Red Storm on the Reich GB - Sept. 8, 2008 - May 9, 2009

My Italeri JS-2 is progressing nicely even with the issues of butt joined grab rails and other Italeri "eccentricities" Next time I might try the PST kit!

Paintwork on the Calibri Gaz-67b has gotten underway as well.

Best of all, the cobblestone bases arrved from Jadar Hobbies, so all the components now are coming together

Cheers

Mike

espins1 wrote:

I'm just about finished with the Aber gun barrel, very nice set.   Yesterday I went about the process of attaching the two small photo etch parts to the base of the muzzle break which need to be bent into a 90 degree angle.  The parts are very small so they can be a little tricky to handle.  It took me a long time because they each wound up on the floor at some point or another.  Good thing I was using my mobile work bench (12x12 inch ceramic tile) and was working in the kitchen.  I still managed to lose one for good though, so I ended up making one of my own.  I cut a small strip from the photo-etch fret, drilled a small hole using the tip of an old airbrush needle, then carefully held the part down with tweezers on the ceramic tile work bench while I filed it down to shape using a flat needle file.  I know, crazy, but it actually looks pretty good!  Whew!   I still need to fabricate the two little pegs that attach next to the brackets and so far haven't found anything suitable to use.  I will probably end up using some stretched sprue chopped to the appropriate length and will deal with that when I get home this evening.

Good heavens!  The Carpet Monster would definitely eat both of those if I were working on it.  Or the shirt monster... or the desk monster.....

Great job!

I'm just about finished with the Aber gun barrel, very nice set.  

Yesterday I went about the process of attaching the two small photo etch parts to the base of the muzzle break which need to be bent into a 90 degree angle.  The parts are very small so they can be a little tricky to handle.  It took me a long time because they each wound up on the floor at some point or another.  Good thing I was using my mobile work bench (12x12 inch ceramic tile) and was working in the kitchen.  I still managed to lose one for good though, so I ended up making one of my own.  I cut a small strip from the photo-etch fret, drilled a small hole using the tip of an old airbrush needle, then carefully held the part down with tweezers on the ceramic tile work bench while I filed it down to shape using a flat needle file.  I know, crazy, but it actually looks pretty good!  Whew!  

I still need to fabricate the two little pegs that attach next to the brackets and so far haven't found anything suitable to use.  I will probably end up using some stretched sprue chopped to the appropriate length and will deal with that when I get home this evening.

I'm ok with everyone who is actively building to have the badge in their signature line.  Nothing wrong with advertising the GB as we still have a lot of time left. 

I spent most of the day on my workbench yesterday alternating work between the JS-2 and the Char B1 bis.

I've completed most of steps 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.  There are a few more detail parts that need to be added, but they will go on after painting. 






The hull was pretty easy to mate up once I dry fitted a couple of times and came up with the game plan for applying the glue and keeping the parts flush and aligned.  I started by placing them together upside down, put a little liquid cement where the connecting tabs and locating circles were, gave that just a sec to solidify then ran cement all along the seam, flipped it all over then carefully held the front and back halves together to get a nice, solid joint.  worked like a champ!  Just be careful though as you want the upper hull surfaces to be level with each other.  As long as you keep them butted up together firmly, this won't be a problem.



At this point you need to decide which scheme you're going with so you can drill the holes for the headlamp and the horn.  If you're doing yours as one the one that served with the Polish 4th Heavy Tank Regiment then you'll need the holes right side (left if looking from underneath).  All other variants have them mounted on the left (right if looking from underneath) so be careful!  Also think through the angle you need to drill the holes at as the surfaces they're mounted on are at an angle.  You'll want the hole for the headlamp to be completely vertical, the hole for horn should be perpendicular to the angled surface.  Make sense?
 


Here are a series of photos from this morning of the almost completed hull and running gear.  I still need to install the mud scraper for the drive sprockets, and various tools.  I'm going with the Aber engine grill set, so I have some modifications to do to remove the molded on hinges which don't look at all like the real thing.  The Aber set will rectify that although I have to make my own hinge wires as they're not provided.  More on that in a later build log installment.








Today the game plan is to build the turret and install the Aber D-25T 122mm gun.     

Thanks for the comments guys. 

Was I not supposed to take the badge until competion?

T-rex, nice job... subdued weathering. Looks good.  The rust is a bit bright and even toned.  You might be able to tone it down with some stippling and dry brushing of a cople of shades of brown. Then a dry brush of steel to show some usage.

Nice camo Wing nut! and cool touch with the gray wheel. I can't wait to see it all weathered up!

Finish my panther, and just in time for the ATV contest.

 

This is tamiya 1/48 series, but not just is my first 1/48, it also the first model with airbrush camo, and looks amazing, glad of the result.

Else than the copper antennas (will need to remove the antennas on the turret) this kit is out of the box, and is on late version, I didn't wanted to go thought the trouble of zimmerit coat (beside the kit didn't ask for so) and I say this ones complete.

Geist I feel your pain.  Trust me I do.  You finish one piece and wait there is another and another.  I have been working on the turret basket for a couple of nights now.  Finally it is starting to look good.

Wing_nut looking great. Can't wait to see it get all dirty and dingy.  Dingy is a word right?  Well I think it is.

Everyone keep up the great work.  I am off to the basement to work on mine now.

I like your idea wing_nut. BTW, how do you have the badge in your sig already?

 

I'm still working on the PE for my ISU 152. This is the most PE I've ever used on a kit before. Its strange how I've been working on the kit for a few weeks and I have almost nothing to show for it. I guess PE is fun that way.

 

Erik

None in gray on the sheet but I did see a pic online.somewhere... of a /3 in a museum in gray. I know they could have just painted it gray but seems to me that someone form a museum would keep it as it was.

EDIT--I just remembered... it was in with the pics luftwoller posted form his trip to Bovington

wing_nut wrote:

No worries dupes.  But it does expalin why I was thinking..."Open hatches?  The gigundo hole in the top isn't big enough?  Did I miss something on the instruction sheet?"

"GIGUNDO"!
 

wing_nut wrote:

I used 1 different wheel hub style and painted it gray as if it were scrounged from one used ofr parts.  Pluasible?

So long as these were ever delivered in Panzer Gray it does. Not sure when the /3's were released - is there an overall Panzer Gray scheme on the sheet?

 

Great camo, btw. 

wing_nut wrote:

WEAR?????   Crap. All the tires look like they are factory fresh.  I forgot to wear 'em down and chunk 'em up.

, I meant weather it differently...nothing to do with tire wear...sorry

Marc, Looks great!  Let's just "assume" that this vehicle just came back from the repair depot with some refurbished rims and new tires! 

WEAR?????   Crap. All the tires look like they are factory fresh.  I forgot to wear 'em down and chunk 'em up.

Still can but what are the chances I can match the mix i did for the tire color

wing_nut wrote:

"TIME TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY IN THE MUUUUD"

...that's when the fun begins!..oh yeah...dig in and get 'er dirty!

wing_nut wrote:

I used 1 different wheel hub style and painted it gray as if it were scrounged from one used ofr parts.  Pluasible?

Definately plausible...but make sure you INTENTIONALLY show the wear differently than the others...in fact, I'd OVERDO the dramatic difference to bring attention to it and make sure it doesn't look like an oversight.  How about a ton of dirt on the old tires and much less/hardly any on the "odd-ball"....It's a cool idea, make sure it gets noticed!

No worries dupes.  But it does expalin why I was thinking..."Open hatches?  The gigundo hole in the top isn't big enough?  Did I miss something on the instruction sheet?"

One last shot...before the real fun begins. All pretty and clean like it was shined up for a custom car show.  But now, lie the local commercial syas when the monster trucks come to town...

"TIME TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY IN THE MUUUUD"

I used 1 different wheel hub style and painted it gray as if it were scrounged from one used ofr parts.  Pluasible?

Hmmm, you have your work cut out for you Lofweir, I have no experiance fabricating screen frames.  I've always used the PE screen sets and they're usually pretty affordable.  Good luck with that!

I've made some more progress on the JS-2 last night.  The suspension arms have been attached.  Be careful when sorting them out as the very front suspension arm (A5) is different from the rest of them (A6), it's beefier and has an angular shape to it instead of the rounded shape.  It was pretty easy to install them all, they just snug right into the holes and have a small pin which goes into a locating hole to help with the alignment.  As an added bonus Tamiya has included two nifty jigs that ensure that all the axles are in perfect alignment and that they're all level.  That should prevent the dreaded "floating roadwheel" which can really detract from an otherwise nice build as it sticks out like a sore thumb.

So I finally unboxed some things last night and started planning out my build.  The Tamiya kit for the Panther is pretty simple, so the overall build shouldn't take to long (should have some pictures tonight).  As I am not doing any PE or resin here, I am scratch-building some screens for the rear cooling vents  There are four rounded-rectangle cooling vents and two raised, round fan vents on the rear of the Panther.  The screens for the rectangles are relatively easy, and I have tried a test screen using a frame built from styrene strip that should look ok after a little sanding and paint.  My question is on the approach for the raised round fan vents.  I tried a both flat and quarter-round styrene and can't get a good look with it.  I am thinking either two-part putty or bakable clay for building the screen frame, and was wondering if anyone had tried either of these approaches and could give me some guidance.  Thanks.

Marc, you're just going to town!  Great work! 

Wingy - I've been operating under the (wrong!) assumption that you were doing a 234/2 not a 234/3...ignore all previous comments about not seeing the interior.

Looks good! 

Moose... nothing wrong at all

The wheels are captured between the 2 tires halves. I got to the 3rd one and figured these were going to be a pain to paint.  Why didn't they leave off the collar around the center of the wheel so it can be added after painting.  I got out the Dr4mel and did exactly that.



The gun and more PE.



Not much gluing left.  Painting should start tonight. There is still a real good interior view with the gun in place.





 

espins1  Your off to a great start and looking great.  Come on now, whats wrong with a mountain of PE?  At least if it is covered by the bigger mountain of resin and aluminum barrel.

wing_nut wrote:

Moose...NICE Feels good to get started doesn't it Scott?  I have not had teh chance to read your article, but I iwll.

Yes it does, and it's nice to be working on a build without mountains of PE, I may actually finish this thing!  LOL 

Moose...NICE

Feels good to get started doesn't it Scott?  I have not had teh chance to read your article, but I iwll.

I thought I picked an easy kit to build, AFV's Pak 40. OMG, so far, parts don't fit well and they are attached by numerous points. LOTS of sanding and puttying. Maybe I ought to build my SU-100 instead LOL. Stay tuned.

Moose........looking good,nice progress,     I however am still looking at the box that contains my DML T-34/85.........oh well still got plenty of time till May.

 

Scott...... will certainly enjoy the progress of your JS-2'maybe I can get some tips off your build for my T-34/85

Certainly enjoying everyones work !!!!

Good start Scott. BTW, nice article about it over on Armorama. If I didn't have one already built, it would be on my shopping list.

dupes wrote:

Looking good, Scott! Being a Tamiya, I should think it would be a pretty speedy build...which could be (*cough*) accelerated further by (*cough*) taking a "sick day" off from work (*cough*)?

Trust me, the thought had crossed my mind   

Looking good, Scott!

Being a Tamiya, I should think it would be a pretty speedy build...which could be (*cough*) accelerated further by (*cough*) taking a "sick day" off from work (*cough*)?

Hey guys, look!  I'm actually working on a GB at the beginning of the GB for a change!  LOL

So far it's been a pretty easy build with minimal cleanup on the sprue attachment points.  As you can see the build is pretty straightforward so far.  I plan on adding the suspension arms this evening.