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

Nice work on the little tank StugIII! Credits for taking the effort to detail and improve the kit! 

Plasticjunkie, those soldiers are turning out nice! Keep it up! 

PS- bufflehead, your Pz.I is looking good!

Here's a shot of the turret after some sanding and a dry fit with a top piece.  Almost there.

I'm just about to start making the sight ports on the sides and back of the turret.  I'm basically cutting coupons out of .3mm styrene and building it up too the right thickness, then making the cast "frame" out of Milliput.  I'll post that when it's done.  I'm going to make an MG bracket from cardstock and replace the way too thick post with more copper wire.  I'm going to add a tow cable made from twisted 24 guage wire that I've tinned to give it more stiffness.  

I think that last pic is too big, I'll shave it down and see what happens.

Here is the turret as it comes in the kit (yeah, droopy barrel).  The M5A1 has the expanded bustle and MG on the side.  The M5 has the circular M3A1 turret.  

So I did a little surgery:  

And got out the Milliput:

It was the first time I had used Milliput, and I found it really easy to get the general shape.  It did not require much sanding at all.

These are for the gaming gang, go together quickly and have no real fragile parts aside from gun barrels.  Here's the hull, ready for detailing and accurizing.

I'm removing the front vent port (already done in this pic, awaiting a bit of putty), and up grade the lights and lift rings with wire.  I've already got some tests of this done on one of those extra hulls.  Here is a test, except I glued it on backwards.  Still experimenting trying to get the shape right then soldering on the little pieces that stand it away from the hull.

I have been paintnight and dry brushing the uniforms to get some tonal changes. These guys are about 50% complete. Still lots of blending, dry brushing, washes and fine detail work to do on them.

I have my Osprey book covering the DAK uniforms which were really a plethora of tans and greens. Uniform colors could be from a light reed green, tan/kaki, light brown, to a bleached almost white specially the caps. Great color variation resulted from multiple uniform manufacturers and the effects from the harsh North African desert conditions.

So here's my build progress start on the M5 Stuart.  I originally wanted to do this for the 1942 WWII GB but life being what it is I never started it.  I haven't done a lot of plastic models as an adult but have been wanting to get back.  I have a young son and have been buying Armour Fast kits that come with 2 models so we each can build one at the same time. I got a Plastic Soldiers M5A1 set with three models and decided to turn one into an M5.  

I like the dog and those wine foil tarps! Good idea; and good work with the drilling, too!

Good work, guys! That set will be a great addition, plasticjunkie!

StugIIIG! I'll get you on the roster!

 Been messing around with wine bottle foil making some rolled tarps. Some paint on them and I think they will look pretty convincing.

I also found this old picture frame that will gime me a tad more space for the lads at rest.

Meet the lads that will crew the 8 rad. I've had these for a while so time to report to active duty.

Got all the hatches attached late last night. Some of the ones on the fenders were left open as part of a small vignette setting yet to come.

Will be doing groundwork, figures, weathering and stowage. Still lots to do.

Hello, I know it's a little late but I would like to join this group build. I have a set of 1/75 Plastic Soldier M5A1 Stuarts that I intend to turn one into a M5. I've got it started, but there's lots to do on it. It will be painted and weathered for Aftica. I buy these multiple Gaming kits for my son and I to build. With Armourfast we each get one, the Plastic Soldier kits have three, so I'm converting one to the earlier model. I can post build progress as I chop and fill the turret.

JohnA

 The pigments look dark because they are wet from the fixer but once fully dry the color is lighter. Been working closing her up and restoring the thin weld seams using stretched sprue.

Armor_Aficionado

Wow! That interior looks really great! Can't wait to see the whole thing.

 

Thanks AA.

It’s ready to be closed up. Added some equipment and pigments.

Man, I hate these long absences from a group build!  There's always so much to get caught up on and I miss seeing everyone's great work!

I'm finally back to a normal work schedule and have been busy working on the Pz. I the last few days.  The little guy sat idle but assembly is practically done, maybe one or two small parts to install before hitting the paint booth!

I added a DAK commander figure and a resin fuel can set I had in the stash.  Other than that its pretty much OOB.  Well, I had to swipe some of those missing parts from an Ausf. B kit, but....

Before I send this to the paint booth, I'm going to start working on the British Crusader Mk. I.  Hopefully I'll have an assembly update this weekend!

The interoír colors were applied and she’s ready to b closed up.

Both IPs are completed. I will be adding some equipment inside to busy things up a bit.

Finally was able to get some bench time. The 8 rad is ready for interior paint. 

A few parts still need to be added once the upper and lower hulls are joined.

The wheels even have the air valve stems

Thanks guys. Been busy with house things but plan to work on this turkey very soon.

Lot's of sweet detail in that thing, looking good!

Thanks John. 

This is a very slow build due to so many small parts so I've made a small dent in reducing their amount.

Most of the lower hull is done. The upper hull still needs a ton of small parts.

Here's the rear controls 

and the front controls

both ip's are ready for paint

Another look at the detailed suspension.

Thank you all (and you AA) for your patience with me; the roster should be fully updated now! 

Welcome, Hutch!

Comin' along, PJ! Good work!

I did some more work on my kit, too, this weekend. I plan on having its wings folded. :)

Been very busy these last few days helping my son and his family move so my bench time has been extremely thin but did manage to start on the interior and did some work on the top hull, adding doors and hatches. No engine is included so the engine doors were glued shut. I want to leave as many doors and hatches open to show as much of the interior as possible.

Hi, John - I'd like to join in the fun, if that's OK?  I have Tamiya's 1/35 SAS jeep.

 Thanks,

             Hutch.

John 3:16 KJV

I'll include it. Welcome to the build!

I'll try to update the roster soon for you all; good work, guys! 

 

Thanks! Please add the 1/72 Encore Bf 109 G2 to the roster. 

Joe

I'll include it. Welcome to the build!

I'll try to update the roster soon for you all; good work, guys!