#5 Italeri M24 Chaffee- COMPLETED!

Rob- Thanks buddy! So far it has been fun but I don't think I want to add alot of stowage to every build.  ADHD and patience don't get along too well.   Am really looking forward to Pz III GB...

Kevin- Thanks for dropping by!  Tank- Almost completed. Figures- completed!  Diomara- Incomplete... haven't started yet and it will be my first one ever so I am little nervous about this part.

Mike- Thank you so much for your seal of approval.  Coffee nearly burst out of my mouth when I first saw the seal. LOL

Hey Andy,

She sure is another superb looking build - can't wait to see her her finished! It's nice to see some 'OD Green' for a change

As for my StuG I'm in the same boat as you: Build completed, the figure is being painted for me by a friend so I'm waiting on that so it won't be long and the base? Well, I have the base and the scenery but I don't want to start it until I get the figure as I need to work out what positioning of the parts will work best. It's only my second ever base so like you I'm also a little nervous!

I'm going to get my 1/72 Dragon Brummbar underway this weekend (we have Monday off in the UK as it's a Bank Holiday)  but I seem to be lacking some motivion though (in as far as getting the Brummbar started), not sure why?

Again, the Chaffee looks great. She'll definately be a beauty!

ATVB

Ben

Ben- Hey mate!  Jeez, another holiday already?  You british guys have one every week or something like that?  Maybe I should move there so I can finish more kits every year!

Guys- Worked on the tracks and wood handles on the tools last night.  Getting much closer to the finish line.  I am still undecided which MIG pigment I should use on the wheels and tracks.  Know Vietnam was very reddish just like shown on Mike's recent build so should Korea be a mix of red and tan pigments?  I need to find color pictures taken during Korea War.

Looking great Andy!

John- Thanks buddy!  You are not going to believe this... we had a major roof leak in one of our baths.  Somebody is coming this week to fix it.  When will you make the rain go away? 

Guys- I love Raw Umber!  Applied thinned oil paint on my Chaffee yesterday...

Washed raw umber helps bring the details out like this...

This time I am using light blue poster and it is not helping... it made olive drab look brownish just like last time. 

Worked on the wood handles of tools and drybrushed MM Steel on the tracks this morning.  Only need to weatherize the tracks and wheels using MIG pigments of course!

Thanks for looking!

Making good progress with this one Andy, and yes Raw Umber does rock!

deafpanzer

Kevin- Thanks for dropping by!  Tank- Almost completed. Figures- completed!  Diomara- Incomplete... haven't started yet and it will be my first one ever so I am little nervous about this part.

My pleasure Andy. A base for this (or any model) doesn't have to be elabarate... just a simple ground work solution, just large enough to sort of protect the model 'around the edges' and to keep keep judge's (and other's) greasy fingers from picking up your model. Force them to lift the base if they need too. (Of course, permanentaly fixing the model to the groundwork.)

I would rather have the 'damage' on the nameplate... For example...

Yes it DOES!

Some very good looking work here.

Apparently you're a rockin' too!!

One step at a time.....say a base is good,,,I like a base under all of my models. Besides keeping fingers off, it sets the scene in my mind soo much better.

 As for the umber...I think you are beginning to reach Ivory soap....99 44/100% complete & perfect

Good thing it floats!  ........  Be kind! ..... Had to post it, sorry Andy

Rounds Complete!!

Bill- Thanks!   Hope you agree with Mike's assessment... 99 44/100%?

Kevin- Loved your diomara... that's what I had in mind as it will be on a dirt road while GIs are standing on the edge taking a break.  I wish my couch was on top of an armor just like one you posted... a flat screen TV is a must.

Did you he metal name plates created at local awards shop or something like that?

DM-  Rocking?  Thanks!  But not as much as your Sherman... I dreamt of your Shermie last night.

Mike- Thank God I didn't have coffee with me when I saw your post or there would be coffee all over the monitor.  Thanks for the friendly reminder NOT TO DROP the soap bar! 

I originally planned to have base for all builds but not too sure now since it is my fifth build and I haven't started doing the bases.  Maybe I will catch the 'Build Your Base' bug this summer...

Don't ask me how Mike (Redleg12) came up with this number... here's quick update.

The wood handles of all tools are finally finished!  Used W&N Burnt Umber paint on top of MM enamel Wood paint.  

"Close Encounter of Third Tools"...

Tracks have been dry brushed with MM enamel Steel.  Light application of MIG pigment is next... hopefully tonight if I am not too tired after all day trip to Fort Wayne to visit a brother-in-law who we have seen only once for last 15 years. 

Have very exciting news to share... the tank commander and my Chaffee have met for the first time and I think they are getting along very good... will let you know when they set a wedding date.

Thanks for looking... comments are always welcome! 

Looking REALLY good Andy!

Nate

Killer job, Andy. I can say that it really doesn't get any better than that!

Weird thing about your camera's interpretation of the blue background. Sometimes if the lighting is off or too strong, it can affect the way it perceives and translates it. I started using white a while ago and found that to be a good neutral background.

the doog

Killer job, Andy. I can say that it really doesn't get any better than that!

Hey Andy - superb work my friend! Probably your best work yet imo!

A big  for Karl by the way!

I do envy your figure work, it really is top notch and improving all the time.

Your previous build was the Marder II 'Coal Thief' which I love because apart from the brilliant work put in I'm a real German SPG fan and it floats my boat big time!

Your work quality is definately moving on in HUGE leaps and bounds and I think you'll be gracing the pages of FSM etc soon if you keep this up! x 10!

So, with the GB start date over 4 weeks away what are you going to do now? Take a break? Bust another kit out the stash?

I'm FINALLY about to start my 1/72 Brummbar this evening. I was going to get started earlier but the folks had roped me into building flat-pack furniture all afternoon 

Great job buddy,

ATVB

Ben

Nate-  Always happy to have you stop by... next time I will make sure to have enough  for us. 

Doog- Again, thanks for taking your time to look at my work.  Your comment made my day! 

I agree about my camera issues.  Believe it or not, I have been using my BlackBerry camera so I guess it may be sensitive to lighting and color blue may not be the best choice.  I have a better camera that I use for the final shots and it takes forever to transfer pics.  With my BlackBerry I just upload pics directly to Photobucket in a heartbeat... so will try white and black posters next time. 

Ben- Thanks for the nice words.  I am afraid Marder II will always be my favorite but you never know.   Four weeks break? I DOUBT IT!  I still need to paint the figures for the Marder II and finish this very old Tamiya kit Panzer IV Ausf H for the Ostfront GB.   Here it is...

You are a good man.  I would have done the same for my parents... they are the one who helped us into our hobby when we were young.

Tank commander looks right at home Andy and those tools are looking pretty sharp as well.

Pics on your Blackberry? That's a pretty good point-and-shoot lens/sensor and macro ability it's got if that's the case...however I doubt it's going to do much for you in the white balance/color matching category since it's not really designed for that type of photography and that's what is causing your color shifting in response to the lighting/background issue. The camera is "seeing" different tones based on the environment and unless you can "tell" it to stabilize on one interpretation via the WB settings, it's always going to vary from one shot to the next.

Dude!

I am very jealous of your talents!

Looks fantastic!

TD- You got to be kidding me!  You got the talent too... I never forget your work in 8 Wheels GB.  Thanks for stopping by.  I showed your post about your wife and she laughed...

                              And now for the groundwork eh,I'm certain with your abilities a scratchbuilt base is soon to follow. Seems that that little 99 44/100 came from the country western tune with the title "PURE LOVE" .by perhaps Conway Twitty? Have a good day my friend.

                                                           Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Greg- Thanks buddy!  Already have an idea what to do with the base.  I will holler for help if things go bad.

                                      Andy, I came across these items while dumpster diving so to speak. Actually a little event called pickin days,where people can put old appliances and stuff they don't want out on the curb for pick-up. Just thought they would fit in with you're Korean war G.B.. I'll scrounge up you're address and get them out to ya.

                                   I do not know which unit used the Wolf badge,and the wife says she likes that so I may have to keep that one. But the Korean War patch I'm sending to you.

                                                          Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Wolf patch is the 104th Infantry Division.

                                         Thanks Iraqiwildman,just read a short unit history myself.Seems they distinguished themselves as highly skilled nightfighters in the advance into Germany's Roer area.some great stuff from a distinguished unit.

                                                                     Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

beautiful work Andy,great job on that OD.

Anthony- Thanks buddy!   Always good hearing from you and I am looking forward to our Pz III GB. 

Greg & Tim- Great information about the patches.  This is something we should bring up in Korea War GB if you are cool with that.  Loved that Korea War patch... this is something I would love to include on the diomara base! 

Beautiful work Andy. Definitely one to be proud of.

deafpanzer

Don't ask me how Mike (Redleg12) came up with this number... here's quick update.

The wood handles of all tools are finally finished!  Used W&N Burnt Umber paint on top of MM enamel Wood paint.  

"Close Encounter of Third Tools"...

Tracks have been dry brushed with MM enamel Steel.  Light application of MIG pigment is next... hopefully tonight if I am not too tired after all day trip to Fort Wayne to visit a brother-in-law who we have seen only once for last 15 years. 

 

Have very exciting news to share... the tank commander and my Chaffee have met for the first time and I think they are getting along very good... will let you know when they set a wedding date.

Thanks for looking... comments are always welcome! 

 

deafpanzer

Don't ask me how Mike (Redleg12) came up with this number... here's quick update.

The wood handles of all tools are finally finished!  Used W&N Burnt Umber paint on top of MM enamel Wood paint.  

"Close Encounter of Third Tools"...

Tracks have been dry brushed with MM enamel Steel.  Light application of MIG pigment is next... hopefully tonight if I am not too tired after all day trip to Fort Wayne to visit a brother-in-law who we have seen only once for last 15 years. 

 

Have very exciting news to share... the tank commander and my Chaffee have met for the first time and I think they are getting along very good... will let you know when they set a wedding date.

Thanks for looking... comments are always welcome! 

 

You took these pictures with your blackberry ? 

And here i thought i needed to buy a Nikon !

Sweet looking M-24 !!!

Shellback

You took these pictures with your blackberry ? 

And here i thought i needed to buy a Nikon !

Sweet looking M-24 !!!

Carl- Yes, with my beloved BlackBerry Tour device. LOL   I have tried iPhone, iTouch, HTC EVO and Samsung Epic earlier and none of them could take good pictures at close range like my BB Tour.  I find it alot quicker to upload pictures to Photobucket directly from my BB.   Sorry for the late response!  

Guys, finally I am calling this M24 Chaffee done.  Before I can post final pictures, I am doing an experiment here to determine which posters work best as a backdrop.  This time I am using light blue, black and gray posters. 

LIGHT BLUE POSTER:

It made OD look brownish like Doog noticed... I don't think I will use it again except for German armors with Dunky paint.

BLACK POSTER:

Not too sure about this black poster... it looks like it is causing the light to bounce back to the camera?

GRAY POSTER:

I think I like gray better than light blue and black posters.  Will try white and darker blue when I have the chance... what do you think, guys?

Andy,

This came out stunningly nice! (Watch for the new Dragon AND Trumpeter release now any day! lol!) It really captures a "mood" of a wet morning out on some Belgian road somewhere.....hmmmm. Got a base?

I think that without a doubt, the blue background DOESN"T work. Black is much better than the gray, but I think you'll find that white is best. You have to make sure that your white balance on your camera that you're using is correct though. Hit up wbill for suggestions on how to do that--he's the guru of white balance! Bill!)