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

Great work on those tanks...

update on P-40.

Thanks guys!  Your kind words are inspiring! 

I used the Black&White method on the Pz. I since it has a Panzer Grey undercoat. Used AK Interactive Real Colors for most of the painting here, Flat White for the pre-highlights, Dunkelgrau and Flat White mixed 3:1 for the Panzer Grey.  The Real Colors Dunkelgrau is very dark, so I lightened it with the white.  I will do some hairspray chipping and I don't want there to be too much contrast between the grey undercoat and the sand coat that will follow.  

Reverse technique for the Crusader.  Black preshade (Tamiya XF-1) first, followed by a mix of Real Colors Light Stone mixed with Flat White (3:1).

Going to let them both dry for a few days while I work on some other projects!

Those look like they're gonna turn out great! I'll add your new models to the roster, too! 

Totally cleaned and revamped my paint/photo booth today!

Primer is on!  Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black (spray can) for the Pz. I, Tamiya Fine spray primer for the Crusader:

And since these two are getting closer to completion, I've decided to enter two more kits in the GB:

Both are 1/72 Hobby Boss Easy Assembly kits:

The choice of the BF-109 was inspired by keavdog's 1/48 Tamiya kit that he completed earlier for the GB!  

Those look awesome! Great work!

Here you go!  The Italeri Crusader Mk.I is fully assembled.  Sorry to say I never took the time to get some WIP photos until now.  Oh well, at least it didn't take me a whole year to assemble this kit!

Built pretty much OOB except for the figure, tow cables, antennae and the resin stowage.  BTW the wheels, side skirts, tow cables and stowage are all just tacked in place.  I'll disassemble these for painting.

And here she is with the Pz. IA.  Both will heading to the paint booth very soon!

greysnake - thanks so much for the link!  I've always wanted to get a few of those Tank figures but could never find a good source!  

bufflehead

greysnake - I'm totally jealous of your tank commander!  I need that dude for my Pz. I...perfect figure for a DAK tank!

Thanks guys!  It's still a work in progress, have to dirty it up some and get the "tank dummy" aka the commander in the hatch.

Glamdring, the R's don't look bad to me! Congrats on the finish! Do you have a photo preference for the roster?

[PS- It truly is the secret of modeling to accept acceptable rather than to be a perfectionist!]

 Thanks, buff! Congrats on the Crusader! 

Glamdring - the Pz. II is looking good with paint and markings on!  I don't think I would've noticed the positioning of the Rs if you hadn't mentioned it!  Those tracks are a HUGE improvement over the kit vinyl tracks 

greysnake - I'm totally jealous of your tank commander!  I need that dude for my Pz. I...perfect figure for a DAK tank!

John 3:16 KJV - loving the 2nd Wildcat addition!  Keeping an eye on this build as well (yep, I have the same kit in the stash!!

So assembly of the Crusader is done, but I'm too tired to set up the photo booth and take some pics.  Maybe tomorrow!!

John, the Wildcat is looking good.  After watching Midway again for the 20th time, I keep resolving to get one and a Dauntless.

GreySnake, I recall building a Dragon Panzer IV the last time there was a North African GB.  It is still sitting on my shelf of doom missing the tracks and decals.  Just couldn't get over that hump.  You are well on the way though!

I did finish the decalling session, glad to report the kit decals went on just fine after 20 years!  (print year was 2001) 

Tracks have also been installed, even though I am not very happy with the etching fluid results.   

I botched my R's by not aligning them.  Did not realize it until after the Micro Set had done it's magic.  Even soaking it again with the solution didn't work, they are firmly in place.  Oh well, it will just be going on my shelf.

"Perfect is the enemy of completion."

Thanks, Greysnake, and good work on your tank!

Crown, the Tomahawk is coming along great; and Greysnake, my sympathies on the wheels...that's the down-side to German armor I guess... ;)

Glamdring, I like the rust on the back of  your Pz. 2 and that wooden box! 

Bufflehead, I'm glad you enjoyed the article! I figure the Wildcat is a unique subject for the N. African Theater considering how tightly it's associated with the Pacific Theater. Add on the fact it fought American tech=fun build with a backstory. I'm honored that you'll be monitoring my build for reference! I'll keep a lookout for your build updates, too. :)

I have to get out and airbrush again still; but in the meantime, I painted the canopy lines and the pilot.....

AND......started yet another Wildcat, in 1/48 this time. I intend for it to be another Op. Torch one. My progress is limited to the cockpit so far: 

The Kit

& the Cockpit

Great work going on here!  

As I hop around on my multiple projects, the Panzer II got it's bench time.  Because of the cavernous interior that is visible through the engine grates, meant for a battery pack on the old motorized version, I inserted an old gift card and paintedf it Panzergrau.  I comtemplated grabbing some greeblies from the spares box but it just seemed like wasted effort.

The desert tan has been laid down, the road wheels installed along with the AM MG34, and tools and muffler hand painted.  I think I will decal it tonight, if all goes well:

This it is real fussy, I hope my other trumpeter kits are not like this.

PJ. Nice job on that weathering, got caught in a few sand storms . Th figures look great right down to the sun burn! no sun block then lol.

Stug. That tank looking sharp.

up date on P-40. test fitting.

Welcome to the build, crown!

very good work gents... I'm in with a Trumpeter P-40B Tomahawk IIA (RAF) in 1/48.

Gret looking builds going on here!  After a several momth hiatus, my little Panzer II got a coat of primer today.  Hope to lay down the Desert Tan this weekend, if the weather cooperates.

The Friuls also took a bath in burnishing fluid, but I think it went bad or something.  It was a batch I had from the last time I metal tracks.   I let them sit for an hour and they barely darkened, they may end up getting painted and washed if I cannot find the other unused bottle of burnishing fluid I bought way back when.  

Hey, Eric! I hope the emails will work for you. They haven't always been very reliable for me; recently they've gone to the junk mail folder. In my opinion, it's best to just check in on the website every now and again.

Your M40 will be a great addition to the build! I'm gonna have to whip out the airbrush sometime for my Wildcat and get going again.

Good Grief: I cleared my cache of Finescale cookies, logged out, and logged on and just received a message. Cross my fingers - let's see if I get another one - preferably from someone else on the list.

Eric

Gents

I'd like to get started on my Zevezda Italian "tank annoyer". But I still don't think that I'm receiving any information from this Group Build or any other part of the Finescale community.

According to my Profile I am subscribed to no forums. I'm not at sure how to subscribe to a forum - the subscription as I understand it, takes place in the subforums - in this case "In the theater" Group Build. According to my Profile that is I get notifications from this group build - but I don't.

Over the last 12 years or so I've been on dozens of Finescale Group Builds - two years ago things came to a complete stop. For some reason, I was put back on the British Army GB for a few months but that's kaput too.

Does anyone know if I'm doing something wrong? Fee free to contact me if you do: rickt2@prodigy.net.

Best

Eric Bergerud

EricB, 

I'll get you on the roster! The M40 was Italian equipment, right? 

I tell you what. If Finescale decides to keep sending posts my way (a real problem for a couple of years now) I'll enter the very very venerable Zvezda (Italeri) 1/35 Semovente M40 75/18 self propelled gun. The bad news is that it was new tool in 1973 - the good news is that a lot of after market stuff has come out - Tamiya even picked up the kit for a while. (Not that I'll be using after market - who needs detail when you've got desert weathering?)

So let's see.

Eric

Thanks John.