2014 BRAILLE SCALE (UPDATE)

hey duke

good to hear from you.

i built the BR-52 and the diesel  in 1/72 so i am familiar with locomotives and the whole alignment issues. laid my own track too which didn't take any more time than trying to make the plastic look good. the only issue is getting the second rail parallel. yes sometimes these instruction designers swiitch angles without warning, especially RR and truck frames.

i hope to have this finished for chilcon in Albuquerque. also found the radar truck to go with the 2 PST SA-10 8x8s i have.that could turn into a mantel convoy with BTR-60s for security and an SA-9 for ada. wish some one would make an SA-8 in plastic, even 1/72. i seem to be getting interested in the even darker side. scary i may have to dump all my plane and most boats stash.

Looking good thus far jibber.

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The Tiger is basically built except for the tools and side skirts that I'll add near the end. I put a coat of primer on and I think I'll wait til tomorrow for a base coat of Tamiya Dark Yellow. I've been tossing around different camo patterns but using the box art as my guide, I'll paint it up as from the Pz.Abt.101st in Normandy 1944. 

Hey Wayne! I just stumbled on this Thread here and didn't know it was going on. I envy you that Topol, it is looking good! That is definitely on my list of models to get! I also already completed the Br-86; she took a Second in Miscellaneous at San Diego recently. You'll have fun with that kit. Just be careful; like the Topol, make sure you check for front-back, and right-left, and upside down. A couple times I had to remove parts and re-glue them back in properly.

Let me see what I have in the stash that is screaming to be built. I'd like to join up with this when I do. I'll keep you posted on what I find.

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Getting started on my Braille Scale German Tiger by Dragon. So far this is a nicely engineered kit with a little flash to clean up.  I'm going to try and get this little guy done in a few days.

CML - cutting the parts from the sprue and cleaning them was fiddly but no more than really small 1/35 parts. 14 tires are rubber so will give them a heavy engine gray wash to start, 1 piece hubs. couldn't be  worse than one of those track thingies, i suspect they will be a tight fit so will tape them off before any painting. may use some petroleum jelly to help slide them on if type as the frame is going to take serious pressure.

ROB - thanks. probably wasn't clear enough for instruction but it makes the builder aware. there is a school of thought to build a 1/72 first before building the 1/35 or 1/32 so as to understand the major components. i will do this with my 3 locomotives,  wait until i start my 1/35 URAL 4320 6x6  if you want detail.

added some more pieces. had to \take 2 brackets off and put them on other side so the bracket would slide over the frame. this one was probably my fault but a good lesson learned. 

this kit has 2 versions and sometimes you are building with the frame bottom showing and sometimes frame top, sometimes looking from front and sometimes from rear. and there are 2 modes with different pieces. so look twice glue once and dry fit a lot. i think in most cases it is the nature of the build, lots of parts for 1/72 and not a familiar subject like a PANTHER which most of us could build without instructions. i am not slamming ZVEZDA on this. just an observation. IMNSHO not a beginner kit.

the 2 highlighted pins are for attaching the bottom of the rear upper body assy.

the instructions 

maybe damp paper towel so you could fit ot a bit to edges. or liquid mask around the edge before adding the sponge or paper.

These are some impressive builds and am glad I can report some progress as well.  The pictures are just after pre-shading but I have since applied the underside's neutral grey along with painting and assembling the prop & spinner.  Next will be the OD topside.

Great work everybody! I haven't got a lot done on the Hun lately but did manage to finally start to get the seats painted today. I was trying to make sure the canopy fit! 

Some nice progress Waynec.

Whilst it looks fiddly, i'm really pitying you when it comes to painting the tyres...

Bit of update on my own - without any pics.

F4U - primer is down and hoping to get some pre-shading done by mid week.  I've had a bit of trouble getting seam lines to disappear and then retouching with a scribe the beautiful detailing my butter fingers have sanded off.  

A-7 - i've painted the intake and wheel wells - now they all need masking for the primer coat.  I'm procrastinating now, as i don't really know of a super easy way to mask the internal lip of the intake...

Somebody suggested cutting some sponge and inserting - i might try that.  Or i may just try and tape it up.  I'll try the sponge first and see how i go.

Wow, quite the ensemble of fidly bits, eh? Great running commentary!

all 14 axle assemblies are attached. following the first set of pics is a list of what i think are instructional errors. had to remove the two #4 axles and swap sides. not difficult with a scalpel. it appears the wheels steering pic may have been a prototype chassis. on this one it looks like the first 4 wheels steer but the last 3 do not.

hints these are the 2 pieces for one of the suspension arms. some may be different for travel vs launch so be careful. at this point the decision on mode has been made. they are delicate to get off the sprue and delicate to sand.

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so i recommend gluing them together before cleaning them up. this gives a stronger surface to work with.

the instructions show building with the bottom up so watch the orientation of the frame. a;lso this piece hangs down and can easily be broken.

the front axles have a hole for the steering gear but it seems the instructions have the wrong ones on the wrong side. the hole goes to the rear so the tie rod can be attached.

and almost all of this will not be seen.

Hey Wayne, pleas put me down for a 1/72 Airfix EE Lightning please.

Theuns

lewbud

Rob and Theuns, nice work gents.  Jealous of you Rob, because the new Hurricane hasn't hit Texas yet, and I really want one.

Thanks Lewbud! Funny, I normally complain that product hits US stores before Canada!! Wow, we actually got something first.

Wayne, so true about all that work for something that won't be seen!! Been there for sure.

Rob and Theuns, nice work gents.  Jealous of you Rob, because the new Hurricane hasn't hit Texas yet, and I really want one.

jibber

Wayne pretty ambitious build, can't wait to see it. Great choice.  

hey jibber. which one or both? the DF-21 has a complete engine ready for detailing; injection lines, battery and cables basic car stuff, and the cab tilts forward so you can see it. 

latest on suspension for SS-25. theses are the 3 rear axles and the center axle. right side parts are different from left side so it pays to pay attention. they say squeeze the frame together so the crossmember fits in the pins on top of the shock absorbers. the pins aren't really big enough but doesn't seem to be a big problem. another 1.5 hours and the front 3 axles will be done. of course no one will see any of this when done, the bane of warwheel builders of which i am one.

the second photo caught the upper right shorter axle not quite perpendicular. it has been fixed. i think the front 3 axles steer as well as the back 3 axles which my be the reason the center no. 4 axle and wheel mounts are a tad shorter.

No that was the reason why I stuffed it up :-(

Theuns

Theuns

The new Airfix 1/72 Mk1? then yes

The kit , fit and detail is really nice, the interplane struts also have cross braces to help with alignment.

The problem came in when I did the rigging. I attatched it with superclue through small holes, but the sanding to get the glue flush was not successful and after the first aplication of silver (that shows up ALL your sins) I decided to rather concentrate on other models  :-(

Good thing I did not "learn" rigging on my 1/32 WNW SE5!

The bottom line is that it was NOT the kit's fault, just my own  LOL

Theuns

Ah, Ok, Yes the plane pretty much fall together like all New Tooling Airfix stuff of late. Do you have a CA glue applicator tool? Makes a huge difference in controlling the amount of CA glue. I won`t get to rigging for a bit, but, I`ll let you know through my WIP how it turns out.

Wayne pretty ambitious build, can't wait to see it. Great choice.  

The new Airfix 1/72 Mk1? then yes

The kit , fit and detail is really nice, the interplane struts also have cross braces to help with alignment.

The problem came in when I did the rigging. I attatched it with superclue through small holes, but the sanding to get the glue flush was not successful and after the first aplication of silver (that shows up ALL your sins) I decided to rather concentrate on other models  :-(

Good thing I did not "learn" rigging on my 1/32 WNW SE5!

The bottom line is that it was NOT the kit's fault, just my own  LOL

Theuns

Theuns, same Gladiator that I`m on?

Yes the intake and exhaust covers are supplied in the kit.

I built the Airfix 1/72 Gladiator, the build went well but I stuffed up on the rigging so I just put it in the box for another day :-(

Theuns

waynec

hey rob

will post pics when i get all 14 wheel  mounts assembled and attached along with more cross members. all aren't the same it it isn't something to do tired.

Thanks Wayne, looking forward to this build

cml

waynec

i would dump 4 tank kits to but one of these in 1/35. but WTH i have a 1/72 DORA RR gun so....

Now that is a WIP i'd pay to see!!

I think launch mode is a lot more interesting than travel mode too - good choice Waynec.

i have already figured out i have a couple of kits, DORA and the 1/200 german wheel bucket loader, that may have to be finished upstairs because i may not be able to get the finished ones out of the bunker.

me too i will build my PLA DF-21 ICBM (1/35) in launch mode and may open up the canister hatches and nose which means i will have to build a CSSS-5 missile.

i build most large towed artillery in travel mode because the footprint is smaller and they are more interesting. 

waynec

i would dump 4 tank kits to but one of these in 1/35. but WTH i have a 1/72 DORA RR gun so....

Now that is a WIP i'd pay to see!!

I think launch mode is a lot more interesting than travel mode too - good choice Waynec.

@Theuns - that's a nice clean looking build. Is that a FOD cover i see in the exhaust? Did that come with the kit or did you scratch it up?

Great camo scheme.

hey rob

quality is good so far. almost no flash and sprue attachments are thin. some sink wells i filled some in because i'm anal but none would have been seen given the closeness of the parts, the frame being painted black and having it on a base so it can't be picked up. plastic is nice a tad soft as in trimming close with sprue cutters and starting with 320 sandpaper instead of 220

the missile went together fine, seam work on the 2 halves which is to be expected with something that big, like a locomotive boiler. getting the frame together was a tad tricky as i had  all 18 support pieces glued on the right side and had to match them all to the left side holes but, with some fiddling it's done.

will post pics when i get all 14 wheel  mounts assembled and attached along with more cross members. all aren't the same it it isn't something to do tired.

A bit more progress tonight:

Got the top of the fuselage mounted and the best part was the upper wing supports are sturdy and they were mounted under the top of the fuselage cap, so, super strong and not relying on weak joints like other, older biplane kits.

Very basic cockpit, but, the actual instrument panel decals stand out quite well:

Wayne, so, how is the Zvezda quality and plastic? I've only done one Zvezda kit and it was quite a long time ago.

here are all the parts for the frame and inner guts. there is where you have to decide on launch or travel mode. i am doing it in launch mode but will not glue the hydraulic arm to the erector so i can fold the missile down for transport. i could make a functional arm BUT this thing sits on outriggers with the tires off the ground  in  launch mode and they cannot be made adjustable. perhaps in a 1/35 kit which would have a 2' long missile canister.

i would dump 4 tank kits to but one of these in 1/35. but WTH i have a 1/72 DORA RR gun so....