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

Alright fellas, I reviewed the list on the first page as well as the last few days worth of posts.

It appears that the following people are still in progress (let me know if not):
Espins /1
Dupes /2
White /5
S.A.R. /7
Lewbud /16
FastasEF /17
Bufflehead /20

This being the case, it seems that we have enough people still willing to finish up their builds that I'm willing to extend the duration of the GB (despite my general unwillingness to do so!). The new (and final!) end date will be July 1st in an effort to get several more of the unbuilt variants into the final wrapup.

This leaves the /3, /9, /21, and /23 if any of you want go for a crazy three week build.

Also, I updated the front page to reflect all of you who have gotten your builds done recently. Once I get a chance, will throw all of your appropriate badges up there for you to claim.

Also, trying to get some pics of the /8 I'm happy with - isn't working out so far. Wondering if I did something to my camera inadvertently? Can't seem to get her to focus quite right.

That's it for now! 

dupes wrote:

The new (and final!) end date will be July 1st in an effort to get several more of the unbuilt variants into the final wrapup.

WHA-!!!!   THREE extra weeks!!!  I demand a recount!!!! The OUTRAGE!!!

Just kidding.  Actually that is cool because it should give me time to finish the lefH18/40!  Good on ya, dupes!

As to your camera, what kind is it?  Do you use manual settings or auto?  I can PM you the name of a guy who gave me a ton of help with my photos and camera, if you think you need it.  He can probably help set you straight.

Dupes,

Check your pm's

Yeah, the extension is out there Boyd old buddy. I'm not a big fan of them, but if it means that we can get some more super-sweet builds in the wrapup, I'll tack on a few weeks. That will be it, though, as my work schedule gets pretty stupid around the fourth of July - as a result, my forum time becomes very limited for a few months, leaving me with not much opportunity to manage GB's.

Glad to hear that this means you lefH18 will be attached to the back of your /4! It's really what makes a /4 a /4, so it'll look much more "in place" I think. If you need some replacement decals to really finish up your chassis, let me know - I should have enough kicking around to hook you up (I think).

My camera is a...I don't remember. Getting pretty long in the tooth, though, and it took a decent hit on my trip to Nationals last summer - thought I had it all worked out, but something must be slightly out of whack. Looks like I'll have to dip into the stash fund to get a new one some time soon.

SMJ - I agree that she could use another wash or two. I'm a bit scared about hitting the tarp with them however - it's made of tissue paper! Not sure what an oil wash would do to that. Hmmm. As for my wheels, just fire some highly diluted Tamiya Buff onto them, and you're there.

Thank you o'mighty and benevolent Dupes!  Sorry to hear about the camera.  Unless you have to have a DSLR, you can pick up a pretty decent 9-10 megapixel point and shoot for around a couple of C-notes.  In honor of the extension, here are some wip pics.

Just got to do some touch up, the steering wheel, and the seats and she'll be ready to close the hull up.  Also have done the roadwheels.  Have I mentioned that I hate roadwheels?

bbrowniii wrote:

First to your question: a while back someone posted a few pics (somewhere, can't recall where) of both the MG39 and the MG42, some with wooden buttstocks (the shoulder piece) and some with that 'bakelite' stuff, so I tend to go with wood just 'cause I think it spices things up a bit.

I have enough wood with all the darn crates on this bad boy...it's good to hear it can be metal too cause' I'm leaving mine as is!

bbrowniii wrote:

Now to your comments:  You really think the width varies too much?...

I do.  Maybe it's the photo...that does happen.  It appears that they fade out and get heavy.  Don't let me sway you too much...its your call of course!  Don't mis-understand my coment either...they shouldn't be exactly the same either.  I just know from experience that we tend to look at our models so darn long that another set of eyes picks up on things we sometimes tend to overlook.

bbrowniii wrote:

Oh, and by the way, yes they are indy links and YES I did struggle with them!!!   That is one of the things on this build I am least pleased with - not only did I have trouble building them, but then I tried to weather them a bit differently than I typically do - I used pastels for the first time.  I only have a cheap set of chalks from Wal-Mart and the 'dark brown' color dried to a more rust color than I was looking for...  Ah well, I should have mixed it up a bit, I guess...  Live and learn (and buy better pastels!!!)

Amen on the tracks brother!  It is the one thing I'm not pleased with on mine.  The cleats on mine look like crap!  I'm not a first-time fan of indies but I see if I did it right the first time...I mounted them BACKWARDS and realized it when they were reaching the hardening point!!!  Truth be told, I'm not even certian they're correct now.  I studied some old photos and I'm confident but not SURE! 

About the chalks:  I don't think it's the quality that's the problem unless they're a REAL cheap kids set (or oil based)....it's probably user error.  Chalks are pretty fail safe, but sometimes it takes blending to get the color you want.  The good news is that they are forgiving...just blend up a new batch, re-apply and make sure to set them with minerial spirits...it'll be fine!

bbrowniii wrote:

By the way, did I mention that yours came out unbelievable?  Really, REALLY sweet build!

Thanks Boyd!  I really appreciate that...

SMJmodeler wrote:

I have enough wood with all the darn crates on this bad boy...it's good to hear it can be metal too cause' I'm leaving mine as is!

SMJ,

I don't think that bakelite is actually metal - it is a hardened resin/paper/wood mixture, I think.  It is typically black or dark grey as opposed to wood, but not metal.  Wait a minute - are you refering specifically to the butt plate - the part that you rest your shoulder against when you fire the weapon?  The true 'end' of the weapon, as it were?  That can absolutely be metal.  Maybe I am confused and thinking you are talking about the whole stock...?

bbrowniii wrote:

Now to your comments:  You really think the width varies too much?...

SMJmodeler wrote:

I do.  Maybe it's the photo...that does happen.  It appears that they fade out and get heavy.  Don't let me sway you too much...its your call of course!  Don't mis-understand my coment either...they shouldn't be exactly the same either.  I just know from experience that we tend to look at our models so darn long that another set of eyes picks up on things we sometimes tend to overlook.

Ah, I think I am seeing your point.  I agree about the whole extra set of eyes thing.  I'll give some thought to going back over it and making them a little more uniform.  I also agree on the fading in and out - I failed to take into account that I'll be doing some color filters to blend things all together, so it'll probably be best to have those just a little more 'bold'.

And yeah, I'm about 90% sure I got my tracks on backwards too...

SMJmodeler wrote:

About the chalks:  I don't think it's the quality that's the problem unless they're a REAL cheap kids set (or oil based)....it's probably user error.  Chalks are pretty fail safe, but sometimes it takes blending to get the color you want.  The good news is that they are forgiving...just blend up a new batch, re-apply and make sure to set them with minerial spirits...it'll be fine!

Operator error??!!   Yeah, could be....   The real problem with the set I bought is that there are very few 'earth tones' so I am limited in what I can blend together.  I thought I was getting around that by using 'dark brown', but as I said it definately did not dry to the shade I had intended.  Maybe I'll experiment a little and see what I can mix up.  Thanks again, SMJ.

bbrowniii wrote:

are you refering specifically to the butt plate - the part that you rest your shoulder against when you fire the weapon?  The true 'end' of the weapon, as it were?  That can absolutely be metal.  Maybe I am confused and thinking you are talking about the whole stock...?

I'm talking about the whole stock.  The triangle shape, including the butt plate.

bbrowniii wrote:

Ah, I think I am seeing your point.  I agree about the whole extra set of eyes thing.  I'll give some thought to going back over it and making them a little more uniform.  I also agree on the fading in and out - I failed to take into account that I'll be doing some color filters to blend things all together, so it'll probably be best to have those just a little more 'bold'.

Boyd: Go back to your post with your pictures and look at the first photo, the side one.  Look how the stripes appear on the back end but become hardly noticeable on the front end.  Then go to the photo from the front...the lines are barely visible.  Now do you see why that jumped out at me?!

bbrowniii wrote:

And yeah, I'm about 90% sure I got my tracks on backwards too...

Intuitively they look wrong, when in actuality they are correct...I think.  My study of the historical photos, the best are from the rear of the half-track, shows the wider part of the tapered gap in the tracks to be UP!  When you view the model from the side and look at the bottom run it looks wrong.  Anyway, if mine are wrong, they are staying that way!  I suspect you'll say the same about your tracks.  I guess we better study/hope to see some examples at AMPS.  And hey, I won't tell anyone if you won't...

Food for thought...if we BOTH think we mounted them wrong, wouldn't the odds be increased to 50% chance that one of has them on right!...  Between you and me, this is where I feel like such a newbie!  There's guys here who can count rivets (literally) or recognize the extreme subtleties of tank variants NO PROBLEM...and I can't even confidently mount a track right...sheeesh...am I a bonehead or what!!!...But hey, your ex-military (correct?) and you struggle too...so I guess, as the saying goes..."misery loves company".

bbrowniii wrote:

Operator error??!!   Yeah, could be....   The real problem with the set I bought is that there are very few 'earth tones' so I am limited in what I can blend together.

That's the problem right there!  Go to Michael's or AC Moore or any other decent craft store and get the set that has the rust tones, black, browns, etc.  They also sell a set of shades of gray from white to black.  Both are reasonable $$$-wise, and worth the money! 

dupes wrote:

Scott - are you a Tamiya primer kinda guy? Or a Wal-Mart 99 cent primer kinda guy? Just wondering really...trying to weigh the benefits of that expensive Tamiya stuff.

Dupes,

If you're going to be using the Tamiya sprays, use the Tamiya primer.  I've had some bad experiences using them over parts store primer.  I think in my case the primer dried too hard and didn't let the Tamiya set up correctly.  While it didn't wrinkle on me, it definitely didn't look right when it dried.  I tried it for the last time on my /16 in this build and had to reshoot the interior with the Tamiya primer (fortunately I tried it on the bottom) so it wouldn't be as noticeable.  While I'll get this one done, I'm not going to be too happy with it.

SMJmodeler wrote:

I'm talking about the whole stock.  The triangle shape, including the butt plate.

Yeah, that would be either wood or bakelite, technically not metal, but leaving it black is fine...

SMJmodeler wrote:

Boyd: Go back to your post with your pictures and look at the first photo, the side one.  Look how the stripes appear on the back end but become hardly noticeable on the front end.  Then go to the photo from the front...the lines are barely visible.  Now do you see why that jumped out at me?!

Funny you should mention that.  It was that head on pic that kinda gave me the lightbulb moment that made me understand what you were saying.  Kinda looks like my 251 has a black eye...

I did some touch up on it last night but had some airbrush trouble, so I cleaned it all up and will continue with the repaints this evening.

SMJmodeler wrote:

Food for thought...if we BOTH think we mounted them wrong, wouldn't the odds be increased to 50% chance that one of has them on right!...  Between you and me, this is where I feel like such a newbie!  There's guys here who can count rivets (literally) or recognize the extreme subtleties of tank variants NO PROBLEM...and I can't even confidently mount a track right...sheeesh...am I a bonehead or what!!!...But hey, your ex-military (correct?) and you struggle too...so I guess, as the saying goes..."misery loves company".

I like how you think, SMJ - I can live with 50/50 odds (I guess technically, you always do with tracks, right?  They are either right or wrong...)

SMJmodeler wrote:

That's the problem right there!  Go to Michael's or AC Moore or any other decent craft store and get the set that has the rust tones, black, browns, etc.  They also sell a set of shades of gray from white to black.  Both are reasonable $$$-wise, and worth the money!

YUP!  Next trip into the 'big city' I'll be doing just that!

ok dupes heeers my dash7. ive got to get show modeling width indicator poles and maybe archer dry transfers to completely finish her up.

thanks for hosting an awesome GB,now onto my 1000 road wheels effort!!

SAR - I like it! Did you leave the two halves separate for display purposes? I.E., is it removable? Glad we finally got some more panzer gray represented here.

Last question - when do you think you'll have the indicator poles and archer transfers? Hopefully by the end of the month so we can get a finished pic in for the GB roundup?

Good stuff!

dupes wrote:

Scott - are you a Tamiya primer kinda guy? Or a Wal-Mart 99 cent primer kinda guy? Just wondering really...trying to weigh the benefits of that expensive Tamiya stuff.

dupes; no the upper is joined to the lower.that was an in progress pic that i couldnt upload cause of a computer issue. i will definetally have the poles and transfers before the wrap up!

thanks again for a great time

      Finally got my computer working right and its nice to see everyone coming together with there builds. Good looking stuff guys!

   Dupes you are a gentleman sir. I'm looking forward to seeing more completed builds for this GB and I think the extension was a good idea.  

    One other thing about the mg42 stocks I've seen the bakelite ones in dark red also(same color as the wire cutter handles)

Not much to report other than the roadwheels are now yellow.  Will mask and paint the rubber portions today after I get off work and get back from playing with my new toy at the range.  Does anybody here know if the knobs on the various valves for the flame thrower pump were black or dunkelgelb?  Was thinking on painting them black just for a little color.

EDIT: Have I mentioned how much I hate road wheels? 

some assembly required wrote:

lewbud; get yourself a circle template. this will speed up your painting tremendosly! i got mine at hobbylobby for about 3 bucks.

Painting isn't the problem.  It's the tedious prep and masking.  I hate roadwheels.  I'm building a SU-100 for a T-34 GB for the Nats.  Dragon put T-34 roadwheels in.  The SU didn't use those tires for lack of a better term, so I've got to scrape and sand the sidewall detail off before they're correct.  I hate roadwheels.  On the bright side, with the way the roadwheels for the 251 go together, you only need to mask one side.  You just have to make sure it's the right side.  I hate roadwheels.

SAR,

It's sitting in the corner facing the wall right now.  Had problems getting the lower and upper hull halves together (they're still not).  Swearing off armor for a while after the /16 and the green monster are finished.

some assembly required wrote:

i can totally relate to your frustration with dml kits.i hope you can power through,cause id love to see it done. and what exactly is the green monster?(sounds cool)

That would be the SU-100.  All I've got to do is build it.  A buddy of mine, who is a much better armor guy than I am, is doing the painting and weathering.  With the exception of a couple of participants, most of the guys in the T-34 build are way much better armor guys than I am.  I don't want to drag the group down. 

Sorry I've been mostly absent, but as expected the summer crowd is here in Maine and I'm swamped with work. Seasonal businesses are pretty bad that way...wish we could spread it out a bit instead of being insanely busy for three months!

Bench time has been very limited as a result, not sure if the /2 will be done by the end of the month. Planning a VERY long bike ride this weekend (200 miles - Bangor to Van Buren - look it up on Google maps or something) as long as the weather holds up, so looking like I won't get much done then. I DO still have /8 pics to post - just need to find time and some decent internet to get them up. Rest assured, you WILL see it!

Keep it up fellas, can't wait to see your finished products.

SAR,

The 251 and the SU-100 are being built for different audiences.  This a very supportive group, so even though my best, while it may not be up to par with others, will still be appreciated.  The SU is being built for a group build to go to the Nationals in Aug (my models go to more Nats than I do, it's not fair.)  The group contains some of the best armor guys in Texas, if not the US.  I can build a model for that group, it's just that my painting and weathering skills aren't up to their level.  Since this is going to be judged, I don't want to be the weak link.

dupes wrote:

Sorry I've been mostly absent, but as expected the summer crowd is here in Maine and I'm swamped with work. Seasonal businesses are pretty bad that way...wish we could spread it out a bit instead of being insanely busy for three months! Bench time has been very limited as a result, not sure if the /2 will be done by the end of the month. Planning a VERY long bike ride this weekend (200 miles - Bangor to Van Buren - look it up on Google maps or something) as long as the weather holds up, so looking like I won't get much done then. I DO still have /8 pics to post - just need to find time and some decent internet to get them up. Rest assured, you WILL see it! Keep it up fellas, can't wait to see your finished products.

Better to be to busy than not busy at all.  A 200 miler?  You going for the Iron Bottom award? (could mention another award, but this is a family forum)  The most I ever thought about doing was a century (still have Hotter Than Hell on the bucket list).  Have a good ride.  Unfortunately, it looks like the /16 won't be finished in time.  I'm going on vacation starting Sunday and won't be back until the 29th.  Will try to get as much done as possible though.

Lewbud - awfully bummed...but it looks like the forecast here (as well as just about everywhere else in the northeast) has turned for the worst. Solid rain all weekend, so no 200 for me. I'd love to say I could just suck it up and drive on, but 200 is hard enough to finish on a good day. At least I'll have LOTS of bench time this weekend!

I've heard about the Hotter Than Hell Hundred - what time of year is it? Would love to shoot down to Texas and bang that one out myself.

dupes wrote:

Lewbud - awfully bummed...but it looks like the forecast here (as well as just about everywhere else in the northeast) has turned for the worst. Solid rain all weekend, so no 200 for me. I'd love to say I could just suck it up and drive on, but 200 is hard enough to finish on a good day. At least I'll have LOTS of bench time this weekend! I've heard about the Hotter Than Hell Hundred - what time of year is it? Would love to shoot down to Texas and bang that one out myself.

Send us the rain, we'll take it.  Sorry to hear about that though.  The Hotter n Hell is always nine days before Labor Day.  There's a reason for its name, avg daily temps in the mid to high 90's factor in the heat radiating off the pavement probably round 110-115F.  From what I've heard there are plenty of stops along the way to hydrate.  Don't think they've had anybody die in the last couple of years (not kidding).  It looks like they've added some extra torture as they added a 5k,10k and half marathon to be run on Sunday if one is so inclined.  More info at www.hh100.org  On to the 251.  Thought I'd show some proof of life WIPPs.

Couldn't find the PE set so I left the springs off the back of the seats.  Found it after I glued the seats together. 

Starting to get crowded in the back.  Just got to add a couple of seats and some odds and ends and it will be time to close up the hull.