GreySnake, that looks good, I hadn't heard of Tauro models before, it will be interesting to see how it goes together

John, The ALPS printer sounds like a good investment. I opened an old Tamiya kit yesterday and the decals were all cracked and crazed, I think I will have to start the search for new ones.

I am calling the Arado done. The Huma model kit took a bit of wrangling to get together with a low amount of detail, but it was a short run kit from 30 years ago. And the decals, if a little thick, did hold together.

A lot of work, I am looking forward to something a bit less in need of work for my next model.

Piers, I've probably had all three kits since they were first issued.  I suspect the decals have an issue, like the Dragon/ProModeler Ta-154.  I have four of them and none had workable decals.  It doesn't bother me that much as I often make my own decals with an ALPS and a laser printer, but since the Yellow wings decals were available I just ordered them this time.

That does look like it is coming together both quickly and well Wedge

Good to hear there a replacements available John, how old were the originals?

Wedge: Cool, nice lookin' armoured car and she's coming along well! 

John: Good luck on getting your decals soon.

Managed some further work on my RR Armored Car.

Going together pretty easily.

Waiting for some Yellow Wings decals for my SBD as the kit decals are DOA, falling apart.  I got another set from a second SBD-1 kit I have and they were no better.  Decals should be here Tuesday, Sprue Bros comes through again.

John, that is looking very smart, that is a great colour scheme.

Dodgy, that is a very strange issue, i have not come across that before. There is a forum help area where they may help out: https://cs.finescale.com/fsm/feedback_help_and_testing/f/default.aspx

Wedge, good to see this underway - let us know how the kit builds up.

Hi all

Got back from our holidays a couple of days ago and finally have had some time to start in on my RR Armored Car.

G'day Piers. This is just a quick note to let you know that I cannot access any posts after page 3. I am having this problem with several group builds and on two different machines. Don't know what the problem is.

Dodgy

That looks awesome John, love the vivid multi colours of aircraft of that era. 

Slow progress on the AM SBD-1, put on the red fuselage stripe and wing chevrons, and some red on the cowl which will get some aluminum aft of the nose bowl. Shiny prop with SNJ powder and Alclad polished aluminum.

She's lookin' good Piers- almost there mate! 

GT, it is coming together well, I love those massive wheel spats!

The Arado - I noticed I hadn't taken many photos. I have done the decals, done most of the assembly and added the rigging. Where you can see little white spots on the wing tops, that is filler in the rigging holes that Huma had preinstalled.

And here is what the rigging looks like. All done with EZ Line. You can see the washes used to define panels and control surfaces. So, getting closer...

Piers: She's looking great! Despite your issues the decals look fine from here. 

68GT: Great start, she's coming along well.  

Between cooking,  football and eating today this is where I am on this one.

I know what you mean GT, there is always a point in vacforms where you have to take a deep breath and start cutting...

Procrastination at its best!  I'm not much of a vacuum form guy but after 20 minutes or so I think I'm good.  I've been putting this canopy off for a long time.

lostagain

GreySnake, 

That sounds very interesting - I look forward to seeing it coming together.

I had not heard of this tank before.

You are added to the roster!

 

Thanks for adding me. I will post pictures of the kit next week when I can finally start building again. 

I did order a set of aftermarket tracks for the kit since the kit included rubber ones are one link too short on each run. 

That's great Steve, you are added to the roster. Looking forward to seeing this in its (I assume) bright colour scheme.

Happy New Year everyone!

So the EOY point for the Vega: I got the gloss white on, after grey primer and white primer. Two coats of rattlecan gloss white.

Starting the decals, I figured the first would be the blue cheat line. Unfortunately, the three cheat lines on the decal sheet are short and different blues. So I found a matching blue decal - an Airfix 1/72 Fairey Rotodyne to cut some out.

With that in place, I could get the other decals placed. The Draw decal instructions say that the decals are thin and tough. This is true - one decal I dropped on the bench upside down. I recovered it and happily stuck it on - then saw that I had stuck it on in reverse. So I put water on, floated it off, stuck it onto my finger, a piece of plastic, scrunched it up and then managed to get it onto the model and straightened out and looking good.

On the cowling, as well as the flashes down the side, Draw decal have provided bits to go across the top and bottom and to fill in the top of the light blue. Here is one ready to go - unfortunately I had to use it unprepared as I had spilt water on the sheet. I could not get it to fit in any position or direction. Unfortunately Draw decal do not provide any directions or diagrams for decal placement.

So this is how we ended today with the Vega

Piers, I decided to do an Accurate Miniatures 1/48 Gruman F3F-1 I got for my Secret Santa gift.

No telling when I'll get to it but hopefully sooner than later.

GreySnake

I'd like to join up with a Tauro 1/35 Fiat 3000 1st Series. It was the first tank Italy built after WWI and oddly enough saw combat during the Allied invasion of Sicily. 

 

Sounds cool!!! Welcome! 

G'day boys n girls and bald headed babies. I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I've been away from the forums for a few weeks due to life issues and Christmas requirements. Haven't been near the bench for the same reasons. Hope to get some plastic therapy in the next few days.

Piers the Vega and the Stack are looking great despite the challenges they presented.

Wedge the armoured car looks like a great kit. I've always wanted to build one of those.

John the SBD is coming up a treat. Love detail and the colour scheme.

Cheers all,

Dodgy

GreySnake, 

That sounds very interesting - I look forward to seeing it coming together.

I had not heard of this tank before.

You are added to the roster!

I'd like to join up with a Tauro 1/35 Fiat 3000 1st Series. It was the first tank Italy built after WWI and oddly enough saw combat during the Allied invasion of Sicily. 

Piers: She's coming along nicely! 

John: Yeah, I've gotten better at yellows- as you say a white undercoat is a great help. But I still have enough bad memories that I still don't like 'em!  

I admire you for going with that scheme. 

Piers and Cliff, I have pretty much come to peace with doing yellows, I always use a white undercoat in any kind of white, I think I used Model Master flat white, followed by Hataka C006 insignia orange yellow FS 13538 or ANA 506 it says on the bottle, it's their lacquer-based paint.  It only took two light coats of the yellow for the SBD wings.

John, that is looking fantastic. There is some super detail in the cockpit and you have done a great job on the engine. i agree with Cliff, that yellow is striking.

The Arado is coming on too. I have white based the wing tips and tail, then masked ready for a coat of grey pimer. Primer even.

Then a coat of RLM 02

Piers: Looks good! I know what you mean, I always end up knocking something off or cracking a seam or something like that... 

John: Nice work! Love the seatbelts and the engine looks good! You're a braver man than I going with the yellow wings! A pain to paint but they look soooooooo good! 

Some nice work on work intensive kits here, the Vega and the HP-44 especially.

I have had some health issues that have taken up time and energy, so I have been slow both reporting and making progress on my modeling projects, but here is where I am now on the SBD, it's not too far off being done.