They always say "history repeats itself," a sad shame....

Cliff, the choppers look awesome. And talk about some very appreciated troops. The medical people have a stellar history in combat and no one knows that better than those who relied on them to get out of a bad place asap.

Ken, sounds like life is finally returning to normal for you. Very glad to hear that. And yes, the Russians can sure build some robust equipment. I've read the Germans loved captured stuff from them for that very reason; the PPSh-41 being a prime example. That's one big reason they redesigned the MG-34, the thing was almost too good!

Awesome work on those helicopters. I know what you mean about the hellfire's. It doesn't half look mean with a full load.

Hey thanks guys!

Dave: I"m glad you're feeling better!

CN: Very nice clean work! The T-55 came into service in what- 46-47 I think, so it's almost a WW2 tank. I've done some work on a Trumpeteer Type-59 the Red Chinese version.

Ken: If it's ok with I'll start again on the Eduard F6F Hellcat and HobbyBoss F4F Wildcat I dropped when I started the choppers if it's ok by you?

castelnuovo

Thank you gentlemen. Here are few more WIP on this bad boy, it is all dry-sort-of-fit, hence the gaps. This is my first modern-ish tank, the rest is all WWII. Russian stuff is definitely  built to last...a long time. Not only that I have seen T-55 in action in former Yugoslavia, there were T-34s as well.

Great job on those helicopters, I was always a bit sheepish of building aircrafts as the mistakes can't be covered with dirt, equipment etc

Tonight I'll hit the tracks...after I watch the world cup game. Go England go...wait, they lost...oh well, still...

Hi Castelnuovo,

You are really moving along on that tank.  It is looking really nice!     

Ken

Tal Afar Dave

Hey guys, to all of you fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!!  I hope that you've had a good one!!

I appreciate everyone's well wishes; I'm recovering pretty well and go back to work light duty for a couple of weeks, starting tomorrow at 0630 hrs.  Wish me luck!

Wanted to get a start on some kits this weekend, but have been majorly bummed out about the situation in Iraq.  I spent a year in Tal Afar training an Iraqi Army infantry battalion.  They were a good bunch of men.  The unit was composed of Shia, Sunni, Kurds, and Yezidi Soldiers.  The battalion commander was a Kurd and he made the unit work through all the sectarian BS and they were an effective outfit.  I'm not sure if they are still alive.

Cliff, great job on the choppers; they came out great.  I got the Minicraft medivac and was surprised to see the two M249 door guns.  Glad to see that you caught that I squared it away with the stretcher rack.  Nicely done!

Hope to get crankin' on my own builds after the funk lifts and I get my feet back on the ground at work.

Take care fellas!!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Don't get me started on our current President's handling of Iraq and Afghanistan.  I knew he was pulling our troops out way too early, but he did it solely for political reasons.  It is exactly the same bunch of bull that our government pulled in Vietnam.  "Vietnamization" is what they called it back then.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamization 

All those troops that lost their lives and were disabled was for nothing.  Our leaders only think of themselves and their political party.

Ken

Thank you gentlemen. Here are few more WIP on this bad boy, it is all dry-sort-of-fit, hence the gaps. This is my first modern-ish tank, the rest is all WWII. Russian stuff is definitely  built to last...a long time. Not only that I have seen T-55 in action in former Yugoslavia, there were T-34s as well.

Great job on those helicopters, I was always a bit sheepish of building aircrafts as the mistakes can't be covered with dirt, equipment etc

Hey guys, to all of you fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!!  I hope that you've had a good one!!

I appreciate everyone's well wishes; I'm recovering pretty well and go back to work light duty for a couple of weeks, starting tomorrow at 0630 hrs.  Wish me luck!

Wanted to get a start on some kits this weekend, but have been majorly bummed out about the situation in Iraq.  I spent a year in Tal Afar training an Iraqi Army infantry battalion.  They were a good bunch of men.  The unit was composed of Shia, Sunni, Kurds, and Yezidi Soldiers.  The battalion commander was a Kurd and he made the unit work through all the sectarian BS and they were an effective outfit.  I'm not sure if they are still alive.

Cliff, great job on the choppers; they came out great.  I got the Minicraft medivac and was surprised to see the two M249 door guns.  Glad to see that you caught that I squared it away with the stretcher rack.  Nicely done!

Hope to get crankin' on my own builds after the funk lifts and I get my feet back on the ground at work.

Take care fellas!!

Dave

Love the work you're doing on that Voodoo, Jim!  Sorry to hear about your increased workload. You know, Americans work harder for less benefits than just about anybody in the world. I remember Germany and Holland - they got off work about 4 pm every day and rarely worked any overtime. And they have work holidays just about every month, sometimes two in the same month.

Beautiful choppers, Cliff! That took a lot of work. I know the museum's going to be happy with them.

Dave - Bummer on the stomach surgery. I had to have surgery for a stomach ulcer once. Not fun and the recovery sucked - or rather belched :D.

Cheers,

Russ

Hey guys thanks!!!

Jim: Only issue I have with your distracting background is that BBQ grill makes me hungry!

Ken: I think I'll go with these two unless you have others you like better:

Gamera

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Hi Cliff,

I know we are our worst critics, but those choppers look great to me!      Great job!  Do you have a favorite for each one picked out for the front page?

Ken

Gamera

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Great looking choppers! I like the detail with the stretchers on the Blackhawk.

As to distracting backgrounds? I'll see your water heater and raise you a B-B-Q grill and a trash barrel!

(I'll even kick in assorted patio furniture and my shed!!)

We all do the best we can with what we got!

Tal Afar Dave

Jimbot, mighty envious of your work shop!!!  Don't you love all that 'mandatory' overtime to get the job done?  I'm definitely going to 'borrow your solvent base idea.  Had one of those mishaps before too with similar results: none of it good!  Lesson learned, but not followed up on....yet!  Another great benefit of this forum!

You're Voodoo is looking pretty boss there, can't wait to see it finished.

Ken, glad to hear that life is heading back to normal with your newly renovated basement.  Hope that this means more quality bench time!  Those Voodoo kits sound awesome!  I may have to rethink my idea of grafting the Koester recon nose to my Monogram F-101-B to make a legit Vietnam recon bird.  Thanks for the inspiration.

As a former mech infantry guy, I can vouch for the preponderance of gear strapped to the outside of your armored vehicle.  The gear has to go SOMEWHERE.  Remember, that the inside of a fighting vehicle is a confined work space in which the crews have to do complex tasks to load main guns, track targets, and win a gun fight.  If your sleeping bag, ruck sack, or bailout bag is in your work space, it could potentially get you killed.  So, when you add the extra goodies to the exterior of your tank/AFV kits you should think about its location the same way the crew would.  

- make sure the turret can rotate fully and that the gun can elevate and depress through the full range of motion.

- clear the line of sight for all main optics, back up optics, and supplemental weapons systems.

- keep important, 'gotta have' items close to crew hatches, things like boxed ammo for crew served weapons on the turret, like the M2 Browning MG or Russian equivalent. Boxed drinking water or a Soldier's individual load bearing equipment, 'web gear' or 'kit' could also be close at hand should he need to dismount.

- NEVER leave unattended weapons on a tracked vehicle, unless you are modeling a unit that lacks discipline or the crew has been wiped out.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure that weapon is within arm's reach of a Soldier.  (Yep, that was our rule of thumb in real life as well.....God help the guy who lost accountability of his weapon.  That would be 'deep kimchi" for sure!"

I get to go back to work light duty Monday after stomach surgery....not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.  I think I'd rather be at home building a model or checking in here!!!!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Very sorry to hear about your stomach surgery.  I hope you make a full recovery.

And thank you for sharing your knowledge about the tanks.  Very informative.

Ken

Dave: Thanks, that's good advice! I've been building a lot of WW2 US hardware recently and that storage is one big thing you can use to break up the monotone olive drab camo.

I hope your stomach surgery goes well.

Guys I finished the two choppers last Thursday and carried them over to the transportation museum the same. Sorry they didn't turn out a little better but as said I don't have the models anymore since they've been added to the display it's kinda hard to go back and retake them. Forgot to take my white posterboard to cover the distracting background.

Those of you that have been following these since I started a year ago know these were 'jinxed' kits- I've never ever had so many things go wrong with two models in my life. I may see about getting two more for the museum and building them to replace these, I think they came out ok but should have been much better.

Academy AH-64 Apache Longbow 1/48th

Apparently sixteen Hellfires is not a common loadout for the AH-64 but the sheer badass of it was the deciding factor:

Minicraft UH-64 Blackhawk Medievac 1/48th: The kit came with as far as I can tell the exact same interior as all of Minicraft's UH-60 kits so I picked up a resin set to add a the proper interior. It came with several stretchers as well as the bright yellow backboard:

Jimbot, mighty envious of your work shop!!!  Don't you love all that 'mandatory' overtime to get the job done?  I'm definitely going to 'borrow your solvent base idea.  Had one of those mishaps before too with similar results: none of it good!  Lesson learned, but not followed up on....yet!  Another great benefit of this forum!

You're Voodoo is looking pretty boss there, can't wait to see it finished.

Ken, glad to hear that life is heading back to normal with your newly renovated basement.  Hope that this means more quality bench time!  Those Voodoo kits sound awesome!  I may have to rethink my idea of grafting the Koester recon nose to my Monogram F-101-B to make a legit Vietnam recon bird.  Thanks for the inspiration.

As a former mech infantry guy, I can vouch for the preponderance of gear strapped to the outside of your armored vehicle.  The gear has to go SOMEWHERE.  Remember, that the inside of a fighting vehicle is a confined work space in which the crews have to do complex tasks to load main guns, track targets, and win a gun fight.  If your sleeping bag, ruck sack, or bailout bag is in your work space, it could potentially get you killed.  So, when you add the extra goodies to the exterior of your tank/AFV kits you should think about its location the same way the crew would.  

- make sure the turret can rotate fully and that the gun can elevate and depress through the full range of motion.

- clear the line of sight for all main optics, back up optics, and supplemental weapons systems.

- keep important, 'gotta have' items close to crew hatches, things like boxed ammo for crew served weapons on the turret, like the M2 Browning MG or Russian equivalent. Boxed drinking water or a Soldier's individual load bearing equipment, 'web gear' or 'kit' could also be close at hand should he need to dismount.

- NEVER leave unattended weapons on a tracked vehicle, unless you are modeling a unit that lacks discipline or the crew has been wiped out.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure that weapon is within arm's reach of a Soldier.  (Yep, that was our rule of thumb in real life as well.....God help the guy who lost accountability of his weapon.  That would be 'deep kimchi" for sure!"

I get to go back to work light duty Monday after stomach surgery....not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.  I think I'd rather be at home building a model or checking in here!!!!

Dave

jimbot58

I always think about all that stuff stored on the outside of the tank and how something could be lost to even small arms fire!

Ken, did your Kittyhawk Voodoos arrive yet? I see Sprue Brothers had them and sold them out already!

Well, the fun begins! I get to work tomorrow (Saturday) and I already have worked 50 hours this week. We are only about 3 or 4 weeks away from implementation of this system! It does away with paperwork and everything is controlled by RF scan guns. In the meantime, there are something like 8,000 labels that will have to be put up on bins and shelves.

Another big plus, is that with my level of responsibilities, dealing with shipping errors, returns and other inventory related issues, I have about 10 hours of training to complete next week, in addition to my regular duties!  It doesn't help that I took Tuesday off to get my 6 month check at the doctors - they have to watch my BP and blood sugar. The rest of the day, I plan to visit several banks to close some accounts still open in Mom's name. Can't do it by phone as the want POD's and all that crap.

In the meantime, I need to hit the sheets early, but I will share a few WIP photos.

First off, here is my CLEAN worktop! A sight I haven't seen in some time!

Makes it so much easier to work on a project like..... decaling!

Do you like my base for holding my solutions? I made that after knocking one or both of the bottles over, the last time resulting in some ruined decals. The recesses in front hold the bottle caps where I usually poor a small amount. I also color coded the bottle caps so I won't mix them. Blue is the setting solution and red is the solvent. (Think blue = cool and red = HOT!)

And yes, doing decals! The canopy looks lighter that the rest of the fuselage. They were painted at the same time, but I think that my washes of just my handling of everything darkened the paint. Gues I will have to "handle" it to make it match.

Well, my eyes are closing so off I go! Wish me a great time working!

Jim

Hi Jim,

Very sorry to hear about all that overtime you have to work.  I know that has to get old fast.

Yes, I ordered two kits of the Kitty Hawk Voodoo and they arrived just fine.  I will build one as a F-101A and the other as a F-101C.

Great idea there on the base for your decal solvents!  I will have to make one of those for myself.

Your Voodoo is looking great!      Really nice job on the decals and the wash.  It is going to be a fantastic looking Voodoo when you get done.

Ken

I always think about all that stuff stored on the outside of the tank and how something could be lost to even small arms fire!

Ken, did your Kittyhawk Voodoos arrive yet? I see Sprue Brothers had them and sold them out already!

Well, the fun begins! I get to work tomorrow (Saturday) and I already have worked 50 hours this week. We are only about 3 or 4 weeks away from implementation of this system! It does away with paperwork and everything is controlled by RF scan guns. In the meantime, there are something like 8,000 labels that will have to be put up on bins and shelves.

Another big plus, is that with my level of responsibilities, dealing with shipping errors, returns and other inventory related issues, I have about 10 hours of training to complete next week, in addition to my regular duties!  It doesn't help that I took Tuesday off to get my 6 month check at the doctors - they have to watch my BP and blood sugar. The rest of the day, I plan to visit several banks to close some accounts still open in Mom's name. Can't do it by phone as the want POD's and all that crap.

In the meantime, I need to hit the sheets early, but I will share a few WIP photos.

First off, here is my CLEAN worktop! A sight I haven't seen in some time!

Makes it so much easier to work on a project like..... decaling!

Do you like my base for holding my solutions? I made that after knocking one or both of the bottles over, the last time resulting in some ruined decals. The recesses in front hold the bottle caps where I usually poor a small amount. I also color coded the bottle caps so I won't mix them. Blue is the setting solution and red is the solvent. (Think blue = cool and red = HOT!)

And yes, doing decals! The canopy looks lighter that the rest of the fuselage. They were painted at the same time, but I think that my washes of just my handling of everything darkened the paint. Gues I will have to "handle" it to make it match.

Well, my eyes are closing so off I go! Wish me a great time working!

Jim

mikeymize

Hey looks like a nice beginning to Soviet war machine. I think the extra tools were considered a necessity by the Russians as their equipment may not have been the most dependable. It certainly wasn't over-engineered though like some of the western nations. I think the Russian idea has usually been "crude but effective"!

I agree with you Mike.  From what I understand the Russian's equipment seems to be capable of being dragged through the dirt and still keep working.  I saw one documentary that talked about how the Russian MiG could handle runways that were in really poor condition.  Our jets were made with so much precision that they required the runways to be completely clean. A small amount of foreign material could render the engines inoperable.

Also look at their AK-47.  Another weapon that could be buried in sand, picked up and brushed off and would still work.

Ken

Hey looks like a nice beginning to Soviet war machine. I think the extra tools were considered a necessity by the Russians as their equipment may not have been the most dependable. It certainly wasn't over-engineered though like some of the western nations. I think the Russian idea has usually been "crude but effective"!

Yeah CN, nice job there- those Soviet Cold War tanks did have a pile of tool boxes, fuel tanks, and other hardware stored all over the fenders.

castelnuovo

Here is a bit of a WIP...

Hi Castelnuovo,

That looks like a great start!     

Ken

Here is a bit of a WIP...

Striker8241

Hi, Ken,

Glad to hear you're getting close to finishing your basement. Some relaxing time in the garden is just what you need .

Cheers,

Russ

Thank you Russ.  I would rather be modeling, but if I don't get the garden done soon, there will be no vegetables this fall.  I am hoping to get it done by the end of this week.

Ken

Hi, Ken,

Glad to hear you're getting close to finishing your basement. Some relaxing time in the garden is just what you need .

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Everyone,

How is everyone?  I hope it is going well.

This evening I managed to get some more work done on my garden.

Ken

Welcome Matt and Duke!!!  I hope you guys have a good time in this Group Build.  If you have been away from the hobby for awhile, this is a good place to get back into your groove!  I didn't know Bernie either, but he must have been a heck of a guy, judging by your comments Duke and also by the way his spirit has brought all of us together here in the forums.

Again,

Dave

Duke Maddog

I have been following this Thread for awhile now, once I found it. I'm not as active on these Forums as much as before, but I did know Bernie quite well through these Forums. He always had a great and encouraging reply to every one of my posts showing my works-in-progress and finished models. He used to give me a ton of outstanding advice as well. I think he replied to me far more than anyone here ever did. Because of that, I'd also like to join in. I am in the process of clearing a number of models off my workbench now; once I get a few more done, I'll be able to choose a model to submit here. I'll keep you posted.

Welcome aboard Duke!    Just let us know when you have a project picked out.  Also feel free to chime in any time before that.  If you have been following this thread, then you know nothing is considered off topic.

That is so true about Berny.  He was truly a nice guy and often helped others out with advice and also parts if he had them.

Personally, I tend to shy away from giving advice unless it is asked for.  But we have a pretty knowledgeable group here, so chances are someone will have an answer to most questions asked.

Ken

I have been following this Thread for awhile now, once I found it. I'm not as active on these Forums as much as before, but I did know Bernie quite well through these Forums. He always had a great and encouraging reply to every one of my posts showing my works-in-progress and finished models. He used to give me a ton of outstanding advice as well. I think he replied to me far more than anyone here ever did. Because of that, I'd also like to join in. I am in the process of clearing a number of models off my workbench now; once I get a few more done, I'll be able to choose a model to submit here. I'll keep you posted.

Ken: Dang! That's a bunch of onions! I'm hoping to have the choppers done by Wednesday- not much left to do, and I'll see about snapping a photo of the new car when the weather clears a little.

Matt: Yeah, we do seem to shoot the breeze quite a bit! Jump right in if you have something to add!  

Son Of Medicine Man

Matt-Joachim

Hey guys this is my first group build. I am returning to the hobby from childhood. I do not know of Berny, but he obviously deserves honoring. I would like to enter my P-61 Black widow. It is in 1/48th scale and by Revell. geesh I hope this thing fits together good enough to look like an airplane!!!!

Hi Matt,

Welcome aboard!!    Sorry for the delayed welcome.  It is not my typical response time, but I have been unusually busy after my basement was flooded.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.  You will find there are a great group of people on this build and we will be more than happy to help.

Ken

Yes, welcome! This is a great group of people here and it's pretty open to subject matter. We have had planes, tanks, vehicles, spacecraft and even Star Wars additions to name a few. It's mostly important to participate and have fun!

I warn you, though- we are a pretty yacky bunch! The previous group build topped out at close to 1800 posts over the year! I'm probably the worst as I never know when to shut up!

Jim