1944 Group Build

That's nice Steve, really nice work on the base as well. Thanks for being a part of the GB.

Picture time! Here's the completed model, Tamiya's 1:35 Soviet T34/76 "ChTZ". The model was built box-stock, using Tamiya acrylic paint, Doc O'Brien's weathering powders and Archer dry-transfer decals. Archer's note on the marking is "Poland, 1944", which would make this vehicle part of Operation Bagration, summer '44. This was my first Tamiya model and it really was a pleasure to build, despite its being a relatively old kit (the box copyright says 1990). This was also my first Soviet armor kit, as well as my first base. Overall I'm very happy with how it turned out, and I had a great experience with both the build and the GB. Special thanks to Bish and Schatten Sparten, and thanks to all of you for following along. It's great to be among such talented and supportive modelers.

Thanks, Joe & Bish.  Only thing with the Kingfishers, I managed to know the prop blades off one of them.  I guess it'll be on the catapult doing an engine run-up.

A Stuka GB?  Know where I can find one? 

Thanks Joe. No real secret, the worst bit was the masking and trying to match the images. I did over do the DY overspray a bit and so added some more green and brown and then gave another light over spray, I think that's what really helped. So really it was just by chance.

I know what you mean about 1945. I don't actually have many that I can defiantly pin to that year, but I have a lot for 46.

CMK: Boy, that's some really sharp rigging you have done. It is very nicely done. And your Kingfishers are great. You certainly have a knack with them there miniature planes.

Bish: Outstanding paint job on your camo. That there warrants some bowing in your general direction. Just sweet. So, how did you pull it off. Do tell.

I'm progressing along with the tri color camo on the Hellcat. I had to redo the white "half moon" flashes right under the tail planes. Just about done masking for the dark sea blue. I'll have some pics up right directly.

While considering the '45 GB, I'm finding myself a bit limited in my choices from my stash. I was hoping I'd have something that I could knock out fairly easily because come the start of the new year my bench time is going to be further limited. This is unfortunate. Since having seen the terrific ship builds here I'd love to build either the Tamiya CV 14 USS Ticonderoga or the Trumpeter USS Baltimore. Just not sure I'd be able to pull those off by the end of next year. Despite this I remain hopeful in finding something to do.

Still can't believe how good those little planes are. Very nice. And a Stuka you say. MMMM, I wonder if there is a GB for that

Thanks check. I was a bit concerned about this scheme but I am really pleased with how its turned out and its nice to have something a bit different.

That is really an outstanding painting on the half-track, Bish.  What a great job you did!  Fantastic!

Thanks, Bish & nomad.  It's just the little fiddly stuff like this that's left.  I hope to finish up this week.  I have a Stuka waiting.

Also finished up the scout planes.  They are also from Trumpeter, but not the kit planes.  Trumpeter's separate set comes molded in clear plastic--the kit's planes were not.  I had some left over from the floatplane GB a few years ago.

Hopefully, me and Stik can get together tonight, the timing was a bt out last night, he came on about 4am my time. Bloody time zone.

Ok, time for a small update this week. I couldn't get to the masking until Thurs night and was able to get the camo scheme on tonight. I used white tac on the sides and did the front rear and top without masking. After spraying the green and brown, I then removed the masking and went over it with a thinned coat of Dark Yellow. This was a bit to much, so I then free handed some more green and brown. Overall, I am really pleased with it and have the result I wanted. There is not as much brown lower down as the AFV image shows, but I think that's a bit to much anyway judging by the pic of the real thing, well that's my guess anyway.

I have decided to start including progress pics of the base, figures and the rest of the dio as for me the kit is only one part of it. And this week I have been working on these pieces. The wall, which is from MK 35, was painted grey and then I went over various blocks with different shades of grey.  It then got a few washes of various oil colours and ended with a coat of future. I had intended to go for a lighter grey lok as it shows on the box, but I much prefer this.

The base is now ready for celluclay which will be added when the vehicle is further along.

And finally the figures. One the right is 2 Alpine resin figures, one of which is Kurt Meyer. I have really come to like the Alpine figures. The 2 metal figures are Hornet and the plastic one is from a Draon set. I have altered the right arm slightly and still have to finish that.

All comments welcome of course.  

Steve, no, but there was an idea to wound this all off with a 1946 What If GB for 2016. mainly because the German aircraft fall under the title Luft 46 and the 46 has been applied to other nations as well. I have quite a selection of Luft 46 and paper Panzer kits so will defiantly make sure that one goes of.

And I know this is thinking years ahead, but for those who have been along for these GB's you will know they started with a 42 GB in 2012. But, assuming we are all still here in 2019, I would like to start the whole thing off for 80th anniversary GB's running all the way through.

Just curious, will the 1945 GB allow for any "what if" vehicles? I don't have anything specific in mind, but I know there were a lot of drawing-board and test designs that never actually saw combat.

Should have some final pics of the T-34 today or tomorrow.

Awesome CMK, just awesome. I am having to re-mask and re-paint the camo pattern on the hull because it was was out of place. Just a minor set back.

Photos later on.

Doug

Nice work on the base Steve. I have started on mine as well and will include some pics with my next update.

Looking great check, really nice detail there.

Ken, ye, unfortunately, the Airlift was a bit to late for the 45 GB.

Hmnmmmmm 1945 huh. Am glad to see it coming together. I'm still working on the 1944 B 24 D. I think the Liberator will be late. but, I'll get it finished up ASAP

1945 will take some thinking/research/googling and seeing what catches my eye. I recently watched a show on the Berlin Wall. It wasn't a wall in 1945, but Germany & Berlin was divided up then. When did the Berlin Airlift take place? I just looked it up. It was June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949 in case anyone else was wondering.

I had two projects I wanted to get finished up today.

One was starting the rigging on some of the superstructure.  I used stretched sprue as usual, tacked in place with white glue and tightened up with the heat from a (little) cigar.

I hadn't intended to add any PE to North Carolina, but after I painted up the plastic kit part for the SK 2 radar  and put a wash on it, I couldn't see using it.  That's the kit part on the right.

So I hauled out a sheet of US Navy radar from Lion Roar and put it together.  That's it on the left.  The photo doesn't show it to the best advantage, but it's a lot more delicate-looking than what came with the kit.

Also worked on the scout planes today, and maybe will get photos up later on during the weekend.

Looking good there Raven. Do not let building dios get ya I had trouble on my first dio. Keep it up and you will be doing dios all the time.

Doug.

More photos of the Missouri coming soon.

Your model turf is looking good, Steve.  At least you won't have to mow it in the spring.

Oh man, that is way cool Steve. Looks good and seems like a great bit of fun. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Bish

Guys, just a quick one as I wasn't able to get on tonight until now and its pretty late. I have been chatting with Stik and we have decided to run the 1945 GB together as we both have a couple of other GB's on going. Clearly it helps if we can get on at the same time to do the first two posts but this isn't easy with the time difference. But hopefully we can arrange it for the weekend. So watch this space.

Awesome news.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this GB, and I look forward to the '45 Build.  Even if it takes me the whole year to complete a model.

Now presenting Dr. StrangeBase or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Build a Diorama

As promised, here's my first-ever base. I followed the directions in James K. Wechsler's Building and Detailing Realistic Sherman Tanks

The setup:

I used a sheet of .080" thick sheet styrene, 6" x 12". I had considered cutting a second sheet in half and gluing the two sheets together, but after placing the model on the one sheet I felt like it was a good enough fit. As instructed, I scored the sheet in a crosshatch pattern using a razor saw in order to give the plaster mix something to bite into (note: this generates a lot of styrene dust, more than I was prepared for). I painted the base hardware store brown spray paint, but I'm not sure it's even necessary.

The goop:

(Sorry for the blurry image). This is a mix of Plaster of Paris, Grade A Pennsylvania backyard dirt, Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement, white glue, water, and a mix of black, brown, and rust acrylic paints. I didn't measure anything, just kind of threw it all together until it was the consistency of pudding.

The spread:

At this point I spread the plaster on the base, which was very much like icing a cake (I almost licked the knife once or twice). After this photo I went back and smoothed it out a bit more, but it doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.

The sprinkle:

Here I sprinkled on the rest of my dirt. I think it looks a lot like a crumb-topped cake at this point (drool).

The grass:

The last step was to sprinkle on some greenery - I used Woodland Scenics medium green "coarse turf". I spread it out as best I could (it tends to clump), and pushed it down gently into the wet plaster. I'm pretty pleased with it at this point, but I may go back later and add more grass using the scenic cement.

Overall, I really enjoyed doing this. It was a lot easier and more fun than I expected, and I like how it turned out. Thanks for reading.

I've got a WWI cycle in the works, but I need to do a Rooskie tank for 45. Never done a T-34 - figure that. So maybe a T-34/85. Or a Stalin - a tank that would have warmed Vader's heart. I'd really like to do a SU-76, a very neat looking buggy that was the second most produced Soviet AFV. I've heard the Mini-Art kit of it - the only one out there - is a real challenge with very complex independent tracks. Hello DML?

My experience with buck a bottle hobby store paints was short - but long enough to learn that you get what you pay for. I use Golden Fluid Acrylics all the time and like them a lot. They're $4 for a 1 oz bottle, but the paints are so well made and bottled they'll last years. And they are a lot better in every way to a bargain brand. My problem is not running out of paint, it's learning to stop buying them. At least Golden are made in the USA and we have to do our best to help out the economy.

Happy Thanksgiving folk

Eric

Lots of great work going on here!  I'm always in awe of shipbuilders, but I haven't really built any.  I don't even have any in the stash, but I'd like to try my hand at a carrier.  

I'll have to start looking through my stash for something to build for the '45 GB.  So many options...

Thanks guys. I agree with Eric, I think that really heavily weathered and/or color modulated models usually look overdone even though I'm in awe of the skill and time that went into them. It's very much a matter of personal taste.

Bish, good to hear about the '45 GB. What to build, what to build....

Good to hear this, Bish.  Thanks to you and stik!

On the bad side, regarding the earlier discussion of WEM paint, it seems the company is closing up shop, which will be a severe loss for ship building.

It's being discussed in the "Ships" forum, and other places around the web.

Guys, just a quick one as I wasn't able to get on tonight until now and its pretty late. I have been chatting with Stik and we have decided to run the 1945 GB together as we both have a couple of other GB's on going. Clearly it helps if we can get on at the same time to do the first two posts but this isn't easy with the time difference. But hopefully we can arrange it for the weekend. So watch this space.

OK, Joe, I see.  Thanks.  This is the three-color scheme you're doing, not blue-gray over gray.  I get it  now.  

Thanks Doug & Checkmate.

checkmateking02

Are you using Testors Navy blue-gray?  I've noticed a very pronounced difference in the WEM and Testors interpretation of the color.  WEM is darker and even appears to have a greenish cast to it.

CMK, I used Model Master Intermediate Blue. I use for reference "The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide". This book has color chips in it and the MM intermed. blue is pretty much a dead on match. I also have Mr. Color intermed blue and it is much bluer than the color chip provided.

Jack:

so that (above) is my most recent experience with poster tack; I haven't done much with silly put yet.

Yesterday I was painting up the Mark 37 and Mark 38 gun directors, and was considering how to paint the deck blue tops.

If the tops were deck blue.  The photos I looked at were ambiguous, but I decided to try it any way.

Since I'm not real adept at brush painting, I wanted to mask them and spray, but using tape around all the little protrusions would make that next to impossible.  So I thought I'd try submerging them into poster tack.  The photo isn't real clear--too dark, but you can get some idea.  I did use a little tape along the front of the base of the Mark 37 and around the little stem that holds the radar.  Then I just pushed the tack all around it.

The base of the Mark 37 is at the left; the top to the right, and the Mark 38 at the bottom.  There are four Mk 37's and two Mk 38's.

When I sprayed the paint, I used the base color again first before the deck blue.  I was hoping it would seal things in, like it does with masking tape.

The results were mixed.  The Mark 37's came out OK.  The Mark 37's will require some brush work to touch up the ragged edges.

Drat!  Either an idea whose time has not yet come; or the technique needs some refining and practice.

Was wondering about that silly putty - any difference to the poster or blue tack? Anyone?

regards,

Jack