Weekend Madness 2012

Good stuff is happening. 

The builds so far certainly don't look like 'rush' jobs! Well done all 

I'm leaning towards a  civvie for my build that I'll attack in the new year  -  the Azur  1/72 GAL St-25 Monospar

Good going everyone. Well done on the Sherman Dave.

It's Sunday night and I'm just getting to the bench for the first time this weekend, so I haven't started the Gato. December does that to you !

I might try a mid week eekend build I think. Expect to start Monday evening.

Cheers

Tony

Ernest: looks good, so far.

Sorry to hear about your camera problems Kugai .  Hope to see some pics soon!

OK, last update for today.  Assembly is done, but its too late to fire up the compressor so that's it for today.  I took off the wheels and tracks in preparation for painting and was too lazy to put them back on for the photos.

One of the grab handles on the turret is missing because I thought I lost it, but it turned up after the photos!  Whew!

Good to see everyone is making progress!

I have WIP pics in the camera, with the startup including the phone showing the time ( great idea, BTW ), but I'm still looking for the adapter for the camera's card.  The kit that I ended up getting is Italeri's 1:72 F-117.  So far I have the cockpit in place and sub-assemblies together, and have closed up the body.  Hopefully I'll be able to get the pics on here by a little after noon, but I gotta crash for the night.

Ernest: looks great! Can't wait to see it w/paint.

Dave - Congrats on the finish!  That Dragon kit built up quickly and looks great! 

Greg - the RSO is coming along great!  At least you only forgot the front engine hatch....not all the markings!!

Been busy all day with the Bulldog.   Major assembly is done, just have to get all the little bits on her, make some wire handles for the hatches.  I tried to fit the kit vinyl tracks on but they were way too tight so I used the AFV Club tracks.  Had to shorten them by one link which took some work, but they look so much better than the Tamiya tracks!  With some modications to the mantlet I was also able to use the metal barrel. 

Goal is to complete assembly today.  If I push it I may be able to get the base coat on before I hit the sack! 

Ok, 18-hours in and I've got most of the RSO cab to the point where I can assemble it

I need to touch up some parts.... 

Still need to hit this again with the dunkelgrau....I forgot to add the front engine hatch handle before painting

before adding the instrument panel, I painted it and put on Archer Fine Transfers instrument dials....it looks better than hand-painting them  I them put a few drops of Future over them to give them a glass covered look.

Now it's time to get some sleep....

Started working on Italeri's RaupenSchlepperOst last night, while at the lsh for the usual friday evening get together.

 And this is what I've managed to get together so far...

I replaced the rear NoTek convoy light with one from a Tamiya Kubelwagen (used for parts on other kits)

Ernest & Dave: Both your subjects are coming along nicely.

Alright Ernest!     Lots of extra work I see just to clean it up.

So it's about two in the morning here.  I watched a movie tonight so I stayed up late to finish up.  Had to do some errands in the afternoon too so the day didn't go as planned.  That's okay though, I plan to sleep in late tomorrow. 

I'm calling this done for this Group build.  Still plan to do some weathering and what not but it is fully assembled and painted... and yes the decals are on! 

Midnight update.

Those darn motorization holes.  I could have just left them, but they really bugged me!

.060 styrene pretty much matched the thickness of the lower hull so I traced the outlines to use as plugs.

Plugged and puttied!  Still need to sand a few more spots that I missed on the first pass.

As I was cleaning up the upper hull I noticed the open sponsons!     couldn't just leave it like that, so.....

and a look at how it will go together....

that's it for tonight....time to get some and hit the bench in the morning!   

And we're off!!

I liked Dave's cell phone date/time trick so I used it!!   I don't know why the sprue with the wheels doesn't have a bag.  I don't recall ever removing it.....

8:41 PM start time (U.S. Pacific time)....I''l try to post a midnight update!

Oh yeah!  It's looking like a Sherman!  Keep going Dave!  

and don't forget the decals like I did!! 

Thanks Greg!  

Got some paint on this morning.  After lunch I'll paint the road wheels and finish assembly!  

Dave: it's looking good.

pyrman64

razordws

I have gotten a good head start.  

PICS.....or it didn't happen!

Okay, okay...  sheesh! 

I used some of the PE included in the kit but there was some stuff that was just crazy small so I passed on it.  I spent a lot of time on the floor with the styrene parts as it was.  Carpet monster got a feeding today.  Lost two parts but they were both small and easily replaced.  Construction is done except for the running gear which is all cleaned up and ready for a coat of paint before assembly.  Should be able to get it done tomorrow unless something comes up or goes horribly wrong.  Comments welcome.

razordws

I have gotten a good head start.  

Good progress Dave.

Thanks Ernest.  Looking forward to your Bulldog as well.

I have gotten a good head start.  The lower hull assembly is ready for paint minus the running gear.  Looks like that will have to be painted before assembly.  I also have the top hull about half done.  My goal is to get all the major sub assemblies together and ready for paint today.  If I'm really lucky I might even get to the paint too.  Pictures once the assembly is done.

Oooh!  Looks good Dave!  I love those Dragon 1/72 Armor Pro kits!  I've got a few of those myself.... hmmmmm........

Looks like they've changed things up a bit.  Lets try that photo again.

Okay here's my obligatory start up photo.  Got pretty much a free day ahead of me today so I should be able to make some good progress.

i6.photobucket.com/.../01Firefly.jpg

All right Dave!  Looks like we'll get to see your's first with the early start!  Good luck buddy!

Kugai, I'm changing my 2nd entry.  Turns out the indy links on the BMP-1 have pin marks and the periscopes on the hull need major work...way too much work for a weekend frenzy project!  So I dug around in the stash and decided instead on another Tamiya classic!

1/35 M41 Walker Bulldog!  Low parts count, simple construction and vinyl tracks!  The only downside are the motorization holes in the lower hull....

I've got a couple of AM parts that might help out....an aluminum barrel from Barrel Depot and some AFV Club vinyl tracks.  Don't know if either will fit this kit, but it shouldn't take long to figure that out when building! 

Plus I have some generic dry transfers and spray templates I can use to eliminate the gloss coat application that slows down the build! 

YEAH!  Lets git er done!

No problem on the early start.  I left the flexibility that whatever individual "weekend" work allows for each of us is okay.

Sorry to hear about the PC, Tony.  Hope you can get it up and running.

Still haven't made it to the LHS to see if the kit I ordered arrived or if I'll be able to use it for a crossover build, so my contribution this weekend is still TBD.

Go for it Dave.

BTW, my home PC has failed. I'm not sure if it will impact my ability to post pictures this weekend. I might use my work laptop so that I can keep going.

Cheers

Tony

Hey guys, I think I am going to go ahead and get started on this tomorrow morning.  I have some time off work right now and I want to avoid conflicts with the family on the weekend.

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to this!

Good to see you, razordws!

One week to go for round 2.  I'll probably be building something along the lines of 1 or 2 mini-kits, like the Nichimo 1:200 scale Macross kits or the little "Star Blazers" box-scale ships.

Very glad to see you on board Dave.  I remember well the previous madness.

Cheers

Tony