#5 Italeri M24 Chaffee- COMPLETED!

Looks awesome so far! The correct tracks and your added stowage will certainly add to this! I too built this kit (a long time ago) and I recall having a lot of fun with it despite the kit's issues. I added a few 'issues' too.

Not to swipe your thread, but here's mine (built 3/88)...

http://www.mortarsinminiature.com/images/Other%20Models/US%20M24-2.jpg

http://www.mortarsinminiature.com/images/Other%20Models/US%20M24-1.jpg

Looking forward to seeing this one finished!

The Chaffee is looking really good and I like all the stowage. I will have to watch how you paint the stowage already on the tank. I usually add all this after painting, but I think your way will save a lot of time.

Roy, your Chaffee plan sounds great and I look forward to see it in person!  Hope you will do a WIP here or are you going to keep it as a surprise until AMPS show?  No worries, I am already working on my wife to make her come with me again but not sure about the boys.  They had fun last time but don't think I want to bring them because they will want to leave after only 2-3 hours not allowing me to stay for the whole day.

Kevin- Boy, I hope my Chaffee comes out as good as yours!  Loved your work especially the stowage and base.  Thanks for sharing the link... always could use more.  

Wildiraqman- Thanks buddy!  I normally paint the tools and stowage before I attach to the vehicle but this time with so many stowage I think I am going to try this approach.  That way I don't have to worry about running out of wood sticks and toothpicks Wish me luck! 

I use MM enamel paints pretty much for vehicles.  Any chance which green paint do you recommend?  I haven't gotten to the point to decide which paint I will use.  According to the pictures, Chaffee had darker green color during the Korea War than WWII Chaffees or pictures are misleading us especially with our old eyes? 

I use Tamiya OD as my basecoat.  As they were all built before the war's end, I wouldn't re-paint it a darker hue.    As for the kids, has your family checked out the other Auburn museums?  The ACD museum is suh-weet -- and I'm not even a car guy.

deafpanzer, I have to be honest with you. I think it's going to be a lot harder to paint and weather the stowage and whatnot on the model. Next time, try mounting them on rods of some sort and paint them separately. Then you can position them where you want. Trust me--I've tried it both ways, and it's way more easy to do them OFF the model.

I realize the use of the straps probably figured into your decision, but even they could have been painted AFTER putting them on. It would have been less painting-on-the-model.

Well, anyway; it's done now. It looks great. I just hope you don't get sick of the detail painting!

Doog- I may have to agree with you that it will take me longer to paint the accessories.  It is only my fifth build and I gave alot of thought on this if I should paint them first or not.  Like you said, most of them already have straps so it may look nicer if glued first and painted on.  I did tools on Marder II and it wasn't that bad but it did take me little longer.  Am planning to use Tamiya masking tapes around the stowage if possible. 

Safe to say I am planning ahead to take a break from 'excessive' detail painting because my next build will be pretty OOB with no stowage!   I might apply zimmerit... its Tamiya Panzer IV Ausf H and I understand all Ausf H have zimmerit so I can't get away without zimmerit this time. 

Roy- I am way ahead of you.  Already came up with plans to convince my wife to come with me.  There's huge Vera Bradley outlet not far in Fort Wayne and her brother lives there too so I will remind her it is overdue for a visit to her brother. 

My Chaffee has gone thru pre-shading and painting stages and I am very pleased with the result. 

Remember I use MM enamel exclusively for armor painting and I found a great article about choices of Olive Drab paints.  It was recommended that I use MM Olive Drab #1711.  Weathering will definitely make it look little darker afterward.  The base paint was thinned as much as 50/50 to allow pre-shades show thru if possible. 

I don't think I need to do any post-shading and move on to the next stage chipping the Chaffee.  Or maybe detail painting... thanks for looking!

You're sure getting better at this.....

  you've made a lot of progress since your first entry.

Was that the Steve Zaloga article on Olive Drab?

Zaloga article

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article.asp?a=4536

                         Keep up the great work Andy and before you know it you'll be a Grand Master. Definitly looking forward to the grand finale.

                                                        Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

deafpanzer, your shading job is AWWWWWWESOMMMME!

Well-freakin'-done!!! Now THAT'S the way to paint a model!

Disasterman- Thanks, all of those smileys really helped me improve.  And of course everybody's WIPs and toots.  Owe y'all !!!

Iraqiwildman- Roy is correct.  It was the article... for enamel paints, MM #1711 was a good choice. 

Roy- Thanks again!  My wife is looking for you... told her about the Achtung Panzer books.

Greg- I will not call myself a Grand Master until I hit my 100th build.  Still a long way to go!  Safe to say I will be around for a long time if you allow me.  You got snow in Minnesota recently?!?!

Doog- Thank you... your comment made my day after sleeping for only four hours!   Some idiot stayed up very late working on a Chaffee til 3am and he has to be at work in the morning but it was FUN!  I can not remember but I think I learned about pre-shading from one of your articles or WIPs... it was two years ago.    It took me at least three builds to this right. 

                    Snow? You bet we got it,and more on the way.  Thursday night int Fri. up to two inches. But it just turns into mud. LOL

                                                             Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

deafpanzer

 

Doog- Thank you... your comment made my day after sleeping for only four hours!   Some idiot stayed up very late working on a Chaffee til 3am and he has to be at work in the morning but it was FUN!  I can not remember but I think I learned about pre-shading from one of your articles or WIPs... it was two years ago.    It took me at least three builds to this right. 

 

You really nailed the post-shading effect. If I helped in any way, it makes me feel all the better!

I can't wait to see what you do with the weathering!

Andy, you're too modest.  The problem will be to store this beauty for nearly a year until the Roscoe Turner Show.  Rick

Hey Rick!  Roscoe Turner Show?  What about AMPS Show as it is coming to Auburn, IN again next year... it is a huge show but for armors only and you will love it.  Of course I will go to BOTH.  Always good hearing from you my friend.

Hey Andy,

What a great build and what a STUNNING paint job! That pre-shade has worked beautifully

I'm especially loving that .50cal!

I'm glad my next build is my Dragon Firefly as I want to see what I can do with some shades of green and shading etc too.

Looking forwards to more!

ATVB

Ben  

That is one nice paintjob Andy

Very nice paint work Andy!

John- Thanks!  Did you hear that AMPS is coming to Auburn next year?

Anthony & Ben- Thanks for stopping by.... it was fun!  Ben, it will look good on your next build. 

Great progress Andy! Ecellent paint job.  Look forward too see more of this one.

Beautiful work there Andy.

Terry.

Andy,

The painting update slipped by me while I was away last week...looking super, can't wait to see more!

Rob & Terry- Thanks guys!  Glad you stopped by. 

Bill- No Worries!  Figured Brenda was keeping you busy.  Glad to see your update tonight and it is looking great!

My weekend was GREAT!  No wife, no boys and weather sucked so I spent nearly two days at my workbench.  I have been busy painting the figures to go with Chaffee and finally started painting the stowage and tools.  Like Doog warned me, it will take me forever... I actually am enjoying this.

Sneak preview of the tank commander which is about 90% completed obviously eyes are not my favorite part then dark washes at the end.   

 Two American GIs... still long way to go.  50% completed... light & dark washes are next.

That's what my Chaffee looks right now... painted base coats on stowage & tools only.  Still a long way to go...

Hope y'all had a great Easter Day....

Nice work Andy. The shading looks good. I like to use two different shades of OD (Poly Scale OD and Tamiya OD) but the traditional method works great also.

The detail items may be a bit of a PITA....interested to see how you approach them!

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Mike!  Always good hearing from you.  I will holler if I ever need artillery support with details painting...

So far it hasn't been bad.  Because I used enamel paint for the base coat, I have been using acrylic paint for most of stowage so it was easy to wipe off paint in places where I didn't want it to be.  A buddy here sent me a suggestion using those Post-It notes to protect the tank... I will definitely try that during the washing stage later this week.

                            Fine looking work Andy,glad to see you are nearing the finish.Only do not do it until THREE AM. Jus got home a short time ago so I had to check it out. Will be back soon,gnite.

                                                               Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Looking fine, Andy. The figures look nicely-started!