Good to see you back Clemens.

Clemens: Good to have you back!

Alright guys, time for me to get back to my duties as your host again (finally).

All is well here, I've just had some issues with logging into the forums and as soon as that got fixed, things became really busy around here which left me with essentially no free time at all. Fortunately, that is all behind me now and I'll be able to spend more time on here again.

First of all, my apologies to everyone who signed up while I was gone. I've added all of you to the build roster. So, Svenne, Nuckss and waynec, welcome aboard! (I hope I didn't miss anyone

Now, time to get caught up on everything going on in here!

Steve: I really like how your Challenger turned out. You really can't tell it's just 1/72 scale.

Svenne: Looks like you're making good progress on your Terminator. Such a mean looking machine.

Regarding those optics and periscopes, what I tend to do is tint the glass with an appropriate clear color and attach some bare metal foil to the inside of the part. However, I haven't tried that yet on a modern vehicle with large optics, just on those tiny WW2 periscopes.

AA: You sure are blasting through your builds here. both the M109 and BMP-2 look really nice. Gotta love those weird Ukrainian camo schemes.

TigerII: Some lovely work on your T-72 as well, a nice clean build!

Nuckss: I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the Alclad Aqua clear. I have a bottle of that stuff myself, but didn't get to try it out yet. I have used their matte clear (it is indeed lacquer based) several times however, and it's by far my favorite final finishing coat to use. Your Type 90 looks really sharp despite your struggles with the clear coat however!

Dutchman: I've updated the roster to include your Strv. I love this unusual little tank.

Ben: You absolutely nailed that splinter camo on your Strv and the weathering really brings those bright colors together to turn them into a proper camouflage pattern.

KC: That Bradley sure is a stunner! It really is a shame most of the interior is hidden once you put all the major hull parts together. I reall like the mismatched ERA blocks on the hull sides.

Cliff: Damn, that's a LOT of wheels. Almost looks German...

This is a very nice Bradley. I like the multi-colored blocks on the side skirts. The interior looks very good and it has enough weathering to make you feel like you're in the Iraqi desert.

Thanks guys!!

KC,

I really like how your Bradley turned out. Very well done weathering effects. 

That looks really nice KC. The fans on the back are a great addition, does make it stand out.

Great looking build.

Hi,

Your build looks great.

Despite all you went though she looks fantastic to me! I love the weathered dusty look you've got going on there!

I'm going to call this finished. For some reason, maybe just dumb luck, I've had nothing but trouble with this model. First I lost a major part of the model and it took me 2 days to find it, I told about it in the other post. Then just before I was finished I had to remove the model and and my tools because the workmen were coming over to redo my kitchen and I wanted to put everything away  with them coming and going though the house. On the way to the display case I first broke one of the side skirts and as I was griping it to keep the whole model from falling out of my hand I broke the other side skirt and part of the track. With the kitchen and everything else I came close to throwing the whole thing against the wall. But now all the house looks right and I was happy again I went back to finish this.

One thing here. The front armor module and ramp in the rear are NOT glued on. I just  popped them up for the photos and will glue them shut so I don't have to deal with them later. So please don't count them.

By the way. I like how the non-slip texture came out. It was easy to put on and I plan to use it on several other models.

Right,
looks like a Barracuda (SAAB) masking.
The Army has used this on both the STRV 122 and the STRF 9040.
Have the MENG Leopard 2A4 and a "AFV Club Extra Thin Camouflage Net" (AC35019) to do this:


Good luck with your build PF, I look forward to this one :)

Svenne

That ugly “car cover” is most likely similar to the Barracuda system, which provides thermal and possibly radar masking.  With the system that Chally is using, it could also act as a disguise to make the enemy think it’s an alligator or dragon!  Game of Thrones tank? 

PFJN

I'm looking forward to seeing alot of these builds.  If I had more money (and more skill) I would love to try and build a Challenger II in its flanel pajamas, like shown below.  Unfortunately, I suspect that if I were to try doing that model right now, with my limited skills I'd just make a complete mess of it

PF

https://petesmodelworld.blogspot.com/p/castoff-models-challenger-2-tes.html

 

Thats different, that must be somthing new, never seen that before.

I am starting on my Strv. 103C backdated to a 103B. I play World of Tanks with my father and this is his favorite tank in the game. Please excuse any historical inaccuracies as I am building it from a game.

I have done that too. had a Tamiya T-72 i got in a garage sale flood damage so buy one and pick the smashed box for free. Everything was there. lost the PE for the top deck engine louvres, fortunately not mesh. built new ones from styrene. found the PE. also painted the front tow cable, finishing up the model and could not find it so i made some brackets. rubber band track and the right one broke but, with side skirts, i wired it up underneath. the left one broke opposite so one wire job was under the skirt and, given it was Syrian, the other wire job was covered in sand parked next to a big rock.

it never wins anything but i really like it.

PS i think we need more warwheels here so i am going to do a pair of FUCHSs 6x6.

Clemens: Welcome back!!! Hope things are better now. 

KC: OUCH!!! I've dropped models, thankfully not to do that much damage though.

PF: Well, you could try it and then strip the camo material off and repaint her if you don't like it. 

I'm looking forward to seeing alot of these builds.  If I had more money (and more skill) I would love to try and build a Challenger II in its flanel pajamas, like shown below.  Unfortunately, I suspect that if I were to try doing that model right now, with my limited skills I'd just make a complete mess of it

PF

https://petesmodelworld.blogspot.com/p/castoff-models-challenger-2-tes.html

I had just finished weathering the turret and was taking it into another room for the night when I moved to turn on the light I dropped it on the hard floor. It broke in 12 pieces. I super glued most of them back on and tomorrow after it dries I'll put the others back on.

I had some pretty tough months lately with no real free time, but luckily that mess is behind me now.

Give me a day or two to get caught up on this thread and I'll get everything updated asap.

Cheers, Clemens

That happened to me. I had let some glue into where the turret goes and the turret would not turn. I took it to the sink to run water over it while I used sandpaper to get the dried glue out. Later I realized the exhaust cover was missing. I looked for it on and off for 2 days and found it on the floor right next to the sink, I just didn't see it. Must have come off when I was getting that glue off.

Good luck repairing the hatch! 

At least you still have it. Yesterday I got another tank kit to the point of being ready to paint and since I wanted the hatchs open just 'tack' cemented them in place. Then I moved the kit about a yard/metre to clear some room to work on other stuff. Two hours later I check the kit and one hatch is gone. Where it went and how is beyond me, there is no carpet in the room and I checked for about fifteen minutes all over the area and still didn't find it... 

That's about the only part I might leave open seeing I broke the drivers hatch, now I either glue it open or shut. I'll finish painting it today then later weather it.

KC: Looks good! I assume you're going to leave the back ramp open so you can see at least part of the interior?

Thought I had better post some pictures of the interior because once I finish nobody will see some parts of it. Next step is painting the outside.

NUCKSS  Nice build. some of those 1/72 build out nicely. i did the JGSDF 8x8 Vehicle (a prototype) which in now out as the Tamiya 1/35 TYPE 16.

AA The dirt/dried mud looks really nice.

Since my club's annual contest theme is NAFTA i will be doing the ERC-90 F1 LYNX (export model) in Mexican markings. May also throw in a Canadian 6x6.

will pick up the next generation Tiger Models French AMX-10RC at the end of the month. that will make 4 variants so when i start  i will do all 4 together.

AA: Ohhhhhh, love that! The mud looks great, very cool! Looking forward to seeing her worked into the base with the other vehicle. 

Bish

 

 

Nuckss

 

 

Gamera

Funny, I use the Alclad matte finish on everything these days- its the only one I've found that's a good reliable matte finish.

 

 

Thank you for your comments. I should give the alclad matte a try. Is it arylic like the aqua gloss? The matte finish I used is Mr. Surfacer matte. It is lacquer based I believe. Certainly not water based.

As for pictures, maybe I'll try flickr or postimage instead but I'm still not sure how to embed the photos in the post.

 

Cheers,

J

 

 

 

 

No, the Alclad Matt is lacuer. The only acrylic one is the Aqua Gloss.

 

Thanks Bish. I've never really looked at the label but just assumed from the gawdawful smell of the stuff it must be something much more toxic than acrylic.  

Alright, the BMP-2 is officially DONE!  As muddy as if she just came from the Donbass front, I will eventually construct a diorama around this vehicle and another (either a T-72 or a BMP-1, both of which I have unbuilt kits of).  Here's the final reveal:

Nuckss

 

 

Gamera

Funny, I use the Alclad matte finish on everything these days- its the only one I've found that's a good reliable matte finish.

 

 

Thank you for your comments. I should give the alclad matte a try. Is it arylic like the aqua gloss? The matte finish I used is Mr. Surfacer matte. It is lacquer based I believe. Certainly not water based.

As for pictures, maybe I'll try flickr or postimage instead but I'm still not sure how to embed the photos in the post.

 

Cheers,

J

 

No, the Alclad Matt is lacuer. The only acrylic one is the Aqua Gloss.