1944 Group Build

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

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.

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

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.

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 Rob!

Fantastic work Silentbob!!! Love it

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

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.

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.

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.

SilentBob...those figures are great.  When I used to paint Games Workshops miniatures, my faces always turned out "creepy."  Yours' look great.

Thanks for the info Rob. I hope the Waffentrager will be accepted in to Hunters II GB as i don't think it will last long enough in a box until next year for the 1945 GB

So now I just have to wait for the mailman to deliver the Jeep and hope that it has 1944 markings.

Cheers...

Bish

I'll see what i can dig up on those, hopefully someone will have some info.

Hey guys, did a bit of digging (cuz I'm a bit of nerd ). anyway, found an instruction sheet with a history of the Waffentrager on: 

http://www.model-making.eu/products/German-Ardelt-Waffentrager-mit-8-8-cm-PAK-43-auf-Praga-Wanne.html

It states that the decision to mass produce was taken in November 1944. With having to tool factories, I doubt if they rolled out any prototypes 'till well into '45. Now, who knows how accruate the reference is and the research conducted by that model manufacturer, but, I'm inclined to think 1945. BUT, good news is this would be great for the '45 GB that will undoubtedly be hosted here next .

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, and I figured it was about time.  I've been trying to get the crew for the LCVP to look right, and I think I've gotten the clothing down, but I just can't seem to get the faces to look right.  Guess I'll just have to settle for the best I can do right now.  I still have to finish assembling the gunners, apply a wash for the shadows, and then give them a dull coat.  But here they are for what they're worth.

Greg... Super detail! Lookin better and better! I've never done very well with armor so I really appreciate seeing what can be done by someone who can.

Doug

I know the jeep will be ok as long as the markings fit as you say. In regards to the Waffentrager, i believe only a couple of prototypes were built and were used in 1945, but i can't find any details of when they were actually built.

I'll see what i can dig up on those, hopefully someone will have some info.

Bish, any chance I join with these two kits? I am not sure if they have 1944 marks as the info on the Squadron's website doesn't say so. But maybe somebody here could tell me. If they are good to go, then great .

This Jeep is by Tamiya, 1:35 scale

That texture looks excellent, very natural. Just perfect.

The paint on the hull, etc. is drying, so here's the a few pics of the turret that was sanded and painted over the weekend.

The markings are next and then I'll install the gun & mantlet.  After that is the weathering phase and the adding of the accoutrements.

.

So, I managed to get the bogie assemblies built and installed on the M4 this weekend.  I pre-painted the road wheels to make it easier.

Did I mention how I hate painting headlights?  Well, I do, so I drilled them out so I can install MV lenses later.

That's all for now....I'm off to paint the hull, barrel, sprockets, idlers......

Hey guys,

Thanks for the tips and advice, I'll certainly give them a try. 

Bish - I used Tamiya tape, although I didn't do anything prior to placing it (like Rob's method). 

Joe - I remember your 190 episode and the level of effort you expended to fix it!

Silentbob - that is a great looking Jug for sure.  I need to do a lot of practicing before attempting that.

Jsmyth - I tried to put Silly Putty down, but got a bit frustrated trying to get all of the sweeps and bends.  Maybe if I drew the pattern out like silentbob and then lay the Silly Putty over?

I'm away to Norfolk, Va to play in the Tattoo for the next week or so but will be keeping up with everyone's great progress while there!

Allen

I'll echo jsmyth, Silly Putty is a God send. Oh man, Allen, your paint lifting is giving me flashbacks from my FW 190. But, if you recall from my escapade, you can indeed exact a nice repair on that.

Thanks guys.  I'm pretty happy with how it came out, especially doing the camo free-hand.  I was really nervous when I started painting, but I'm really glad I marked out the pattern beforehand.

Allen, what masking tape did you use. Aside from that, its looking like a nice camo scheme.

Lovely work on that Jug Bob.

That's one good looking jug indeed!

Bob: nice job on that T-bolt.

I tried airbrushing camo freehand on a P-47 a couple of months ago because for whatever reason I couldn't get my copier to enlarge the instructions.  I just decided to forgo the mask and paint it.  I took a white colored pencil and drew the pattern on the plane so I knew where the pattern was supposed to be, but a little bit smaller so that I could over lap it with the paint.  I don't think it turned out too badly.

Yup, I`ve had that paint lifting happen many times too. I use low-tac painting tape and stick the adhesive side on my pant leg a few time to reduce the stickiness before I apply to the painted surface. I have a heck of a time keeping Model Master Acrylics sticking to plastic and having it being lifted by masking tape...but have always had good success with Tamiyacolor.