Italeri Group Build Sept. 1, 2006-Jan. 15 2007

Hi Redd.   Looks like a very nice Puma!

Pics are not that clear though, may I suggest that you trade the flash with natural light?

Personnaly, I'm usuing my stove cooking and night light when it's dark out.

If you take more pics, post them again   

What did you think of the kit? 

Alright! As my whole jaws is throbbing with pain (had my 4 wisdom removed today),  I finished the detailed painting on the tank and the gun.  I will decal tomorrow and seal with future. If I can wear my mask.........

Next will be tools ans tracks!

Get well Jean.

Redd, I have to agree with jean, try pics again with natural light. The flash obliderates the model. I'm sure it's quite nice. What a coincidence, I'm working on the same kit. I don't like the barrel or mg gun among a few gripes. hey, do you have any spare decals? I need some, my ebay kit came with none.

tigerman wrote:

Get well Jean.  hey, do you have any spare decals? I need some, my ebay kit came with none.

Thanks. I'll get some rest as soon as the throbbing pain stops.

I can send you my decals. I never used them, and my Puma ended up in a practice and spares pile.

PM me your address and I will send them ASP.

I couldn't sleep this morning, so I decided to take some pics of my progress so far. I'll decal later today. I' ve been a bit lazy since the painting stage started....... I don't really like painting details, and I found out why last night. No more Tamiya paint for handbrushing details. Good for airbrushing though. I might invest in Vallejo in the next few months.

It's the last time I install the wheels before painting. What a pain that was.....

I painted the sight (salvaged from a Marder III M in the scrap pile) flat black along with other details. I found some kind of dark gray black in my drawer, and painted the breech and handwheel with it. Really difficult to see the color in the pic though......

These last 2 are my gun shield. I decided to keep the gas canister straps the same color as the shield. I could not totally get rid of that seam where the shield and the base are connected. After almost breaking the whole thing while trying, I decided to keep it that way. Better than nothing

Gun Tech wrote:

tigerman wrote: Get well Jean.  hey, do you have any spare decals? I need some, my ebay kit came with none. Thanks. I'll get some rest as soon as the throbbing pain stops. I can send you my decals. I never used them, and my Puma ended up in a practice and spares pile. PM me your address and I will send them ASP.

Thanks Jean, I PM'd you. BTW, builds looking good.

Arghhhhhh!!!!!!!       I'm really seeing everything with this build !

Tools are painted, and I gave a shot with the kit's decals......  so far, 1 out 5 is there for good.

I applied Micro Set, then the decal. After it was dry, Micro Sol.  4 decals crimpled, and stayed like that!    After several coats of Micro Sol, I then tried to kind of rub it gently with my brush wet with the liquid, only to discorver that the stuff can eat its way through a coat of future and paint 

Damaged are only localised on the shield though........   I'll remove the faulty decals, re-paint the affected area (didn't threw the paint away yet [;)), re-future and use other decals from extra sets......   another set back.....

Jmcmenamin wrote:

Hang in there Gun Tech I am sure it will be worth it.

I can't let this one go like that All of those hours building and detailling

At least, the decal that stayed there correctly is the divisional symbol I have plenty of german crosses, and I still have 1 tactical symbol from the decal sheet.

I'll get everything ready, and as soon as I can but my mask on, (I still have a chipmunk face from the dentist.....) I will touch up that little spot.

At least, I learned a very good lesson with the Micro Sol....... Don't rub!!!!!!!!

The best and quickest way to learn is to f**k up, it happens only once

Just to show some pics of what happened.

This my divisional insigna form the 1st Infantry Division

This one shows the tactical symbol. I'm still trying to save it. I have another one if I mess it up.

This pics shows the damage incurred while trying to get the second divisional insigna to settle down.

When repainted, I might leave it bare. Would have been cool if it had worked though.

Looks real good Jean-Michel. Nice job in recovery. I'm sorry you couldn't save them all. One thing about Micro-Sol and Micro-Set is that you're supposed to use the Micro-Sol first, then the Micro-Set. That way, the Sol lays the decals down and then when it is laid down, the Set holds it in place.

Anyway, good luck in getting these issues resolved.

Meanwhile, I had finished this little tank for this Group Build quite some time ago, but everytime I tried to post the pics, the Forums were timing out on me everytime I tried logging in.

Now, I'm in and here it is. This is my Italeri re-issue of the old ESCI Italian M-13/40 tanks done in Australian markings.

The tracks are the original ESCI vinyl tracks that I put on since I had no other aftermarket/spares in the spares box. I think it turned out okay:





Oops, I just noticed that I forgot to add the tools. Oh well, I'll get them on tomorrow.

Anyway, It is done for the most part. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome. 

Wow Duke! I really don't know how you can work with something that small and make a good looking build like that. Can't even imagine how small the tools are

I think I figured it out for the decals. the first ones I used didn't reacted good at all with Micro Sol. I replaced the german crosses on the vehicle by some extra from Tamiya. They are settling down like a charm

I should be able to fix the shield tommorow

Thanks Tigerman, I'm glad you like it. I picked up the badge, thanks for the reminder. I have so many now I just have to set up my badge display so that it's small enough for posting here.

Now that we've had an Airfix, Revell/Monogram and Italeri Group Build, what about a Dragon Group Build or a Trumpeter Group Build? Then there's other possibilities like a Tamiya Group Build, or even a *GASP* Matchbox Group Build!

That would help diversify and add to the Model Company Logo Group Build badges!

Duke Maddog wrote:

Thanks Tigerman, I'm glad you like it. I picked up the badge, thanks for the reminder. I have so many now I just have to set up my badge display so that it's small enough for posting here.     Now that we've had an Airfix, Revell/Monogram and Italeri Group Build, what about a Dragon Group Build or a Trumpeter Group Build? Then there's other possibilities like a Tamiya Group Build, or even a *GASP* Matchbox Group Build!   That would help diversify and add to the Model Company Logo Group Build badges!

There is a Trumpeter GB going, but seems pretty inactive.

Thanks brother Tread!

Operation "Fix the faux-pas" is almost completed. I lightly sanded the affected area to give it a smoother apperance, and repainted today along with some jerry cans and gas mask containers. I'm so glad I didn't throw that left over base coat paint I had . I'll wait a day or 2 before putting a coat of future. I might even put another fancy decal in lieu of the older one. 

tigerman wrote:

There is a Trumpeter GB going, but seems pretty inactive.

Yeah, I stopped in to that one and tried to sign up but there seemed to be some confusion over who was even leading it and how it was to be done. I had 'signed' up so to speak, but my entry was never confirmed.

Oh well, maybe another one will show up. I was going to enter my newly finished Trumpeter AS-90  Self Propelled Gun back when I was ready to start it. I already finished it now for a Self Propelled Gun Group Build on the LEM. Here you can see it next to my German Panzerhaubitz Pz2000:

Now that there is a German Self Propelled Gun AND a British Self Propelled Gun, when will they come out with an AMERICAN ONE??!!!!! 

It look me a long time to get it done.

I built Chaffee kit, OOB.  I have not finished yet and I need to change the ROK flag (borrowed the decal from ROK K-200 Academy kit).  I still need to weather it and dry brush it.  Oh and need to add all the goodies to go with it.  I will be using this tank to build a Korean War diorama for as a gift to my friend.

Photo is bit blurr.  I need to get my photo skills up.

Korean Flag decal from Academy kit is quite old, so it flaked off.  I'll replace it later on.

I still need to add some stowage, sacs and other goodies on top of this vehicle. 

I'm still working on it and hopefully I'll get it done very soon.

Thanks for looking and as always, your comments are welcome!

m1garand wrote:

It look me a long time to get it done. I built Chaffee kit, OOB.  I have not finished yet and I need to change the ROK flag (borrowed the decal from ROK K-200 Academy kit).  I still need to weather it and dry brush it.  Oh and need to add all the goodies to go with it.  I will be using this tank to build a Korean War diorama for as a gift to my friend. Photo is bit blurr.  I need to get my photo skills up. Korean Flag decal from Academy kit is quite old, so it flaked off.  I'll replace it later on. I still need to add some stowage, sacs and other goodies on top of this vehicle.  I'm still working on it and hopefully I'll get it done very soon. Thanks for looking and as always, your comments are welcome!

To be honest I'm sorta tech challenged, and it took me some time to get the pic thing worked out on the Forums. I beblieve that the macro setting on your camera is what you want. I really don't think, just shoot myself. I use photobucket which allows up-sizing. Perhaps someone who knows dig-cams better can explain what to do. Would like to see it though.

m1garand wrote:

It look me a long time to get it done.

Don't worry. I'm still working on mine

I sprayed a coat of future over everything yesterday, including the tools. I want to do a light overspray of German gray thinned at 90% to blend the decals in.

Should I install the tools on first? (they would probably look less pristine) or should I wait after the wash?.......

Duke Maddog wrote:

My suggestion is to install the tools first, do the wash and then the overspray. That way the tools don't stand out so much and blend in with the rest of the vehicle. That's just my suggestion though.

what Duke said

I glued on the tools today, and decided to put everything together for a photo session before I mess up with the overspray The gun shield and the gun are only temporary installed and not glued. The last  pic shows what can be seen of the inside. Really hard to get a good focus on that one. Next steps, overspray and tracks.