Semper Fi War in the Pacific

Rob- Damn it!  Please in the future warn me first before you post pictures of your LVT tracks.  Now I have to clean the drool mess... nice work thinning the parts.  Will a Dremel tool help if I have to do this too?  

Because of you guys, it is now on the top of my wish list to buy at upcoming two model shows this March and April.  

Rob,,   that LVT is looking real nice...   the tracks are awesome

WW2,,    best of luck with the weathering

I've been working on this guy for the last 5 days . Made him by bashing parts of the figure of the driver from the jeep kit with some spare arms and hands . My first figure .

CARL - That guy looks really good  Could fool me being your first!  Looks like you used tissue or something on the helmet?  Did you get those Life color paints to paint this guy with?  I still need to pick up a set.  Look forward to see more of them

Trying some new paint techniques on the LVT.  Not sure if it will work or not but will give it a try.  Had also put some color on the tracks.  Had originally said I was going to use paint for the tracks.  When I found that new train store when looking for screws they had some bottles of Blacken-It so had picked a bottle up.  Used it and was not happy with the result at all.  They turn a light reddish pink color.  That would not do so I used a new paint procedure on them.  Now I am happy with them, will get some pics up tonight I hope so Andy be ready with your drool cup.

ANDY - Thinning those parts would be best done with a #11 blade I believe.  Because of the small size and mainly the sharp corners think the blade would work best.  Have cleaned them up a bit more sense the picture of them.

Rob , glad you liked the figure . I have some doubts about the figure being in a Marines clothing . The shirt tucked in and the large pockets on the pant legs i am not sure of being Marine or Army . I tried to get the color of his uniform to have the faded look . Yes i did use some of the tisue i had left over from bed rolls . I slit it so it would conform to the helmet and then re soaked it and wrapped it around the helmet . I'm not sure about the color of it .......to much green ? I didnt camo it because i'm not sure about the rest of the uniform being Marine or Army . The paints i mixed myself . They are a cheap set of acrylic tube paints i picked up at Wal mart in the crafts dept . I also use some thinnned burnt umber oil for shading . I figured i'd tried these paints because they are cheap before i go the more expensive Life Color route . I looked up the correct colors to mix to get the flesh color on the inter net . Let me know what you see wrong with the figures uniform as far Marine or Army . The figure came from th eJeep kit which has vehicle markings for either service .

Here's the pose i'm using the figure . What do you think he's saying ? I could use some idea's .

Rob- Thanks for the tip!  

Carl- Great work on the figure despite its age you managed to make it look real good.  Shame on me I would just dumped it and waste $15-$20 toward resin figures. LOL  He sure looks angry... maybe he is stuck with a bunch of wool bags too?

Andy thanks . I was surprised at the time it required for me to get him finished . I can see why you enjoy doing figures now . I'm sure theres a wool bags hair stuck in the engine .....maybe thats what pissed him off ? Ha Ha .Thanks for taking a look     

Here's some assembly pics of those Bronco T49 tracks .No flash on the parts so clean up is minimal . Fit is great and they really do work .

8 sprues of these

These are the 4 components.

Assembly

I marked the cleats . They are easy to get mixed up .

Carl,,,,  the figure looks real good....     I would think he's saying "Who left the hood open and this can on the #*&$ fender"!?        I like the look of those Bronco tracks too,,,  wow!

Carl- I am impressed with the details of your Bronco tracks.  But are they too fragile like ModelKasten tracks?  If not, then I might order one for my Shermans in the future. 

Id get very annoyed with those tracks!

Im still around, on 3rd shift this week so I dont do very much modeling. I painted the bottom of a corsair im building for a friend and thats about all Ive done this week. I'll put the tracks on the sherman this weekend.

Bill , thanks for comments . That about what i was thinking he might be saying also . I was thinking this is his jeep and he wants the mechanics to get done with it .

Andy , those tracks are fragile . The part that simulates the pins being the most delicate . So far i broke 2 of the pin type pieces . But i think that was due to my not paying attention and trying to sand off the end while not holding them securly . After that i used a sharp knife to cut off the sprue end cleanly . I found a few othermethods that will make them easier to assemble and i'll post that later . Are modelKasten workable when completed ? These cost $15 , how does that compare tp ModelKasten ? These are plastic also .

Hey guys, thanks for keeping up the activity

CARL - Too answer your clothing question, I did notice the uniform.  I would say it could pass for a Marine uniform.

It was not standard for the Marines to tuck in there blouse but have MANY pictures of personnel that did so I would not consider that a problem.  The belt, sense it is exposed, should be the same Khaki / tan color as the leggings for USMC.  If worn properly the leggings would come up higher on the leg, either bottom to mid calf area.  Once again no problem, have seen many pics with no leggings, pants over the top of the leggings (not tucked at all), and some as you have it.  Looks to me the pants were just pulled out from the legging a little allowing the pants to hang over the top of the leggings.  Army did not wear these leggings.  Army did not wear the helmet covers either.   I would camouflage the helmet cover to represent it being USMC gear.  They often wore them with the all green uniform.  Now the pocket.  The pocket was not found on USMC pants except for one variant of the pants.  I do not know the nomenclature of these pants off the top of my head but they had a large cargo pocket and it was located up high on the thigh.  Not sure of the dates these pants were issued but seems to me I have always seen them late war, maybe Iwo Jima, Okinawa?  I would say your figure would be wearing these late war pants and if you want him to be represented a bit earlier in the war you would need to remove the cargo pockets.  Not trying to nit pick just trying to answer your question.

Really like your figure and really like the pose.  You said you had to piece him together, nice work  He does look pretty angry.  He is saying "Why the is Willy Joe still down?  Get over here and patch him up and clean that oil off the fender!!"

OH, last thing, If you want him to be a Marine, he needs an eagle, globe, and anchor with "USMC" above it on the left pocket.  Have not figured a good way to do this?  Guess it would just have to be painted on.

Those tracks look GREAT!  Like them much better than the rubber band so far.  Did you dry fit them onto the sprocket yet?  Think I will order some of these tracks and give them a try.  Wounder if those LVT tracks they make are any good?  Will give them a try and see how they compare to the friuls.  Look forward to seeing those tracks complete.

Alright guys, heres the tracks.  They will receive weathering when the weathering process begins on the build.

This is them done with "Blacken - It".  They have a light pink color to them here in person.  Will not use Blacken - It anymore.  From now on if using Friuls will paint them.

Painting them, used Burnt Sienna as the base color, over sprayed with Burnt Iron (Metalizer).  Then put a heavy coat of MIG standard rust (P025) and light rust (P024) pigments.  After putting the pigment on, put in the sink and ran water over the tracks while scrubbing the pigments in with an old toothbrush.  Finally, used a sand paper to show wear on the high points and on the sides of the tracks.  Here is how they look.

Still working on painting the lower hull.  Hope to have some pics up tonight but not sure, will try.

PANZERWAFFE

Hey guys, thanks for keeping up the activity

CARL - Too answer your clothing question, I did notice the uniform.  I would say it could pass for a Marine uniform.

It was not standard for the Marines to tuck in there blouse but have MANY pictures of personnel that did so I would not consider that a problem.  The belt, sense it is exposed, should be the same Khaki / tan color as the leggings for USMC.  If worn properly the leggings would come up higher on the leg, either bottom to mid calf area.  Once again no problem, have seen many pics with no leggings, pants over the top of the leggings (not tucked at all), and some as you have it.  Looks to me the pants were just pulled out from the legging a little allowing the pants to hang over the top of the leggings.  Army did not wear these leggings.  Army did not wear the helmet covers either.   I would camouflage the helmet cover to represent it being USMC gear.  They often wore them with the all green uniform.  Now the pocket.  The pocket was not found on USMC pants except for one variant of the pants.  I do not know the nomenclature of these pants off the top of my head but they had a large cargo pocket and it was located up high on the thigh.  Not sure of the dates these pants were issued but seems to me I have always seen them late war, maybe Iwo Jima, Okinawa?  I would say your figure would be wearing these late war pants and if you want him to be represented a bit earlier in the war you would need to remove the cargo pockets.  Not trying to nit pick just trying to answer your question.

Really like your figure and really like the pose.  You said you had to piece him together, nice work  He does look pretty angry.  He is saying "Why the is Willy Joe still down?  Get over here and patch him up and clean that oil off the fender!!"

OH, last thing, If you want him to be a Marine, he needs an eagle, globe, and anchor with "USMC" above it on the left pocket.  Have not figured a good way to do this?  Guess it would just have to be painted on.

Those tracks look GREAT!  Like them much better than the rubber band so far.  Did you dry fit them onto the sprocket yet?  Think I will order some of these tracks and give them a try.  Wounder if those LVT tracks they make are any good?  Will give them a try and see how they compare to the friuls.  Look forward to seeing those tracks complete.

Rob, heck i dont think your nit picking , i did ask . Those are the answers i was looking for . So the belt should be khaki and the helmet cover camo'd . Removing the cargo pockets should be difficult but getting the USMC on the left *** pocket might be a challenge . I should also have the chin straps for the helmet no doubt . I like your idea for what the guy is saying also . When i get the figure squared away i'm planning on posting the "willy joe" jeep in the armor forum and putting the statement being made by yhr Ginrene below it .

the tracks . no i havent put enough together yet to try fitting them around the drive sprocket . I put some more together but not many as they really tediouse like "G" said a few pages back .

Rob , i dont think i'm going to build the Tamiya M4A3 . I was doing some research and i see the T49 tracks on a M4A1 and a M4 composit hull ....both are in scenes from the Pacific islands . I have a kit of the M4A1 and a conversion for the composit hull . I like the composit hull but have to see if it is a Girene tank .Probably will drop the dozer option .

The tracks for the lvt are looking great . i dont get why they cant be blackened but many modelers say the saame problem in doing that . The method you used is interesting . I didnt know mig pigments could be scrubbed into the finish like that . I've never ued them but i thought they were more like chalks .....................?

Those tracks look great Carl and Rob.

Rob,, the tracks look great,,, did you soak them in vinegar before the blacken-it? I too have had some issues with the blacken-it.... whereas I have also used paint as well.         In any event , yours look very good. And thanks for the info on Carl's Marine uniform...       I am working on some fig conversions for my jeep scene.      I know it will seem sort of anti climatic,,, Carl is doing such a super job on his Willy Joe

BaBill212

Rob,, the tracks look great,,, did you soak them in vinegar before the blacken-it? I too have had some issues with the blacken-it.... whereas I have also used paint as well.         In any event , yours look very good. And thanks for the info on Carl's Marine uniform...       I am working on some fig conversions for my jeep scene.      I know it will seem sort of anti climatic,,, Carl is doing such a super job on his Willy Joe

Ohh Bill ...................

Here's more info on the Bronco's . The big problem i had was gluing the track guide teeth (a ) on . I glued them on both sides as a last step and the glue seeped into the links . So instead i glued the guide teeth (a) onto one side of the pins (b)first and let dry . The guide teeth (a)can not be glued on both sides of the pins (b)first do to the pad (d)will not fit inside of the guide teeth(a) that way . The last part of the assembly will be to glue the guide teeth(a) onto the remaining side of the tracks and hope i dont get glue seeping into the links (c+d).

If the previouse message does not make sense to you thats because i do not have a attorney to write it for me .

Ok , moving right along ...........

I'm in the process of Marine -ing the army figure . Removed the cargo pockets on the trousers , lengthened the blouse to below the belt and repainted the helmet cover . Will add camo to the helmet . I dont know how i will pull off the USMC and emblem on the left *** pocket ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Might make a Marine out of this soldier yet !

Carl, you are so brave!  So brave!  No way I will do this... LOL  Maybe Archer dry transfer has set of USMC symbols? 

Andy its coming along better than i expected . That Archer idea is a good one . I'll see what i can do with it b4 i go that route . Who'd of thunk i'd be putting this much time into a figure ? Not until i saw your work and that made me want to try my hand at it ................+

Carl,,,,  you are a maniac   (in a good way)..........        I'm sure he will turn out great

Carla- LOL!  Welcome to my world.  I found this at Archer Tranfers...

http://www.archertransfers.com/FG35046.html

For $10.95 it will provide decals for at least 20-25 figures... perfect match for what you need.

CARL - Alright about the M4A3 / Dozer   Should I remove it off the build roster on the first page and add something else?  The composite hull is a cool choice but wasn't it only in US Army and British use as Fire Fly's?  Believe the Marines acquired them after WWII and they used them in Korea.

I did not no the Mig Pigments could be scrubbed into the finish either.  It was "Try and hope for the best" approach.  I'm still new at using pigments and it is the first time I used the rust colors from MIG.  Surprisingly it has a very durable finish on the tracks.

The figure conversion is looking good  Andy is right, very brave.  Was not expecting you to un tuck the blouse, nice surprise.  Looks like the cargo pockets came right off for you.  Andy also has a good idea with trying Archer for the EGA.  One other thing you could do is......leave the EGA off?  Maybe your figure did not iron his EGA on as he should have.  I have seen and known people who did not iron there's on.

BILL - Yes, I did soak the tracks.  Had first used dish soap and scrubbed the tracks down real good.  Dried and then soaked in vinegar for the day.  Then let the tracks dry overnight and blackened them the next day.  I'm just going to stick with paint for the tracks from now on.

Fig conversions are always cool.  Look forward to see what you come up with.  Whatever it is I know it will look great.

LVT update

Finally used my new Renegade Krome.  I love it  Easy to use, well balanced, and lays down paint beautifully.  Will just need some more practice with it which will be no problem to do.

Have painted one side so far.  Was a long process that did not quite come out as I wanted.  First primed in flat black, sprayed selected areas with schokoladenbraun 43 as a base for exposed metal / chips, put on some Mig rust pigments, coat of hair spray, salt in selected areas, and sprayed the green base coat.  Did some color modulation with the green, you may be able to see in this pic.

Was pretty happy with the green coat and had thought about leaving it all green but decided to continue.  So put on the reddish brown camo stripes also trying color modulation.  Added the yellow beach bar and let everything dry.  Next using a toothbrush went to work removing the salt.  The salt did not come off as I had wanted and had to scrub very hard to get it off.  Not a good method for enamel paints.  Had sort of figured this but wanted to try it.  The result.

So what are yalls thoughts?  Like it or not?  I'm undecided.  Should I continue or sand what chipping is there and repaint everything?  All green or camo?  The weathering process will change everything again also so it may work as is.

ANDY - Great find with those eagle, globe, and anchor transfers  I am ordering some for myself.  I was afraid I was going to have to paint them when I got to doing my figures.  This is sooo much better.  You deserve these

Hi guys

I have been very negligent with posting update / pics of my jeep progress....  

 it is sort of cool to see two / same kits built for the GB.......    with a bit of trepidation, here are some of my progress  pics - - -

I believe my last post was that of  the engine compartment, where I added a basic scratch horn,,  I know,, not very exciting...

I tossed in a little firewall detail as well

I added some basic detail to the engine,,,

A little dry brush here,,  wash there,,  etc.

Wire up the lights, battery, add some bracing, hoses,  a little more paint detail, a few stains and splashes....

You know,,,  the wacky thing is I probably will button up the hood......   while I was watching Carl build his, I thought the engine would be fun to detail..... Carl sent me a bunch of pics and links showing the real engine....  This made it much easier and it was very much fun to tweak the lil bugger....   So, even "hood-closed" it was fun to do      ,,,    I think that is one of our modeling curses,,,  we detail the crap out of somthing that may never be seen....        BUT,,  still fun to do    (sorry,, rambling here)

So,, as some of you know,, I jump around a bit when building...     I moved on to the seats.....   not really much here to speak of,,     but, I wanted to add some texture to the cushion / fabric -

I took a piece of old crappy (very tight meshed) brass screen -

I painted the seat "padding" with some liquid glue (Tenax),,  waited a few seconds, and pressed the screen into the seat(s).

I've used this method before on tarp covers, sand bags, etc.........  If you use the right mesh tightness, the results can be pretty nice. Even though it looks a little irregular, I think the seat(s) will turn out ok.

I have some more to post but I don't want to overdo it either.....   I hope to have some more pics up within the weekend.

Not to belabor a point, but my friend Carl was / is very inspirational to this build.   Seriously, I probably would have not added near as much without his reconnoitering the subject      ,,   and his fine work on his too.

Thanks,    as always,,  all comments welcome

Bill

Rob,,   I would think that weathering could be the answer.   Doubtful anyone wouldl notice anything out of the ordinary.     PS,,,  looking very nice too!                        And,, understood with the tracks / blacken it....  I try to use a bit of a combo.    BUT,, paint or otherwise, those dag-gummed tracks do look sweet!

OK , ok , ok , all of a sudden you guys are posting like gang bangers . Thats cool .

Andy , thanks for looking for those Archer transfers . Nice looking set . Do you use their transfers ?

Rob , i dont see any reason to redo the salt weathering . Looks to me like the resultant chipping is fine . Once you add some rust and other weathering into the mix it will look great imo . I dont see any reason to sand it off and repaint . Whats the hair spray do ? Hold the salt ? Never tried the method . I had to think about the E.G.A. but i fiured it out . Cool . I like the color , what ever that word is , must be German for a shade of green . Good that you got a chance to use the new A.B. I like the results .

Bill , jeep engine detail is looking good . Leave the hood loose so you can open it later . You give me too much credit but if thats what effect i had on your build then i an truely proud for it

Cant remember anything else to respond to . Great post guys . Glad to see them !