1/35 Academy M50 Ontos, WIP 6/12/10, Completed

Hey Red,

Well, you've done a cracking job on this ONTOS, truly brilliant building my friend!

Remember that I bought this kit too just after you started this Blog? After two sessions at it I gave up, I found the Academy plastic brittle and the part fitment was poor but, boy, you have shown what a great modeller you are by turning this kit into something so amazing, the barrels looked like they would be a nightmare but you did it! Very well too and the Parkerized mix that you made for the barrels looks spot-on!

Re the figures: The grunt with the bandana would have looked good carrying a shell but like you say the shells are HUGE and ridiculously out of scale! Shame as with some work the figures could have been good and the shells look good too.

I am awful at painting figures (faces) at the minute, I've done a few but with varied success. I was going to use the crewman with the helmet in the turret hatch-there isn't much face to paint badly with him!

The MOULDED track  is great, I wondered where you got that from before I started reading the blog and the long grass caught in the wheels looks super!

I'm really blown away with how well you have built this kit-it just shows me how far I've got to go before I'm anywhere near as good as you guys!

Beautiful work Red, Well done buddy

ATVB

Ben   

Ben - Thanks

Everyone on these forums is on a different level. I, like many others are somewhere in the group, enjoying the journey. Everyone has different likes and is better in particular facet of building. Most important is improving or learning with every build.

Never become depressed....use what you see here and in other threads use as insperation and remember to get there requires persperation.   

Thanks for stopping by

Rounds Complete!! 

Mike,

The others have already hit on the points I would've commented about so no use in giving that horse another whack! You've certainly got a "Thing" for this type of "Thing!" (sorry couldn't resist!). Another beauty for your shelf for sure and thoroughly enjoyed your build log progress along the way.

Bill - Thanks - Here are a couple of quick shots getting the MG problems resolved....I hope

Thanks again Bill!!

Rounds Complete!!

All around!

Went to the forum and saw this............

.............got all excited.

Great touch with the weeds.

Steve - Thanks, It make my whole day to see the smily master reply....weeds....hummm thought it was elephant grass....

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

  Mike once again you've out done yourself. I can see the finish on the barrels a lot better in these newer pics and imo its as close to perfect as you can get!

Just one suggestion on the base, I think you should put some Elephant grass in one of the corners of the base at the rear of the ontos to give the viewer an idea of were the grass in the running gear came from.

  Again buddy great work!

redleg12

thought it was elephant grass....

Duh, ya right.

looks like I just cut myself.

Steve - Thanks....yea, everyone wants a little grass on the base....I'm looking Thanks for the comments. I thought the parkerized mix turned out well myself...thanks for noticing.

Steve - No problem....I know it was just a "lack of coffee" slip on your part....we are allowed at our ages

Thanks again...always great to have you drop in

Rounds Complete!!

very nice work!

now I have something to go on when I start my Ontos. Very "real" looking and not over done. It is like I can go up and climb aboard.

Drinks all around!

Chris

Redleg,

I love it.  I can see the others points about adding vegetation, but to be honest, I'm not sure if I'd change a thing.  I like the stark contrast between the base and the vehicle.

Great work!

Chris - Thanks, glad you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Boyd - Thanks. I appreciate your open mind.  I can put up a dozen or so pics of the Ontos just as I depicted and another dozen with grass, bush ect.....

The video outside Hue has an Ontos on dirt......I had a VN Marine vet (on another forum) tell me it was perfect just as he remembered the Ontos......two comments earlier some though it was too dirty. They all are correct

I someone sees something I missed or screwed up......like Mike picked up on the MG sheild.....then it is time for me to fix it.

On the plants, no plants issue I listen to very qulified opinions on both sides....it is an artistic issue not a scale or historic issue since both possibilities are can be historically correct.....at one time or another.

But as I said, I love all the comments.......the build was at least good enough to get everyone to think!!!

Rounds Complete!!

putting this in the most simple terms I can.

All I can say is TYVM!

Rounds Complete!!

Beautifull job on that.It all looks well ballanced with the paint and weathering.

Very nice! I think the base color and weathering really set it off.

Andy - Thanks for the peek and for the comments

Rbaer - Thanks for stopping in and for the comment....the base is the USMC Green.....too many people just make it OD. For this small guy the lighter green helps

Rounds Complete!!

MIke,

Nice Ontos. The weathering and especially the grass in the running gear is especially effective.

Cheers, Aaron

Aaron - It is always great to hear from Mt Olympus!!    Thanks, glad you liked the Ontos

Rounds Complete!!

Mike,

Simply outstanding sir! .  I have to agree the grass stuck in the running gear is the perfect touch. I have enjoyed following this build.

Cheers

Dave

Dave - Thanks for stopping by and for the comments.

Rounds Complete!!

WOW Mike that is too cool.  Very nice indeed.

Marc - It is great to have you back......we have missed our nut.........

Thanks for stopping in and for the comments.

Rounds Complete!!

Mike,, WOW!! It turned out great!   You really have some talent and I applaud you for doing justice to one of our (USMC)  'aesthetically challenged' vehicles

As to the comments on plants and figures,,I like figures but am a figure painter,,I'm not sure i'd do the plants,,the base immedialtly reminded me of a  USMC firebase,,The Marines deployed these quite a bit from the firebases as semi-static defense and the fact they got bogged down in the filed...maybe a sandbag here and there,,and some spent cases..but it looks great as is!!!  

If you ever get to the USMC museum at Quantico you can see some pics of the setting I am talking about,,I'm headed that way in a few weeks.

Can't wait for the Gamma Goat,,didn't know there was a model of that out there,,, They went anywhere,,when they were running!! :-)

Mike,, WOW!! It turned out great!   You really have some talent and I applaud you for doing justice to one of our (USMC)  'aesthetically challenged' vehicles

Now, it is not challenged….just different…..I love different!

As to the comments on plants and figures,,I like figures but am a figure painter,,I'm not sure i'd do the plants,,the base immedialtly reminded me of a  USMC firebase,,The Marines deployed these quite a bit from the firebases as semi-static defense and the fact they got bogged down in the filed...maybe a sandbag here and there,,and some spent cases..but it looks great as is!!!  

The fire base was EXACTLY where my head was…even photos of the” thing” deployed at Hue. Yep….sandbags…..empty two round ammo crates (filled with sand)….brass (would have to scratch with lots of holes)….I liked the stark contrast of the VN red soil.  

Someday I will sit down and learn to do figures well…..your a lucky man

If you ever get to the USMC museum at Quantico you can see some pics of the  setting I am talking about,,I'm headed that way in a few weeks.

Not at Q but seen plenty of pics…..

Can't wait for the Gamma Goat,,didn't know there was a model of that out there,,, They went anywhere,,when they were running!! :-)

As I said, I like the strange, different and obtuse….The M561 Gamma Goat is a resin kit…but, a Goat is a Goat!!

 Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

Outstanding... My only experience with it was the old Revell(?) kit...   Outstanding...

Hans - Thanks.....this is better than the old Revell/Renwal kit.....

Dammm...you look quite dapper in camo 

Rounds Complete!!

In recent Verlinden newsletter (Aug 2010) it featured new ammo kit for M50 Onto so I thought I'd share with you unless you are subscribing the same thing.  Every time I hear (what, I am deaf?) or see the word M50 Onto your outstanding work comes back to my mind. 

Andy - Yep....just saw it the other day....essentially they had the crates and tubes from their 105mm ammo set...just needed to make the rounds.

I am sure they are a lot better than the wrong scale ammo that comes with the kit. Verlinden already has it on ebay!!

Thanks for the thought and the comment, it is much appreciated

Rounds Complete!!

redleg12

Egads Mike! I can't WAIT to see this at AMPS this year!