Well, I think the construction is finished and I am ready for some primer. But there's quite a bit of left over PE and I like to go through the instructions a few times to make sure I haven't missed anything. What with all the sanding off of moulded on parts and filler here and there, something I am not used to with armour kits, it looks a bit rough. But I think that's rather fitting for a Soviet AFV.

Thats taking a big chance with the cat. The PE is a really nice addition, its a lot of work but worth it.

All the PE has been secured to the hull, save for the intake/exhaust plenum grills and track shrouds, which need to be added after painting.  The Eduard PE sets fit the kit excellently but, the Voyager PE is slightly oversized for the Academy kit.  I haven’t pulled one of my Hobby Boss P7s from the stash to compare hulls but am sure it will happen before the build is complete.
I just applied a coat of primer so the hull is in the garage to dry.

Perhaps currently the greatest threat to the kit is Mouse, but I surmise the model is not far enough along to invite her playful attentions and intentions when I am not around to dissuade her.

Here's a thought.

Big GB's like this get hard to follow.

Anytime you post, make the first sentence something like " Update on the Japanese Chi Ha that the Malaysians ran into Bangkok 1963" or some such.

I will join this group build now that it has started. I have a reissued Revell-Monogram M48A2 and Lo Models M48/M60 conversion set. It will be a rather pedestrian build of a West German Army M48A2GA2. The original Monogram kit is from the late 1950s and the Lo Models conversion is from the late 1980s so the quality of both are not quite up to the exacting standards of 2014.

The M48A2 was the first tank model I ever owned and my dad built it for me in the Vietnam War "Love Bug" 3/4 Cav markings. I built the kit myself in the late 1970s and repainted it to semi-resemble an M48A5 I crewed in 1985.

I've had a lot of good memories with this tank kit but would like to do something a little different. I bought two of these Lo Models conversions when I was stationed in Germany from Dec 87 to Dec 90. I used the M48A5 conversion to upgrade a Tamiya M48A3, but the old Monogram M48A2 wasn't readily available to convert. The conversion set includes parts to make the Tamiya M48A3 into an M48A5 and a Tamiya M60A1 into an M60A3 as well as make a Tamiya M48A3 cosmetically look like a German M48A2GA2.

For some reason, Lo Models only includes enough parts in their set to convert one tank per set. So when I used the M48A5 parts, you can't fully convert an M60A3 or M48A2GA2. Hence the reason I bought a second set that has sat around my stash for a quarter century. The Monogram M48A2 was purchased recently at Michael's Arts & Crafts using a 50% off coupon which made it quite inexpensive.

Chuck Davis

Guys, I haven’t heard anything from the shop where I ordered my Israeli armored car.  I’m getting worried that I may need a “Plan B,” so I was surfing and found an interesting variant of the M-8 Greyhound in Columbian service:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD9foGONLTw/Ughc3jJ4cuI/AAAAAAAAJcw/e69nQHmFCpo/s320/Colombia+M8_2.jpg

This led to a troll thru the internet for a 1/72 Greyhound kit.  Apparently, I have a knack for selecting really orphaned armor because I can’t find a kit available anywhere.  Does anyone have a good shop for 1/72 scale stuff?

Italeri makes a 1/72 scale M8 Greyhound kit. It comes with two types of suspension; one is a normal one and the other is a one piece version molded version for quick building wargamers that is more robust. http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/Italeri/AlMagnus_Italeri_M-8_Greyhound_7023_review.htm 

As far as the Quad gun mount, Armo does an M35A1 gun truck with the M16 mount in back and ModelTrans does an M16 conversion for the Academy M3A1 halftrack. The latter might be cheaper than the former.

Shoot! I forgot to mark the start date of this GB on my calender so I'm already a bit behind! I will get cracking this weekend. Fortunately, I just finished fixing my D/A airbrush so I hope I don't have any delays from equipment malfunctions!  

Thanks but I don't think so...

Jibber - Nice work! You're making me feel like a total schlub.

Sweet Jeebus! Chuck Davis has appeared!

All right, gents. Aaron should be back in the office at the top of next week. We'll get in front of a camera and start vlogging!

Great work, everyone!

Thanks, theres two guys that are important. The one walking from the back and the other is up front looking back at him, all the rest are seated somehow. I've come close to matching the Zimmerit, I wish I had a couple more photos but Ive scoured everything. Lucky to have these.

That looks really good Terry, I love how you're trying to get the zimmerit to look just like the photos. I wouldn't worry too much about the figure positions, you can always explain somebody moved a little just after the photo was taken!

[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/King%20Tiger%20-%20FSM/DSC00625_zps6f687704.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/King%20Tiger%20-%20FSM/DSC00622_zps404f2565.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/King%20Tiger%20-%20FSM/DSC00621_zps855ac317.jpg.html]

I'm almost finished with the Zimmerit, but theres a few small places I think I'll make my own to fill in and make it a bit more seamless. I'm also trying to pose 8 GI's on and around the turret. I'm kit bashing a bit using figures from a few new and older boxes with similar uniforms and hopefully get the right arms and legs correct. This may be an impossible task. Terry

Mercy Chuck! Are you using a microscope there!?!  We have beetles here bigger than that!

BTW: Ok the pins for the tracks on this T-26 totally blow. Forget the jig I'm just going to use it to cement the tracks together, cement them to the wheels and then try to insert as many pins as I can. I'm not going to even bother with the pins that don't show. Did they expect only watchmakers and surgeons to build this kit!?!!  

Now that's going to be an interesting build! I can't wait to see how you build that rather unusual halftrack!

ChuckDavis, that is real small....wow...my scale limit for armor is 1/35, my fingers could not handle anything smaller. I have pancake fingers....

It is going to be very interesting....

Nice start Chuck, this is going to be an interesting one to watch.

Chuck thats going to be a real interesting build, theres a lot of detail there. Looks like some scratch work too.

Great progress folks - even Tim's hatchling.  Just goty back from the airshow in Oshkosh.

I've managed a modest start on my half-track.  Looking over the photo and drawings I have, I've realized there are a bunch of little details that - of course - I am obligated to add, now that I've noticed them 

At lunch today, I started my kitbash with the easiest part - the 37mm turret.  As a reminder, the first pic is the halftrack I'm going to attempt.  Now - off to Nationals!  Keep the updates coming...I want to learn a bunch!

Aaron Skinner

SchattenSpartan

Aaron: Looking really good! I completely agree on those older Tamiya kits being little gems!

Thanks, Schatten Spartan. I'm building Italeri's M13/40 rather than the Tamiya kit. And it's a beaut, especially considering the age.

Oops, sorry about that. I always thought the Italeri kit was a reboxed Tamiya kit. I think I got it mixed up with something else...

Tim: You're almost there! Only a few parts more and she's ready for some paint! You've made a lot more progress than me, I'm still waiting for my LHS to import that Tasca suspension set...

Cheers, Clemens

Progress!

Of a sort ...

Voila! The driver's hatch!

I know, paltry. But I had to get something out here, so there it is. Now, leave me be, Skinner. I've work to do!

Aaron Skinner

Gamera

Aaron: I am going to attempt to use the kit tracks. I tried using the small jig that came with the kit to fit them together and had some success with a short test run. I'm crossing my fingers and starting early since I may have to walk away from the thing a few times before they're done. I also decided I'm not going to even try to assemble them and add after painting- I'm going to put the tracks and running gear on and then just spray them and the lower hull a muddy brown.  

I liked the kit, except for the "working" tracks. Either the pins wouldn't stay in or the holes in the links would break. I spent 3 times as long on the tracks as I did building and painting the tank.

I know what you mean there Aaron, I'm not going to even try fooling with them more than I have to. Just going to cement them together and to the wheels with as little muss and fuss as possible. And if I do mess them up I'm going to cover it up with mud... 

That French Jagdkitty looks awesome! I hope you go with it Corky. 

Phil nice set of pics, haven't seen those.

Aaron Skinner

Tim Kidwell

Aaron Skinner

PS Has anyone seen Tim? He supposedly involved in this GB, but so far, nothing.

Laugh it up, Butterfingers. Dropped the M13/40 recently? I have this thing called work. Unlike you, down there at the end of the hall, ensconced in your hut of models, inhaling the vapors of Tamiya and Testors, swathed in a ragged lava-lava made from the instruction sheets of finished kits like some demented hobby witchdoctor. 

It's taken me years of quiet meditation interspersed with moments of curse-filled rage and bandaged fingers to reach the state of modeling nirvana. Something, which I'm sure, your unenlightened soul fears and must, therefore, tear down.

Are you still working on that Raider?

Oops! Looks like it's taken a tumble into the trash.

Gamera

Aaron: I am going to attempt to use the kit tracks. I tried using the small jig that came with the kit to fit them together and had some success with a short test run. I'm crossing my fingers and starting early since I may have to walk away from the thing a few times before they're done. I also decided I'm not going to even try to assemble them and add after painting- I'm going to put the tracks and running gear on and then just spray them and the lower hull a muddy brown.  

Great find, Phil! Thanks for the help.

Tim Kidwell

Aaron Skinner

PS Has anyone seen Tim? He supposedly involved in this GB, but so far, nothing.

Laugh it up, Butterfingers. Dropped the M13/40 recently? I have this thing called work. Unlike you, down there at the end of the hall, ensconced in your hut of models, inhaling the vapors of Tamiya and Testors, swathed in a ragged lava-lava made from the instruction sheets of finished kits like some demented hobby witchdoctor. 

Phil, nice find. Conky has his own thread asking about this here

cs.finescale.com/.../1756574.aspx

I wonder what that is on the front, maybe the Cross of Lorient.

Tim how about this

found in http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=173857&p=1608346&hilit=Jagdpanther#p1608346 about half way down the page. Looks like it has French markings

Phil

Aaron: I am going to attempt to use the kit tracks. I tried using the small jig that came with the kit to fit them together and had some success with a short test run. I'm crossing my fingers and starting early since I may have to walk away from the thing a few times before they're done. I also decided I'm not going to even try to assemble them and add after painting- I'm going to put the tracks and running gear on and then just spray them and the lower hull a muddy brown.  

Aaron Skinner

PS Has anyone seen Tim? He supposedly involved in this GB, but so far, nothing.

Laugh it up, Butterfingers. Dropped the M13/40 recently? I have this thing called work. Unlike you, down there at the end of the hall, ensconced in your hut of models, inhaling the vapors of Tamiya and Testors, swathed in a ragged lava-lava made from the instruction sheets of finished kits like some demented hobby witchdoctor.