Hi guys,
I've treated myself to a day off today because I've got so much to do work will just get in the way 
It's pay day and a visit to the bank was needed to sort my finances out, followed by a visit to friends and the LHS and finally I had the honour of writing up our day out at the local Model show that I attended on the 18th (Sunday just gone) with my club.
Whilst I was at it I decided to start my new wip, the show write up being complete and in the bag!
Anyway, Having spent all of last year really enjoying building German WWII Armour I have decided to 'go green' and hit my stash which contains Dragons IC Hybrid Firefly, Bronco's Comet and the little Willys MB Jeep from Tamiya. The Firefly is one BIG kit and will take me a while and the Jeep and Comet look like great builds but not so 'involved'!
First of all I have decided to build my recently purchased Dragon Soviet SU-85M Tank Killer! I like the odd Russian build and this caught my eye a while back and I knew I'd have to build it sooner or later!
It's a 'Premium Edition' kit (whatever that means) and comes supplied with a turned Aluminium 85mm barrel or a slide moulded 1 piece 100mm barrel with Mantlets to suit either barrel. There's plenty of etch and the instructions look ok. There are some tasty looking 'Magic Tracks' so no Friuls this time and the nice thing is you have optional beat-up fuel tanks and fenders or plain normal ones too.
Two tanks have caught my eye on the 'Painting & Markings' page:
- One Green SU-85M with interesting markings - unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1945 or
- One captured Soviet SU-100 with a single large Balkencreuz on each side. 4. Pz.Div. Danzig area, April 1945. It's green with patches of Dunky that look great. It would mean using the plastic barrel and building yet another 'German' tank too! Hmmm?
I'd like to say I'm building the 'Beutpanzer' (is that the right word to use for a captured tank pressed into German service) but I think a Soviet marked machine would keep things varied in my cabinet - undecided. What do you guys reckon? I fancy working on a basic Green basecoat too.
Some photos of the box art, decals and markings of the builds I like:
Box Art:
Metal Barrel (c/w kit) and decals etc:
Decisions?
Thanks for looking guys - I'll be starting work on this beast this weekend!
I'd love to hear what you think about this kit - any hints or tips?
What scheme do you like? I know people say if it's Russian then any Green will do but what Tamiya Green do you guys recommend for Soviet WWII stuff? Dark Green? A certain Green from another brand maybe?
Many thanks,
Ben 