Weekend Madness 2012

Hey!! Look who's arrived!  Welcome back Dave!  We wondered what had happened to you as some of us were expecting to see you fire up the GB back in October.  Sorry to hear that your bench time took a hit due to your workload, but at least you're here and with a nice Dragon Sherman to boot!  Can't wait to start the madness again in a couple of weeks!  

Hey guys!  Having fun without me eh!!!  Haha!

Thank you Kugai for picking up the slack in my absence.  My work schedule over October/November sucked the life right out of me and I had no energy/desire to pick this up again.  I work as a landscaper and normally our season wraps up in mid-November (which is why I used to hold it at this time) but the weather is so nice this year that we are still going.  Should wrap up at the end of this week though so if it is alright with you guys I'd like to jump in on your second weekend on the 14-16.  Put me down for a 1/72 Dragon Sherman firefly V.

Love the badge by the way!  

bufflehead

Greg - Yes, those are MV Lenses, # L116 .....and what the heck is a kleiner Floßsack

Ernest: yeah, I have quite a few of L116, seems to fit all US headlights.  The kleiner Floßsack is a small inflatable raft

Tony - Yeah, I was hoping for vinyl tracks since there's no sag to worry about on the BMP-1, but alas it came with indies!!  Nice choice on the Gato sub, looking forward to seeing it built!

Greg - Yes, those are MV Lenses, # L116.  I have a few of them for some Shermans I was planning on building, but since they were just sitting around I figured it was easy enough to hollow out the headlights and pop those in!  and what the heck is a kleiner Floßsack?

Hmmmmm....seems maybe the indy links on the BMP-1 may be more than I'm bargaining for!  I have a few more smaller kits in the stash, like a Tamiya Japanese Type 95 light tank with even fewer parts and nice, simple vinyl tracks, but the camo paint job needed for it is a game killer!!  I figure the time gained with the easy build won't compensate for that camo!   I'll keep checking and if anything looks appealing for the 48 hr build I'll make the switch!

Ernest: Great looking Stuart!   Did you use MV lenses for the headlights?  Good luck getting that BMP done in a weekend.

My next Weekend Madness project is going to be something more simple....like Dragon's kleiner Floßsack, Tamiya Sd.kfz.223 or Kübel.

Indy track links ? Thats a gutsy move Ernest.

I'm going for he 1/350 AFV Club Gato Class Sub from '42.. No canopy msking on that baby :)

Cheers

Tony

Mike, sorry to hear about your moving woes.   Hopefully some time will become available by the end of the year for you to build something. 

Well, since I had some free time I decided to complete the markings for the Tamiya M5A1 Stuart.  Total time is well into 60 hrs as I decided to give it a gloss coat first, then followed with a coat of Vallejo Matte Varnish.  The matte coat killed the dark wash so I hit it again with the Flory wash.  Here it is:

Well, now that the Stuart is finally done I think I've decided what my next attempt will be for the weekend of 12/15:  Dragon's older 1:35 BMP-1, a 60's era Soviet infantry fighting vehicle. 

The kit seems relatively simple and the parts count is on the low side.  However it does have indy track links so I hope assembling them doesn't slow the build down too much.  I'll mull it over a bit more, so there's a chance I'll change my mind and do something different, but for now the BMP-1 is my choice.

Bad news for me, truck day got pushed back to the 20th so it's gonna be a stretch to get the basics unpacked by year end. Worse comes to worst there's always 2014. I'd do something now but my kits are in a big oven box buried under a heap of other smaller boxes along with my tools and solvents that are spread between 2 big rubbermaid tubs and ??? smaller boxes.

bufflehead

Kugai, turns out I didn't actually finish the M5A1 Stuart within 48 hrs!   As I was cleaning everything up I found the decal sheet for the kit...it got lost in the frenzy to finish!  Turns out I only put one decal on to see how it looked and never got around to the rest!  OOPS!   So I definitely need to do another build to see if I can really complete one in time. 

The shading and details you had on there were impressive enough that I didn't even notice the lack of markings!  If I had, I guess I'd have figured it was something that had just been "delivered" and wan't given markings yet.

But, hey, far be it from me to discourage a second pass!

So we're up to 3 so far for that weekend.  I'm going to have to come up with a ready-to-go backup if the Saab I have in mind doesn't arrive at the LHS in time.

That's good Greg.

As it turns out, I think the Christmas period will make my December weekends busy, so any weekend is just as good as another. Let's do 14-16 Dec.

I'm thinking about the new Airfix 1/72 P-40B at this stage, but I'll confirm later.

Cheers

Tony

Looking good Greg!  I'm eager to see it complete!

Kugai, turns out I didn't actually finish the M5A1 Stuart within 48 hrs!   As I was cleaning everything up I found the decal sheet for the kit...it got lost in the frenzy to finish!  Turns out I only put one decal on to see how it looked and never got around to the rest!  OOPS!   So I definitely need to do another build to see if I can really complete one in time. 

The weekend of 12/15-12/16 works great for me as it will give me time to prepare better for the weekend.  Also I don't know if I have anything in the stash that might work for the weekend.... I might need to buy a small, simple kit.  I'll let you know what I decide. 

I've managed to complete the trailer...ermmm, I mean the Sd.Ah.52.

I even closed off the opening under each fender box, with Evergreen strip (.015x.125)

bufflehead

BTW when is our next "main" weekend for the GB?  Any thoughts Kugai?  I can do any weekend except this weekend (I'm out of town) and the weekend before Xmas.  I'm trying to decide what the next build will be.....

I've been waiting for a little more feedback on when people are expecting to have a weekend available to avoid seeming "bossy" or some such, but I'll go ahead and make a suggestion and you guys let me know if it looks good.

How many think they'd be good for December 14-16?

Hi Scorpr2,

The upper surface is Tamiya acrylic XF-11 J.N. Green with a panel line wash of Raw Umber and Lamp Black oil paint thinned heavily with Humbrol enamel thinners. The lower surface is XF-12 J.N Grey, with the same panel line wash, but thinned even more heavily so as not to be too stark against the paler grey. The chips are done with a Metallic Silver Prismacolor pencil, which is a really easy way to go.

I did start to do some panel shading with a ground up chalk pastel, but this time I just didnt like the look so I washed it off. Maybe it wasn't quite the right colour.

Ernest and Greg - thanks for the comments. Good luck this weekend, I'll be watching you all the way. I'm not quite ready to reload yet, and next weekend is already busy, so I'm thinking the one after that. Gives me a chance to finsh off some of these pesky unfinished builds beforehand too. For some reason, this speed building really appeals to me, maybe it pleases my short attention span :)

Cheers

Tony

Tony, that's a great looking george!  What colors did you use?  I really like the paint chips!

Tony: your George is outstanding!

Looks like I need to try this Weekend Madness a second time.....despite not completing last weekends Puma.

Here's this weekend's subject.....[drum roll].....

 Box art, obviously

 Sprue A

Sprue  E

Construction will commence once I get to Hobbyland for the usual friday evening get together.

Really nice Tony!  Beautifully painted and weathered!   I couldn't do that in a month, let alone a week! . Hope to see your next weekend build, if you can join in.

BTW when is our next "main" weekend for the GB?  Any thoughts Kugai?  I can do any weekend except this weekend (I'm out of town) and the weekend before Xmas.  I'm trying to decide what the next build will be.....

Here it is, the 1/72 Tamiya Kawanishi N1K1 'George'.I've tried to show it as the paint just begins to show wear and tear, rathr than the fully dilapidated state you sometimes see.

It eventually took me a full week. Although I missed the 48 hour target this time around, I feel like I've achieved something. Thanks for hosting it Kugai, I hope I can support you again.

I'm still thinking about round two. If I'm free on the next 'main' weekend then I'll find something else to miss the deadline with !

Cheers

Tony

Kugai: I'm free every weekend, so just let me know when.  Not sure what it'll be yet.

That's a good lookin' george!

pyrman64

Tony: your George looks great

Yes, looking very nice Tony!  Better late than never!

Tony: your George looks great

I usually do 1/48 for Australian subjects, and 1/72 for everything else, mainly due to cabinet space.

Here's the latest progress shots. It's had a wash, all the bits added except the undercarriage doors and prop, barrels drilled and some touch ups.

I'll get it as far as the flat coat tonight, then finish with the weathering tomorrow. I bit overdue, but still quick. Once you're back at work, it stretches out.

Cheers

Tony

taxtp

Although I missed out this weekend, I think I'm inclined to have a 2nd go to redeem myself. Anyway, decals on, all glossy and toy like. Everything else is done and ready to go on.

Sorry that the George didn't get done in the 48, it looks great.

No problem if you want to try again.  I'm also thinking of trying again, maybe crossing over with the Saab GB to get that done by the deadline at the end of the year.

Scorpr2, feel free to join in!  Just state what you're doing and what weekends you'll have available, and I'll add you to the list.  I'm still hoping that we'll have enough of us with the same weekend to have another "main" round.

WOW!!!  There are some great lookin' models in this GB!  That's some awesome work done in 48 hours!  Maybe I need to give it a go.

corvettemike

 

That bottom set...I don't even....just wow

LOL!!  corvettemike, that is SOO funny! 

Tony, too bad you didn't finish the Shiden in time.  Still lets see it when its done!

As for the weathering on the M5A1....maybe weathering isn't the proper word.  More like a "distressed" paint job!  Sorry, I forgot to take photos of the paint progression, but here's how I did it.  I'll use some photos of a previouis build to help describe it.

First, the paints I used:

Base coat of Tamiya Olive Drab.  Then I darkened all the panel lines, crevices, nooks and edges with MM Flat Black.  I had just mixed this with MM Schwarzgrau and used for the vinyl tracks so the paint was still in the AB cup, but any very dark color wouild work.  Then I switched to Lifecolour UA 223 Faded Olive Drab 1 to highlight all the upper panels, large raised areas (like the periscope covers) and then did a little color modulation to the tops of the verical sides.  I avoided the running gear and hedgerow cutter.  When done it looked pretty crazy...this BT-5 I completed a few months ago illustrates what it looks like at this point, although there was more contrast between the light and dark OD on the M5A1.

Finally I thinned Lifecolour UA 221Olilve Drab quite a bit and applied several light, mist coats over the model to blend it all together.  Another pic of the turret of the BT-5 depicts a before/after using this process.

The last step was a wash using Flory Models Black Weathering Wash, which is a process very similar to panel washes on aircraft models.  However I didn't bother with a gloss coat as I wanted a bit of staining to remain...to give it a grungy look.  Application was simple....shake bottle very well and use a large, soft brush to glop the wash all over the place!!  This product is simply water with a chalk based pigment that doesn't react with acrylic, enamel or lacquer paints.  I used a hair dryer on low to accelerate the drying time and in 30 minutes I started to remove the excess wash.   I used a damp paper towel to remove the wash from larger areas; I used a cotton swab to get to smaller areas and tight corners.  

I love this stuff for quick builds as its simple to use and achieves pretty darn good results.   I still use oil washes when I want more finesse or with a kit that has delicate PE parts, but this stuff rocks on simple, rugged builds like older Tamiya kits!

That's it.  Sorry for the long winded explanation!

Ernest - that M5A1 is a credit to you. I can't believe that's a weekend job. I'd like to know more about how you weathered it, looks great.

Kugai - nice work on the Tigershark, does look very Top Gun ish, still a great movie.

Although I missed out this weekend, I think I'm inclined to have a 2nd go to redeem myself. Anyway, decals on, all glossy and toy like. Everything else is done and ready to go on.

It's past midnight, and I've got a busy one tomorrow. might be Wednesday here before I can apply the flat coat and finish it.

Cheers

Tony

bufflehead

That bottom set...I don't even....just wow

bufflehead

Thanks for hosting the GB Kugai!  I'm so glad we were able to get this going, I remembered my failure last year and wanted to have another crack at the 48 hr marathon!

Hmmm.....if this runs to the end of the year I wonder if I should try a second kit?

Thanks for signing up!  If there is enough interest, I'm figuring on continuing these each year as long as I'm here or until razordws comes back to pick it back up.  I'll definitely get things started earlier so that we can start planning and coordinating earlier.

As far as the second kit, I'm planning on that myself.  I'm hoping that something could be coordinated with some of us that are participating next month so that we can maximize the "mutual support" element.

DOH!  Yeah, I missed that post, sorry Kugai.  Now it makes sense, and its also a great save switching to the Top Gun antagonist!

Am I beat!  I knew I shouldn't have watched that Top Gear show this morning on Bond cars!  Otherwise I would have finished a couple of hours before the deadline!  Ah well, now for some well deserved shut-eye!

Thanks for hosting the GB Kugai!  I'm so glad we were able to get this going, I remembered my failure last year and wanted to have another crack at the 48 hr marathon!

Hmmm.....if this runs to the end of the year I wonder if I should try a second kit?

bufflehead

Great work on the Tigershark!  I LUV the black paint job and the panel wash!  Sweet looking jet dude!

BTW, I didn't know the Tigershark was used by communist countires....

Bufflehead, And here I thought I was the only one!  I literally finished removing the mask from the canopy  , took the final pics, and walked over to the computer to see the clock at 11:59.  Adding yours to the "done" list.

Thanks for the compliments!  You may want to review the earlier posts to explain the odd results.  Long story short, I found out that the decals were too badly yellowed to get decent results, couldn't think of another paint scheme that could be planned out quickly that would be more "real" for an American plane, and with the leftover decals from a Foxbat that I never finished I decided to make a variation of the MiG-28 "Fantasy" aircraft ( yes, I know they were actually F-5s ) seen in Top Gun.

That's 3 years in a row that I've had things not work out as planned on this 48 hour thing, but I guess it's a good reminder of what one of the guys here used to have for his signature quote...

"Done is better than perfect."