Dwayne: Sounds pretty rough. Hang in there. Hopefully you can get the bench set up at the right height, since you don't have to move too much it should be ok for your back and keep you occupied. I like reading and watching movies but after a while I have to do something with my hands or I go stir-crazy. Hope the better half or someone is there to help if you do drop anything.

Griffin: She's looking good. You're making great progress.

Kinda wish I'd went with a Tamiya kit. Below are the sprues from this thing, yes they cover half the friggin' bed. Fit is excellent but it's the most detailed tank kit I think I've ever built, it has pretty much a complete interior (which you won't be able to see much of any of it assembled). Lucky I chose to take it with me on vacation and I've working my way along here in the motel room at night while watching TV or YouTube videos. I was going to try to take some assembly shots but I left my camera in the car and my cell phone camera is messed up and won't take close-ups. I'll try to get more posted tomorrow or later this week.

Gamera

Dwayne: Sounds pretty rough. Hang in there. Hopefully you can get the bench set up at the right height, since you don't have to move too much it should be ok for your back and keep you occupied. I like reading and watching movies but after a while I have to do something with my hands or I go stir-crazy. Hope the better half or someone is there to help if you do drop anything.

Griffin: She's looking good. You're making great progress.

Kinda wish I'd went with a Tamiya kit. Below are the sprues from this thing, yes they cover half the friggin' bed. Fit is excellent but it's the most detailed tank kit I think I've ever built, it has pretty much a complete interior (which you won't be able to see much of any of it assembled). Lucky I chose to take it with me on vacation and I've working my way along here in the motel room at night while watching TV or YouTube videos. I was going to try to take some assembly shots but I left my camera in the car and my cell phone camera is messed up and won't take close-ups. I'll try to get more posted tomorrow or later this week.

 

OMG....It looks like you purchased a 1000 piece puzzle LOL. You are going to be very busy on your vacation with this one. Hope you don't run into any problems.

Lookin very nice Griffin...great progress

Sorry to hear about your back bud. Half the people in my office work from a stand-up desk, that could be an option. There are all types and configurations. It might take a little getting used to but a lot of people really like it.

Gamera: Jesus Mary and Josef are you kidding me??? LOL. That is a project! I'm glad its not me but I can't wait to watch you build it. You're the man, man! 

Here's the box art for my entry.

Cheers

Tony

taxtp

Here's the box art for my entry.

Cheers

Tony

 

Geez Gamera, that is a LOT of sprues.  Good thing this GB lasts a year.  Just cleaning up each part after de-spuing is going a take a lot of time.  Are the instructions well laid out and clear?

Tony: Looks like a nice kit, I've heard good stuff about those.

Actually this kit came with an excellent instruction manual - almost a booklet since it's sixteen pages with four more devoted to paint schemes and decals. Fit so far is excellent, a boatload of parts but I'm making good progress.

Took a break from actual real progress. I realize I have a year. Lol. Got the DShK together and primed it. Tamiya real knocked it out of the park with the DShK. It looks like an aftermarket piece. Also made a cooking pot and a bowl to add to the stowage for later. I made them out of ww2 russian helmets and wire handle. 

 

Hey Griffin, that is some nice work.  The cooking pots look perfect.  How did you get the rough metal "texture" on the pots?  That is a technique I would like to use!

The tank gun looks amazing.  Nice job by Tamiya!

What D said dude, those pots look great. Love the gun too. Keep it up boss.

Thanks guys. The rough texture on the pots I would like to take credit for it but it's really just dumb luck I used an industrial type file drew the helmets back and forth on it until they had to shape I thought was right. I used those Tamiya makeup case weathering kits also that probably helped contrast the high and low areas. Hard to see it in the picture. 

Griffin25

Thanks guys. The rough texture on the pots I would like to take credit for it but it's really just dumb luck I used an industrial type file drew the helmets back and forth on it until they had to shape I thought was right. I used those Tamiya makeup case weathering kits also that probably helped contrast the high and low areas. Hard to see it in the picture. 

 

Those Tamiya weathering kits are worth every penny!

Yeah, those look great Griffin. I might have to try that myself. And the MG does look good, great to see Tamiya quality.

Anyway here's some of what I've gotten done on the hull. I really like the plastic and PE racks for the drum magazines for the MG:

And the kit engine and gun breech. Sorry they're a little blurry, I don't have my camera mini-tripod with me:

The instructions are intricate but clear, I've only had a few parts where I was unclear on what to do next. Really important since I'm having to go out of order on some stuff since I don't have any paint here to prime or paint the interior:

Off to a great start Cliff....boy you weren't kidding about the instructions.

Gamera

Yeah, those look great Griffin. I might have to try that myself. And the MG does look good, great to see Tamiya quality.

 

Anyway here's some of what I've gotten done on the hull. I really like the plastic and PE racks for the drum magazines for the MG:

And the kit engine and gun breech. Sorry they're a little blurry, I don't have my camera mini-tripod with me:

The instructions are intricate but clear, I've only had a few parts where I was unclear on what to do next. Really important since I'm having to go out of order on some stuff since I don't have any paint here to prime or paint the interior:

 

You're making good progress. That kit is something else. Super detailed. Very cool. With the hatches and engine cover open you will be able to see all that nice detail. Is that your plan? 

I'm in with the MiniArt 1/35 SU-85.

Sailing_Dutchman

I'm in with the MiniArt 1/35 SU-85.

 

You are making great progress there, Gamera.  That is a nicely detailed kit.  Can't get a sense for how big this kit is, but I am thinking it is fairly huge.

Hey thanks guys! I'm going to leave all the hatches open though I'm not sure how much you can still see there. And I'm going to pop the engine hatches, I should be able to rustle up a Russian tanker that looks sorta like a mechanic.

Btw, maybe it just looks bigger in the photos? It's about the same length as a T-34 and and just a little wider.

I figured out a great way to mask and paint the road wheels. I used nickels with a piece of poster tact putty to stick them to the wheels and airbrushed them. They were just the right size and their weight helped keep the wheels from moving around. It worked great.

 

 

Griffin25

I figured out a great way to mask and paint the road wheels. I used nickels with a piece of poster tact putty to stick them to the wheels and airbrushed them. They were just the right size and their weight helped keep the wheels from moving around. It worked great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They look great, and thank you for the tip.

GREAT IDEA Griffin, I would like to borrow it for my Terminator, dat is slick trick comrad. Roobles are in da mail.

Put a ball of poster putty on the center/ hub and press the nickel down onto it and center it so the edges of the road wheels are exposed. I suppose you can use all kinds of change for different size wheels. Ya? Foreign monies too The laziest guy will find the easiest way to do it! LOL

Those road wheels do look nice and clean!

I do the black first, then paint the middle using a cheap circle template.  Usually have to do a little clean up, but it works for me.

Oh, I've been doing mine the same as Dwayne but now I'm going to look at pocket change and see if I can find something to match. Great idea Griffin!!!

taxtp

I have an assortment of those circular little stickers you can buy in $1 stores too, sometimes you get lucky and the size is right, and they're cheap ! Cheers Tony

 

That's a good idea Tony. Like the one's you use to mark documents and the like. Didn't think of that. Very useful

Found this on the bottom of my tank model:

IMG_0700 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

In case the year is fuzzy, it is 1972.  LOL