Battle For Germany 45 GB Starts Now - 08 May 06

Smokingun, Bob,  Thanks guys, glad you liked her.  The 56th FG had some pretty wild schemes.

Regards,  Rick

darson wrote:

Also between you and Rick giving the thumbs up to Cutting Edge decals, I have definitely made up my mind to use them for the Allied Aces GB.

This set at least is very nice if a little sparse looking (the Do335 had almost no stencilling etc except for the no step signs etc...)  very nice fit to the body, very little Micro Set needed to snug them down.  This is the second set I have used and I am a very happy customer now!  I got mine at www.meteorprod.com, you can get them at greatmodels but some of the more 'fringe' ones are always out of stock...

OK, time for an update:

Since last we left our intrepid adventurer, I had joined this GB to get some motivation after being overseas last year.  I decided to do something fairly simple - a Tamiya PAK-40.

As of this printing, the Tamiya PAK is done, minus final painting and I am building the Dragon PAK-40 as well.  I was motivated by one of the scenes from "A Bridge Too Far" in which XXX Corps runs into dug in PAK 40's during their advance.  I figure I will use these two guns for an AT roadblock.  It is also interesting to do the build of the same model from two different companies.  The Dragon kit is head and shoulders above the Tamiya one for detail (but also complexity).  At this point I am still building the major subassemblies of the Dragon PAK to get them ready for paint. 

The motivation factor has definately worked because in addition to the two guns, I am also building Accurate Miniatures Sturmovick fighter/bomber as part of the GB.  Knowing my pace, I may have trouble finishing it by the deadline, but at least I will get a good start on it.

Now, for some pictures:

All of these are of the Tamiya PAK.  The first shows the sub-assemblies completed and ready for base paint.  You can see in the photo that I replaced the Tamiya wheels with one of the two sets that came with the Dragon kit.

In this photo, the base coat is on and I am prepping for sanding, fillilng, and final assembly.

And, finally, a shot trying to illustrate the detail differences in the carriage of the Tamiya and Dragon kits.  The Dragon carriage is on the bottom.

The picture quality is not great, I know, but they will do for now.  These were taken a wekk or so ago.  When I can borrow the in-law's camera again I will try to post some more recent ones.

Boyd

Very nice work Boyd.  Keep us posted.

Regards,  Rick

Looking good Boyd!!!  I still need to get me one of those artillery kits... lots of detail to those!!

News on the home front:  I got 99% of the German markings on and will snap a pic tomorrow after I get the gear on.  Next is painting the RAF Dark Green over the German markings and futuring and putting down the British markings.  I found a good site in French with TONS of pics of Do335-A12 number 112, I wish I had found it before... in addition to the nose it appears at least the lower unit of the intake scoop was also NMF, the 'ceiling' of the nose gear bay was NMF (as were the other 335's and some 262's at that time)  It also appears the inner wheel bays excluding the ceiling were RLM 66 not RLM 02, I can't confirm this as they are in black and white but I went with it all the same, as a color wartime shot had a bit of the wheel bay showing and it appeared a dark gray.

Also contrary to references with the decals and online, it appears the Dark Green was hand painted on, as soon as I find the period pic again I will post it for an opinion from the GB.

I would like to do one of these again, having now massed a moderate amount of research material on it.  With the PE and Resin set this thing would look extremely good!!!

Can't beleive I've missed so much in so little time.

Great builds guys! Some really impressive stuff.

Rick whats with the 'different' camo schemes you've churned out this GB??

That last one looks extremely cool

Well, the Spit has been finished for a couple of weeks now, but I have been stuck out in the scrub 600 k's from home thanks to shonky weather so didn't manage to post any pics

Should be able to snap a couple of pics this weekend hopefully.

Darren the BoB badge looks fine from here

Thanks Sean, glad you liked the Jug.  As far as the camo schemes goes, I guess some of Tom's fringe urges have spilled over .  Looking forward to your pics.

Regards,  Rick

Boyd-nice work.  Looking forward to the finished product.

The Panther is painted.  The Silly Putty mask seamed to 'repel' the paint...or at least some of it.  I had some older, used putty that worked fine.  Opened up a couple of new eggs and that reacted with the paint....or the base coat hadn't cured (MM acrylic, 24 hrs.).  Anyway, after some touch-up (nice thing about armor....mistakes can be covered up with weathering) here is where we are now:

Thinking about using the kit one-piece treads, since I am leaning toward using the side skirts (currently attached with rubber cement).  Finding myself running short of time and not sure if I want to tackle the Tamiya indy tracks (too many other projects-modeling and otherwise-in progress).  Would like to build another Panther G (after purchase of  a double-action ab and many hours of practice) so I may save them.

The Panther is looking good Bob.  Nicely painted.  I've never used Silly Putty as a mask, but I've seen posts from others that had the same reaction.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks Karl.. Your 162 is looking great so far.  I have the kit & plan on building it "someday".

Regards,  Rick

Rick & Karl-thanks

Karl-the 162 is looking good. 

Interesting how many 'multiple builds' there are/have been for this GB.  I've not seen that in previous GB's....or I didn't notice...

Kris - if you are talking about the ugly trainer I am doing I got it at Hobby Lobby but all the online places carry it as well.  It's the Tamiya 1/48 Do335-A12 Trainer Anteater.

If it was the pics of the twin Do335 reconnasaince aircraft you were referring to, they are scratchbuilds not done by me.  Basically 2 Do335 single seater kits put together.

well I just went back and realized I have been promising pics "tomorrow" for 5 pages worth of posts... I'm surprised Rick hasn't provided me with my comuppance for laxing in this area.  Here's a quick peek at where I am at on the kit.  All I have to do is paint over all the German insignia while leaving them barely visible and then future and redecal with the RAF roundels.  The props and antenna and such will come next.  Then after a dull coat I will be done!!

P.S. the canopies are still just laying in place until after dull coating.  I still haven't cut off the little mounting studs to display them open so they aren't sitting straight.

-=edit=- the cowl looks two shades of grey but in real life it definitely looks metallic.  the wife "cleaned up" this weekend and now my light to take pics with is nowhere to be found..

Hey guys can I join in on this build? I want to build a Tamiya panther G

Cheers David

tho9900 wrote:

Well Bob - ya know they say a man's home is his castle... which infers I am the king.. and should be able to make a rule where I put things!!  (yeah right...  )

It's a very lonely man who came up with that saying, either that or a very dillusional one!    As for me I am king of my 3'x5' modeling desk in the corner of the garage and that is it!!!  At least I am until my wife sees this post.  

To all, too many posted updates for me to catch up on so I just want to say what a great job everyone is doing.  Keep the pics coming.

Exactly what Dave said!  as I heard someone say once, I'm the one who runs things in my house, I run the dishwasher, I run the vacuum cleaner...I do anything I want, when my wife says I can.

Progress - I have the future on the Dora and I'll be starting decals very soon.

Anyone have experience with "Ministry of Small Aircraft Production" decals? I bought a decal sheet a while ago with 5 different Doras on it.  They look good, but sitting on paper is totaly different than sitting on the model.

Tom great looking progress on the 335 and always remember, in the immortal words of Mel Brooks "it's good to be the king"

David (Armour_freek) you are more than welcome to join the group.  Just start building and posting and I'll add your name to the list of participants on page 1.

Karl, Bob & Boyd, you are making excellent progress there guys, I'm looking forward to see some more shots.

Progress on the Panther is still zilch.  I'm almost finished my Tiger 1 for the local Wheels & Tracks competition on the weekend but it's going to be a close run thing.  I tell you guys I hate building under pressure like this as it takes all the fun out of modeling.  It's like coming home from one full time job and moving on to another

Cheers

darson wrote:

in the immortal words of Mel Brooks "it's good to be the king"

They just don't make good movies like that anymore I tell ya!!! 

Thanks for the kind words... I rushed this one for the very reason you said... deadlines and too many GB's... The only problem I had was a few rough spots on the wing and body from future "bounce"  I got most of it off with windex and/or 2000 grit paper but it still bothers me as it still has a little uneven texture in places, hopefully the dull coat will hide that.  The kit itself is a real charm and I plan to build one of these up in it's natural clothing down the line.  I really think I need to take a break from a couple of the GB's I am in... One so I can finish the P-47 for the Latin American GB, and be able to donate it complete with base to a recent immigrant immersion class.  Two so I can get back into enjoying modeling more... this kit would have been so much more fun if I had taken more time and worked into it more... oh well, it still looks pretty good and it definitely is looking better now that 90% of the decals are on..

tho9900 wrote:

I really think I need to take a break from a couple of the GB's I am in... One so I can finish the P-47 for the Latin American GB, and be able to donate it complete with base to a recent immigrant immersion class.  Two so I can get back into enjoying modeling more... this kit would have been so much more fun if I had taken more time and worked into it more... oh well, it still looks pretty good and it definitely is looking better now that 90% of the decals are on..

Amen to that Tom, with the group builds we are all in I find I am just committed to turn builds around in the minimum time possible and with minimum effort just so that I can move to the next GB.  Oh and it hasn't escaped my notice that I'm the idiot signing up for these thing either

Btw who is that in your icon now?

Cheers

darson wrote:

Btw who is that in your icon now? Cheers

It's George Bernard Shaw... thinking about Pygmalion yesterday I looked something up on it online and decided I liked the pic haha..

Well after a few breakages and some patch up work, here is Johnnie Johnsons Spit...........

Not one of my better efforts, kinda threw me when bits broke of it, and when the 190 turned into the kit from hell I kinda lost my joojoo for modeling.

At least she's done, and the next spit I do will be a gem and a half!!!!

I agree with you both as far as GB commitment goes, and as much as it bums me out having too little time to build, and too many builds to do, I find it's the only way I can force myself to make the time for the hobby I enjoy so much.

I think 'Catch 22' is the phrase we are looking for................

Besides, I only really get into GB's that involve the 'Usual Suspects'.

The info and conversations that go on are priceless, not one of us is a rivet counter and the quality of each build as time goes by just gets better and better.

Kinda like evolution, but without the primordial soup thing going on.

tweety1 wrote:

I think 'Catch 22' is the phrase we are looking for................ Besides, I only really get into GB's that involve the 'Usual Suspects'. The info and conversations that go on are priceless, not one of us is a rivet counter and the quality of each build as time goes by just gets better and better.

Could not agree more.  I find myslef torn between the feeling of the "need" to finish a project... and the "desire" to finish one.   Was thinking a break may be healthy but like you said.... I learn an awful lot from the usual suspects.

 A few more GB's and then I think my "break" will be working on the 1/16 T34 tank.

Yuppers, I agree, I've learned a lot the last year hanging with the usualy suspects.  BTW Sean, I kinda like primordial soup, it's a bit like chicken soup don't cha know!

I sure hope the future will help with the decals.  I think the decals I bought are not really good.  They had some residue that dried white on the model and they seem a little thick to boot.  I tried wiping the residue away once the decals were completely dry but it didn't help much.  Mico set/sol didn't do a thing to them but GS Mr.Mark Softer seems to do okay.  Future has helped a bit in the past with white from decal residue, has anyone else had this problem and have they had future help take it away?