75th Anniversary of 1944 Group Build (World at War)

Great paintwork, Ben.  That looks very cool!

DRUMS01

jgeratic, thanks for the information as it did help a lot. Based on your information which supported my findings, I have completed the figure. You can check it out in the figures topic in this forum. Here is one shot

Jacknewbill, thanks for the kind words. I have done other figures in the past, but each one brings its own challenges. I like how figures add a whole dimension and life to a model kit. Not to sidetrack this GB, but here are others I've done to add more to a kit.

Exceptional work, Ben.  Especially the lunar lander; it looks very much like an actual NASA photo!

That's excellent weathering, Eric.  Really sets things off.  Nice job.

modelcrazy

Check, I have it. I'll be building the Trumpeter 1/350 USS North Carolina. I have been getting the AM ready for my US ships build iand will start it n Aug. It should take a while but I have till 2020.

checkmateking02

 Exceptional work, Ben.  Especially the lunar lander; it looks very much like an actual NASA photo!

 

Very Nice builds there Ben! The Carolina is awesome also!

Here is the completed 1/72 Hasegawa Lightning. I did my best to weather it up with black basing, tamiya pastel kit, panel lines, chipping etc. I was not sure about the look until I got to the last stages and I am happy with how she turned out. I used alclad metal and vallejo acrylics for the paint. Sorry for the delay on my end I started a new job a month ago and have had very little spare time lately. Thanks for letting me join in! Jack

Thanks Eric

I didn't run into any trouble at all except I couldn't fit the 5g weight in the nose so had to add additional weight elsewhere. Really a clean fit as I didn't use much putty etc. I got three of them in an auction and was pleased with this first one for sure. Jack

Excellent Lightning, Jack.  You did a very fine job with it.  Quite a nice finish you achieved.  

Thank you for taking part in the GB.  It was a pleasure to see your work progressing.

Do you have a preference for the finishe-build photo on the front page?

Check please use whichever one you like best. Thanks for the compliment and thanks again for letting me join in. I have a feeling you will see me in the 43' build after I finish my Tomcat for Bish's airfix build. I will be keeping my eye on this one moving forward keep it the nice builds everyone!

Jack, thats a very nice looking 38, really nice scheme. Great work.

Check, hope to be posting the final pic of the 410 at the end of the week.

Check, that is a nice camouflage on a 1/700 Carolina, looks sweet.

Jack, I am impressed with the P-38, as I really like the bare metal and blue finish. To pull it off in 1/72 and the clean details are outstanding.

Bish, Looking forward to the reveal of the 410....

Ben

Finally working on the figures for the kubelwagen. They are all 100% resin and come from Jeffshiu's Miniatures. Here they are in initial assembly. They have been armed, legged, footed, handed, and seams filled. Shown with some of the base paints being added. Still much, much more to do. 

This is the field grade officer which will be in the front passenger location. Yes, that is correct in that there are no lower legs or feet as none can be seen once he is added to the kubel. I may also add a map to his left hand (not sure yet).



Here is the junior officer which will be directly behind the field grade officer. He will also have a map case, ammo pouch, MG, etc. 



This is the machine gunner which will be sitting atop the storage bin (behind the rear seat) and directly behind the driver. I think I will drill his hand by his face and add a cigarette (?). It just looks the part to me. The MG42 is a five part assembly that needs a great amount of clean-up. The bi-pod alone is a nightmare of flash, seam, and pit marks. I hope to have a convincing 42 when done.



There is also a driver, but I do not have a base line photo yet. Next update should show significant progress on the figures. 

Till then, thanks for looking and fire away with your comments.

Ben

wow !!! lots of great work here to all you guys.

started with the king tiger tracks..

Nick, those Tiger tracks look like a weathering dream. Those are the wire pin type, correct?

Here is a sneak peak at my progress on the figures for the kubelwagen. They are still a work-in-progress as they need some touch-up (like the flesh tone on the head scarf), helmet and collar decals, minor PE, straps and slings for equipment (weapons, binoculars), etc. Afterwards they will be sealed, then dull coat. As I add them to the kubel I will need to weather the interior to match their weathering (like dirty boots on the rear seats). When the inside of the vehicle is done I can start in earnest on the display base and last final weathering for the kubel.

As always, your comments are encouraged

Ben 

Ben the job your doing on that big kubelwagon and those figures are amazing.

The pins are from the track kit. I leave a little bit of the wire out so it can be super glued in place then trim. The Pin side of the track goes Inside and you don’t see it. The weathering part is fun.

Thanks Nick. I can't wait to see the tiger build moving forward. 

I must say that I really like these Group Builds (GB's). For years I was always a car guy, but this branching out thing is getting really fun. I was NEVER a figure person, but the more I do them, the more I like doing them. I hope you like them as much as I do. With that said, if you have any constructive suggestions I am all for it. Let me know how I'm doing. Here is another treat with the field grade officer which I will call nearly D-O-N-E:

(1) Initial clean-up and assembly of arms, binoculars, winter cap, and beginning some base coats of paint.

(2) Now, after base coats, washes, and multiple dry brush highlights. The face is done with acrylic, watercolor, and pastel. Added the PE Iron Cross, and lead foil binocular strap from spares.

I'm also debating on finishing this GB with the kubelwagen only. Then start another string in the figures for these guys. And start a last one for the complete build in the dioramas. I feel that this may be the better way to go, what do you think?

Ben

Once again I've fallen far behind in posting, but I've stll looked in on all of you're work, every day.

Jacknewbill:  front page is updated.  You were first of us to finish, so congratulations!  It was hard to pick a photo, since they were all so good.  You are certainly more than welcome to join up with the '43 GB.  All of the 75th anniversary builds will remain open until 31 December, 2020.  I thought that would give everyone interested enough time to do at least one kit for each year of the war.  Thanks for your participation!

Bish:  sounding good about the 410.  I had no idea they were so widely used in the war, but they probably just didn't and don't get the publicity that other planes received.

Ben:  thanks for the comment on USS North Carolina.  Dazzle measures are impressive, but kind of fussy to do.  Those are great looking figures, and I like the animation in each one.  You are doing excellent paintwork with them.  Nice job!  I think you could do all the postings you are thinking about, each all the forums you mention.  No harm in spreading good stuff around!

Nick:  What a project with the Tiger tracks!  That's taking detail very seriously.  They do look good, and will be a great addition.  

Ben that figure looks really good. The camo pants and face came out perfect!

Thanks checkmateking....

Hey everyone; Is it common for resin to severely warp or bend when curing? I have built numerous Verlinden resin figures and never had that kind of problem. The reason for asking was a problem I found when trying to fit the after-market driver to the kubel. All of the other figures fit perfectly. Considering their cost, I would expect him to be a really good fit as well.

I noticed some serious issues with the drivers left arm and his butt fitting properly in the seat and on door sill. The groove under the arm was WAY off by 1/4" and his butt was a little more than 1/8" too thick. This caused him to sit too high in the seat. Because of the height, it would not allow the steering wheel to fit in the kubel. After some significant dremel work I think I got his body parts modified to allow the wheel to fit on the steering column close to correct. In hindsight, perhaps I should have fitted the body to the seat then the steering wheel and then the left arm. I was really confidant when adding the arm as the wrinkles and jagged cut lines aligned perfectly (?). Next will be the hands which will both be laying on or wrapped around the steering wheel. 

I added the belt ammo around the neck of the MG42 gunner. Being resin, they did not want to bend or conform easily. It was a challenge getting them to appear to go under his jacket collar and hood; this took some creative cutting of the ammo belt and sometimes individual rounds of ammo. I kind of wish they were either cleanly molded to the resin body or that they were milled rounds. I did what I could with the skills that I have. 

Next was the build and painting the binoculars for the junior officer. He is the one behind the senior officer pointing out to a significant item of interest. Once I had it sectioned I added the binos to him including a lead foil strap. I also added a lead foil sling to his MP40, it will be hanging off his pointing shoulder. To be realistic I had to make it appear as if it wrapped through and around the slot above the hinge point of the rear stock. It then comes back up to snap into a pin and leather collet. From photos I found many of those slings were an earthy brown, so now his is too. 

Last, I finished the painting of the assembled MG42 and started on its sling before the misses sent me on errands. If I am lucky I can finish the figures tomorrow and begin on the terrain this weekend.

Ben

Time to wrap this one up. Sorry for the delay, but i had a bit of an issue at the start of March which meant i wasn't able to build much and i feel behind a bit, but this things can't be helped.

So, after my last update i did some light weathering with flory washes. This is only my second build with a black surface and i was really pleased with how it looked. But then once i added the clear matt coat it all seemed to vanish. I decided to just leave it rather than try and mess around with it.

Then added the final parts to finish off the aircraft.

And then to finish it off, onto the base. The bomb trolley is from Zvezda. Unfortunatly i figures are not ideal but its about all i have tio work with now, my supply is running very low.

Other than the black underside, i am really pleased with how this turned out. I do like these FM kits and look forward to build some more, i think next will be one of there Bf 109's.

Cheers for running the GB check.I look forward to seeing what others produce and will be coming back in with a second build in a few months.

I like the looks of it. 

Thanks Nick.

Bish, very nicely done Me 410, particularly the renderdering of the mottling on the tail - I really like that.

Wonder if the underside black paint had a bit of sheen to it, and the weathering applied was flat.  With the final clear coat, the differences was negated, losing the subtle effects?

regards,

Jack

Thanks Jack, and yes it was. Din't think of that. I went heavier on the underside of the Ju 188 and that came out slightly better. Maybe next time i will try oils, that have more sheen to them. Thanks for pointing that out.

Hey Bish, I hope your done and over with what ever caused you to step back last month. As for the ME-410, I think it is sensational. The build, colors, and panel lines look just great! I think the figures also add a level of scale and realism that an aircraft by itself does not. 

Ben

Outstanding work on the 410, Bish.  The paintwork and weathering are great, and the diorama display brings everything together.  It looks like the 410 was a "mean machine."

Do you have a preference for the front page?  I kind of like the last photo, since it clearly shows the figures, base and title as well as the plane.

Thanks for taking part in the GB; it's always a pleasure to have your participation.  Whenever your number two is ready, we'll all be happy to see it.

Nice work on that one Bish. Everything came out great and the base brings it together nicely!

Cheers guys.

check, nope, happy for you to use which ever one you choose.

Ben, yes, its a lot better thanks. Just a very bad trapped nerve that stopped me geting much sleep for a couple of weeks. Good to be able to concentrate on what i am doign again.

Bish, I'll post as soon as I get home; being as I'm at work right now.

Is a "trapped nerve" the same thing as a pinched nerve?  If so, I've had one since 2005, so I can sympathize with what you've been going through.  It is no fun at all.  Glad you're better.

Update:  finished-photo is now up.  Thanks again, for your participation, Bish.