Thanks, Gamera.  Looking at the bomb racks, I was concerned the pin heads might be too evident, but with the racks in place and the narrow bay openings, they aren't very noticeable.

Maybe some round plastic rod would work just as well.

Tonight I'm working on gluing the fuselage together and sanding the seams.  I've dry-fitted the nose several times, and it seems to match up pretty well.

But then, I've noticed that test-fitting can go perfectly--and the minute you apply glue, nothing lines up.

It must be a kind of principle for modeling.

MMM, on thinking about it, I don't think this would work on the hase kits. You mentioning the bulkhead reminded me there is one at the front of the fuselage right where the nose section joins it. But next time I do one, I will give the idea some thought.

And no worries, I know you have been busy with the Enterprise. For this GB, my usual rule applies. As long as progress pics have been posted before the deadline, then people are free to carry on and claim the badge. So your good.

checkmateking02

But then, I've noticed that test-fitting can go perfectly--and the minute you apply glue, nothing lines up.

It must be a kind of principle for modeling.

Very true- also if you position the part perfectly and then apply something slow drying like epoxy as soon as you walk away it will slip and end up glued in the wrong position....  

Thanks, Bish.  If I hurry too much, there's likely to be a disaster in the making.

Gamera:  that's horrible to contemplate!    I was considering using slow drying epoxy to attach the nose, since I'll need time to position the nose to the fuselage, and CA's dry too fast--even the gel type that I have on hand. 

Last night I got most of the fuselage seam eliminated; now I'll have to rescribe panel lines.

Hey everyone!  Awesome work going on!  And I must admit, I am really getting into this armor thing!  I have another pic of the Puma.  I added a few small parts and did a wash/spray someone told me about (thanks Prof. Bish!) that really blended the camo together and gave it a little something extra.  Speaking of something extra   I have a little surprise.  I was secretly building a 234/1 along with the /2!  Now, initially I was using it as a test bed to try techniques out before doing anything to the Puma, but as time went on, it went from test bed to D%$#, that looks pretty good!  So, I have been doing different things with each one now.  Putting some things on one and not the other, leaving parts off.  Like the front tube bumper on the Puma.........got damaged and thrown out during a little skirmish with some pesky British recon team!  And the fuel cans.  I wouldn't run around with a bunch of flammable liquid strapped to my recon vehicle....but that's just me.    Anyway, I did a little different camo pattern too on the /1.  Now I know you guys and gals will see the tires and laugh....but I'll add some dark grey (thanks again Bish!) and then take her mudding!  

So here they are Thing one and Thing two!

Eagle90

CMK02: Actually you should be ok with the epoxy, just carefully brace it and check on it every now and again. I sorta halfway braced the model and then walked off to play computer games and checked it the next morning- ok I guess it was all my own stupid fault!!! Good luck with the panel lines- another thing I've never been good at.

Eagle: Hey wow both look great! Nice clean builds and the camo lookd terrific! You did a fantastic job on the anti-grenade screens on the turret of the second car.

Eagle, tnose look good... now they need... DIRT!

Gamera

CMK02: Actually you should be ok with the epoxy, just carefully brace it and check on it every now and again. I sorta halfway braced the model and then walked off to play computer games and checked it the next morning- ok I guess it was all my own stupid fault!!! Good luck with the panel lines- another thing I've never been good at.

Eagle: Hey wow both look great! Nice clean builds and the camo lookd terrific! You did a fantastic job on the anti-grenade screens on the turret of the second car.

Hey Gamera.  Thank you!  The gernade screen was probably the hardest thing so far!  It had a little pioece of screen with the kit and I tried to lay the piece on the screen to cut it, but that just didn't work.  But it turned out alright.  I'm really having a fun time with the armor right now!  Oh, and teh antenna on the /1 is an old guitar string!  Of course I forgot to paint it!  Thanks again for the kind words!

Eagle90

stikpusher

Eagle, tnose look good... now they need... DIRT!

Hey Stik!  Tha means a lot coming from one of the great armor guys!  Thank you!

Oh yeah, dirt is on the way!  I plan on muddin' her up and making her look like she has been there and back!

Eagle90

Eagle90- Looks really great! Cant wait to see some dirt!

Agreed.  More dirt! 

You have such a dirty mind BB...

Eagle90

stikpusher

Eagle, tnose look good... now they need... DIRT!

Hey Stik!  Tha means a lot coming from one of the great armor guys!  Thank you!

Oh yeah, dirt is on the way!  I plan on muddin' her up and making her look like she has been there and back!

Eagle90

Well, there's something to be said for the clean, polished look of German vehicles.  Did you know the Germans had a dedicated unit for cleaning their vehicles?  The 1st SS Panzervasher Abteilung?  The unit served on the western front, fanatically cleaning any vehicle they could get their hands on...

Okay, maybe not... 

Gary

Really nice work on both of those Eagle, now to finish off the set.

Gary, maybe not but the name sounds good, a paper panzer build maybe.

CodyJ

Eagle90- Looks really great! Cant wait to see some dirt!

Thank you!  Oh yeah, dirt is on the way!

Eagle90

bitbite

Agreed.  More dirt! 

LOL!  I'll have to "dig" some up!  Thanks!

Eagle90

GAF

Eagle90

stikpusher

Eagle, tnose look good... now they need... DIRT!

Hey Stik!  Tha means a lot coming from one of the great armor guys!  Thank you!

Oh yeah, dirt is on the way!  I plan on muddin' her up and making her look like she has been there and back!

Eagle90

Well, there's something to be said for the clean, polished look of German vehicles.  Did you know the Germans had a dedicated unit for cleaning their vehicles?  The 1st SS Panzervasher Abteilung?  The unit served on the western front, fanatically cleaning any vehicle they could get their hands on...

Okay, maybe not... 

Gary

LOL!!!!!!!!!!  No fair picking on the novice armour guy!  I looked it up then realized what you had written!    I did learn about the 101st Heavy Panzer Battalion during the search! 

Eagle90

Bish

Really nice work on both of those Eagle, now to finish off the set.

Gary, maybe not but the name sounds good, a paper panzer build maybe.

Thank you Bish!  I'm having a time getting the right paint for the tyres on the Puma.  That and finding the paint I used to do the "wood" handles on the /1 stuff for the Puma's tools!  I've misplaced all kinds of stuff during the basement fiasco! 

Eagle90

waynec

Hey eagle Nice looking builds. I like the different paint techniques. I use really thin wire i got at LHA for antennas. Rarely paint them. For tires i will paint the plastic ones MMA engine gray and oil wash them with black followed by terrain color. For rubber tire i "rub them down" with a thick MMA engine grray wash before weathering. Still dont have best solution for wood handles. I usually prime than use a walnut alcohol pen followed by a wash to tone it down. Metal is TAMIYA metallic gray toned down with washes. I usually leave tools, fuel cans, and mirrors off until very end since i break them. Next to the build weathering is the most fun.

Hey Wayne.  Thank you sir!   I'm having a blast with the armor!  And thank you for the tips!  Great stuff!  I'm going to try some of those when I get back to the bench.  Thanks again!

Eagle90

That's excellent paintwork on Things One and Two, Eagle.  Nicely done!

Thanks for the insights on epoxy, Gamera.  I've not used it before on a kit.  I thought maybe I could tape the nose in place with masking tape, so it would hold in the proper position.

Gotta work late tonight, so it'll be a day or so before I can get to it.

GAF

Eagle90

stikpusher

Eagle, tnose look good... now they need... DIRT!

Hey Stik!  Tha means a lot coming from one of the great armor guys!  Thank you!

Oh yeah, dirt is on the way!  I plan on muddin' her up and making her look like she has been there and back!

Eagle90

Well, there's something to be said for the clean, polished look of German vehicles.  Did you know the Germans had a dedicated unit for cleaning their vehicles?  The 1st SS Panzervasher Abteilung?  The unit served on the western front, fanatically cleaning any vehicle they could get their hands on...

Okay, maybe not... 

Gary

Their motto: "Sauber- Nicht schmutzig!"

68GT: She looks great to me, sharp work!

Thanks,

I really like the look of this one but there is something with the stripes I couldn't get right.  I'm not sure if it is the kit lines, my measurements or both.

68GT: nice recovery - looks great, particularly with the decals on.

The 1st SS Panzervasher Abteilung?

I want to believe!

checkmateking02

That's excellent paintwork on Things One and Two, Eagle.  Nicely done!

Thank you sir!  I'm almost finished with them!  They are ready to do some recon!

Eagle90

Ok, so now some dirt, Eagle.  I'm talking real TMZ, National Enquirer kind of stuff!  

TMZ and Enquirer stuff?!  Wow!  Don't have much dirt on anyone.....but me!  

Let's see....I've tried white glue and sheet rock mud as seam fillers!  Does that count as "dirt"?  

Eagle90