Thnaks G. If i did a hole, i would make a thin base and build it up with styrofoam to put the hole in. But i didn't really fancy doing all that at this stage either.

Hey Bish, looks very good, sharp work on the camo.

And nice looking collection of ground vehicles too. I know what you mean about not wanting to put a trench in there, it's a pain to either chisel out a hole in the base, but building it up on top and making it really thick doesn't really look right either.

I only used to use the masking on aircraft, for armour i have always done it free hand, being 35th scale and not 72nd, it does not have to be so fine. But having now done this un masked, i prefer this method. The end result is the same, i just save the time to mask, un mask and go over it again. I kow a lot of people can get a soft edge with masking, bt i can't see to get a hang of it.

But give it a go and see what you think, you might even be able to get a soft edge with the mask.

Bish

Thnaks Hunter, it was all done free hand. I normally use rolls of putty, but i can never get a soft edge so in past builds have had to re do the edge after taking off the masks. this time i decided just to do away with the masks altogether. Still got quite a bit to do, going to be a couple of days ading the decals from the look of it.

 

BTW, I like the idea of adding the soft edges to camouflage afterwards. It sounds like less room for error to me. I may try it out on my Waffentrager! However, I'd like your opinions on the technique.

Thnaks Hunter, it was all done free hand. I normally use rolls of putty, but i can never get a soft edge so in past builds have had to re do the edge after taking off the masks. this time i decided just to do away with the masks altogether. Still got quite a bit to do, going to be a couple of days ading the decals from the look of it.

Bish,

That is one nice paint job. Did you take the time to mask it off or did you free hand the entire paint job? That looks great. Can't wait too see it completed.

I finally got all the painting done on the arado, and i am really pleased with it. A couple of years ago i did my first German pre war scheme with the 3 colours on top, on a Ju 87. I really like that scheme and used it for inspiration on a Do 335 build and decided to do so again, but with colours that are even more like the pre war ones. But i used late war colours and went for a flowing soft edge scheme rather than the pre war hard edged jaggered scheme.

I first applied RLM 77 useing the same approach as underneath. I then drew the scheme on with a pencil and applied some black spotting and the RLM 81, and i managed to find an 81 thats brown and not the green version. Soon as that was applied, i added the black spots for the third colour, and here is where i remembered i should be taking photo's.

With that dry, i added the RLM 82. The black baseing has not worked as well as i had hoped. In some areas i had to tidy thing up wth more paint and this has blocked out some of the black showing through. It is ther ein some areas, but very very subtle. I don't mind to much as i had not planed to use the method when i started the build, but its certainly something i will work on in future.

So next up, my favorite bit, the decals.

I have also been working on the vehicles. I checke and the SS-100 tractor does not fit under the aircrfat, so i had to re think the dio. PJ had suggested adding a pit under the aircrfat for the bomb to be lwered into as the Americans did to load the A-Bombs under the B-29's. But i thnik that would be over doing it as the bomb and trolley do fit underneath, but it has given me an idea for another German aircraft in the stash. But it got me thinking about bringing the aircraft to the bomb rather than the otehr way round, so i needed a towing vehicle. The only one that would tow an aircrfat of this weight is an Sd.Kfz 9 Famo, and i just happene to have one that was intended for a He 177 which is heavier than the 555 would have been. So i ditched the other truck, the Famo will serve a dual role of towing and carrying the ground crew and equipment. I had to re jig the lay out and make a new base, but i thnik its going to work fine. I have also had to scratch build a tow bar. So here are the vehciles after painting and some dry brushing.

Famo on left, SS-100 and tractor on right and Kubelwagen front and centre.

People often ask about about making bases, so i thogut i would post some pics of that as i go alng as well. Only one for now. An old bit of chip board with some 18mm MDF to make it thicker and the first piece of balsa added to one side.

And thats it. Now to get those decals on.

I know exatcly what you mean, somtimes, it just has to be done.

I know what you mean. Thankfully I'm intending on sticking the smaller guys in the hatches so the size difference shouldn't show too much. I guess they do make the tank look a little smaller but the detail on them is really nice and I like the look of them.

Ye, i had a feeling they might be. I did not know they did any Japanese figures, but the size sounded like them. They have some nice figures and not all are over sized, but when they are, i try and put them away from smaller figures. Can be a pain. The extra height is fine, but of course all the equipment is also bigger.

Thanks Bish, just checked- yeap they're Verlinden figures all right. I've got a Legend brand resin Japanese tank commander too and he's more normal sized than these six foot plus / two metre tall Verlinden Japanese!

Ye, i just loaded and posted a pic on another thread, and its working fine. Just editing my Arado pics.

I like the look of that kurogane, never seen one of those before. Some nice progress there.

What make are those resin figures. verlinden seem to be on the large side, i reckon more like 1/32nd.

Thanks Bish, I checked the site again they had a message up about maintanence issues, seems to be working fine now.

Ok, kurogane box here. It's basically a Japanese Jeep or kubelwagen.

Beside the Type 5, I like having something small there to show off the size of the tank. I figured it would work as a staff car for the officer I'm throwing in there.

The figures. The officer on the left and the tank commander next to him (second left) are both resin. The two tankers on the right are the FineMolds plastic figures. Funny the resin guys are much taller, I guess as since they say your chances of promotion at work tend to be better the taller you are maybe they're officers since they're taller...

Look forwra to seeing those when you can G. I was going to post an update myself in a bit, will see if PB is playing nice.

Well, the Type 5 is mostly together and almost ready for primer. And I've got a little Kurogane staff car to add. Plus most of the figures are together and ready for paint.

I took photos of everything but now PhotoBucket isn't working again. Goes up to 'Upload 90% complete' and stalls out. So hopefully I'll get something up when I can...

No worries Steve, its much better to have the builds staggered through the GB. really looking forward to that one.

I have just added the final touches to the paint job on the Arado, just tidying up a few edges. I am really pleased with the scheme, will let it dry over night and get some pics tomorow.

hogfanfs

Are you really sure you want to nuke it?!?! 

No, not really, but I think it makes an interesting dio.

The US Navy apparently didn't want to nuke her at first either. I was reading that they were having so many problems with the engines and couldn't keep them going which may have contributed to the decision to tow her to Bikini. 

Steve,

Very nice add-ons! The Prinz Eugen will look fantastic when it's finished! Are you really sure you want to nuke it?!?! 

Wow, looks awesome Steve. Those real wood decks always looked cool to me, I'm curious to see how it builds up.

Well I still have a little while until I  start on the Prinz Eugen but I did break down and purchase a ton of PE and AM for it. It's all generic PE to outfit at least 2 German ships, so I guess I'll have to get another German capital ship for a later build. Perhaps the Graf Spee or Tirpitz, maybe a destroyer. The AM is the Pontos wood deck for the Eugen.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still in the game and was excited to receive these.

Yeap, the T-62 is light grey plastic too. I have no idea which kit would be older though. 

Gamera

As I said over on the armour forum looks good to me Moff. 

I'm trying to finish one of Trumpeter's T-62s and I'm very pleased with the kit, everything fit really well and the kit seemed pretty well designed. 

 

As I said over on the armour forum looks good to me Moff. 

I'm trying to finish one of Trumpeter's T-62s and I'm very pleased with the kit, everything fit really well and the kit seemed pretty well designed. 

No worries Moff. Nice to see you started, i have heard mixed thigns about Trump kits, seems they can be hit or miss. I'll get to see for myself soon enough.

Bish

Ye, if you can post your updates here as well, that would be great Moff. You can just copy and paiste from one to the other, thats all i do.

 

Ok, first update. 

Unlike Doog, I have found Trumpeter's kit engineering to be less than satisfactory...if I have one modeling pet peeve, it's seam lines in inconvenient places. This kit has plenty of that. I've really only spent about 6 hours on this kit so far, as life has taken a busy turn. I've finished the suspension and spent a ton of time attempting to fill gaps. 

I have a couple questions for Doog, if he would be kind enough to answer them when he gets a chance. 

From what I saw of your build Doog, you hollowed out these headlight thingies, correct? You didn't have a photo with a good view of the drilled out section, so I decided to wing it. 

There you go: update number one. Like I said, life's gotten busy at present, so don't expect a deluge of posts for a while. 

Hey Dan, that looks sharp, if you hadn't said this was light grey primer I'd think you'd just painted her for a winter whitewash scheme!

Bruce: Thanks! And thanks again for the help, I went with the light grey here because of your assistance- I was going to just paint the interior white. I still can't believe I've had the book for years and never noticed that part about the light grey interiors in there- DUH!!!

@Cliff,

Nice job on the guns and interior. Looks to be coming together quite well!

@Dan,

The T-34 is moving right along. You have it finished in no time. Great job!

Thanks Bish.

Thanks Gamera: I know what you mean about the Dragon models, very high part counts and over complex assembly here and here.

Did a complete wash down with soap and water on the model, then after the surfaces where dry I airbrush Model Master Grey Primer(the primer looks more grey before you airbrush). Tomorrow I plan to pre-shade with Model Master Gloss Black.

Ye, if you can post your updates here as well, that would be great Moff. You can just copy and paiste from one to the other, thats all i do.