You guys are doing some great work. I'm almost afraid to post pictures, I will not match your work.

On a side note I have a question. If a 251 was white wahsed in the winter of 1944/45 would it still have some white wash still on it in Berlin in April/May 45? I mean kind of worn off but you can still see it.

KC, sorry, i was sure i had replied to this. Ye, its very possable tehre would still be patches of white, especially in out of the way areas that would not get much wear and tear.

After several days of trying, i can finally get on line and post an upate. This is a few days old and i have move don a bit since these were taken.

The vehcile got an Alclad aqua glos coat and then some light weathering. I used a thin wash of MiG Brown wash all over. This was followed by pin washes and some dry brushing.

Also got the Dragon tracks together.

I am useing a set of tracks that come with metal pads. These were only in use for a couple of months in 1944. I can't be sure the vehcile i am doing ahd them, but it fits in that time frame.

These were painted tamiya XF-69 then dry brushed with steel on the areas of wear. After that a raw umber oil wash. One issue i have had with this stage is that the white spirits i use to thin the oil paint has an adverse effect on the small pins that hold the links together. I am going to have to find a less harsh thinner or maybe try Fruil washes instead of oil.

And the bike was put together. I got an Aber PE set for this but only used some of it.

This was painted DY and given a brown wash.

And finally the figures have been primed and are ready for painting.

More soon. The vehicle is now almost done, just a few bts to add. So i can now concentrate on finishing the base and figures.

That's looking great Bish. Here's mine.

I'm going to leave the road wheels and faddily bits off until I complete the paint. I watch you and it seems easier than my method.

Thanks Steve. I always do that, same with doors and antenna's. I really should have left the width indicators off as well. I have lost count of how many times i have had to refit the right one. I have only just today added the rear doors and hatches as i don't need to handlt it much now.

Thats coming on well, can't wait to see some paint go on.

Bish: Looks really good and I love the bike.

Steve: Coming along great there too.

Thanks G.

Man, there are some seriously great builds going on here.  Very inspiring!

Well, I apologize for taking so long to get these posted.  Been busy with the holidays and all.  But here they are.

The Tamiya halftrack is going together nicely.  Had one little issue with fit on the cab, but nothing major.  Having fun with it and can't wait to hone my skills on some figures!  This kit comes with 9 of them!!  Thanks for checking it out.

Eagle90

Great to see you underway Bobby. Off to a good start.

Bish

Great to see you underway Bobby. Off to a good start.

 

Thank you sir!  This is a bit different then the other armour kits I've done to this point, but fun non the less!  The Tamiya kit is going together pretty well, just wondering how I'll fair on the figures.  

Bobby

She's coming along great! 

I wonder how Maildude is doing, he was building the same kit and seemed pretty close to being done. 

Gamera

She's coming along great! 

I wonder how Maildude is doing, he was building the same kit and seemed pretty close to being done. 

 

LOL!  I just noticed that maildude, you , and I are the only ones doing a US halftrack!  

I think we are outnumbered.....I feel an ambush coming on!  LOL!

Bobby

Eagle90

 

 

Gamera

She's coming along great! 

I wonder how Maildude is doing, he was building the same kit and seemed pretty close to being done. 

 

 

 

 

LOL!  I just noticed that maildude, you , and I are the only ones doing a US halftrack!  

I think we are outnumbered.....I feel an ambush coming on!  LOL!

Bobby

 

 

Lol, yeah before you guys reinforced me I had the only non-German one here! 

I'm almost embarressed on how mine is coming. After I put down a primer coat of Tamiya that dried with horrible orange peel I was able to get most of it off. Then for a few stubborn places on the right side I grabbed some thinner and a toothbrush. Only then I noticed it was laquer thinner, and it had eaten chunks out of the plastic...

I was able to sand most of the damage out but that removed all the nice rivet detail Dragon had molded there. I replaced some but they're not all even or the same size. I think I'm just going to drape a camo net over that side. In the meantime I just put the thing aside to take a break for something else. I still intend to get her done by the end of the GB but I don't even want to look at it right now. 

Gamera

 

 

Eagle90

 

 

Gamera

She's coming along great! 

I wonder how Maildude is doing, he was building the same kit and seemed pretty close to being done. 

 

 

 

 

LOL!  I just noticed that maildude, you , and I are the only ones doing a US halftrack!  

I think we are outnumbered.....I feel an ambush coming on!  LOL!

Bobby

 

 

 

 

 

Lol, yeah before you guys reinforced me I had the only non-German one here! 

I'm almost embarressed on how mine is coming. After I put down a primer coat of Tamiya that dried with horrible orange peel I was able to get most of it off. Then for a few stubborn places on the right side I grabbed some thinner and a toothbrush. Only then I noticed it was laquer thinner, and it had eaten chunks out of the plastic...

I was able to sand most of the damage out but that removed all the nice rivet detail Dragon had molded there. I replaced some but they're not all even or the same size. I think I'm just going to drape a camo net over that side. In the meantime I just put the thing aside to take a break for something else. I still intend to get her done by the end of the GB but I don't even want to look at it right now. 

 

Wow, that is some super detailed weather you got going there.    That had to hurt on a Dregon kit.  The 234/4 I did was a Dragon kit and the detail just floored me!  

Bobby

I have nine figures with my kit...how many you have?  Maybe we can get them with number of troops!?  LOL!  Or.......we are completely surrounded and doomed.  LOL!

Eagle90

I have nine figures with my kit...how many you have?  Maybe we can get them with number of troops!?  LOL!  Or.......we are completely surrounded and doomed.  LOL!

 

 

Well, this set of six (three two-legged, three four-legged) Marines, plus the driver with the halftrack and I dug out another set of four to fill out the crew to five so let's see eight two-legged Marines and three four-legged Marines makes eleven in total... 

So that's 17 with boots and 3 with paws....We have a chance I think.  LOL!

Gamera

 

Eagle90

I have nine figures with my kit...how many you have?  Maybe we can get them with number of troops!?  LOL!  Or.......we are completely surrounded and doomed.  LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

Well, this set of six (three two-legged, three four-legged) Marines, plus the driver with the halftrack and I dug out another set of four to fill out the crew to five so let's see eight two-legged Marines and three four-legged Marines makes eleven in total... 

 

 

Would it be mean to poiint out that the 4 legged members of your team there are German

Just sayin.

I must admit, i did expect to see mostly German builds here. So its nice to see you guys building some US ones. I hope MD is able to get back soon.

Good point Bish....hope they don't turn on us.  LOL!

Eagle90

Good point Bish....hope they don't turn on us.  LOL!

 

 

If they start raising the font right paw your in trouble.

Bish

 

 

Eagle90

Good point Bish....hope they don't turn on us.  LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

If they start raising the font right paw your in trouble.

 

Awwwwww, he wants to shake hands, isn't that cute???

AAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH, MY HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmmm, was thinking that outside the US and Germany the Frence and Japanese were the only nations to produce halftracks and not too many. Did the UK build any? I think fully tracked Universal Carriers were used for most stuff other than some lend-lease US halftracks? And again other than lend-lease the Soviets just piled troops on their tanks.

Gamera

 

Bish

 

 

Eagle90

Good point Bish....hope they don't turn on us.  LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

If they start raising the font right paw your in trouble.

 

 

 

 

Awwwwww, he wants to shake hands, isn't that cute???

AAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH, MY HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hmmmmmmm, was thinking that outside the US and Germany the Frence and Japanese were the only nations to produce halftracks and not too many. Did the UK build any? I think fully tracked Universal Carriers were used for most stuff other than some lend-lease US halftracks? And again other than lend-lease the Soviets just piled troops on their tanks.

 

I am not aware of any British halftracks, i have only seen our forces use US ones. I think the Russians had some, but i think they were mainly cargo trucks. And they seem to have quickly fallen out of favour after WW2.

Time to wrap this one up. The final touches to the vehcile were adding some MiG pigments. Mixed with water they were applied, allowed to dry and then the excess removed.

And then all was brought together to finish it of. For the figures, i used 2 from the Tamiya maintanance set. These both wore one piece overalls so posed a bit of a problem. Then checking my book on SS uniforms i found some images of camoflaged one piece outfirs worn by AFV crew, perfect. So i painte dthose in plane tree camo. The Commander is a Verlinden figure. He must be an old one as he seems to be in scale. He is painted to match the figure in the colour drawing of the vehcile. And the rider has Italien camo trousers and a plain tree jacket.

The hedge was finished off with polyfibre wrapped around the wire trunks and various scatter materials add.

So, let me set the scene. A 251/9 of the das Reich's Deutschland Pz Gren Battalion need some urgent repairs. So, finding a narrow track with high hedges it pulls over. Adding some foliage in the hope of avoiding the eyes of prolling allied jabo's, the driver get to work while the gunner takes the chance to sort through his ammo.

But then a Motorcycle dispatch rider arrives to issue soime verbal orders. maybe the unit is on radio silence. He tells the commander that he is ordered tomove with all haiste to help cover German troops withdrawing in the face of the allied advance.

And then, a short time later, the vehicle was in action close to Elbeuf near the Seine river.

 And this may have been the reason it fell into enemy hands. Perhaps the driver, forced to complety his repairs in a hurry, didn't fully fix the probelm. And maybe this lead to the vehcile, seemily undamaged, was abandon with the crew  who hurridly gathered their things from the side bins and left their vehcile to the pursuing Candian troops.

And there is my last build of the year, and what a joy it is to finally have this on the shelf.

I like the story and hypothesis Bish. It's a shame to cover all that beautiful work with foliage. 

I ordered some more sand yellow so I can finish up mine.

Thnaks Steve. I know what you mean, but as a dio it would not have worked without it. In real life it would probably have been more, but this is a case of using some artistic restraint but still give a general idea.

Look forward to seeing more of yours.

Hi Bish, great looking scene and I enjoyed the little story you have attached to it.  

Excellent detail on the vehicle, great job with the figs, really like work on the various camou types, and the vegetation looks fabulous.

regards,

Jack

Thnaks jack. I am pleased with how my figures are coming on. Still more improvment to make, but its going in the right direction. And you have been a big help and inspiration in that regard.

Hey Bish, excellent work on the 251 and bike, figures, groundwork and foliage, the whole darn thing!!! 

Thanks G, much appreciated. Looking forward to seeing everyone else builds come along.

Hey everyone.  I have a question for you armor experts out there.  I'm ready to paint the M3A2 and Tamiya calls out Olive Drab (XF-62) for the overall color, but I'm thinking it's a bit "brown"?  To my eyes (and they are 49 YO eyes now), Olive Green (XF-58) looks to be closer to what Tamiya has on the box art.  Any suggestions and/or help on an accurate color would be greatly appreciated.  It is a Tamiya kit (35070) in case that helps.

Thanks!

Eagle90