If you could please correct the roster.  I am listed building a t-35, it should be t-34.  Thanks.

armornut

Ok my arm is twisted enough, I'm in...for eal this time. I will be doing the Meng offering of the "Terminator" Infantry Support Vehicle, unless I have to much prelim built to qualify. Picture coming Saturday OR Sunday coming when I get home. And I f I need to change my kit I will let ya know then. DasVidania

 

I love the Terminator kit.....I will be watching that one for sure!

D,

I think you did a great job on the badges.

route62

If you could please correct the roster.  I am listed building a t-35, it should be t-34.  Thanks.

 

I'm attempting to build a T-55 in Ethiopian service during the Ethiopian Eritrean war of 1998-2000. It was a major conflict that got little notice here in the USA. The Soviets built thousands of T-55's for export during the 70's. The T-55's built for export did not have the anti radiation shielding (T-55A) and had, in most cases, a DShK mg mounted at the loaders hatch. African nations purchased many of these. Ethiopia bought over 1200 T-55's from the 70's up to the early 2000's. When Eritrea got it's independence from Ethiopia in 1991, after a bloody civil war, it retained many of the T-55's for itself. Then they squared off with each other in 98'. 

Anyway I have started with Friul tracks. First try at the Friul s. Took about 3 hours for the first track but I got the hang of it. Then I used a gun bluing solution to oxidize and darken them up. Worked really well. Thanks for looking.

 

 

Nice trick on the gun blue solution.  There is also a browning solution made.  Will have to flie away in the memory bank on that.

Might be worthwhile to submit that to FSM as a build tip/trick.

Griffin,

Very nice work of those tracks. They look great.

Hunter

Griffin,

Very nice work of those tracks. They look great.

 

Thanks Hunter! I really like the Friul tracks. Its relaxing to build them. I think AK Interactive weathering products makes a darkening solution that is basically gun bluing solution. 

So this is my second AFV build ever.  I have been building for 35 years but it has all be aircraft save the one tank and 2 or 3 cars years ago.  I was getting a little bored with aircraft so I decided to give armor a try again.  

I decided to go with an inexpesive kit so I could practice and hone my skills.  I paid 5 bucks for this kit at a swap meet.  The kit is respectible.  Not Tamiya quality but a good base to start with.  The instructions are horrible, inaccurate and full of mistakes but its an easy kit figure out.

I have never done individual track links before, only rubber one piece, so I look forward to the new challenge.  The weathering on AFV will allow me to stretch my modelling skills.  I am considering doing this in a winter camo scheme.

I started this build about 3 weeks ago and here is where I am at currently:

A little scratch here and there.  Picture hanging wire for tow cables, some bent wire for grab handles, wire for an antenna and some left over mesh for a rear engine grill.

By the way Mancity, I should complete this with plenty of time to spare before Nov of 2018.  Are we allowed to do more then one build in the time frame given?  I would only enter it after this one was completed.

route62

So this is my second AFV build ever.  I have been building for 35 years but it has all be aircraft save the one tank and 2 or 3 cars years ago.  I was getting a little bored with aircraft so I decided to give armor a try again.  

I decided to go with an inexpesive kit so I could practice and hone my skills.  I paid 5 bucks for this kit at a swap meet.  The kit is respectible.  Not Tamiya quality but a good base to start with.  The instructions are horrible, inaccurate and full of mistakes but its an easy kit figure out.

I have never done individual track links before, only rubber one piece, so I look forward to the new challenge.  The weathering on AFV will allow me to stretch my modelling skills.  I am considering doing this in a winter camo scheme.

I started this build about 3 weeks ago and here is where I am at currently:

A little scratch here and there.  Picture hanging wire for tow cables, some bent wire for grab handles, wire for an antenna and some left over mesh for a rear engine grill.

By the way Mancity, I should complete this with plenty of time to spare before Nov of 2018.  Are we allowed to do more then one build in the time frame given?  I would only enter it after this one was completed.

 

That is looking good. Looks like a nice quality kit. Did it come with PE? Left over mesh. Missed that.

"The weathering on AFV will allow me to stretch my modelling skills.  I am considering doing this in a winter camo scheme.

By the way Mancity, I should complete this with plenty of time to spare before Nov of 2018.  Are we allowed to do more then one build in the time frame given?  I would only enter it after this one was completed."

Hey Route62, that is looking quite good for a second AFV.  Doing a winter camo would look great.  I want to try this at some point, but am a little nervous about it.  

You can certainly enter another build.  Hope you enjoy the build.  We need more folks on the dark side.  Bwah hah hah.

What did you use for the mesh.  It looks so convincing, I would have sworn it was PE.  

Hey Griffin and Route62, those are looking good guys!

I tried the hairspray technique to whitewash a US M-10 a few years ago and it worked way better than even I hoped. When the model is finished just coat it with a good matte varnish and then spray with a couple good coats of hairspray. Then a patchy overcoat of acyrlic white paint. Use a moist wide brush when the paint is dry but still within five-ten minutes to stroke down top to bottom concentrating where the paint would wear the most.

Hunter: It's a good kit. They went a little crazy with some of the interior detail like the workable running gear which I ended up just cementing most of it in place. Still I'm looking forward to getting more done with her.

the plan is to use hair spray technique for the winter camo.  I have been watching videos on youtube.  It similar to techniques I have done on aircraft to create winter camo for soviet ww2 aircraft.

The mesh is easily found online.  A search for "photo etch mesh" will yield plenty of results and in several sizes of mesh weave.  It's great to have a sheet or two of this on hand.  Works great for all sorts of grills auto, AFV, aircraft and more.  

Also I have found at the dollar stores fine mesh strainers that I cut up and use in the same manner.

I am going out of town tomorrow but when I get back next week, I should be able to get the first coats of primer on the T-34 and get it ready for color.

Hey Griffin, those tracks look great!  Friuls really look fantastic, but are kinda pricey.  Glad you got a chance to try them out.

Hey Route, thanks for the info.  Gotta get to the dollar store and look online.  I am really liking the armor, so having mesh on hand would be handy.  Looking forward to seeing the winter camo.

I am in with BTR 70 by Trumpeter in 1:35. With big wheels and sharp bow these wehicles allways appeared to me to be very mean badass machines

ManCityFan

Rob Gronovius

ManCityFan

Rob Gronovius

I may take part in this. I have many Russian/Soviet armor kits.

 

Please do.  What better reason to pull one of those kits out of the stash?  You know you want to. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been working on a Revell Jeep Rubicon and was thinking about building one of my military jeeps. A very long time ago I won a Tamiya GAZ67B Russian Jeep on eBay that I never got around to building. It had been painted, but unbuilt when I got it and I stripped the paint off of the kit. I will pull it out to see if it is all there. If I get motivated, I also have a Zvezda BMD-1 kit that I finally got resin tracks for, but it is a more involved build than I want to start at this time.

 

Hey Rob, I was just kidding.  If you find the right kit, the motivation, and have the time, we would love to have you in the GB.  I know what it is like to look at a kit, and think "not now".  The GB runs a year, so you can certainly jump in later.  Both kits you mentioned sound interesting.

Happy building,

D

I did locate the old Tamiya GAZ67B Russian Field Car. When I bought it on eBay, it was in a lot of kits. Someone had already painted the tires and the lower chassis. I stripped the paint from the chassis, but not the tires since I figured they were salvagable.

I am in D. if you'll have a Hotspur fan. Griffen25 wants to see the big russian tank with all of the turrets and a block long. I think he's talking about the T-35. I've wanted to build  my ICM for 2 years, just can't pull the trigger.(350 track links may be the issue) I won't start until the first of the year. Bought it off of Ebay for 15$...box is junk. Here's what it would look like....

DasBeav

I am in D. if you'll have a Hotspur fan. Griffen25 wants to see the big russian tank with all of the turrets and a block long. I think he's talking about the T-35. I've wanted to build  my ICM for 2 years, just can't pull the trigger.(350 track links may be the issue) I won't start until the first of the year. Bought it off of Ebay for 15$...box is junk. Here's what it would look like....

 

Holy Moly that's the one! I gotta Wikipedia that sucker. Looking forward to seeing that behemoth being built. Individual track links? You are the man! 

castelnuovo

I am in with BTR 70 by Trumpeter in 1:35. With big wheels and sharp bow these wehicles allways appeared to me to be very mean badass machines

 

DasBeav

I am in D. if you'll have a Hotspur fan. Griffen25 wants to see the big russian tank with all of the turrets and a block long. I think he's talking about the T-35. I've wanted to build  my ICM for 2 years, just can't pull the trigger.(350 track links may be the issue) I won't start until the first of the year. Bought it off of Ebay for 15$...box is junk. Here's what it would look like....

 

Tottenham fans are more than welcome! 

Rob Gronovius

 

I did locate the old Tamiya GAZ67B Russian Field Car. When I bought it on eBay, it was in a lot of kits. Someone had already painted the tires and the lower chassis. I stripped the paint from the chassis, but not the tires since I figured they were salvagable.

 

Sorry, I wasn't totally clear if you wanted to be in the GB, and didn't want to add your name until I was sure.

Thanks,

D

Thanks, Dwayne. Last spring, during March Madness, I cut the links off the tree. I think that over an hour. They still need trimmed. Going to build a jig to glue them. Looked at Fruils....they cost 3 or 4 times what I paid for the kit! Different story if they were preassembled.

DasBeav

Thanks, Dwayne. Last spring, during March Madness, I cut the links off the tree. I think that over an hour. They still need trimmed. Going to build a jig to glue them. Looked at Fruils....they cost 3 or 4 times what I paid for the kit! Different story if they were preassembled.

 

DasBeav: Cool! I've thought about picking up the Hobbyboss T-35 but never pulled the trigger. ICM kits are interesting, should be one hell of a ride there.

Dwayne: I've built both the Tamiya KV-I and KV-II. The 'rubber band' tracks are workable but only detailed on the outside. The inner surface is totally smooth. On the other hand I'm not sure putting Friuls on that kit is worth it- it's kinda like putting a $3000 stereo system into a $600 car. But it's your money of course!

Gamera

DasBeav: Cool! I've thought about picking up the Hobbyboss T-35 but never pulled the trigger. ICM kits are interesting, should be one hell of a ride there.

Dwayne: I've built both the Tamiya KV-I and KV-II. The 'rubber band' tracks are workable but only detailed on the outside. The inner surface is totally smooth. On the other hand I'm not sure putting Friuls on that kit is worth it- it's kinda like putting a $3000 stereo system into a $600 car. But it's your money of course!

 

I think you are right with the tracks.  I looked the kit over, and I don't think it needs a $3,000 stereo.  Will save the money for another kit that will hopefully come with better tracks.  Thanks, you helped reinforce what I was thinking, and saved me some money.  

I'm in.  I'll be doing a 1/35 Tamiya SU-122.

(might also do a second entry later, Cold War or modern era).

Armor_Aficionado

I'm in.  I'll be doing a 1/35 Tamiya SU-122.

(might also do a second entry later, Cold War or modern era).

 

I started working backwards last night and decided to make some stowage instead of working on the actual tank. I think I wanted to say I finished something before I started the hard part. I used google translate and made a couple Amharic lettered decals for some liquid containers. Amharic is the most prevelant language in Ethiopia. The yellow one is "corn oil" and the blue one is "drinking water". I am not sure how accurate it is but it's in the ball park. The containers are from Royal Models and paint is Vallejo acrylics. Thanks for looking.

That's nice work Griffin, I like the idea a lot.

Ok you got me. I haven't been able to resist. Slot me in for a Hobby Boss 1/48 KV-1 please. I'll make a start on it next year.

Cheers

Tony

taxtp

That's nice work Griffin, I like the idea a lot.

Ok you got me. I haven't been able to resist. Slot me in for a Hobby Boss 1/48 KV-1 please. I'll make a start on it next year.

Cheers

Tony