Winter Warriors GB 2008

Hey Bufflehead, no problem...was wondering when we were going to see you and your Pz.IV resurface... Oh, and yes, it does have a dunkelgelb base coat, as well as some green spidery lines you can just make out through the whitewash.

Just so you guys don't think I'm slacking off, took a quick pic of the Stuka on my bench. The hard parts are over, should have assembly complete by the end of the week, and hopefully at least masked and basecoated over the weekend. If the weather stays decent like it has been, though, I may have to put in some lengthier rides on my bike. Heh.

Stuka! 

Good progress, dupes.  Remind me the scale?

Sir! Hasegawa! 1/48! Ju-87B2 version! With Stabo bombs! Sir!

Those are odd fenders you've got there, dupes...are they good at knocking down enemy infantry?

Can I change my build again (provided we don't have a three-strikes-and-you're-out policy or anything...) to a Tamiya 1/48 StuG III G? I need a quick build here... 

dupes wrote:

Sir! Hasegawa! 1/48! Ju-87B2 version! With Stabo bombs! Sir!

At ease.

Thanks, man!

Hermes - no problemo. I'll update the front page. I haven't done any of those 1/48 Tamiya kits (but have a couple in my stash) - are they really superfast builds?

Corvettemike - sorry to hear you won't make it. Seems like there's already enough interest in repeating this idea, so we'll look forward to seeing you in Winter Warriors II at the end of the year!

Here are some more update pics of my Tristar 1/35 Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. F.  The turret assembly is complete (just noticed I missed the PE visor/shield that goes over the gun sight).  This is probably the most intricate kit I've built, there are so many tiny parts!  It's been a fun challenge though and it's helping to improve my skill set with PE and small parts. 

Scott-looking forward to seeing you work you magic on your 38(t) Ausf. F. 

Dupes-any chance of getting a stay of execution....errr...extension of the finish/end date?  I've finally got my filter washes to where I want them, but still want to do some pin washes, exhaust stains, etc. along with making & adding some mud.  Looks like my next two weeks have no time for modeling, so I throw myself onto the mercy of the court......  Anyway, here's where we are, along with the Willy's A/GS that was seen in an earlier post.

If any of you guys want to try something different, there is an Endurance Racing (Lemans, 24 hours of Dayton, Sebring, etc.) GB being organized over in the Auto forum-come on over-the water's fine.  And you COULD weather an endurance racer...

Your T-34 is coming along awesome. Like how the whitewash/camo look distressed.

Looks fantastic Bob. Really like the way everything looks equally worn down. The crisscross effect of the camo has been blended in superbly. Top job as usuall fella.

If it were up to me id give you all the time in the world to finish this beauty.

...Guy

Scott, Panzer88 & Guy-Thanks.  This is one of those kits that was a lot of experimentation.  And I've enjoyed it.  As far as time, I really don't have much more to do on it (maybe another pin wash, some staining & some mud), but the next two weeks are very busy.  With some careful time management and good coffee, I should have it done by May 1st....maybe... 

Researching mud 'recipies' now....I'm open for suggestions & input.

Thanks

Bob - that does look nice! Your several repaintings payed off in the end, it looks like.

As for an extension, I'm going to have to say no, for several reasons. First off, I'm a stickler for time frames, mostly because it forces ME to motivate to get stuff done. All too easy to push something on to the back burner in favor of something else I can do that might require a bit less effort. Heh. Secondly, even waaaaay up here in the north, winter is pretty much over. Going out on my bike today, mid 50's, and the next couple of days potentially hitting 60! I really want to keep these WW builds somewhat in the right season...just feels wrong to be applying whitewash when the birds are chirping and the grass is growing. Finally, I have lots of other GB's I'm in that I want to be able to give my full attention to, as well as lots of other good ideas for GB's that I want to host. Rest assured, however, that there WILL be another WW build next winter.

NOW, that all being said, it looks to me like you're just about there! In fact, I'd say that for some people's tastes you're already done! I would have no problem awarding a badge to your build in it's current state. If you do manage to swing the other effects on there, that would be a bonus, as far as I'm concerned. BTW, I know some good coffee brands if you need that extra push...

Thanks Dupes & enjoy your ride(s).  Take advantage of the weather-this time of year, it could be snowing again tomorrow.

Yeah, believe me, I know only too well about the snow. Heh. Last year we had two (2!) huge snowstorms in April that put my riding out of commission for 7-10 days at a clip. Ugh.

BTW, what the heck is that black shiny thing you posted with your T-34?

Sharp finish on that guy! 

dupes wrote:

BTW, what the heck is that black shiny thing you posted with your T-34?

Yeah....I keep wanting to do a oil dot filter weathering job on it.....

Thanks

No, really, what is it?

And that finish really does look sharp. Lots o' shine! The one thing I always liked about car modeling was the clean demarcations between materials/parts - like that grill. 

Dupes-The engine & chasis shared an earlier post with the T-34. It is a '43 Willys with a supercharged 426 Chrysler Hemi....yeah, it's got a Hemi...under the hood-probably 600+hp.  Stone, Wood & Cook ran in the 'Gasser Wars' in the 60's & were very successful-a lot of touring for match races & competing in national events.  The gassers (called so since they ran gasoline, instead of nitromethane like some classes, were basically the fastest full bodied cars in drag racing until the factory altered (A/FX) cars came into existance, which then lead to the Funny Cars.  Another interesting tidbit was that two of the three (Stone, Wood & Cook-not sure which two) were Africian-American-touring the country and being successful racers in the racially charged 60's.

Thus concludes our racing history lesson for today.

Class dismissed-go ride your bike.

Hey Bob, if you need a quality mud recipe. Im your man. I just purchased Mig Jims new DVD and my method is very close to his (Excellent DVD BTW) Shoot me a PM if you want.

...Guy

Alright, I've cleared one major hurdle in my assembly, and from dry fitting, most other things will go smoothly. The wheel wells on my MiG-3 are separate pieces that are glued in between the two wing halves, and one well was preventing the wing half from fitting without a nice gap. Thanks to my awesome girlfriend for having a nail buffer handy (saved me from buying a Dremel for now), I workedup a sweat trying to sand it by hand, spent a good deal of time getting frustrated over that, then cleaned it up in about 10 minutes with the tool. What a difference!

I'm just wondering at what stages of the assembly photos would be expected. I will get a couple of my finished cockpit before I load it up into the fuse, and once the assembly itself is put together, I'll get that too, and then obviously the paint jobs. I'm really hoping to get this thing finished, and with the week after next off from work (April 28-May 2, cutting it close, but those three days will definitely make for a good finish-line push if needed), I think I can accomplish it. Thanks in advance for any input!

-Paul

Basically as soon as you think youve accomplished something, or if progress is going well. We all love photos on here (Except Dupes LOL) BTW Check your PM's Lycraman.

...Guy

bobbaily wrote:

Class dismissed-go ride your bike.

Ahhh, I sure did. 35 miles worth. More today...and tomorrow. And the day after. Etc.

Bob - can't believe that's a drag racer! Looks like the truck my grandfather used to gather hay in. Heh.

Fyuri - any time you have something "significant" to post, fire away. Seems like you have a good grasp on the breakpoints of construction - finished pit, finished assembly, paint, etc. etc. Try to keep it to 2-3 pics at a time if you can. Glad to see you're getting started!

15 DAYS LEFT!!!

dupes wrote:

15 DAYS LEFT!!!

Zoinks!  

under the wire and here she is...

i wanted a semi worn TD that looked like the germans were running low on stock.

thanks dupes this GB really made me stretch my skills. cant wait for #2!!

I like it a lot, looks great!!! Did you mask the barrel camo or was that freehand? Nice job.