Thanks Bish, one of the reason I like Japanese AFVs, the weird camo patterns. 

Good luck with your halftrack GB, I looked though my stash and am embaressed to say I don't have a single US halftrack. I may have a second entry to this GB though when I finish this tank. Haven't decided on which though:

The Centaro saw limited action during the last years of the war. 

Only two prototypes of this tank destroyer version of the ISU-152 were built. The two part ammo took forever and day to load and the 25foot/8metre gun barrel were seen as a mite impractical. 

Gamera

Ok, camo and decals are on. Sorry, wish the photos were a little better quality. I applied a gloss coat and then took the photos so everything is sorta shiney. I then tried some dot filtering and set her aside to dry.  Cross your fingers it turns out ok. 

 

I like the look of that, really nice scheme.

Hey thanks Bruce and Joe! 

Bruce: Well I figure they probably wouldn't be in service very long- being thrown into combat and knocked out by superior Allied armour pretty quickly so I wasn't going for much damage or weathering. I'm hoping the dot filters tone down the brightness and contrast a little. Then I plan to add pin washes to bring out the detail. A little mud and dirt next. And finally a few light filters added to 'bring everything together'. Or so I plan, fingers crossed it all works out. 

Whoa! That is excellent. What a cool looking camo scheme. And very nicely executed I might add.

It's worth saying again, Cliff, she looks fantastic! Looking forward to seeing it weathered. Are you going to beat her up, or tone it down a bit?

Ok, camo and decals are on. Sorry, wish the photos were a little better quality. I applied a gloss coat and then took the photos so everything is sorta shiney. I then tried some dot filtering and set her aside to dry.  Cross your fingers it turns out ok. 

lost, good to see the parts coming out of there. Whats the deal with the canopy, certainly there must be clear parts for that.

Thanks Lost. I knew I was missing someone when I was handing out kudos. So, allow me to make amends. First, I have to hand it to you for taking on a vacu-form kit. That is fantastic. As is your particular subject. That will look sharp when all complete. You certainly have a steadier hand than I. Heck, I struggle to cut out Squadron canopies let alone an entire kit. Looking forward to your progress. You got this!

Wow, that's awesome Lostagain. Are you going to use the small parts like the prop blades and tailwheel or replace them with parts from another kit? 

 Know the feeling Joe, nice to do an easy build for yourself every now and then.

But I do like the hangar and your mantra there.

Brandon, really enjoying the 'fire masterclass and extensive kit reviews. I will come back to it when I get around to my Hasegawa VIII.

Slow progress on the MB5 - finished off the initial scribing and have cut one fuselage half. I put a wash on the scribing so it shows up better.

ANd the first bit is out!

So I sympathise Joe - might have this done by the end of the year...

Yeah, maybe pull out something simple like a kit with not many parts or that goes together with very little work like a newer Tamiya aircraft and just build it straight from the box.  

Joe,

I'm constantly putting one build aside to work on another. I seldom start a build and work on it till I finish. I'm always setting one aside to work on another. I will always come back to it though. It keeps things new, different and interesting.

Maybe try just doing a few builds that are not in GB's, thats what i am doing at the minute, and its rather refreshing.

Nice Joe, can't argue with that! 

Thank You Bish. I find myself at a bit of a building impasse. Not really sure which direction I want to go. I really want to build the Richilieu but, I'm quite sure I'll never be able to make the GB deadline and I'm growing weary of my slow rate of building and being late on pretty much every GB I get into. I sure love participating in them and, yet, maybe they're just not my cup of tea for the time being. I'll get it sorted out. I've just got to refer to my wall hanging that I have at the entrance to my Man Hangar:

Reminds me to keep my karma on an even keel.

Great to see you back Joe, and thank you.

Good to see your making the most of your new space. Nice set up you have there. Look forward to seeing somthing coming off that bench.

Thanks Gam. The new room is nice but, it was a challenge moving into 110 sq. ft from 180. Indeed, it is like having a new house. These were upgrades that were long overdue.

Hey Joe, thanks and congrads on the new modeling room there! I wish I had something that nice. And it's always a relief to get remodeling behind you, I'm sure you guys will be enjoying the new house! 

Bish

Thought i better bump this up, see how you guys are getting on.

 

I have been checking on the progress here and I can honestly say that I am hugely impressed with quality of modeling everyone is demonstrating. Quite frankly, it's fantastic. I'll see if I can catch each one of you here.

Bish: The 555 and accompanying dio is absolutely jaw dropping. You have done a stunning job on it and subsequently turned out a jewel. I really do enjoy your modeling and the dios that you come up with.

Gamera: Excellent effort on the Chi-Ri. You are definitely doing some fine work on a subject I knew nothing about.

Hogfants: Really wonderful work on the Chi-To. I'm really enjoying this Japanese armor stuff.

Modelcrazy: Good to see you at least getting started on the Prinz Eugen. I'm enthralled with the level of research and detail you are putting into this particular event. Greaat stuff indeed.

Dan: Congrats on finishing up your very outstanding T-34. Your painting and weathering turned out wonderfully. You've done very fine work.

BrandonD: Love what you are doing on the Seafire. The cockpit is outstanding.

blkhawkmatt: I am certainly looking forward to watching you build up that Do-335. Especially with all the AM detail you have on hand for it.

Sorry if I've missed anyone here. It was a load to catch up on.

In parting for the day, here are a couple of pics of me new digs:

And the stash:

Cheers Everyone!

Thanks BD! Yeah, I was thinking of ordering a couple, I have a 1/32nd and 1/24th P-47D that would also benefit from them. Not sure I want to buy them for all my 1/48th aircraft but I might pick up a few.

Btw: those instrument panels came out great, don't think the decal looks quite as good as the other two but considering the tiny cockpit hole on the Spit there shouldn't be that much to see anyhow. 

All those IP's look nice, but i am with you on the ones with acetate behind them.

I got the rest of the office done last night.

The fuselage is pretty warped, so I was able to get the pit in one side of the fuselage, then glue the halves together from behind the cockpit. It's currently sitting, clamped, in my house, and I will glue the forward half together tonight. I also installed the housing for the arrestor hook on the underside, and it was a perfect fit withnicely beveled edges that wouldn't let it fall inside the fuselage.

The Seafire is on the right. As far as instrumentation, I prefer the acetate gauges over painted PE (the Eduard in the center) or decals (Eduard decal on a Tamiya panel on the right) because I feel like they look the most realistic. I fudged the placard on the top right with paint, and I hit the highlights for the yellow on the right side. The compass housing was PE, and it has a nice scale look to it, I think. The silver highlights are from a Prismacolor pencil.

The cockpit walls (Seafire on the bottom) went together like the Eduard, and are much more accurate than the Tamiya in shape.

I had reservations about this kit after cracking into it, especially with the fit issues on the wings, but I'm cautiously optimistic that despite all that, it will come together nicely.

-BD-

Gamera - thanks! Yes, I ordered through their website from the Czech Republic. Shipping was fast. I think it took about aweek to get to California, and they sent them with a signature required, which is nice. I bought a bunch of them to make the shipping more economical, but it wasn't bad at all, and there was no VAT or any extra fees to deal with. I highly recommend them.

Matt - that's going to be awesome. I can't wait to see it.

-BD-

blkhwkmatt

Here is the teaser photo for my entry.  To refresh your memories, I will be modifying the Do-335 to the B-1 configuration using several CMK kits. Planning on having both engine bays open as well as the upper fuel tank.  Will be painting it in a late war camoflague scheme, but havent nailed that down yet.

 

 

Looking forward to that one matt.

BD: Whoa those look great! I love those HGW belts esp! Did you order them from the Czech Republic on their website? I was working on my Tamiya 1/32nd Zero last night and it comes with PE metal buckles but horrible coloured paper parts for the fabric parts. I thought about using tape but those HGW look awesome!

BHM: Wow, lotsa aftermarket, that's gonna be awesome!

Here is the teaser photo for my entry.  To refresh your memories, I will be modifying the Do-335 to the B-1 configuration using several CMK kits. Planning on having both engine bays open as well as the upper fuel tank.  Will be painting it in a late war camoflague scheme, but havent nailed that down yet.

Those HGW belts are great, but man they make you cross-eyed putting them together.  Nice looking pits!

All my PE belts just look like painted metal.

I do like those HGW belts. I might try giving the next one i use a Flory wash, last time i just left as is.