Totally cool Mr. Treadplate !!!! . Did you brush or spray the Mr. surfacer ?

tigerman

That's a good space Boyd. All i would need is a computer and mini-fridge and I could live there.

I don't have the fridge, but I do bring the laptop down there. Problem is, being in the basement, my WIFI signal is not strong enough to have reliable internet. Still, I can throw a DVD on...

Don't know if you caught it, but the 222 is on the bench in that shot. Progress, fellas! Progress!!

That's a good space Boyd. All i would need is a computer and mini-fridge and I could live there.

Lookie here... A CLEAN (-ish ) bench!!!

WOO-HOOO, I'm back in the fight!!!

Man before you know it stik, Eric, and Carl are going to be slinging paint! Nice work so far guys on your builds.

tigerman

deafpanzer:

Skit- Your tiny people mover is looking real great especially the trailer and stowage!   I'd hate to be caught inside that because it doesn't look that easy to get out quickly. 

Eric- Great process so far!  I have to agree about missing parts showing up especially when you are in process of scatchbuilding a replacement.  Just like you I would just take a break and come back next day and I'd find it right away. 

 

The thing is, I heard it hit the matt. Okay, I didn't panic. Figured it was still on the matt or nearby. Nothing. I moved everything and still nothing. The next morning I was down on the ground with the flashlight and lo and behold I found it. It bounced the other direction and I must not have checked it carefully enough.

Amazing isnt it .I have a cement floor under my work bench .That should make it easy to find fallen parts right ? NOT! I,ve cant believe what i find down there ...............yuck ! Having two dogs and their hair helps hide the small parts .Sorry guys , dont try to visualize it .................

PANZERWAFFE

Stik, really nice looking an interesting.  Pin marks yes but looks like they were easy to get to and fill.  Do you often assemble the tracks on before painting?

No, I have never done that before. I always have painted the suspension and tracks before I assembled those. Jim Wechsler, who is a member of the local AMPS chapter here, showed his method for assembling first and them painting afterwords at one of the meetings. I figured this would be a good kit to try it on.

The ejector pin marks on the trailer and cargo shelf were the only slow down points in assembly. On the shelf I sanded them out completely, and on the trailer, filled and sanded them away. Each was time consuming for a different reason. The first for the various grits used to remove, then smooth. The second in waiting for the putty to dry. Paint  base coat will be done in a short while here.

deafpanzer

Skit- Your tiny people mover is looking real great especially the trailer and stowage!   I'd hate to be caught inside that because it doesn't look that easy to get out quickly. 

Eric- Great process so far!  I have to agree about missing parts showing up especially when you are in process of scatchbuilding a replacement.  Just like you I would just take a break and come back next day and I'd find it right away. 

The thing is, I heard it hit the matt. Okay, I didn't panic. Figured it was still on the matt or nearby. Nothing. I moved everything and still nothing. The next morning I was down on the ground with the flashlight and lo and behold I found it. It bounced the other direction and I must not have checked it carefully enough.

Eric: Hey you're not far from being ready for paint, she looks great!

Skit- Your tiny people mover is looking real great especially the trailer and stowage!   I'd hate to be caught inside that because it doesn't look that easy to get out quickly. 

Eric- Great process so far!  I have to agree about missing parts showing up especially when you are in process of scatchbuilding a replacement.  Just like you I would just take a break and come back next day and I'd find it right away. 

Eric,,  I agree, I cut some teeth on some of those old Italeri kits and have built quite a few over the years.    Nice work on the H 39 too,, looking good

Carl,,   thanks and hang in there with that Italeri,,, no doubt it will turn out great

Stik,,   I am really liking that carrier,, and the trailer too.  Great subject for sure (true,, Tamiya is tough to beat for simplicity and fit)

Cliff,,   will be looking for your Char B1 pics,,  sounds like you are moving along quite well

You know Carl, I still love those little Italeri kits. I hosted a successful Italeri GB some years ago. It was the first time that many built one. It was mucho fun. I built as many as Tamiya back in the 70's, but then they were a bigger player then they are now.

Here's a few updates. I've left off some of the microscopic fiddly-bits until I get the tracks installed.  I don't want to Fubar again like I did the turret cupola.

Gamera

tigerman:

Gee Cliff, you must be cruising along. You got a late start because of your other GB. Amazing.

 

Well, I have to agree with Stikpusher here, as a recent Tamiya kit it's so well engineered that it pretty much falls together. Other than removing the injection pin marks on the threads (which are located to make them very easy to sand) and putting together all the teeny road wheels the kit was a snap to assemble. Other than adding a little texture to the turret I built the whole thing right outta-the-box. I'd strongly recommend this kit to anyone that wants something a little different from 'Germans and Shermans'.

I agree with you Cliff (Gamera) . I'm looking at how much time i've spent dealing with the problems of this Italeri kit . I was looking at the DML Pz. 1 and thinking i should have gone with their kit instead . Oh well , now its a matter of priciple !I'm going to beat this little glob of gray plastic or , or .................. 

tigerman

Gee Cliff, you must be cruising along. You got a late start because of your other GB. Amazing.

Well, I have to agree with Stikpusher here, as a recent Tamiya kit it's so well engineered that it pretty much falls together. Other than removing the injection pin marks on the threads (which are located to make them very easy to sand) and putting together all the teeny road wheels the kit was a snap to assemble. Other than adding a little texture to the turret I built the whole thing right outta-the-box. I'd strongly recommend this kit to anyone that wants something a little different from 'Germans and Shermans'.

Gee Cliff, you must be cruising along. You got a late start because of your other GB. Amazing.

Good job Stick.

i like this little UE.

Jc

Nice work Stik. That is a sweet lookin' little kit. You are right about Tamiya - good source to get the old modeling mojo going again.

Great work guys!

Stikpusher: Love the trailer, looks very cool with the treads on it.

Eric: I've found that if you want to find a missing part to scratchbuild a replacement. Once you've went though all the work to scratchbuild the part and glue it to the model the original part will always show up.

First camo coat is on the Char B1 and pre-shaded. Will take photos tonight and start gooping on the silly putty to mask for the second camo coat.

Cliff

Stik, really nice looking an interesting.  Pin marks yes but looks like they were easy to get to and fill.  Do you often assemble the tracks on before painting?

Those are some unsightly pin-marks in the trailer, but at least they'll be covered by the stowage.

I use both. All depends on what I have on hand for what I am doing. In this case the base color will be enamel, because that is what I have for French Khaki Green. But the new method I will try for painting the running gear will start with an acrylic, because the Raw Umber I have is acrylic.

Like you said Tamiya engineers some nice kits . What do you use as far as paints , enamel or acrylics?

Thanks Shellback This is a great little kit to recharge my armor mojo. No modifications needed, a well engineered, easy building, great fitting kit. I hope the finish goes as smoothly.

Looks good Stik

tigerman

Stik, forgot to mention that cool little UE. You are flying and will probably get to painting before I do. 

Yes,I an begin painting tomorrow You cant beat Tamiya in Armor for smoothness in assembly.

Today I built the trailer for the UE. Very different for a trailer to be tracked, but cool to see as well. Makes sense to lower ground pressure that way and increase its' mobility.

I also assembled the accessory POL drums and ammo crates

Here is the Carrier with trailer attached...

and with trailer and  a load...

Tomorrow I think I will apply a base coat of French Khaki Green.

Good start Bill .

Eric , good that you found the part .

Eric,,,    thanks !       

And, nice find on the MIA piece....    when I come across one of those missing little SOB's,,, it always seems like, sort of, an accomplishment...   or relief.      Always good when you don't have to scratch...  especially if you have to scratch to match.......

Bill

Excellent work as always Bill.

Well, I'm happy. I found my missing piece. Not where I thought it went, but it paid to wait until morning. It turned out that little piece was part of the skid and a bar connected it to the the hull. I might have been able to scratch it, but this is easier. Hope to have some updated pics tomorrow.

Hi Guys,,,  I have not posted in a few days,,,  been on a mercy mission for a friend.

Anyhow, I backtracked and have seen some great stuff,,,   I would feel bad if I started naming everything and forgot someone,,    suffice to say, you are (all) very impressive...  and thanks for the many tips, solutions and ideas.

I promised some progress pics,,,,     not much to speak of,      but, it's a start -

Pz I Command Tank

After instruction and parts reconnoiter , I got off on an inauspicious start....   There were some small, but noticeable gaps between the rear shaft housings and the inside lower back portion of the superstructure (unusual for a quality Dragon kit). A bit of liquid cement actually blended quite well.

A quick 4-set of road wheels and suspension   (maybe not as quick as implied....)

Another small concern,, the drive sprockets had "inside" sink holes.     Possible that they would not be noticed, but I am going to fill, sand and blend.

The first two PE items cleaned up pretty well,,,,  although a bit of a pita to glue into place,,,  nothing over the top though.

The port side fit very well...    however the starboard side had a bit of a gap at the tri-bend rear sector.

I filled with some zap and called it passable....  after painting I think it will be mostly unnoticed....

I will have to sand and perhaps fill it a bit more, but it should be ok.

I hope to finish up the suspension this week and move on from there.....  I have a nice diorama in mind.   I just have to make up my mind on how to make it happen.....   a work in progress somewhat...

I know this post is not that exciting, but I am starting to get the groove going with this petite Pz....    which is fun!

Hope you like and all comments welcome.......

Bill