1/48 Armor GB - 2007

Lu, that looks even better in a diorama setting. Simple but very effective. The figures came out great. I saw your dio at misslynx with the camera, that was really a great little vignette.

Jason, welcome to the build, its never too late.

Lu your work on the figures is awesome as usual, great job . 

Jason, welcome to the build I'm really looking forward to seeing your shagpanther, it's always been one of my favorite tanks.

Cheers

hey guys,

is it too late to join this build.

i was at the hobby shop today and picked up the 1/48 jagdpanther from tamiya.

i would like to enter it in this build if its ok?

haven't built any armor in a while,and thought i would try this series.

thanks.

jason

GasoLine Kfz 247 Ausf A (Conversion set for Tamiya Krupp Protze)

Gents,  

It took longer than I expected to complete this one because my time to make models is really limited nowadays, but finally I could finish one small scene with this one as I planned. As you see I did not make anything elaborated and try to get the most by using very few elements in the composition.

Just one vehicle, two figs and one simple ground can work well and make a good combination in my opinion. the only trick is to make things visually balanced by making all elements support each other somehow, and placing every subject accordingly to its final weight in the scene. In that way, the vehicle is backgorund for the figs, in the same grade as bushes act as background for the vehicle.

All elements can be clearly seen without bothering ones to anothers and they all make a solid and conpact whole thing. I also tried to get some advantage of colours combination in a way that all things are highlighted from theirs respective background, and think that also helps to make things visible at first sight naturally.

Definetely my work for the GB is over here, because from now on I am making one aricraft, so no time left for armor now. Anyway do not get me wrong because I will follow your works and will be here as usual meanwhile this GB is alive. 

I hope you like it.

Lu 

Mike: Good work on the Beute UC and glad to see you are enjoying with your new camera because pics are much better now. As for the Beute UC, I really love that configuration without armoured sides which gives a really utility vehicle look. Also think it makes a good combination with that chart. Well done, If I were you I would be really satisfied to have a very unique subject.

Lu

Waikong - Yes, the oil cart comes from the old Pro-Modeler set. I was lucky that my LHS had two copies on their shelf. I took both of them.

It does have the appearnce of runnig through some puddles on the airfield, which is what I wanted to show.

Thanks for the compliments,

Mike T.

I finally splurged on a new camera and here are better pictures of my Beute UC.

Mike T.

Thanks for the comments guys.

This Sherman took a long time because the base coat of OD green went down very poorly.  When the base coat goes not so well, it is an immediate loss of momentum on the build.  With an extra coat and the addition of the desert yellow, things started to look much better.

I'm leaning towards the schwimmwagen now.

Grant 

Grant: One more complete build here, well done. You are right, I think it is a good thing to complete this one definitely and to focuss on a new build, specially if you are tired of the same kit for a long time. Anyway seeing your list it seems you are with some build at same time in different scales. As for track links at any point I can realize which ones you added, so your molds and copies worked very well.  

 Lu

Great job on the Shermy Grant, it really looks like all that extra effort payed off .

Cheers

I'm finished with this one...meaning that it looks good enough for me, and I'm tired of looking at it.

To recap:

I blanked the hull with sheet styrene, lost 2 track links, replaced the links with resin copies (from a RTV mold), and added a brass antenna.

Paint wise, the base coats are Tamiya OD green and Tamiya Desert Yellow.  Highlights were made with highly diluted Tamiya Buff.

Weathering was with Testors enamel filters, diluted Tamiya buff, WinTon oils for the streaks, and WinTon oils for the drybrushing.

Next up...either the Hobby Fan M4A1(76)W aready started or the Tamiya Schwimmwagen with the Gaso.Line tires. 

 Good job with the links, I can't tell the difference between the ones you cast & the original ones.

This is the mold for the missing track link(s).  I started with a milk cap, a portion of a popsicle sitck, and a good link "white glued" tread down to the stick.

The finished links are the bottom of the curved set touching the idler wheel.  It is hard to tell the difference between the tracks and the original, and I'm not disappointed with that.  Unfortunately, my finished photos of the resin originals were too blurry.  The camera couldn't handle it the bright color of the parts for a closeup.

Current progress:

Now it is time to weather this thing...especially the tracks.

Almost done.

Grant 

I just removed the pour stubs from the links. The look good. Only one small bubble.

If you all loose sherman links...I can probably get one or two for you.

They'll be painted by tomorrow night.

To all: Glad to see some activity here again. It seems you were busy with other projects recently..

Grant: Good to hear your sherman is alive still and you could fix those missed track links. By the way - I am sorry to say but - now we all  know whom we can ask help for the day we loose one sherman track link, right?. As for your paint mixes, I would not add Falt Base to any Tamiya matt color, as you said that makes the mix really flat. Good to hear you could fix that as well, and welcome to the Crusader-Mania!. It seems many modellers are really into that kit nowadays.

Waikong: Happy to hear my work gave you some inspiration to go ahead with chipping. As for the german officers I also like the smilling face, but that is hard to paint too. As for M-L credit must be where is due. Everything is thanks to Frank Berger who promoted and took good care of the discussion group there. My entry there was accidental because Frank has to quit suddenly and someone had to take that role and I did it so a couple of weeks ago. Anyway -regarding to 1/48 discussion groups in the net- I like to participate in all of them when I can and it was like I reached Heavens doors when I found this group builds far from others more dedicated to news or modelling showcases. I really appreciate a place dedicated to biuld only where we can plenty enjoy and share our beloved hobby. Finally I have to say my work over M-L is not more relevant than yours here and I am not the only host who participates in this GB because also Robin Gronovius (Armorama 1/48 forum host) joined here too. It is very nice and good to see any place can be a valid meeting point for people with same interest.

Darson: Shhhhhhhssss... do not say that so loud. Bad news, I am the same Lu of MiS magazine, but keep it secret, please. That does not chage anything in the practice because I am just one more modeller here, right?. BTW give my best regards to Mr. Pershing and let him know we are waiting for more pics of him soon. Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my works anyway.

Lu

waikong wrote:

Grant, sorry to hear about your missing links, maybe it would be easier to buy a replacement sprue from Tamiya?

You know...at the time (Wednesday Evening), I was under the impression that I could still finish the kit for last Sunday's show in Buffalo.  I ended up buying $26 in RTV (a.k.a. the smallest amount possible and $4 more than the actual kit).  After finding out about the Resin (on Saturday night when the RTV was really really cured), I spent the $36 to replenish my supply.  I do like using the stuff for making extra jerry cans, ammo boxes, and wheels.  I now have justification to do it more and more.

After 7 attempts, I now have 2 very good track links for the sherman.  Since it was a single mold RTV job, the trick was to remove the air bubbles from the guide teeth in the link.  A pin head and slow cooking resin do the trick. 

Bright side:  I bought the new Tamiya Crusader at the show.  Stay tuned.  

I'll try to have some photos by the weekend.  Thank you all for the well wishes.

Grant 

I haven't checked back in for a while but the Pershing is moving along albeit slowly.  Basically the only things that have progressed since my last update are that I have repainted the whole vehicle in Gunze RLM81 Braun Violet after my original Tamiya OD looked terrible, the rubber portions of the road wheels have been painted and I have now Futured everything in preparation for the weathering to commence.

Mike it's a bit hard to tell from the photo's but I get the general look of the Beute UC, nice job.

Lu you scratch built those figures I am gob smacked they are fantastic.  Also, I may be a tad slow on the uptake but seeing those figures of yours the penny has finally dropped.  You wouldn't happen to be the same Luciano Rodriguez who does articles for Military in Scale would you?  If so I just wanted to say that your models are awesome and the way you describe the builds has both inspired me and taught me so much, thanks .

Waikong the Shermy is looking great, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Grant sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope you manage the replacement link soon so you can resume your build.

Cheers

MIKE: Nice work on the UC

WAIKONG: The camo on the Sherman is perfect.  I was in the Bronx this weekend otherwise I would have photos of my Sherman.

LU:  Are you kidding?  Scratch built tank crews?  They look fantastic.

My Sherman:

1.  10% Tamiya Buff + 10% Tamiya Flat Base + 80% Alcohol = Disaster  This formula makes a spongy surface that looks very very flat.  Solutions: a. Don't do it b. Overcoat with a mixture of 80% Future and 20% Flat Base.

2.  Link-n-length:  I love the tracks on this kit, but somewhere I lost two of the individual links (nice even number, so I didn't notice until final assembly).  Solution:  RTV Mold a single link and pour a few resin replacements.  Problem b:  RTV shelf life is short  Problem c: Resin hardener had a cracked bottle and was totally solid.  :)  I made 1 hobby shop in Buffalo very happy.

I've made 1 out of 3 perfect replacements for the track link.  When I get 2, I'll resume the build.  I'll keep you all posted.

Grant

GasoLine Kfz 247 Ausf A (Conversion set for Tamiya Krupp Protze)

I just finished this couple of German officers for the 247. Both figures passed different grade of surgery because I changed heads, arms, hands and boots. I am basically satisfied with the result and fortunately time to paint arrives, so I hope to have them coloured soon.

Lu

Waikong: Good work on your M4 so far. Well done with the silly putty and I really like that hard edge camo which fits to shermans very well in my opinion. I see you did not hesitate to add little chipping and current status is perfect to follow with some more accesories and final weathering. Also I want to highligh the excellent comparative pics you took.  Good work.

I am looking forward to seeing more of that beauty soon.

Lu

Well, I've made progress and I can finally see the finish line..

1. masking with silly putty

2. finsihed raw paint job

3. Future coated, oil wash and paint chipping

4. Decal added, flat coat followed by a tinted flat coat of Tamiya dessert yellow as a filter and to tone down the really bright white decals.

Next up I'll add stowage, weathering powders, final weathering details, detail sin commanders inside hatch, and add the machine gun. As always, your comments, criticism, and advise are most welcomed.

Mike, great to see you finished those UCs, but as you said, the pictures are too out of focus to see much. Perhaps you are getting too close, don't know what camera you have, but all have a certain minimum distance for it to focus. Same with zoom, zooming in also increases the minimum distance requried. Perhaps you can move the camera back and then crop the picture instead. Would love to see more pictures that will do your build justice.

Lu, those are fantastic looking - you certainly have talent my friend. Looking forward to seeing the Sd.Kfz again in its 'natural' setting.

As for me, I got camo, wash, and minor scratches done followed by a future coat. Will post pictures by tomorrow.

Mike: Good work on the Beute UC. Unfortunately those pics are not good and not well focussed, but anyway one can sense the final appearance of your vehicle, and I like the combination with the oil chart. This place has been really calm in the past weeks so it is nice to see one more complete subject here. Congratulations. Will you follow with one more UC soon?

By the way, I have not been so lazy lately and I am still planning a small scene for the Sd.Kfz. 247. In the interval I scratchbuilt that Firefly tank crew for a friend of mine. I hope you like it. 

Lu

I am sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, but my Beute UC is finished. It is hooked up with oil cart at the moment.

The light has bleached out the colors, it is darker than shown.

Mike T.

Just wanted to check back in.  I promise promise promise I am still working on my dio.... the groundwork is all built... simply need to finish the trees so I can put the pigments on the groundwork for the dusty look.  Figures are ever so close to being completed, and the Tiger has undergone a bit of extra weathering to color match the dusting.

Almost there! 

It's possible

It's depending of kind of motorcycles.It's possible to making it in 48 scale .

Marc

More modern picts based on1/48 T72 ZhengDefu:

Figure from me

Whells , tracks , details to

Marc