I think the T-62 is done.  Turret work is complete, but I don't really like the clunky kit DShK mg....I might steal one from another kit.  The resin turret took a lot more work than I anticipated to get it into shape.  Some of the kit parts needed to be reworked to fit and then those handrails...whew!  Added weld beads all over and some extras I had sitting around. 

I need to do some work on a that T-34/85 (for another GB) and then all of them are going into the paint booth.

DasBeav, the T-35 tracks are looking good!  Indy links can be intimidating at first, but once you figure out how to install them they aren't that bad!  Looking forward to seeing that beast come together!

Gamera, I saw your brass soup mix...never would have thought that mess would have happened just by soaking in thinner!  Now that you have the real deal, those brass shells should look great inside the T-44!

My T-62 is finally coming together!  Putting on the last pieces today and then all three will be ready for the paint booth! (barring any last minute changes!)

DasBeav: What you've got there looks pretty good to me! 

Got my brass shells last week and now just need some time to get them and the rest of the interior painted. 

DasB, nice job. That does not look easy bud. 

PROGRESS!! Tracks are assembled and ready for prime and paint. After watching a couple Youtube videos on how to do the tracks(they made it look so easy) I did it the noob way, in sections. Should turn out ok...will excede my expectations. Hopefully, finish the T35 in a week or two.

Hey DasBeav, you are definitely not the last one done.  I still have to finish the KV-1, and I actually managed to get a couple of greeblies on while waiting for something or other to dry on the Wildcat.  Won't be done for a bit yet, and I started this GB!!

You are making good progress on a pretty challenging kit.

DasB I feel your pain. Especially the no guide pins thing. It makes it very difficult. How can you dry fit without guide pins, man!?  

DasBeav: Crossing my fingers for you. It's a cool looking tank, looking forward to seeing her all together.

Griffon25, the ICM kit definitely has its issues. If you don't know what you are doing, like me, its a pain in the a@#. "Greasey, warped parts, NO GUIDE PINS ANYWHERE, not a lot of detail for the number of parts. But hey, have wanted to do a T35 since I saw one. And $15 or so I paid for it on Ebay can't complain too much. If I can get the tracks right (a big if) it should turn out pretty good. Maybe it's just me but my biggest problem is after cutting parts off the tree, trimming with a knife and sanding, you can still see the "little square" where they attached to the tree. You have to sand a little past flush to get rid of them, if that makes sense. From the reviews I have read go with a Hobby Boss or a Zvezda if you decide to do one.

 You're making good progress. All those sub assemblies should come together nicely. Looking forward to seeing it complete. It's a brave man who takes on a 1/35 T-35! What do you think of ICM's kit anyway, so far? 

Well, golly. Here's is my progress...Have alot of ABing "accessories" in the next few days. Is everybody finished already?!?!

Oh sorry! 

Looking forward to seeing how your Teminator comes out. I've got the Meng T-90 with the dozer blade and did some work on it but haven't touched the tracks yet. 

   Not gonna lie Gamera, I almost tossed my cookies...until I read the caption on your brass soup. OOPS!

     I started the daunting task of assembling the indy links on my Meng Terminator. They provide a jig but the links are still tedious, if I'm very careful they will hold together long enough to get them on the model. I will also try to get a pre assembled/ post assembled picture when I finally get a few minutes to get them taken.

      My kit is about 90% complete and I'm trying to clear some room to get the painting started. It has been a fun kit, well engineered, nice subassemblies, IMO exellent detail. No real fit issues and very little clean up on most seams. I will try to get wip pix posted soon. Thanks for hanging in with me.

DasBeav: Ouch! Sorry to hear that. Sometimes it's better to just set the thing aside and read a book or watch a movie! 

Gamera, that picture is my modelling hobby in microcosm. Just today I broke two parts just removing them from the trees.

Griffin25

OH WHAT? Dang Gamera that's shell soup. At least it's easy to replace bud

 

Yeah, something like that, looks sorta like the miso soup I had for lunch.  I got a good chuckle out of this guess it's a good thing I was in a good mood.

Just searched three websites and couldn't find a set of 85mm brass shells and then found a set on Ebay for fifteen bucks and free shipping and handling.

Fifteen bucks- I wish I'd just ordered these in the first place and saved a pile of work painting the plastic ones...

OH WHAT? Dang Gamera that's shell soup. At least it's easy to replace bud

Ernest: Great line-up there! You're making great progress. So are you just going to prime them all in one big spraying session when you get home?

DasBeav: You know I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Just for example here- I hated how the brass paint on the shells came out so I finally said 'the blazes with it' and shoved them in a bottle of thinner to remove the paint and redo them.

Looks like the thinner I used was a little stronger than I thought...

Oh well, off to do what I should have done in the first place and order some turned brass shells.....

Nice work, Dutchman. Coming along quite nicely.                     

Bufflehead, you are doing some prodigious work there. Can I send you a half built T 35 by any chance?

Actually got quite a bit done this weekend between B-ball and St. Patties Day, just not picture worthy. Depending on the weather should get some prime and paint done this week. May start on finishing the track. Fingers crossed. 

That's a mean looking lineup! You are getting S done, son. Very cool 

Happy Sunday all!  I hope everyone enjoyed St. Patrick's Day (if you're into that!)

DasBeav - Yep, been there, done that!  Thankfully most of today's kits are pretty well engineered, but I've assembled many clunkers before! 

I had one day (yesterday) between road trips to get in some bench time, so I completed the T-26.  The only thing I MIGHT add is the turret antenna...depends on the paint scheme/markings I decide on.

The only major issue I had with the small parts was the hatch handles.  They come molded with some type of hinge which made them look very strange (top part in photo).  I've never seen this before so I just trimmed them off and sanded the feet for a better look (bottom part).

And here she is all done.  I added some bolts to the mantlet and tow rings that were missing.  That's about it.  Oops..looks like I bent the front hatch handle in my heavy handedness.   Gotta fix that.

With the T-26 done its time to get back to the Tamiya T-62.  All the work that's left is on the turret.  Some of the kit parts will get used, but not all since the resin turret already has them molded on. 

I'm trying to figure out the best way to add the grab handles.  The kit parts are thick and have a lot of flash and are designed with mounting legs bent 45 deg to fit the kit turret holes.  Usually I just make them from brass rod, but these are a little tricky as I need to bend them all the same and make sure they're positioned correctly on the resin turret as it doesn't have any locating holes.

I'll also need to scratchbuild a few parts for the mantlet as the kit parts won't fit correctly.

So here's a pic of the bevy of Russian beauties in the Bufflehead lineup!

Wait a minute.....Where'd that T-34 come from?? 

Just venting. Have you ever put together a kit and the parts assembled do not match the technical drawing and you spend 20 minutes trying to get them to fit and you think YOU did something wrong, only to look at other finished kits on the computer and realize you are right? (Run on sentence intended)

Oh lots of good stuff going on since I last checked in here!

Dutch, that is one fine looking SU-85.  Looking forward to seeing her with paint!

Dutch that is coming along nicely. That's a great looking kit.

Hey Dutch, that is looking really good!  The tracks look especially fantastic.  She looks mean, just like armor should. 

Dutchman: She looks perfect to me. Ready to start flinging paint!!! 

I have finished the building after spending about a week putting on all the "fiddly bits". The mudgaurds were heated over a candle and bent to match reference photos.

DasBeav: They look fine to me now. 

And yeah the Tsar tank, let's build a giant armoured tricycle. I'll give them credit for thinking outside (waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy outside) the box there. 

Hey DasBeav, PPP is your friend.    I know how you feel about directions.  More than once I have done some gluing, only to find that I missed a step.  Much cursing then ensues. 

Looked up that Tsar tank.  That is the craziest concept I have ever seen for a tank.  The Russians did think BIG!  Thanks for posting that.

Feeling better, so will be getting more bench time.  Yay!