Drop it? What are saying? Thats crazy talk. Its gb #12! Honestly this gb always inspires me.

Waikong: it's great to have you along! 

Steve/Modelcrazy stated it's like an annual thing too! I keep saying I'm going to drop it but I always get several people ask if I'm running it next year so I always end up doing another one... 

A new Japanese GB? How can I resist?  Its like an annual thing! I am in, not sure what yet and will be a month before I can start.

GAMERA, That is one monster of a kit!

Well, the O-I is together. I did get a little more done on the hatches after this photo:

Here is she is sitting next to a 'normal' Type 89 medium tank: 

I sprayed her with a rusty red-brown primer last night. It's a little patchy and I'll have to hit her again this weekend. Then I'm going to spray some hairspray on her and scrub a little off to get a worn paint effect to show the primer/rust look. 

Or that's the plan anyway... 

Yeah, the thing is so just plain weird I had to have it. I've got a lot done on her, hopefully I'll be ready for paint soon. Hope have some photos up before much longer. 

Robert: Sounds cool, looking forward to seeing what you pick! 

GreySnake

 

One thing to keep in mind that all major combatants during WWII had super heavy tank programs. No power wanted to fall behind. 

 

Yup, and the manufacturers have been releasing kits of most of them over the last decade.  Meng released the British A39 Tortoise, and I think DML the American T28, both of those are in my stash too. 

To get this back on track of the theme of the GB, I am getting close to a project decision.  It is down to a plane, aircraft carrier, or a vehicle.  

RG, I could make an educated guess that the Japanese were worried about the Soviets making super heavy tanks and having to face them eventuall. The Battle of Khalkhin Gol did show the Japanese how inferior the tanks that had and I believe they were only facing light Soviet tanks. 

From reading the little history on O-I the design was in response to the poor showing of Japanese tanks against the Soviets. 

One thing to keep in mind that all major combatants during WWII had super heavy tank programs. No power wanted to fall behind. 

GreySnake,

No, some super heavy tank history is always fun to read about!

That the Japanese also got into the game is intriguing.

Gamera,

Those super tanks make for fun models, but their designers never address the most important question of all - where the heck can you find a parking stall?  

I am seriously shocked that the Japanese actually started building that thing, considering their lack of emphasis on armor development during the war.

Would love to see you build her Robert! 

I built a E-100 in 1/35th a few years ago, big brute of a tank. 

I have the German Ratte in the stash in 1/144 scale, it was their paper panzer that used a battleship turret.  I really don't understand what they were thinking when they drew that one up....Someday I hope to get to it.

Thanks guys! 

Yeah, some of the Axis leaders were on serious drugs...

A 70 ton tank like a Royal Tiger was a mechanical nightmare- 150 tons is just downright insane. 

If you guys read the site I linked they commented on how the Japanese got the thing about 2/3 finished- lacking the main turret and some of the armour- it weighed in at about 100 tons and tried to test it. The driver veered off the hard packed earth and got the blasted thing stuck in about a metre/yard of mud. Dragging it out they damaged the suspension. After that it went into storage and sat there till scrapped. 

brillant idea..... 

Greysnake: Good luck! I used to damage so many needles I was buying them left and right. Ended up switching to a more robust airbrush and thankfully haven't had much of that problem anymore... 

150 tons?! OOFTA !!!

I watched a documentary regarding German super heavy tanks during WWII and they had ideas of building stuff this size but ultimately gave up realizing that no bridge in Europe could handle that much weight. I'm sure the Japanese had to have also realized this scale just isn't all that mobile in the big scheme of things. 

Can't wait to see more.

BK

I'm surprised how big the O-I is that's going to take while to paint. 

I am almost ready to start painting my Type 10. I found out I somehow damaged my airbrush needle and lost the two spares also. Now I'm waiting for the post to deliver replacements. 

Thanks guys, and nope the figure is 1/35th. It's an O-I or Ooki-I-Gou type 1. Which apparently translates to 'BIG'. It was a 150 ton vehicle with a crew of 11. 

One prototype was built and not suprisingly had a great deal of technical problems. Seems it was canciled mainly though because the Imperial Navy wouldn't give the army enough steel to build more than the first one. 

More information here: 

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/O-I.php

It was so friggin' wierd I had to have the kit once it came out... 

Gamera

I've been moving forward on the O-I, nothing like Nick though! 

Lots of parts to the suspension. But everything went together like a silk glove. I need to finish a bunch of GBs from 2022 but this thing fits so well, it's what I needed- a really nice break from struggling with problems of all stripes. 

I didn't have a Imperial Japanese figure handy so I threw in a Vietnam era G.I. for scale. Dang this thing is BIG...

 

BK

Gamera

I've been moving forward on the O-I, nothing like Nick though! 

Lots of parts to the suspension. But everything went together like a silk glove. I need to finish a bunch of GBs from 2022 but this thing fits so well, it's what I needed- a really nice break from struggling with problems of all stripes. 

I didn't have a Imperial Japanese figure handy so I threw in a Vietnam era G.I. for scale. Dang this thing is BIG...

 

That looks like is a biggun' too.  Is the figure 1/72, or is it just that big of a tank?  Looks good so far though Gam!

crown r n7

started painting and placed wing flairings on the wings.

 

Wow, that is quite a project, well done so far!

I've been moving forward on the O-I, nothing like Nick though! 

Lots of parts to the suspension. But everything went together like a silk glove. I need to finish a bunch of GBs from 2022 but this thing fits so well, it's what I needed- a really nice break from struggling with problems of all stripes. 

I didn't have a Imperial Japanese figure handy so I threw in a Vietnam era G.I. for scale. Dang this thing is BIG...

Yeah that looks amazing Nick! Barely a week into the new year and you've already made a serious dent in getting her done! 

Looking forward to your Ki-61 Cbaltrin!

Brandon. There isn't much to this kit.. but decals are extentive some weathering lots more to do and a 2.5ft sq work space. I need to make more room.

cbaltrin. Thank you.

Holy crap!! Dude, slow down and let the rest of us catch up. That thing will be flying anytime. No pun intended, but you are flying though this one. Great work.

BK

Making good progress Crown r n7!

I hope to start on my KI-61 before end of month...

started painting and placed wing flairings on the wings.

Dodgy. Thank you it was strange putting them together lol.

finished clearing them, primed fuseage, tail planes andd wings pics to follow. this p/c is hung over time for a replacement.

Hey Nick, awesome work, but don't get sucked in, (to the blades, they look so realistic!!!). 

Dodgy

Nick: Superb work! Great job there with all those tiny delicate fan blades! 

modelcrazy

Gam, put me down TBA please

 

Sure Steve, just put you down. The GB wouldn't be the same without you! 

BK. I'm making up Some time. I do need to slow down  keeps mistakes down thanks.