#5 Italeri M24 Chaffee- COMPLETED!

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  

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.

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

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!

                    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

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. 

deafpanzer, your shading job is AWWWWWWESOMMMME!

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

                         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

Zaloga article

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

Was that the Steve Zaloga article on Olive Drab?

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

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

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!

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. 

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!

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.

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? 

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.

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.

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!

My scheme will be a yellow faced M24 used in Operation Ripper, the March 1951 push upwards that re-took Seoul from the Communist forces and re-established the 38th parallel.  Photos of these M24s can be seen in the Squadron Signal book, Zaloga's book on Korean War armor and a few other places.  It'll be pretty gaudy and you won't miss it.  I'm using the Formations upgrade, Fruilmodel tracks, and tons of scratchbuilding.  I hope your family will join you again at the show.

Bill- Thank you always for dropping by.  Can't wait to do the next stage of painting.  I was too tired to do anything last night after all day of yard work...

Roy- Always good hearing from you... thank you for breaking the great news about AMPS coming back to Auburn.  You made my day and YES, I WILL BE THERE!!!  Looking forward to see your Chaffee... B-U-T how are you going to find Korea War markings?  I looked everywhere but no luck.  Wanted to add the name 'Eagle Claw' marking to my Chaffee turret as shown in my favorite picture if possible.

Thanks for the tip about the stowage.  I am glad I removed some because the picture on Verlinden box was pretty excessive especially in the front.  It is too late to remove that tarp placed in the front on the fender.  Your comment makes sense to me now that we don't want anything to block the driver's view or hatch.  I assumed it was low enough not to be blocked. Consider this as a learning experience for me so it will not happen again...

My plan... the tanker and couple of GIs stopped to discuss their next plan while taking a little break... the tanker took out his map bag and binocular since they are trying to figure out where they are going.  Hope this helps...

Nice stuff Andy: I'm building one for the 2012 AMPS in your neighborhood again.  Can I make a few suggestions?  1) I'm glad you omitted some of the stowage you had atop the turret.  When you were dry placing them, several items would have severely blocked the vision of the commander if he was buttoned up.  No one would knowingly place items that do that.  2) if you see in wartime pics, the fender area immediately outside the drivers' hatches have very low stowage or none at all.  Why?  Because when the hatches were swung out, the periscopes had to have room above the fender.  You have two rolled tarps or something.  As is, they would interfere with the opened hatches.  Look at period photos and you'll see what I mean.

Hope this helps.  (my version is going to be in Korean War markings)

Moving right along with this one Andy, can't wait to see it with the paint on, the primer is too much of a tease!

John- Thanks for dropping by!  Sorry it took me long... needed a break from Indiana weather you know. 

Karl & Ben- Always good hearing from you guys. 

Update on my Chaffee... All stowage has been secured using PE straps.  I loved the PE set from "Alliance Model Works' I bought at recent show and I thought I'd share with you guys...

Then I added straps to all packs and canteens handing on the side of turret to make it look more realistic instead of being glued on. 

Chaffee has been primed with Mr. Surfacer 1200.  I DON'T MISS the ugly dark green anymore...

The figures have been primed too...

I hope to do pre-shading tonight if I am not too tired.  My beloved wife made me work outside all day but the yard is looking real good.  She should have wore red & yellow camo outfit...

Hey Andy,

Great work!

I must say that your work has really taken off lately - the Marder II was a stunner and this looks set to be the same.

PE and resin stowage eh? I'm just getting to grips with the fine art of small scale PE at the minute and I've got a selection of resin stowage for my Dragon Sherman IC Hybrid Firefly which is in the stash and due for assembly later this year following completion of my Marder and StuG III B.

Keep us posted!

ATVB

Ben

Hey Andy; that's looking fine. Glad to have given you some ideas!

And make sure you wear your sunscreen when you're out there wooing all the girls!

That's some mighty fine looking work Andy!

Bill- Nice for dropping by.  Always a pleasure hearing from you friend. 

Greg-  Nice looking Stuart!  I have 'Honey' Stuart from Academy in stash and I think it will be my next 'Allied' build.

Little update... added stowage set to Chaffee... dry fitting only!  Stikpusher has been a big help with feedback such as not leaving a pistol on top of turret because it is a highly prized item among soldiers and some stuff that were not widely used for tanks, etc. 

Doog posted a great picture of his Chaffee and it gave me better idea how to hang the bags on the turret.  I added a brass wire on the left side.  Thank you Karl!

There will be no update for a while.  My boys spring break starts on Friday  taking my family to Florida  for a week.  I will try to take pictures of bikinis on the beach for you guys...

deafpanzer

Disastermaster- I recall Sprue Brothers is selling just the white metal sprockets for $12.  It is a Friulmodel even tho but it looks just like mine.  Thanks for the nice note!  Looking forward to your next update on M4.  I it... great WIP!

Marc- Thanks buddy!  3 hours on just the Ma Deuce... crazy but loving it.

Greg-  Sounds like I need to send you one of American armor I have... LOL 

Ron-  Thanks for looking.  Am afraid I scared Roy, did I?

Rick-  Sounds like a good plan only if you can enter your builds too. My wife is still talking about taking that knitting lessons from your wife.  You may be hearing from us about this.  She really NEEDS a hobby!

 

                                    And I also have a Shermie that I need some idler wheel mounts for. Lets just say that a mis-reading in the instructions resulted in them being subsequentally pryed off,destroying the mount. Could have happened to anyone right! Well keep up the great work on the Chaffee and give us an update soon.

                                                                         Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Some very nice work you've got going on with this one Andy. You've also discovered the "AM Curse" when it comes to dressing up an older kit but it's well worth it in the end! Looks like you've done a good job sourcing your stuff on a cost-effective basis though. Total cost of $63 for a build is definitely within reason when you compare to your cost-per-hour of enjoyment in the hobby.