Great post, Martin.  I really enjoyed reading it, and it gives a nice substance to the model.

Thanks guys. It deffinetly brought back some memories building this.

Great build Bish.

First reply I've gotten from this Group since January. Will this continue? If so, I'll make a tank.

Eric

Hard to top Bish's  builds but here's where I'm at with the Dragon Firefly. The tacks have been challenging, much more that the German tracks on my Jagdtiger that even though having more parts were actually easier to work with.

Here the left side tracks are done and actually look pretty darn nice.

Now for the right side tracks that will be next.

EricB

Great build Bish.

 

First reply I've gotten from this Group since January. Will this continue? If so, I'll make a tank.

Eric

 

Thanks Eric, and i hope so on both counts.

I agree PJ, those tracks look very nice.

Thanks Bish. 

Ok the right side tracks are on. I gave the firefly some pin washes and dot weathering for some subtle color modulation of the solid SCC15 green. Still more weathering to come.

I made my own mix for the blackened metallic effect on the tools. I think the wood grain came out very cool looking on the tool handles.

I used an old picture frame and converted it for the base. I used Elmers to glue a thin piece of packing foam on the glass then used Durham's Water Putty mixed with Elmers for added bonding power. This stuff is great and VERY cheap. I have even mixed in crushed kitty litter for rocky terrain on other builds. 

After that dries craft paints will be used to color the terrain and several Woodland Scenics ground cover products will be used for the vegetation. I enjoy doing these small bases that adds so much more to the finished model.

PJ,

The Firefly is coming along nicely!  Would you care to share your blackened tool paint recipie?  They look perfect!  Whenever I try to make a metallic grey, it always turns out with big metallic flakes that look terrible.

Bish

Heavens, I'm still on this list - but not the 1945 Anniversery list. On second thought put me down for the Tamiya new tool Valentine - it's a very sweet kit. I wanted to do a Tasca kit - but my Firefly comes with so many extras that build time would be very long, and I'm under time pressure. Nearly half the Valentines went to the Rooskies and Tamiya does supply markings, but I'll do mine dressed for Crusader or Alamein.

Eric

Real G

PJ,

The Firefly is coming along nicely!  Would you care to share your blackened tool paint recipie?  They look perfect!  Whenever I try to make a metallic grey, it always turns out with big metallic flakes that look terrible.

 

I'll be more than happy to share G. I used Alaclad Burnt Iron and Steel. The Burnt Steel is almost black and the Steel is pretty dark too but using both gives the right effect IMO.

Hand brush it and let it dry for a couple of minutes then apply more. Start with the steel then go for the burnt color till it gets almost black, usually 3-4 coats.  

EricB

PlasticJ Like the look of the Firefly. The tools are nice. There's a good modeler on YTube - a German using the name Hamilkar Barkas (Hannibal's brother - the gent must be an ancient history buff.) He's a contrarian and one of his cases is that most tools in WWII were painted the base color. I'm afraid that he's by and large right, proving that war is the enemy of art. But there were plenty of exceptions and yours do look very neat. You ever check the site Scenic Express? They have a larger selection of 3d party diorama stuff (railroad mostly of course) than Woodland and very good "house brand stuff." Woodland is fine - I use them both. Eric Eric

 

Oh yes I have other scenic goodies in the garage including stuff from Noch. Thanks for reminding me and will use some of that great looking Noch grass mats I forgot about.

Yes I have seen his videos which are very good and informative. I agree that the tools should have been or were the exterior vehicle color so no shiny metal could reflect light back giving away your position. I read somewhere that US tools had a either a blacked finish or exterior color and handles were either the vehicle color or natural wood that would blend in in the brush or a wooded scenario. Depending on the use the paint chipped or scraped off in certain areas of the tool. I just completed a Jagdtiger and all the tools are the exterior vehicle color except for a few chips here and there. 

EricB

Bish

Heavens, I'm still on this list - but not the 1945 Anniversery list. On second thought put me down for the Tamiya new tool Valentine - it's a very sweet kit. I wanted to do a Tasca kit - but my Firefly comes with so many extras that build time would be very long, and I'm under time pressure. Nearly half the Valentines went to the Rooskies and Tamiya does supply markings, but I'll do mine dressed for Crusader or Alamein.

Eric

 

Done

plasticjunkie

 

 

Real G

PJ,

The Firefly is coming along nicely!  Would you care to share your blackened tool paint recipie?  They look perfect!  Whenever I try to make a metallic grey, it always turns out with big metallic flakes that look terrible.

 

 

 

 

I'll be more than happy to share G. I used Alaclad Burnt Iron and Steel. The Burnt Steel is almost black and the Steel is pretty dark too but using both gives the right effect IMO.

Hand brush it and let it dry for a couple of minutes then apply more. Start with the steel then go for the burnt color till it gets almost black, usually 3-4 coats.  

 

I like the effect, going to try that next time. And i agree with you on the wood, that came out really well.

Thanks for asking that G.

Bish, I received the AFV Club Matador Kit yesterday and decided to start on it next. I'm in the process of painting an M109A2 and when it's finished I will start assembly on the Matador. I also ordered an AFV Club 40mm British Bofors gun to go with the Matador.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.396027947109397.86049.236926266352900&type=1

Look forward to seeing both of those, got the gun added.

Hello folks, Gamera here. I've been locked-out of my former account and the forums for the last three weeks. So here I am on a new account...

Great job on the Warrior Bish, you should be proud of her. One heck of a way to remember your service. 

And the Firefly looks great PJ, she's coming along great. 

As to here the Comet is mostly done. And the figures are almost there. I've been working on the base, I just put down the static grass this weekend. Hopefully; pictures soon.  

plasticjunkie

I'll be more than happy to share G. I used Alaclad Burnt Iron and Steel. The Burnt Steel is almost black and the Steel is pretty dark too but using both gives the right effect IMO.

Hand brush it and let it dry for a couple of minutes then apply more. Start with the steel then go for the burnt color till it gets almost black, usually 3-4 coats.  

Oh hand painted!  I would never have guessed.  Thanks for sharing!

I had read about tools being the same color as the vehicle, which makes sense, but I am guilty of letting art get in the way of reality.

Real G

I had read about tools being the same color as the vehicle, which makes sense, but I am guilty of letting art get in the way of reality.

Artistic licence lol. I have seen them  both ways. I'm gonna guess during the Korean War the exterior color on tools was fairly common.

Thanks Gamera.

Good to see you back Gamera, don't know whats going on, but lots of people seem to be having issues lately.

Bish

Good to see you back Gamera, don't know whats going on, but lots of people seem to be having issues lately.

 

I was wondering where you were Gamera!  I was afraid that aliens had kidnapped you to fight a kaiju on their planet!

Thanks, I think Eric had the same issue about a week before I did. 

G: Wish I had been captured by two beautiful brain-eating space babes...

BTW: I'm hoping to have the Comet finished up next month. Any votes on which I should start next? The Conquerer Mk II or the Chieftain Mk II? It won't be done for this GB though. 

Gamera977

Thanks, I think Eric had the same issue about a week before I did. 

G: Wish I had been captured by two beautiful brain-eating space babes...

 

OMG!!!  Not only have the aliens kidnapped you Gamera, they have gone back in time and kidnapped me as well!  (That’s me on the right thinking “ Hey, I saw this movie in the theater with my dad!”)

“Right!!!  Now stop that, all of you.  If you don’t, I’ll come down on you like a ton o bricks!  We now return the thread to something more proper, serious...and military!”

Gamera977

BTW: I'm hoping to have the Comet finished up next month. Any votes on which I should start next? The Conquerer Mk II or the Chieftain Mk II? It won't be done for this GB though. 

 

 

I vote for the Conquerer for 2 reasons. First, i have that kit on my to buy list and i like AM kits and would be nice to see a British one for a change. And second, i hope to be adding the Takom Chieftain Mk !! before this GB ends, so for more variety the 214 gets my vote.

It is really nice to see all these British tanks coming out the last few years. There was a time when you only option for post war British armour was AA resin or a few old tamiya kits. I am pretty sure WoT and war Thunder have something to do with it, and its good to see.

Well Gents, I have to apoligize for not being here as much as the rest of you. I just haven't been in the mood for forums this year so I am not lurking around as much as I should. This year has been something else indeed. Hopefully now that I am back in the saddle so to speak I can get this one done.

Let me play catchup for a minute here.

Chad, that Saladin is SICK. I love how that turned out, well done. I'm jelly.

John, the Westland Sioux is very nice, also well done.

Jeaton, to see what you pulled off from that kit is amazing. I would love to have one of those. Well done.

Theuns, The Sopwith Camel is epic. I would love to do some bi-planes, but I am scared of the rigging. You killed that one. NICE!!

Bish, your two kits are super nice with the Rover and the Warrier. How do you find space for all those kits sitting on bases? I should do that with mine just so I can remember what is what. Well done, Sir.

Armor-Aficianado, what can I say about your quality of work, but that I aspire to make my armor look that good. Those two LRDG's are so realistic it's amazing. Awesome work.

The Model Guy, your Sherman is amazing. Just the right look. I love it. Well done.

Bobby, your M3 is great. Man I love those. You really made that one look spectactular with the addition of the figure. Super nice work.

Zvezda, your Morris truck and 25 pounder is so cool. Well done.

PJ, I know you are not done yet, but the work so far is awesome. I love your work. I am looking forward to seeing more.

RealG, Those little pieces are very cool. Are they done? Looks like you are close.

If I missed anyone, I'm sorry. I promise I will pay attention now that I'm more active.

I have begun the work on the Challanger II. I hope to move fast on this one, but as this year has been who knows.

BK

Thanks BK. Every spare inch of my hobby rom is shelf space, but its running out fast.

Looking forward to the Chally. I built the Tamiya Chally 1 kit and really liked it. I would have got their Chally 2 but didn't want the desert option so went for the Trumpeter.

Gamera977

Hello folks, Gamera here. I've been locked-out of my former account and the forums for the last three weeks. So here I am on a new account...

OK Bish, I'm taking a break from the Akagi for a while to let my sanity level return from just plane nuts to my usual somewhat dizzy state.

So to celebrate the mid-build break, I'm starting on my British Army entry. I know you already built this one so you may be able to steer me on the narrow path. You already touched on something about a big clear part issue, but in my insane foggy state over the past several weeks (multiple sheets of 1/350 PE will do that to a guy you know) I can't remember what you said 

Anyway, here's my British entry.

BTW nice job everyone.