Panzer Aces GB January 2007 to May 31, 2008

dupes wrote:

bobbaily wrote: I know what you are saying about eBay-I like the Tamiya kits for ease of assembly but the retail prices are more than I want to spend...especially if I'm going to add any AM bits.  Hey Bob - don't know if you've ever tried them, but Lucky Model's prices on Tamiya are pretty spectacular, especially if you hit them during a sale...I cleared several kits for under 50% of retail, even including the fairly exorbitant international shipping. Also, their Academy prices are STUPIDLY low. Like, around 33% of retail shipped. Zing! 3-for-1 deals! I can shoot you my whole "Lucky Model Spreadsheet" if you want the full details.

Thanks Dupes-I've looked at Lucky Model a time or two (noting to be careful-type in the wrong web address-I can't remember if it is 'model' or 'models'- and you end up with a web site that your wife wants to know exactly why you're looking at it...).  May try that in the future.

I would like to see your spreadsheet-just send it to my e-mail.  Thanks

That can be a problem, it is www.luckymodel.com. Don't add the s

Tamiya makes a set of the 2-link 9-tooth track you need, identical to the sprue of spare track links in the kit, just enough for a whole tank. It's $17 most places, so a bit more expensive than the Hobby Boss set, but still cheaper than Fruils or MK tracks. 

err...uh...Scott...could...would you please change my build....again?  Looks like the Christmas present from my wife is in stock & shipping....and that would be the Dragon DX07 'Georg Bose' Stug G III.  Based on limited research, he had 44+ kills on the Eastern Front.  He was also in a US POW camp and then turned over to the Russians.  He has written three 'manuscripts' but unfortunatly they are available only in German.

Thanks

bobbaily wrote:

err...uh...Scott...could...would you please change my build....again?  Looks like the Christmas present from my wife is in stock & shipping....and that would be the Dragon DX07 'Georg Bose' Stug G III.  Based on limited research, he had 44+ kills on the Eastern Front.  He was also in a US POW camp and then turned over to the Russians.  He has written three 'manuscripts' but unfortunatly they are available only in German. Thanks

You bet my friend.  That should be a nice kit!  Looking forward to it Bob. 

Hey, Espins is back!

Got lucky today, "magic" tracks from Crockett AND my squadron order with the Eduard PE both showed up...gives me something to do over the weekend until I can start on my first War In The Desert build.

One question about the Tiger II grills - that "secondary" grill that just fits underneath the turret - is that evident on all KT's? The Eduard set doesn't include PE for that part...I.E., the one that you have to use the kit-supplied mesh on. Meh. Essentially, it's a grill-on-a-grill? Just wondering if that part is uh..."expendable".

Sorry guys, I've been really busy lately writing reviews and getting ready to enter two of my armor builds in a contest this weekend.   

I'll finally have some modeling time available again starting this Sunday. 

Well, the wife is off at a wreath-making party (or something like that) so I've been going nuts with all the gear that showed up today! Got the Eduard PE on, followed by basecoating the whooooole thing. This is one time I'd consider using a Tamiya rattlecan...god this thing is big. Took a while with 50% thinned XF-60 (with a little white) to get decent coverage. Don't really like the kit-supplied mesh for that secondary intake cover, but the turret will hide one of them...and hopefully I can be creative and hide the other one with something else.

Started on the "magic" tracks - personally, I LOVE THEM. Nice tight tolerances, snap right together, going to have the whole set installed tonight.

WHICH MEANS tomorrow will be track painting, and the start of the "ambush" scheme!

Senor Espins - I aim to please.

Got a bunch done today, was hoping at the very least I'd get the first masks done for the ambush...had some issues with the tracks I had to deal with though, not because of the DML Magics, but because the Tamiya idler wheel is not adjustable like on all DML kits.

However, I'm chugging some coffee, should get a couple more hours of work in tonight before I'm forced to switch over the the WitD GB at midnight! Marathon build day tomorrow on my Sd.Kfz.222! Anyhoo, tracks are painted and attached (finally), have a rust colored enamel wash drying right now before I attach the skirts/fenders I was waiting for tracks to attach. May have to do a little dunkelgelb re-spray depending how well those fit.

Next progress pics will have to involve some brown or green.

dupes wrote:

Senor Espins - I aim to please. Got a bunch done today, was hoping at the very least I'd get the first masks done for the ambush...had some issues with the tracks I had to deal with though, not because of the DML Magics, but because the Tamiya idler wheel is not adjustable like on all DML kits. However, I'm chugging some coffee, should get a couple more hours of work in tonight before I'm forced to switch over the the WitD GB at midnight! Marathon build day tomorrow on my Sd.Kfz.222! Anyhoo, tracks are painted and attached (finally), have a rust colored enamel wash drying right now before I attach the skirts/fenders I was waiting for tracks to attach. May have to do a little dunkelgelb re-spray depending how well those fit. Next progress pics will have to involve some brown or green.

I am very pleased Amigo!    Your KT is looking great! 

I hear you about the War in the Desert GB, I've been drooling on my PzKpfw. II Ausf. F all week!  My wife is going shopping tomorrow so I'm spending the entire day on the workbench with my JagdTiger and PzKpfw. II Ausf. F.  I'm going to try to push the envelope a bit with weathering on these babies.

Anyway, I entered my first contest today.  My "Das Reich" Tiger I Early took 3rd place!  I am really stoked about that... nice confidence booster.  

dupes wrote:

Get out! That's awesome! Glad to see all of your hard work payed off! Gaah! I'm doing it again...hanging out on the forum instead of BUILDING!

Thanks! 

These forums are addicting! 

Finally got around to completing my contribution. is a 1/72 replica of Will Feys mount:

This was the first tank ive tried the blu-tac masking method on an i'm very plaesed with the result. I'll describe it in more detail if anyones interested.

Any comments or suggestions welcome

 John

Duke Maddog wrote:

Way to go John! And in my favorite scale too! What kit is that? Fantastic job on the camo pattern.

Its the 1/72 dragon one, built straight from the box - http://www.dragonmodelsltd.com/html/7203webpage1.html

Been a while since anyone posted around these parts...

Was able to throw some paint in the general direction of my King Tiger this weekend - blizzard here today, so looks like my trip to Boston for New Year's will most likely be canned...which means it's time to ambush this baby!

Yes, I know the picture sucks. Heh. Took it late last night.

The pic ain't bad at all, and the camo pattern is superb! Nicely done! That's going to be an awesome ambush scheme.

Good news: I finally found the missing "B" sprue from my Dragon Panther. I can start this Group Build now. Going to begin today if I can. I'll post pics when I get some progress to shoot. 

Nice work Dupes!  Man, you've been on a seriously roll with all your builds! 

I've only been able to squeeze in an hour or two on my bench throughout the holidays....   I'm planning on some serious time on the bench tomorrow though. 

Hey, thanks guys! I'm actually headed home to hit her with the dots in a few minutes!

Scott I kind of figured the holidays must have been limiting your time lately...haven't seen you around all that much that past couple of weeks. You probably don't get the opportunity to take too many "snow days" either...

The roll continues!

I think I have carpal tunnel now from holding the airbrush for such a long time to get all of the dots done. Had a couple of airbrush barfs with the dunkel-dots (the green ones were fine, though) but I think most of them will sort of blend in with the weathering...which has me thinking. I don't really want to "fade" this too much, since the vehicle was only in service for 30-60 days...but I also don't want the hard-edged camo to have a "too-contrasty" look. I've already hit it with 2 light coats of 90/10 thinner/dunkelgelb in this pic. Any suggestions?

Hey, thanks you two! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I just have to finish all of the tools, then it's on to the final weathering stages.

Think I may be adding 2 figs to this guy (Kurt and his loader!) depending how they turn out. I've always been scared of figs...which isn't a good thing, since I keep buying them. Hehehehe.

Good luck with the figures dupes!!  You're a better man than I!

Fortunately figures in the stash isn't a weakness of mine yet!!  In fact I have NO figures other what has come with the kits and I haven't even tried to paint one!  Last 1/35 figure I painted was nearly 30 yrs ago.  Shoot, it takes me long enough just to build and paint one tank.....