Winter Warriors GB 2008

Damn Lufty! You're going all out on this one! PE, Friulies, Resin...it's all in there.

I believe that the "curly bit" is an exhaust blast shield, or something along those lines.

One note - looks like you 'accidentally' mangled one of your grills...

Hi all, at last i finished my plane for another GB im in. Time to start my KV-2. I might as well give up now. The quality of the work on this GB just beggars belief. You guys rock.

So on with my tank. Its an old Tamiya KV-2 that i bought from  E Bay. It came with this beut...

I thought it also need loving in a few other ways so i bought the Eduard fender set and the KV-2 PE set. I had a set of fruils lying about for another project and decided it needed them too.

1st job yesterday was to attack the engine grills with my Dremel as they do look awfull.

5mins later...

Bit of trimming...

then on with the grills..And yes, i deliberately mangled them a touch.

Next up was the removal of the fenders. Same method as the grills...

bit more cleaning up then. voila

Started assembling the fenders, which went together fairly nicely.

I also made the this curly bit , whatever the heck it is. Answers on a postcard, and the taillight.

Oh and started the tracks.

Nothing like working to an organised system.

...Guy

SA:  Hermesminiatures just added some good info on your 3-color camo', take a read.  Are you following my toot' for the whitewash?  If you are, please look at the first steps closely.  Make sure to decide where you want your 3-color base camo' to show through.  If you haven't decided that yet, then just pick where it looks the"best", i.e. best stripes, paint consistency, etc...and apply the least amount of white in those areas.  Have fun, and feel free to post a pic' at anytme if you get frustrated or get "stuck"...I feel a bit like Yoda here..."Spray the whitewash, like you will, young Skywalker"

The opacity is okay - that all depended on how thin the paint was and whether it was thinned with water or gas (the camo paint was supplied as a concentrated paste). I've seen many photos with camo like that.

Another issue is that a 1/35 scale crewman couldn't possibly have painted lines that long. The patterns should be shorter and more varied. It should be okay this time since it will be covered in whitewash, but just something to remember for next time.

You zim does indeed look good! 

Thanks for the input SMJ, the camo is going to get a "color cued" wash just in the outlines a bit to darken and highlight 'em some, but I did want them really faint. I've seen a couple Tigers with camo that could barely be made out, looked more like shading actually, and wanted to try that look. You do know your whitewash, I'm just hoping I can get even close to what you've posted on here.

You do need to try the Zimm on something, this is a blast!! I've been hesitant to say the least about doing any sort of zimm work. But now that I know how much fun it is, it won't be that way anymore.

Thanks again for the help SMJ, keep your fingers crossed cause I'm going into this at full speed and blind. We're both waiting to see how it all pulls together, LOL

Dale 

SA:  I'm not a 3-color camo' expert, but I've dabbled in the whitewash area a bit.  IMO that 3-color looks a too subtle, you might want to thicken those lines and add more paint.  It's much easier to add more white to tone it down.  Adding more colored camo' will be next to impossible after the whitewash...food for thought.  Please, at least get a few other opinions from the guys.

I'm still liking that chipped zim', I think I'm gonna try that on my Panther!, I can't wait to see how you pull it all together !!!  Sorry I can't help you on that Zim' question.

Camo anyone?

Down to the final little bit on this Tiger. Washes for depth, whitewash, detail scuffs and such. And of course the wheels and tracks. Won't be long now.

One quick question though, if Zimm was damaged what color would the actual zimm be? I was thinking maybe an ash grey color. Any help would be appreciated guys. 

Dale

 

I took a little break from the PzKpfw 38(t) as I just wasn't in the mood to tackle the PE yet, so I spend time on my PzKpfw II Ausf. F and JagdTiger.

Construction will pick up again later this week.

I wouldn't have a problem with that...especially since you'd be covering one of the "rarer" variants.

Progress is looking good, everyone!

I'd be up for the 251 build...probably with the /8 ambulance variant. I started a long time ago, but got as far as cleaning the road wheels...so I assume it would still count.

WWGB participants,

I started a thread on this "final" version of my SU122, but I thought I should post it in the "official" spot here in Group Builds:

I will be finishing the narrative for the tutorial this week if you're still following along...

SMJmodeler

Another small update, for your consideration. Started putting in the primer areas and the burnt umber wash. Also worked on the high scuff areas like the turret top, rear deck, just to start getting an overall used feel for the Tiger. Camo and whitewash will hide some of the things already put in but I'm still working the "subtle" shade idea.

Comments, advice always welcome

Dale

 

Wow!  All of these builds are coming along beautifly.  It's amazing to watch a model go from some chunks of plastic on sprues to a stunningly realistic replica. 

SMJ, Biffa, all I can do pray that my build comes out a half as good as yours.  Both are showstoppers!

Been away from my computer for a while.  Just spent an hour reading and re-reading what I missed.  Progress has been rather slow on this kit.  The detail isn't all that bad for a kit this old, it's just that some of it is in the wrong spots.  But it definately leaves something to be desired.  So far I've done the suspension and road wheels, and did the tracks on one side.  I also worked on the gun assembly, where the fit was below average.  Here are some progress pics:

Arki - I'm sure you'll do just fine. Can't wait to see it! Hoping I get to start in on my Stuka one of these days as well.

So Dale's in for the 251's, plus Scott, me, Thurston...I'm sure we can get quite a crowd if I put my mind to it. Perhaps that will be one of the summer projects this year - should probably wait until after this, the War In The Desert, and Hunters GB's are all over - think they all end about the same time.

As promised, some progress pics.  The RLM 04 is on, so next will be to shoot the whitewash.  I can't wait to screw it up!

Well Dupes, my collection, unbuilt as of now, consists of the 251/ 10, 251/16, 251/21, and 251/22.

A 251 GB would be great, one of my favorite subjects. So..... if it starts up, count me in.

Dale 

The hobbyboss tracks aren't bad at all. Some clean up involved but nothing major. The hardest or most disliked thing about them was cleaning up each individual rubber block for each link, just that they are small and I had a death grip on them so they wouldn't sacrifice themselves to the carpet monster, so my hands would cramp up if I tried to do too many in a session. Other than that they are way better than the rubber bands that are stock, very similar to dragon's 251 tracks, where you use the rubber block to connect the links. I suppose if you are careful enough you make them workable, but I just wanted to get them together. I would recommend them, especially considering the price. Oh yeah, nice 152. Did you use white paint too for the whitewash? This seems the norm, but I'm still throwing the idea around of a method I read somewhere( cannot remember where) of using ground white pastel chalk mixed with water. I guess this is similar to the real deal from what remember reading.You apply,let dry, then use a stiff bristled brush to scrub it to show wear and tear. Have to experiment first.

Panzer 88, bobbaily - good progress on both of them! Glad to see everyone's getting stuff done.

Panzer - how did you like those HobbyBoss tracks? I've been eyeing those, wondering if they were really a step up from kit-supplied indies.

Scott - glad to see there'll be some interest! Trying to decide if I want to make it a VERY limited subject build - meaning one (and one only) of each variant of 251. So once a 251/6 say is taken, no one else can do that variant...have to see what people have in their stashes, and how many people try to get in.

Here's my progress so far. I've still got to weather it a bit and touch up some things before I take the plunge into the whitewash. Had to put a/m tracks on, used the hobbyboss ones, the lack of detail on the inside of the original ones just bugged me. Plus these tracks were cheap, not bad at all for the money. Leaving the small fiddlely pieces off until final assembly, past experience, to prevent breakage. Here she is.

A lot of excellent work being show here guys.  You are all setting the bar high.

The T-34 is together with a coat of red oxide primer.  The Dragon kit fits well, but the instructions leave a bit to be desired.  I messed up the PE grill and had to use the standard piece.  At that point, I decided to stay away from the other PE parts.  With a little luck, I'll get a coat of green on it tomorrow and then probably won't touch it for at least a week.

 I'll be looking back thru everyone's builds for techiniques to use.

dupes wrote:

Oh, I've got a whole pile "in mind". The next one will proooooobably be a halftrack GB me and JThurston have been cooking up - not sure yet if it'll just be the 251 series, or expand it to all halftracks. Got a couple of other builds to finish up first though.

I will be all over the 251 series build.  I have the DML 3 in 1 kit which I'd like to do with the 75mm short barreled gun or my AFV Club 251 with the 75mm Pak in tow! 

Slightly Altered wrote:

Your GB is doing great Dupes, can't say enough about the work being posted in here. They all look fantastic!!!!!!!!!  You have another one in mind yet?

Oh, I've got a whole pile "in mind". The next one will proooooobably be a halftrack GB me and JThurston have been cooking up - not sure yet if it'll just be the 251 series, or expand it to all halftracks. Got a couple of other builds to finish up first though.

Oh, and check out the "Urban Warfare" thread on the armor page - SMJModeler has a real good idea going with that one as well.

dupes wrote:

Your Priest is looking very nice...must still be warm from the molding presses! Are you planning on masking off all of your tools and markings? Just wondering how you're going to keep them clean since they all look painted up.

I was thinking that the tools got hit by the whitewash, snow, dirt and mud along with the rest of the vehicle.  So I was planning to weather them as well.  I painted them up nicely just as a starting point.  I need the practice painting pioneering tools anyway.

Larry

Whoops, think I beat ya to it Dupes.  Started a new post in Armor last night I think it was. Seems to be doing well in acceptance, lol.

Glad that the Tiger looks better to your eyes too. Thanks again for catching that. I would have continued on oblivious to the problem.  

Your GB is doing great Dupes, can't say enough about the work being posted in here. They all look fantastic!!!!!!!!!  You have another one in mind yet? Maybe a "What If" kit compilation GB to use some of the spare parts we've all collected from the past builds completed.

Dale 

Yep, I'll post some progress pics before I start the whitewash.

Hey Larry! Glad you stopped by!

Your Priest is looking very nice...must still be warm from the molding presses! Are you planning on masking off all of your tools and markings? Just wondering how you're going to keep them clean since they all look painted up.

Arki - any pics for us of the F? Huh?

Dale - if you don't want to post a pic of your Sherman in the Armor forum as "definitive proof" that field-applied zim existed, I'll certainly do it for you! Tiger looks muuuuch better, btw!

jthurston wrote:

Here's my T-34/85 so far. Still in progress, but I hope to finish her up this weekend. Comments and critiques are of course welcome. I know about the gaps along the aft joints, they're going to be covered up. I also need to hit the whole thing with a coat of dullcote, and there are a few other discrepancies. But let 'er rip! ~J

JThurston - I have nothing but praise for the work you've done.  That is an outstanding winter finish you have there.  Way to go !

Larry

Slightly Altered wrote:

Well, here's roughly what a Sherman looks like wearing Zimm. Field applied by a German crew member in the Tiger I style during a break in the action. It's beginning to take on a very unique profile guys

Dale - I love the zimmerized Sherman.  Kudos for the imagination and creativity.  The Tiger is looking great also.

Larry

OK - Here's a showroom walkaround of my factory fresh, shiny Academy M7 Priest.  The luster finish is due to the coat of Future I applied. This is a great kit, the only downside are the many injection marks left by the molding process.  Some were in noticeable places and I spent more time eliminating those blemishes than with any other part of the kit.

My next step is to winterize it this guy.  I'll followup with photos of the finished product. Keep up the good work everyone - this is one of the best group builds ever.

Best Regards,

 Larry