251 Halftracks GB 1 October '08 - 8 June '09

bbrowniii wrote:

Panzerguy that is some seriously nice interior work there!  Please, PLEASE, tell me the speedometer face is a decal!!

   Boyd no its not painted it's the printed one that comes with the Eduard set.

 Got some more work accomplished. The gun is pretty much complete and the base coat is on. I also got the ammo bins in.

  I scratched a set of cleaning rods using some plastic tubing and some pe brackets left over from one of my Tiger builds. I figure this would have had to have one somewhere.

  This will be mounted to the interior wall after I paint it.  

panzerguy: Hey man, we're building at the same pace!...I just painted the interior and the seats...then I'll be washing the interior.  Your's is looking real good...and with no disrepect intended, it's nice to see your human and have some very minor tweaks/bends on your PE.    I struggled with mine and wondered how others do it so well.  Keep showing the close-ups, I'm new to open-top and could use some reference pic's on depicting the wear...thanks Steve!

bbrowniii: The instrument panel panzerguy is using is part of the PE set, but it's paper, not a decal.  It's tough to do either way...trust me, I have the same PE set that he is using! 

dupes: No luck on the 251/9 with my son.  I planned to buy him the kit at Hobbytown but they didn't have it and Jonathan wanted a 1:72 Dragon Challenger with dozer blade anyway.  It's a cool kit, by-the-way, I may get one too, I like the size and the detailing.

Some pretty great looking models here guys!

(Yes, I've been off the forums for at least two months. Been really busy...)

Dupes, did you assign the /8 to someone else or am I still supposed to be doing it? Either way is fine...I think I can still finish, or if someone else is doing it, I'll have that much more time to put another couple hundred PE parts into it 

SMJmodeler wrote:

bbrowniii: The instrument panel panzerguy is using is part of the PE set, but it's paper, not a decal.  It's tough to do either way...trust me, I have the same PE set that he is using!

I have no doubt.  But, man, he nailed it!  I am trying to do the one on my /4 by hand.  It is...  well, let's just say I think I have finally found the thing that will motivate me to get an optivisor... 

Whoah...it's Hermes!

I have not officially re-assigned the /8 to anyone - however, I am in the process of co-building an exterior-only /8 with my GF. Soooo, if you think you can bang that puppy out in the next 6 weeks (scratched interior included!) please please do so (I'm also trying to do the /2 and /23 at the same time)!

Guys: A little WIP update...I'm forging ahead with the rockets, launch crates and mounting assembly for the Stuka.  Here's how they look: (the figure is for scale purposes)

The PE work combined with the kit parts is like a mini-model in itself !  I think the PE adds a TON though!  Notice the support arms below the crate and the clamps...that is .3mm rod (left un-cut in places where it's not glued yet so it won't slide out) threaded through the assembly.  The clamps move and so do the lower support arms...it's really cool!

SMJ - I'm thinking back to how excited you were about building those crates, and having to have the Stuka Zu Fuss variant...guess you got what you wanted.

Looks really good! Can we see the rest of the hull/chassis/etc.? 

dupes wrote:

SMJ - I'm thinking back to how excited you were about building those crates, and having to have the Stuka Zu Fuss variant...guess you got what you wanted. Looks really good! Can we see the rest of the hull/chassis/etc.?

It was a tongue-in-cheek "having to have the Stuka", because I really do think it's a bad-*** AFV...It's slow going but my attitude has changed! 

I'll post the hull and chassis when I have something more to show...I'm staying on the crates and rockets for now because it's more of a time "unknown" for me.  I'd rather have those under my belt and then switch my focus back to the vehicle.  Less than 5 weeks to go, I better get crackin'!  Are you on a 251 now that the mini-Jagd is done?

The box is open, but hasn't become my primary focus quite yet - have another day or two left on two separate A/C builds (I know, I know) which I want to get off of my bench before I devote 100% attention to at least one 251. Starting with the /2, and my GF is working on an exterior-only /8 (going to tarp over the back - pretty common in most of the ambulance pics I have), so that she doesn't have to scratchbuild a whole interior. Hopefully Hermes gets his done to provide a "real" /8, but she's running backup just in case. Depending how fast construction goes on those guys, I may crack open the /23 as well to try to cram Kim's ill-fated variant in as well. We'll see how things go, and how the weather is outside here in the next few weeks.

That, and I'm going to lose a build day when Boyd visits at the end of the month - I'm sure there will be tons of pawing through boxes, and cleaning up drool. Hehehehehe.

Quick question. "Wood Brown" = what without mixing/getting to fancy?

Josh

Alright team...today is the 8th of May - that means that there is exactly

ONE MONTH

remaining in the GB. SOOOOO, for those of you that are currently in progress, time to add the finishing touches, and for those of you that have yet to even start - break out those kits!!!

I for one am going on a massive 5-week 251 binge to see how many I can bang out...it'll be at least two, and a third added if I economize my bench time properly.

Show me the updates!

dupes wrote:

Alright team...today is the 8th of May - that means that there is exactly ONE MONTH

oh, the pressure!!!!!!!!!!

   Steve those crates are looking good with the added pe.

    I've finished the interior and next I'll be attaching the upper hull so I've taken a break to gather myself and make sure there's nothing else I need to do before I seal it up. Once I get the upper on I'll be on it non-stop till its finished.

 In the mean time I'm working on a braille scale Tiger to bring to AMPS in September if you'd like to check it out its over in armor.

dupes wrote:

Alright team...today is the 8th of May - that means that there is exactly ONE MONTH remaining in the GB. SOOOOO, for those of you that are currently in progress, time to add the finishing touches, and for those of you that have yet to even start - break out those kits!!! I for one am going on a massive 5-week 251 binge to see how many I can bang out...it'll be at least two, and a third added if I economize my bench time properly. Show me the updates!

Update-Stardate 05.08.09 251/16D Still in box.  However, the new Star Trek movie is pretty good.  Guess I better get started soon.

Dupes - It's for the handles of the tools. And what about the color for the wooden gun stocks?

Josh

Josh - the gun stock handles should be dark brown. As for tools, someone here must have a good tool-tutorial...Ernest, you around? I know you've got a good technique. Anyone else?

Lewbud - glad to hear you're on the /16! We need some flamethrowers!

Glad to report a lot of good progress this weekend - suspension/underside is all done on the /2, and the /8 is closed up! Ready to finish the exterior on that one, then start in on the tracks. Scratched some PE mounts to add a water tank on the side - have several pics that show the ambulances with these added. Going to scrounge some of the tarp supports from another 251 kit (or scratch my own once I steal the dimensions) and then use the tissue-and-glue method to whip up a tarp to close up the top - again, many pics with the /8's covered up...I'm assuming to protect the wounded inside. Pics when I have them! 

I'm assuming everyone else is quiet because they've been hard at work finishing up their builds?

Hey guys!

SMJ, nice work on those crates.  Pretty intricate bugger, those...

I haven't posted any updates lately because I got really disorganized in this build.  I had little bits and pieces scattered all over my bench and any time down there would be very indirected: I'd paint one gun barrel, then I'd paint a vision block, then I'd paint a shovel, then a wooden handle...  it was just... disorganized and there was little progress to show.

Today I had a pretty good session down at the bench and got most of the interior done.  Only a few other bits and pieces to put in and some finish painting to do.  I still have to add a coat of dark brown to the seats to complete what (I hope) will be a convincing leather look.  I also have to finish painting the ammo crates. 

As for the driver's compartment - my details are all hand painted, so some of them are not great, but as well as they can be seen I am not too concerned...  I have applied a dirty wash to the floor area and will go back and drybrush some more smudges and scuffs tonight.

Hope to button it up tomorrow...

I also found out I am going to have the dreaded front wheel gap due to putting the front suspension on before the tracks... I'll have to put this sucker on a base to cover up my gaffe since it is too late to tear that whole thing apart.  Don't tell anyone, OK?

So, any suggestions?

Do we really have less than a month??!!

HEY!  I'm startin' to get a complex over here!!  It's been three days since I posted my WIP and no comments.... 

I think I'll just curl up in a ball and cry...

"Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll just go eat worms..."

So where the heck is everyone?  Workin' hard to make the deadline so you don't have to face dupes' wrath?

bbrowniii: I guess were all so busy building we don't have time to reply...but we still love ya' man!  I hear ya' on the scattered/disorganized thing!  I've got half built assemblies all over the place, the 251 sure is a challenge, huh?

Your dirty wash looks good...but what gives with the gray/dark yellow separation... A few other things: Why are the seat cushions different colors?  Aren't the steering wheel center bars supposed to be dark yellow?  You might want to knock down the shine on the gear shift handles. 

I've added the washes to my interior and I'm about to start the drybrushing...I have some of the same things to address as you...seat color, gear knobs...etc...I'll try to post a picture soon.

Good Luck...and YES, we're under a month now!

SMJmodeler wrote:

bbrowniii: I guess were all so busy building we don't have time to reply...but we still love ya' man!  I hear ya' on the scattered/disorganized thing!  I've got half built assemblies all over the place, the 251 sure is a challenge, huh? Your dirty wash looks good...but what gives with the gray/dark yellow separation... A few other things: Why are the seat cushions different colors?  Aren't the steering wheel center bars supposed to be dark yellow?  You might want to knock down the shine on the gear shift handles.

Hey SMJ,

Yeah, these 251s are a bit of work...

The seperation is based on info I read that forward of the L-braces, the forward comparment (the partially enclosed part) was ivory, while the rear of the compartment (the open top part) is the hull color.

The seat cushions are a different color because I screwed up...  Originally, I thought the bench seats were wood, so I painted them as such.  Then I realized they are actually padded seats.  I went back yesterday to add some leather and will try to match them to the other seat pads.

Umm, the steering wheel center bars?  To be honest, I am not entirely sure.  Didn't see anything that indicated such, but also have not seen anything to indicate it is not the case...

And finally, yeah, I'll knock that shine down a little - I actually only noticed it when I took the pic, but I'm gonna shoot a little dulcoat in there once I get the washes to my liking...

bbrowniii wrote:

The seperation is based on info I read that forward of the L-braces, the forward comparment (the partially enclosed part) was ivory, while the rear of the compartment (the open top part) is the hull color.

Gotcha!...it just looked strange...but now that I know that'll make yours unique!

bbrowniii wrote:

The seat cushions are a different color because I screwed up...  Originally, I thought the bench seats were wood, so I painted them as such.  Then I realized they are actually padded seats.  I went back yesterday to add some leather and will try to match them to the other seat pads.

I hate when that happens!

bbrowniii wrote:

Umm, the steering wheel center bars?  To be honest, I am not entirely sure.  Didn't see anything that indicated such, but also have not seen anything to indicate it is not the case...

I'm pretty confident on this one...BUT, with your two tone interior it might be the ivory color.

bbrowniii wrote:

And finally, yeah, I'll knock that shine down a little - I actually only noticed it when I took the pic, but I'm gonna shoot a little dulcoat in there once I get the washes to my liking...

Check!

OH...I forgot to mention, I did a little "what's it gonna' look like," no glue assembly...I put the top on, the racks, the crates..etc...and WOW!...this baby is gonna' be SWEET!!!  In fact, I'm considering going with three-color camo' instead of two!  I'm getting some late GB excitement going!  You know the, "I hate that my job is interfering with my workbench time" feeling?!

SMJmodeler wrote:

I'm getting some late GB excitement going!  You know the, "I hate that my job is interfering with my workbench time" feeling?!

Hmmmm...I have that feeling all the time...don't you guys?

dupes wrote:

SMJmodeler wrote: I'm getting some late GB excitement going!  You know the, "I hate that my job is interfering with my workbench time" feeling?! Hmmmm...I have that feeling all the time...don't you guys?

dupes: Not always because I'm actually one of the fortunate few that has a job that requires creativity.  In fact, I get the same feeling designing, coloring and "assembling" my projects in mind as I do when modeling.  I've even been so lucky as to build a model of my designs now and then. 

Huh. Good for you! I guess that packing cheese into boxes, while very tasty, doesn't fulfill my "creative urges".

Maybe I should open a hobby store?