts for the engine,
glued up the wheels/tires so i can fill the seam tonight & then paint the rubber tomorrow.

tried to work out a mask for the camo, but it did not go well.
try it from a different 'angle' tonight.

ED: I usually do this to the figures.

Uniform: 1st Coat: Field Grey + a little flat black - >paint overall
2nd Coat: Field Grey - >drybrush in most areas
3rd Coat: Field Grey + a little white (acrylic in tubes) -> dry brush in raised areas

This will give you a well-shaded look on the uniforms

Now I use just field grey on the helmet and drybrush it a little with a whitened field grey.

Overall, the helmet will have a tone that looks different than the uniform.

I'm working at details & have started painting my Long Tom.
As I brush paint armor, and have recently switched to acrylics, I find I have some challenges, not the least of which is (fully dried) drying time down here.

Dwight,
thanks!
yes, i noticed while taking the picture that the crew
gets a lot more cover from the shield this way!

not much work done this weekend. went to the race at Pocono yesterday.
i did get the engine & transfer case from the Quad painted.

does anyone have an opinion (HA!) :-)
on what the best Tamiya color for German Helmets is?

and do you think that Field Grey looks 'too green' ?
i altered the tops w/ a bit of neutral grey, so the pants should look darker.

i was trying to avoid that 'dipped' look.

John R.

Thanks for the information. That eases my mind that I haven't overlooked anything for the backdate. While I'm still unable to make the GB, I did say the heck with the other projects on the bench and started another! That Mack NO kept calling me from the box and I had to give in! ;) I keep hearing a muffled sound from the Long Tom box too!

John

Ed, great work on that PAK and the figures, too. I pressume that the figures are sporting the new shaved off, stealth headgear. LOL. Just kidding.

Eric,
they sure do!
i liked the control, and no brush marks.

Looking good Ed. Those microbrushes come in handy, don't they?

QUOTE: Originally posted by JKWilson Hi everyone! I've recently been corresponding with Larry about his Mack and he invited me over to the group. Unfortunately with my current schedule I'll never make the GB, but it is on my project list (Mack NO with a 155mm Long Tom). The reason I popped in was to offer help with your chain hoist rigging Larry. Hopefully this picture will help. http://home.mindspring.com/~mopony/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/hoist.jpg I've read all of the posts from page 1 and have a question; Jratz, could you summarize the changes need to backdate the M59 to an M1? I am aware of the sheave mounted over the cradle (found a GREAT pic on an Aussie site of one also!). I have the PSP wheels, but have changed course for the Masters Productions set. The casting on my PSP set was very good (seems I got lucky!), and I was going to settle for the 5- hole rims. That plan has now been changed! Thanks and great job by everyone so far! John p.s. Larry, I'll get that 8" pic off to you. It's on another computer right now and I'll have to copy it.

John (Wilson):
Great picture of the Mack NO hoist !!!

Larry:
It's better than I can do out of the TM !!

John (Wilson):

My "backdate the M59 to an M1" comment was pre-Masters Prod resin set, which I think you have. The two big issues on the gun itself were the wheels/tires and the "out-of-battery" mechanism. The former is fixed by the Masters Prod detail set, as is the latter by the bracket/sheave. Up till then I was gonna (actually did) make the retracting rings which were an MWO allowing a guy with a hand winch to jack the gun in/out of battery.

All the other issues on the gun and those on the limber (which you won't need with the NO) were simply correcting a few things on the kit, mostly on the limber but also adding brake-lines. I kept the M5 Limber from the kit rather than use the M2 Limber in the Master Prod set because I had already put the work in. I think you've seen most of it in our posts.

Hi gang!
really too nice of a day to work much on the Pak,
but i did put the sunshine to use! i got the camera back for the weekend,
so here are some progress pics.
i know the light/reflector still needs to be painted,
and the figures are more 'started than finished.
they just have base coat for uniforms and skin.
and yes, they are not wearing their helmets!
anywho:





i did the camo stripes w/ a microbrush.
muzzle end w/ pastel chalk,
wash is a watercolor using burnt seinna. or is it umber?
well, it was brown, anyway
mud on wheels is a few shades of Tamiya brown and some coffee grounds.

also, the ammo is not ready for the loader.
and, yes, the one wheel is up in the air.
either one wheel is up, or one of the legs . . .
i am hoping to get it squared away on a base / mini dio.
i am thinking the ends of the legs get dug in, so i should be able to sort it out then.

Hi everyone! I've recently been corresponding with Larry about his Mack and he invited me over to the group. Unfortunately with my current schedule I'll never make the GB, but it is on my project list (Mack NO with a 155mm Long Tom). The reason I popped in was to offer help with your chain hoist rigging Larry. Hopefully this picture will help.

http://home.mindspring.com/~mopony/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/hoist.jpg


I've read all of the posts from page 1 and have a question; Jratz, could you summarize the changes need to backdate the M59 to an M1? I am aware of the sheave mounted over the cradle (found a GREAT pic on an Aussie site of one also!). I have the PSP wheels, but have changed course for the Masters Productions set. The casting on my PSP set was very good (seems I got lucky!), and I was going to settle for the 5- hole rims. That plan has now been changed! Thanks and great job by everyone so far!

John

p.s. Larry, I'll get that 8" pic off to you. It's on another computer right now and I'll have to copy it.

well, the camera part is the problem now!
but i will either find another to borrow, or break down & buy one.
:-)
still have to get the crew painted.

Ed, we look forward to seeing pics of that Panzerknacker done! Sounds like it's coming along nicely. We all have setbacks -- it's how you overcome them that counts!

Well, I finally got the gun shield on the Pak 40.
some goofus had glued that lower tube thing on the back of the shield a bit inboard.
so the shield would not go on straight.
eventually, i cut the end off w/ the sprue nippers and all was well.
the Fred Flintstone approach, but in that spot, you'd never be able to tell.

the crew has been primed.
last night i painted their boots. more to come on them this weekend.

then i put some more pieces together for the limber & gun carraige for the Quad.

the bad news is, i had to bring the camera i have been using back to the office.
not sure if that is the end of the loan or not, but no pics for a while now.

Oh yeah, there it is! Thanks. I'll look at it in more detail in the morning.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn Originally posted by jratz John, big favor time. I'm assembling the manual hoist at the back, and they don't show you how to thread the chain through it. I'm baffled! Does the TM tell you how to do it? Most helpful, are there pictures? (Hint hint!) Any help greatly appreciated. I'm stuck at the hoist at this point. Larry: Go back to page 35 in this thread & find my message with the "pintle" links. See if #2 & #3 help you any. If not, I'll rescan & put 'em up again .... John Reply Edit jlwilliams Member since April 2003 From: South Carolina Posted by jlwilliams on Thursday, June 10, 2004 6:19 PM This is what I got started on the pak 34/35 J. Lee Williams 2007 New Year's Resolution: Complete a group build 2008 New Year's Resolution: Complete a group build on time You load 16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt! In my stash gallery: http://pics.jamesjweg.com/gallery/3989211 Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 10, 2004 12:43 PM An excellent question. While the barrels and the breeches of the PAK guns seem always to have been painted, the smaller caliber FLAK guns, with their high ROF, seem not to have gotten paint on their barrels. The variation seems to be whether the rest of the FLAK gun got paint or was left bare metal. It seems to have varied based on the crews or units or something, as I've seen some guns painted below the barrel and some completely unpainted. Tell you what. I've got German Flak guns of WWII at home, and I'll check tonight. You might want to post this question on the general armor forum too rather than in the group build, as fewer people are looking at the group build. QUOTE: Originally posted by jlwilliams Question Here!! Were the barrels of german antitank and anitaircraft guns painted or left a natural finish? I am doing the tamiya pak 34/35. It appears to have a painted barrel with the breech left a metal finish. I am also building the italerai flak 43. The instruction sheet appears to show a painted barrel. The artwork on the box shows a metal finish. So far my research has been inconclusive on these two weapons. Reply Edit jlwilliams Member since April 2003 From: South Carolina Posted by jlwilliams on Thursday, June 10, 2004 12:38 PM Question Here!! Were the barrels of german antitank and anitaircraft guns painted or left a natural finish? I am doing the tamiya pak 34/35. It appears to have a painted barrel with the breech left a metal finish. I am also building the italerai flak 43. The instruction sheet appears to show a painted barrel. The artwork on the box shows a metal finish. So far my research has been inconclusive on these two weapons. J. Lee Williams 2007 New Year's Resolution: Complete a group build 2008 New Year's Resolution: Complete a group build on time You load 16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt! In my stash gallery: http://pics.jamesjweg.com/gallery/3989211 Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 10, 2004 10:11 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by jratz A Mack NO showed up today -- now I have a choice of two prime movers to not finish by the end of build !!!!!! I've also got a spare 155 & an 8" in the stash now, so all the things I learned in this build are gonna get applied in a better job later on. Ha! The truck certainly is impressive. The vacuformed pieces aren't all that bad, once you get over the oh-my-God feeling of cutting them out. John, big favor time. I'm assembling the manual hoist at the back, and they don't show you how to thread the chain through it. I'm baffled! Does the TM tell you how to do it? Most helpful, are there pictures? (Hint hint!) Any help greatly appreciated. I'm stuck at the hoist at this point. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 8:08 PM Larry: A Mack NO showed up today -- now I have a choice of two prime movers to not finish by the end of build !!!!!! I've also got a spare 155 & an 8" in the stash now, so all the things I learned in this build are gonna get applied in a better job later on. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 10:28 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by zokissima Well, even though the gun was finished a while ago, the Demag pulling it is finally done as well. Took me about three tries to build a colapsed canvas cover for it, and it still didn't look like I wanted it to. Y'kniow, I've noticed that myself -- canvas covers are not as easy to make as it would seem. (Not for me, anyway.) Still, the cover hides all the nifty detail inside. That's what I tell myself, anyway. 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