The Gulf Wars GroupBuild--Operations Desert Storm & Iraqi Freedom (2/8/08- 28/2/09)

lewbud wrote:

Darson, Didn't see where he was entering the contest, so I kinda covered myself when I said to ask the head armor judge.  At our contest we allow seatbelts as long as they are made from tape, foil or paper but have no buckles (I think IPMS USA allows the same thing at the Nats, but not sure).  I would think straps to secure stowage could fall under the same ruling, but it would be up to the head judge.

Hey lewbud I've got to admit that I kind of jumped to the competition thing all on my own .

You're spot on with different comps allowing different things.  At one comp I went to they dumped all the 35th scale armor together and the winner was simply decided by which one the judges liked the best on the day (no references, no nothing ).  Which I got to tell you was a little different to the way we normally do things.

Btw, how's your build coming along?

darson wrote:

lewbud if Dupes is planning on entering his M113 in an IPMS comp as an OOB entry here's the rules he must follow (at least for our IPMS comps). Out of Box  This category is designed to produce a model within the limitations of the following conditions:- a)       The model must be built using parts contained within a single kit as per the instructions. b)       No modifications may be made to those parts. c)       The model must be built in the colour scheme, markings and decals supplied in the kit. d)       Filler or model putty may be used for filling joints and gaps only. e)       Sprue or other material may only be used if specified in the instructions. My M1A1 will be built as Enhanced which gives me a lot more leeway in what I can do.  Speaking of the old Tamiya M1A1 the painting is still going on and half a jar of Tamiya NATO green later I'm just about done on the base coat . Chris (Townsy) can you please add my 1/35 Tamiya USMC M1A1HA to the build list on page 1. Thanks

Darson,

Didn't see where he was entering the contest, so I kinda covered myself when I said to ask the head armor judge.  At our contest we allow seatbelts as long as they are made from tape, foil or paper but have no buckles (I think IPMS USA allows the same thing at the Nats, but not sure).  I would think straps to secure stowage could fall under the same ruling, but it would be up to the head judge.

lewbud if Dupes is planning on entering his M113 in an IPMS comp as an OOB entry here's the rules he must follow (at least for our IPMS comps).

Out of Box 

This category is designed to produce a model within the limitations of the following conditions:-

a)       The model must be built using parts contained within a single kit as per the instructions.

b)       No modifications may be made to those parts.

c)       The model must be built in the colour scheme, markings and decals supplied in the kit.

d)       Filler or model putty may be used for filling joints and gaps only.

e)       Sprue or other material may only be used if specified in the instructions.

My M1A1 will be built as Enhanced which gives me a lot more leeway in what I can do.  Speaking of the old Tamiya M1A1 the painting is still going on and half a jar of Tamiya NATO green later I'm just about done on the base coat .

Chris (Townsy) can you please add my 1/35 Tamiya USMC M1A1HA to the build list on page 1.

Thanks

OR: Take some sprue outta the box, stretch it, and make strapping out of it by flattening it in a pliers...

(How's THAT for improvise, adapt, and overcome?)

dupes wrote:

darson wrote: Great looking build dupes I can't believe how different it looks from the original pictures with just camo that you posted. One thing, are you going to add a strap or something for that storage nearest the camera to hang on to? Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Hey, thanks Darson - yeah, that silly putty 3-tone camo can look pretty cartoonish before you weather the hell out of it...always makes me worried a little bit every time I do it. You've revealed the biggest weakness of doing an OOB build of a kit with all of that stowage - Tamiya chooses not to model any sort of strapping whatsoever onto the kit pieces (even though they're made to go on the sides of the vehicle). I had thought about either scrounging some leftover PE stuff, or maybe making some masking tape straps, but then that would violate my OOB-ness. If I were to do this kit again, I would certainly take care of that from the start. I was actually going to bring in some finished pics this morning - until I realized I hadn't added the antennas yet. One more day, I promise!

Dupes,

The M113 is looking good.  Just a thought about OOB-ness, most contests allow seatbelts to be made out of tape or foil in OOB categories, I would think the straps would fall under the ruling.  Have to ask the head armor judge, but this isn't a contest so go for it.

darson wrote:

Great looking build dupes I can't believe how different it looks from the original pictures with just camo that you posted. One thing, are you going to add a strap or something for that storage nearest the camera to hang on to? Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Hey, thanks Darson - yeah, that silly putty 3-tone camo can look pretty cartoonish before you weather the hell out of it...always makes me worried a little bit every time I do it.

You've revealed the biggest weakness of doing an OOB build of a kit with all of that stowage - Tamiya chooses not to model any sort of strapping whatsoever onto the kit pieces (even though they're made to go on the sides of the vehicle). I had thought about either scrounging some leftover PE stuff, or maybe making some masking tape straps, but then that would violate my OOB-ness. If I were to do this kit again, I would certainly take care of that from the start.

I was actually going to bring in some finished pics this morning - until I realized I hadn't added the antennas yet. One more day, I promise!  

Great looking build dupes I can't believe how different it looks from the original pictures with just camo that you posted.

One thing, are you going to add a strap or something for that storage nearest the camera to hang on to?

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Hans von Hammer wrote:

That seam is supposed to be there.  It's just a stamped metal panel that covers the opening for a rear door when the Humvee is configured into a four-seat model.. http://armyreco.ifrance.com/news/april_2004/humvee_avenger_us_army_01.jpg http://www.armyrecognition.com/Amerique_du_nord/Etats_Unis/Combat_Land_Expo_2003/images/Humvee_Avenger_US_Army_01.jpg

Hans,

For some reason your first link ain't workin.  Second one works just fine.

GA,

I'd leave it alone.  A couple of coats of paint will help give it a more scale appearance.

That seam is supposed to be there.  It's just a stamped metal panel that covers the opening for a rear door when the Humvee is configured into a four-seat model..

http://armyreco.ifrance.com/news/april_2004/humvee_avenger_us_army_01.jpg

http://www.armyrecognition.com/Amerique_du_nord/Etats_Unis/Combat_Land_Expo_2003/images/Humvee_Avenger_US_Army_01.jpg

now that looks great thier dupes now time to get that thing all dirted up.

as for me i am have rear door fitting issues with the avenger. if you look over in the armor section you will see what i am dealing with . so what do you say, fill it in with puttie or try scratch building a new door?

Nearing completion on the M113! Got a lot more done this weekend, really only some touchups and a bit more dusting/scuffing/general weathering left to go. Hope to have this guy done (minus figs) in the next couple of days.

My camera is giving me some issues...whatever I did to mess it up (I'm going to blame the airline for this one) is causing some focusing issues - can't seem to make it lock on to what I'm aiming at. Will have to play around a bit to see what I can get for final pics. Anyhoo, here's what I've got:

I don't have any pictures at the moment but most of the Abrams is now NATO Green with the base coat nearly done on all the major assemblies. I tell you guys tanks 1/35 tanks sure do take a long time to paint compared to the 1/48 single seat fighters I usually do .

Also, I got confirmation from Hobby Easy that my Tamiya M60A1 ERA with AFV tracks and metal gun tube has been shipped

Cheers

darson - wow, that IS quick! and a clean build.

GA.modelmaker - bummer about the AWOL pieces... I had lost couple ship parts till my basement had some water come in uninvited last storm... was cleaning up and found the parts..not the method i recomment to find stuff ;)

Hans von Hammer - that is great detailing... I hope you have most of it visible, looks great!

dupes wrote:

Hans - great looking interior! Man, I hope some of that is visible when you're done...that's a lot of work.

Ya, I'm re-thinking using the TOC extension...  Original idea was to have the FDC set up under it with their charts & darts and all the other assorted junk, but it's going to go largely unseen if I do, since the extension comes off the back of the track... I may make it removable though, I dunno...  I'm not far enough into the build to sweat it just yet...

No problems at all and I've fixed up the original post so that it now links directly to the main page.

Cheers

Hans - great looking interior! Man, I hope some of that is visible when you're done...that's a lot of work.

Darson - your pics aren't showing up - but I copied/pasted and opened the links in a new browser. That second one is definitely what I'm looking for! Right along the lines of how much weathering I wanted to go with. Sweet.

dupes wrote:

I need to try to find some pics "in theater" to see if there was ever much paint chipping on the M113, or just scuffs/dirt.

Dupes here's a couple I found in a quick search, go to the bottom of the page for some "in country" shots from Iraq.

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/inf/M113.html

Cheers

Edit : I found the problem, the html page that I was linking too had noindex and was spitting the dummy. 

THAT'S IT!!!

Thanks, Stik.... Stupid me, I never thought ONCE about googling anything but M577 interior...

Probably only going to have one squawkbox up. This's an M109 battery FDC 577...  I had the same set-up in the BOC as the FDC.  We didn't use the AUX's all the time, only for the pushes we were monitoring... With three 524s and one AUX up, it'll cover the Fire Direction net, Battalion Command net, Brigade net, and can monitor the Alpha/Lima net.  

The "Warning" placard was something aboutcarbon monoxide fumes if the access panel was not secured properly. I dont recall the exact wording, and I pitched most of my manuals when I retired last year.

Don't forget the squak boxes for the 442's. They had no built in speaker like the 524 does.

EDIT-Ok I found this on a quick image search. It's a M901 ITV, but the panels and warnings are the same for the whole family.

And a 113 interior for the rest of the placard

Looking through the rear hatch of the 577, radios on the left rear (3 so far, may go with 4) cables for ICS and antennas in solder, scratched file cabinet from styrene "garage sale" sign-types (my prefered source of sheet styrene)... Solder and sprue radio/ICS cables are also in between the file and radio racks.

Looking at the left side interior at the radio racks and drop-down desktops, which were made with the troopseats from an Italeri Opel Bitz.. The radios are vacuformed from a master RT-524 and the R-442 from the Tamiya M151 w/ TOW... Detail is rather sparse on them, but they won't be easy to see in there anyway (if at all) when the TOC extension goes up...

BTW, does ANYONE know of a source for the warning placard that goes on the engine hatch door at the front of the compartment?  I can't remember what it stated, other than "WARNING", or I'd make a decal already... I think it was in the M113 kit, but I'm not buying another one just for the decal sheet...

well guys the builds are looking great. and i am on the last few steps of this build. i had a little mishap while i was out side painting in the shop yesterday i broke 2 pices off the model and no telling were they landed. i can scratch build one of them but the other one thiers no way i can do that one but i may try and do it anyways.   also need some help on my airbush. latley i have been getting a lot of water drops thu it while i was spraying. i do have a mositure trap on the hose but it has a lots of water in it. is it time to replace it? so here is were i am at right now with the avenger hummer

Man, that Abrams kit does build up fast!

I did not end up going with a gloss coat this time - not a lot of decals, and what there was I cut out carefully with a knife to keep the silvering down. The only ones I had any problems with were the small "lift here" stencils, and they may be covered up with stowage very shortly.

Actually got a TON done last night. The stowage is all painted, just need to hit it with a wash and some highlighting then that will all get attached. Followed shortly thereafter by some final dusting and pigments...I need to try to find some pics "in theater" to see if there was ever much paint chipping on the M113, or just scuffs/dirt.

I forgot to ask, Dupes are you going to gloss coat your M113 before weathering or do you leave it "as is"?

Cheers

Ok guys I'm going to throw my hat in the ring for this GB if that's alright with you. I've put my aircraft builds on hold for now as I really need a break from wings so some tanks are the order of the day.

I'm on a real ODS/OIF kick at the moment after watching Generation Kill all the way through 5 times so far . I plan on a couple of builds for this GB, first up is the Tamiya M1A2HA USMC from OIF in three tone Euro trash camo. This will be followed by the M60 when it finally arrives from Hobbyeasy.

I started this build last Friday night and WOW what a piece of cake, it has to be one of the easiest and quickest kits I have ever built. Here are a couple of shots under construction:

Here are a couple I took tonight after construction was completed

Next stop is the paint shop!