OFF TO THE THEATER! - African Operations of World War II - 2021 GB

I decided on my entry for this GB, a 1/35 scale Bedford truck by Italeri:

 I’ll set it up on the roster, AA! :)

Happy New Year, y'all!

Happy New Year! Hey I just realized last year was my last time I posted here! Anyway here’s a shot of my entry’s  box.

The Germans had the coolest armored cars 

plasticjunkie

Happy New Year! Hey I just realized last year was my last time I posted here! Anyway here’s a shot of my entry’s  box.

 

Where have you been for so long?!

Here we go, kicking off the New Year with a Panzer II.  Searching my memory, I think this was actually the first armor kit I ever bought, perhaps 19 years ago.  Yes, that is dust on the box top, the box is deformed from being stacked on, but everything is still sealed up:

A Bison decals set made its way into this kit somehow, ...and unfortunately the set is only for markings of Das Reich Tigers.  I think I bought it the last time a North African GB was run around here, but they are unused and that Tiger is still a shelf queen from the late 00s.  There will be AM updates here:

I noticed the decals are yellowed, and the turrent number Afrika Corps scheme has a big divot in it.  I may end up just getting some new ones as well.

These instructions are a real hoot too.  The tracks are called "caterpillars," and the figures are labeled as "dummies."

Glamdring

Here we go, kicking off the New Year with a Panzer II.  Searching my memory, I think this was actually the first armor kit I ever bought, perhaps 19 years ago.  Yes, that is dust on the box top, the box is deformed from being stacked on, but everything is still sealed up:

 

A Bison decals set made its way into this kit somehow, ...and unfortunately the set is only for markings of Das Reich Tigers.  I think I bought it the last time a North African GB was run around here, but they are unused and that Tiger is still a shelf queen from the late 00s.  There will be AM updates here:

I noticed the decals are yellowed, and the turrent number Afrika Corps scheme has a big divot in it.  I may end up just getting some new ones as well.

These instructions are a real hoot too.  The tracks are called "caterpillars," and the figures are labeled as "dummies."

 

 

That is actually a very nice kit. I originally did mine in Panzer grey back in the late 70s and recently repainted it in DAK colors.

Ok John, I'm in with the 1/72 Airfix DAK soldier set.  Probably be a few months before I start but this will be my contribution.

Those look the guys my brother and I used to play army with.  

Wait, my German guys were grey. American green and Japanese tan.

I always used the Matchbox figures! 

Unique kit choice, Mopar! Are you going to be building a diorama? 

Glamdring, It'd be nice to get a Pz. II someday! What paint do you think you'll be using for the Afrika Korps yellow?

I haven't decided yet, but will probably just Tamiya's desert sand rattle can with some light panzer gray chipping on the edges.  There are no painting directions on the English instruction sheet for this kit.

GreySnake

Glamdring, I have very fond memories of that little Tamiya Panzer II. It was the second 1/35 armor model I built and have probably built around six or seven throughout the years. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the kit.

 

It certainly is a quaint little kit.  Being only 5 build steps if one were so inclined, it would make a decent choice out of the box for a weekend project GB.

The Eduard set certainly slows things down though, I have spent more time shavying off the molded on clamps, hooks, and screens.  The fenders have to go next, and I am extremely apprehensive with the surgery!  

For a nostalgia shot, the holes in the bottom for the on switch:

I will be leaving them unfilled, they make good anchor points for mounting to a base.

Started on the Bf-109E 4/7 Trop 

Spent most of my build time yesterday removing the fenders.  I remembered that I bought some razor saw blades in November, they were invaluable for this task!

A bit of pit work on the 109.  I tried something new - using Tamiya panel liner on the pit and meh - wouldn't do it again.  Anyhow some progress

Not worried about the ejection pin mark on the seat as I have a pilot to sit on it

Mocked up - fit looks good

Yeah, not a huge fan of the Tamiya panel liner. It's usefull for a few things but not my mainstay. Looks good Kdog.

Got the fuselage buttoned up and the wings together and a rough Franz Elles to sit in the pit.

He needs a flat coat to take him home

Almost  ready for paint.

Franz

Coming together nicely John!

I had hoped to have a good PE session this weekend, but my boss told us last Wednesday that there will be mandatory OT to eliminate the backlog of pending work before the start of the shift on Monday morning.  No matter how many hours it takes and no excuses.   Don't get me started.

Finally got some bending and gluing in.  Not bad for an evening's work:

Some of these parts are so small, I am regretting removing the plastic things, like the storage hatch hinges and locking clasps.  Question is how many times will I end up gluing them to my fingers....

Finally started on this monster. I counted 489 parts, with 55 being pe ones.  Work began with the very complex drive train. Each axle has 12 parts x 8 axles = 96 axle parts, and yes the suspension works and is steerable.

The chasis and 2 axles are done for tonight. Lots of parts

Of all things, my wife gave me a book written by a couple of food authors covering the Indian Ocean side of Africa.

Among other things, a history of Eritria.

I am starting to read about the East African Wars.

bill

I'm in with an Eduard's Bf-109F-4 trop in 1/48.

I dont have any vehicles that was used in Afrika korps except this.

so I'll stick to airplanes.

Don’t look like much but this is where it stands after several hours of dry fitting and assembling over 100 parts so far, being extra careful to keep glue away from the working internal parts.

Great progress so far PJ and Keav!  Crown, I look forward to your build, I was entertaining a purchase of that kit during the last Black Friday sales.

Had a decent PE session over the weekend, even with the continued mandatory OT:

Still a long way to go...and I only glued storage box latch to myself so far.  I am thankfully done with all those, assuming I don't knock any off.