1944 Group Build

Thanks for the kind words JG.  They just looked a little too surprised for me.  I like them better now, I added a thin line of paint above and below the eyes and touched up the white and black paint.

Well, the Coxswain and Motor Mac are finished, but I am having a heck of a time getting the gunners to fit in their holes with the guns.  I've put one of them on a drastic weight loss program, but so far the results aren't all that encouraging.  So much so that I'm considering leaving the guns off altogether, or just not having the gunners present since according to this thread, many landing craft were unarmed.  It would be disappointing, but still accurate if I had to leave the gunners out.

Here's where I'm at with the LCVP.  I can't go any further with the diorama until I'm able to get my hands on some figures and the diorama set up.  It's a good thing I have plenty of time to get it done though, even if I can't get it done for the Longest Day GB.  Despite a bit of tinkering, I wasn't able to get the gunners to fit in their tubs, so I'm going to have to leave them out unless I think of something later on.  But, here she is in the meantime.

Thanks to the advice of Stikpusher in the Longest Day GB, I replaced the Motor-Mac's hat with a steel pot.

Fantastic work Silentbob!!! Love it

Thanks Rob!

silentbob, I'm lovin' on your LCVP. You have got that thing looking outstanding. You've also done an admirable job on those figures. They look real nice to me. I have yet to venture into the figure painting arena but, I'm getting really close to giving it a shot. You're efforts have done much to ease some of my misgivings. I regret the belated response to your work but, I just got back from my excursion to the Northwest and then had to turn my attention to the house and yard upon my return. I'm also now able to get rolling on my Hellcat. I hope to get some update pics here right directly.

Thanks for the kind words Joe.  I know what you mean about having household responsibilities as I'm in the middle of finishing my basement and the weather was nice enough to mow the lawn.  Once I did a bit of research on how to paint figures I felt more comfortable, especially with tips from the great people here.  I can't wait to see you get going on your Hellcat.

That LCVP sure looks nice, Bob! The figures look very good as well!

Hi guys - I'd like to join this one as well, if I may. I had originally wanted to do the UC-64 Norseman that Glenn Miller was in when the plane disappeared in December '44, but the only kits I could find seem kind of sketchy to me. I did pick up the (venerable) Tamiya 1/35 T34/76 'ChTZ' last weekend, so I'd like to do that one. We should have at least one Soviet AFV in here , and from my research I'm sure there were many of this type of tank pushing westward in 1944. I'll almost certainly add the Eduard PE set to the kit, along with different markings. I'm sorely tempted to do a Wehrmacht beute version, but I'm going to keep it Allied.

Here's the V2.  And ample evidence of why I don't do this for a living.

The kit is really good.  The engraving and molding are very precise and clean.  My problem is with seams and parts that are so small that they disappear on their own.

i1300.photobucket.com/.../IMG_6915_zps109959a2.jpg

Raven: Welcome to the GB. I, for one, am looking forward to your T-34/76.

Viejo: Despite your own misgivings I think you did a real nice job on your V2. Jump in with another build as practice definitely is key to improving your skills.

Thank you Joe, you are too kind.

Raven, welcome aboard, and I think your right, we should have some Soviet armour. Nice choice.

Viejo, I think the V-2 looks nice. Be nice to get that on page 1. And deffo get stuck into another build.

Last week I was busy working a double shift and taking my CCW class...not much modeling time, but I did get the hull painted, but no pics taken.

Last night I got a couple hours in at the LHS and was able to get the national markings and the registration numbers on the Sherman.  Here's a few pics....

As soon as I decide which tank I'm doing, I can get the unit and tank name on.  All markings are Archer Fine Transfers.

Greg,

Nice looking Sherman.  Good work!

Gary

Thanks, GAF.  But I blundered big time on the markings.  After I made my previous post, I went and took a look at reference pics I have for 2AD - I found that 2AD did not have any national markings on the tank hulls! DOH!!  So I had to remove the offending stars, here's a few pics....

 it was easy enough to remove the markings with Tamiya masking tape

  but after removing the stars, I noticed this was left on the model.

I replaced the star with this marking on the turret roof

{note to self: check references before putting on markings!}

Hi,

Sign me up with the 1/48 Eduard Fw 190A-8/R2. I wont be able to start for another 2 weeks but I will get it done before the death line.

Thanks

Jorge

Jorge, welcome aboard. Nice choice. I have seen images of that aircraft but was not brave enough to try the scheme, will be watching this build.

Thanks Bish,

This will be my 3rd build after a 8 years absence. Might as well tackle something challenging. I have learned a lot by following the build of this kit over on the butcher bird GB!

Does anybody know of a book with photos of this particular plane? I have a couple from the internets but would like to have more references!

Thanks

Jorge

Well, it didn't make the front page, but at least no one has told me the V2 didn't qualify for the build insignia....  :D

Sorry Viejo, I think SS has been a bit busy lately. I know he has been a bit quiet on here for long periods. I think he last posted on here the day before you posted those pics. I will PM him one of the pics so he doesn't have to look through.

Jorge, ye, there is defiantly a lot to learn on the 190 GB. I need to pop in there and have a look, its been a while since I posted and I know it ends soon. Its just been so busy.

Viejo: I pmed with Clemens a few days ago and he is indeed very busy at this time with work. So, don't take any offense please I'm sure he'll be on top of it as soon as time allows. It is certainly a pain in the keister when life things get in the way of some perfectly good bench time.

Jorge: Definitely looking forward to your Royal Class 190. I'm going to echo Bish here. I strongly admonish you to check out the "Butcher Bird" GB. Several Eduards were built there and the continuing alignment issues associated with this kit are addressed adnosium. There are detailed guides to be found there on how to go about correctly aligning everything in order to avoid complications later in the build. Just ask the guys over there as I am sure Mustang knows which page of the GB they can be found on.

 I am making slow but steady progress on my Hellcat cockpit. I've got the PE parts on and I'm nearing the point at which I can throw the parts all together. I have hesitated posting pics as my Kodak Easy Share camera has apparently reached it's life expectancy. Unfortunately, It developed it's death throughs whilst at the Flying Heritage Museum. Very unpleasant. Thus, I am awaiting the delivery of my new Olympus point and shoot camera which I purchased with birthday moola I was given. I hope to be able to take some much improved pics over what I have been posting in the past.

Hey Joe... looking forward to seeing the progress. Yeah, I know what you mean about camera issues, I had a nice little Fuji fine pix 805, and it progressively kept getting worse to where it wouldnt focus up close or picture would look a bit out of focus, even while on a tri pod. Had to buy a new one too.

Also chatted with Clemens and as you stated... he was pretty busy. Any waymy brother... till the next time!  

Take care...

Doug

Joe and Bish, offended?  Far from it.  Seriously.  I know my skills aren't up to the level normally displayed around here, I'm just happy to play and no one makes make give back the group build insignia.

The level of work I see displayed here is incredible and makes me want to try harder.  Just being allowed to be involved with the folks here gives me happy feet.

Bill

Your skills are just find Bill, we are all here to share, learn and improve.

One suggestion if I may, when you post your pics, especially your final ones, a plan background would look much better. It helps avoid any distractions.

Bish, I suspect this is what you mean by "less cluttered".  Unfortunately light of day aids the camera in seeing ALL the flaws......

BUT, just to show I'm not totally discouraged, here's a 1/72 Me238 I did last week just for grins.  This is the first MONOplane I've assembled prior to painting, masking the cockpit turns out to be a bit difficult, but doable.  I know the OD isn't 100% in coverage, I was wanting to use the base color of the model for the color of the bottom and spraying straight down was the experiment.  The stabilizer "looks" underdone, but overall I kind of like the way it came out......

Bill: Your little Me 238 came out quite nice. Building simple kits is definitely a great way to practice and sharpen your skills. You're doing some really nice stuff. Keep it coming. No doubt concerning the camera bringing out the flaws in ones work. Although the camera leads to some "Doh" moments, it also helps to see the defects allowing me to correct them if possible.

 Here is finally a pic of some of my work so far. This isn't so much a progress pic as it is a test shot with my new camera which is an Olympus VG 160. Although it is a point and shoot job I have to admit so far I am impressed. I picked this particular camera for it's highly regarded ability to take close ups. Thus, here is a pic of my instrument panel. Of note on the panel is that Eduard molded the gunsight on as a solid mold of plastic. I found this to be rather unusual given the level of detail on the rest of the kit. So, I carved the solid lens out and replaced it with one cut out from a piece of acetate. As I get more practiced with the new camera I hope to sharpen up the pics even more. Thanks for checking it out.

That's a lot better Bill. I know the feeling about pics. I have lost count on the number of times I have spotted a flaw in a photo that I had missed, or someone else spots a flaw. One thing I like about posting pics is that 10 pairs of eyes are better than one.

I like the 238, what kit is that. I am rather partial to Luft 46 builds.

Nice work on the IP Joe. I need to practice my close ups, I really struggle to get good shots especially of cockpits.

Gentlemen, your words are too kind.

Bish, the kit is PM.  It is from Turkey.  Comes with two sets of wings (v1, v2), however in the kit, both sets of wings are somehow labeled as both.  I suspect the v2 came when they strapped a pulse engine under each wing negating some "lift" need.