Jasper

 

bufflehead

jasper - welcome to the GB!  The Tamiya JS-2 is a great kit!  It builds up nice and easy and really needs no aftermarket parts to get super results!  If I recall, the link&length tracks had ejector pin marks on them that need to be cleaned up, but other than that its pretty much shake and bake!

 

 

 

 

Thank you!! I was afraid that my post had gotten missed because it had to be approved by a moderator. Once it was approved, it got posted at it's original time, and subsequently got buried under some more recent messages.

I finished up the suspension, road wheels, etc. on the JS-2. I haven't looked at the track links yet but hope to start tackling those this weekend. I've never done link and length tracks before (in fact, never completed an armor kit before!) but I'm looking forward to the challenge!

 

Griffin: Those are looking really good. Nice work! 

Ernest: Don't get me wrong, it's a good kit. Just not the relaxing simple build I could probably use right now.

I'm thinking of pulling out a good ol' Tamiya one after I finish this just to decompress. 

Gamera

Ernest: I like Tamiya quality but yeah those aftermarket tracks and sprockets are a big friggin' improvement! 

And thanks, yes the MiniArt kit. Embaressed I haven't gotten much more done, I needed a rest after all that tiny PE on the one fender. And I still have to do the other one.... 

 

Gamera, so I decided to look at the MiniArt T-44 kit in my stash and was totally surprised that its the same kit as yours.....WITH the interior!!  Yikes!!  I could have sworn it was the exterior only kit!

What was I thinking buying this kit?? 

It's great to see some new people joining the build and everyone's progress. I havnt been getting much done but I have been piddling around with the Ethiopian crew figures. I'm trying to have them look like they don't have official government issued uniforms just what they threw together themselves which is what I get out of my research. I'm not sure about the boots but I'm saying it's Soviet surplus. Buy one T-55 get two used pair of boots..... Freeeee

 

 

Jasper: Welcome and sounds like a cool kit! Love the JS-II, what a friggin' brute of a tank!!!

Griffin: Thanks. But to be honest I don't think I'm building anymore MiniArt kits for awhile. Even the most complex Dragon and AFV Club kits aren't the kind of work this thing is!

Hi Jasper that is a nice kit i Hope to see some pics 

bufflehead

jasper - welcome to the GB!  The Tamiya JS-2 is a great kit!  It builds up nice and easy and really needs no aftermarket parts to get super results!  If I recall, the link&length tracks had ejector pin marks on them that need to be cleaned up, but other than that its pretty much shake and bake!

Thank you!! I was afraid that my post had gotten missed because it had to be approved by a moderator. Once it was approved, it got posted at it's original time, and subsequently got buried under some more recent messages.

I finished up the suspension, road wheels, etc. on the JS-2. I haven't looked at the track links yet but hope to start tackling those this weekend. I've never done link and length tracks before (in fact, never completed an armor kit before!) but I'm looking forward to the challenge!

Gamera

Nick: Well, guess it would depend on defining 'better'. The MiniArt kits are more detailed with a lot more parts but the newer Tamiya kits look almost as good without anywhere near as much work. I guess it would depend of what tank you want to build. 

 

Gamera Your kit looks like a lot of work and your pushing through and doing a terrific job. After seeing yours and Dutchmans, also looking great, builds I am afraid to buy a Mini Art armor kit! I don't think I have the patience for it. I see me burning out in flames. Keep up the good fight, bud.  

Nick: Well, guess it would depend on defining 'better'. The MiniArt kits are more detailed with a lot more parts but the newer Tamiya kits look almost as good without anywhere near as much work. I guess it would depend of what tank you want to build. 

Ernest those after market parts look good I tried those friul tracks for the frist time and I realy like them. it makes my kit look like a cheep suit with expensive shoes lol !!

gamera is the miniart kits better then tamiya in your appinion?

Ernest: I like Tamiya quality but yeah those aftermarket tracks and sprockets are a big friggin' improvement! 

And thanks, yes the MiniArt kit. Embaressed I haven't gotten much more done, I needed a rest after all that tiny PE on the one fender. And I still have to do the other one.... 

jasper - welcome to the GB!  The Tamiya JS-2 is a great kit!  It builds up nice and easy and really needs no aftermarket parts to get super results!  If I recall, the link&length tracks had ejector pin marks on them that need to be cleaned up, but other than that its pretty much shake and bake!

modelcrazy - the PT-76 is looking good.  I like your PE work, it adds so much more realistic detail to the build!

Gamera - is that the MiniArt T-44?  Never seen the inside of one but your's is looking sweeet!  Keeping an eye on this one as I plan on building mine sometime this year!

Nick - the Friuls are awesome!  They'll make that old Tammy T-62 really shine!

dutch - the SU-85 engine interior is rocking!  Great paint work!

Dwayne - hope you're feeling better and better each day! 

*WIP UPDATE*

I completed the Model Kasten tracks for the JS-3.  85 links didn't work out...came out a tad too short so I settled for my original 86 links.  I'll live with the track sag!

With the JS-3 tracks done, I want to switch over to the Tamiya T-62 and get it up to the same point.  Right now its about 25% done with the original suspension and tracks.  First the motorization holes in the hull bottom needed to be filled:

The roadwheels, idlers and sprockets built up quickly and the kit tracks are the old melted pin vinyl versions .  The back plate is just dry fitted and not glued in place yet.

This is where I will turn to some aftermarket parts that have been sitting around in the stash...might as well use them!

I'm going to replace the roadwheels with these resin wheels.  More accurate and much better detail, but lots of cleanup required.  Not sure who made these....Tank Model??

Those sucky kit tracks are going bye-bye!  Replacing with an old, discontinued set of Armour Track workable links.  They  build up much like the Model Kasten tracks although they are a step down in quality (and price!).  Took a pic during the build process:

One set complete.  The Armour Tracks set also includes replacement resin sprockets and idlers....very nice indeed!  Compare to the kit parts:

Like Nick's Friuls on his T-62, these should improve the old kit quite a bit.  I'll post the next update when the replacment tracks are done.

modelcrazy

 

 

ManCityFan

Feeling better today, and don't sound like Darth Vader for the first time in about a week.  Although the voice is still a fairly deep baritone.  Coughing fits are not good for airbrushing.

 

 

That is why I stay home as much as possable, or wear a mask when I do go somewhere. Something like that would end me in the hospital and possably kill me.

 

Please stay safe.

ManCityFan

Feeling better today, and don't sound like Darth Vader for the first time in about a week.  Although the voice is still a fairly deep baritone.  Coughing fits are not good for airbrushing.

That is why I stay home as much as possable, or wear a mask when I do go somewhere. Something like that would end me in the hospital and possably kill me.

Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat better. 

I think I may have said I built the old Tamiya KV-II years ago. It's a decent kit but not outstanding, you probably did the right thing in using this one for a practice kit. I believe I've read that the Trumpeter kits are some of the best KV-Is out there right now. 

Gamera

Oh and hope you get over that cold soon ManCityFan. Guess it's a minor illness but when you're all congested and can't even sleep it doesn't feel like it. 

 

You guys have set the bar pretty high in this GB.  I will do what I can with this old kit.  Might get to that seam work today.  Not a huge deal, fuel barrels need some work, and the main barrel came in two pieces (not lengthwise, but the end glues onto the main part) and I did a poor job with that seam.  Wish I had thought this through when starting the kit, as the viewing ports are just empty spaces.  I could have filled those with clear styrene, which would have been a big improvement.  Can't think of how to do that now that I have glued the turret.  Oh well, there are better kits out there, and I am still learning.  

Looks great Dutchman, now for some grime.

feeling bad makes every thing difficult. 

Oh and hope you get over that cold soon ManCityFan. Guess it's a minor illness but when you're all congested and can't even sleep it doesn't feel like it. 

Gamera

Looks fantastic Dutchman! 

 

Looks fantastic Dutchman! 

sweet

I got the engine compartment painted up:

I should have the fighting compartment finished soon.

mancityfan thank you it is moving very fast all my other GB’s are on the back burner how bad are the seams?

Bad enough that it made me feel like a rookie.  Bad enough that I won't take a picture to show you.  

Griffin25 I think it’s a movie thing to.

gamera thank you it’s still better then BMF.

armornut thank you.

mancityfan thank you it is moving very fast all my other GB’s are on the back burner how bad are the seams?

modelcrazy thanks yes my work top is a little busy With ju 52,me109g and a 58 Chevy lol waiting on BMF!!!

Crown, man those tracks looks so good  Yeah, The Beast, I saw it several years ago, found the DVD at a truckstop somehwere for $5.00 around 7 years ago, bought it and never opend the packaging. Right now it's 1600 miles away at my home in Boise.

Your workspace looks kinda like mine with pieces and parts of other builds pushed to the side for the moment LOL.

armornut

man that looks cool.

 

Finally have the base coat down (mostly), but some embarrassing seams showed up.  Didn't look bad to me until the paint went down.  Now they are so obvious that it's like a poke in the eye.  

man that looks cool.

Wow, the tracks look great on there! 

One thing that caught my eye in the movie was it had a built-in miniature flamethrower in the turret. It couldn't have been standard-issue, could it? Was that just a movie thing?