Tread - Thanks...glad you like my details. Not to fear the old Ma Duce is coming. Think the details come as I reduce myself to 1/35 and look at the details from the "inside" standpoint!!! I'm climbing into the rear and beginning to mount Ma!!

Bill - Like I said to Tread, I try to put myself in the build....it help with detail vision!!

Thanks guys for stopping in and for the comments

Rounds Complete!!

Always love to see your attention to the little details bring a build project to life Mike! Very cool!

Nice going, Mike 

It looks really sharp with all the small details you have added. The tool box with the tools opened looks real good  and of course the ' fabric ' doors look like the real deal. The ammo and crane also look top notch.

Also really like what you have done with the windshield wipers and window streaking.

Don't forget a final update with .50 cal mounted ! 

tread 

Carl - Hope that was worth a basket of popcorn!! Thanks for the peek and for the comments

Rounds Complete!!

Oh ya Mike she is looking super detailed ! The wrench holding the tool box lid open .......nice touch !

Time to finish up some final details. In the rear, I mounted the PE light guards, using sail ship rope to make the winch cable and hook both painted with Alclad steel. Finally the rear door chain, painted with Alclad steel.

Here is another view of the rear. Here you can see two 8 inch projectiles on the ground.  In the background the projectile rack leaning on the rear shackle.

Finally here is a close up of the crane. The chains and hook painted with Alclad steel. The roller on the boom also painted with Alclad steel while the top surface of the boom and the crane shaft dry brushed with steel to show wear.

In the front I created a mask for the wiper and dusted the window. Here you see the final result with the PE wiper mounted along with the headlight guard

On the side, here are the doors mounted. I added PE straps and tied them in the open position

Also here are the PE engine screen doors.

Going on top, I left one of the PE tool boxes open. Using some tools from an Italeri tool set, I tried to set a work in progress look.

Here is where I am at right now overall.

Still finishing the M2 .50 cal then some touch ups and light weathering and I will be done. Should be ready to go for AMPS East

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

Clay - Thank you very much for the kind words and for visiting my site. Yep...AFV wat thinking of a 75mm and Dragon was rumored to be making a T-30, 75mm howitzer motor carriage (half track). I have learned patience....I sit like a vulture just watching and waiting.

Rounds Complete!!

you know Mike you really "just" know what your doing on this stuff. i really like watching this come togther. don't know if you ever built a dio ?? i looked at you site and seen some vigs. and at awe with your site. on the 75 pack did you like that kit?? i've been waiting FOREVER for the AFV kit. but AUGH. anyway ramble ramble AWESOME BUILD BUDDY.

Clay   

redleg12

Gino - Thanks for the peek. Details are the key and the fun part.

Tread - Thanks for the late night look. As I said the PE tool boxes beat the hell out of the plastic kit boxes. Will try to mount one open with some tools.....hopefully. Track are usually a PITA....but these since the rubber was separated was a bit nicer.

Carl - I know it was late and so it was snack time and not popcorn time but thanks for stopping by. You know I love the details. I will try to keep you interest with more details

Thanks everyone

Rounds Complete!!

LOL Mike !

Anytime is snack time at my place . Glad to be following this one .

Marc - Dude....Thanks...Remember....10 days!!

Bill - Shoes on...just have to finish the laces!! Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

Looking good with the shoes on Mike, nice job with the knitting! Almost across the finish line, going to be a real beauty for sure.

Let me address each of your progress photos.

Nice!

Sweet!

Sweet!

Great!

Awesome!

DUDE!

Burger King (I'm lovin' it)

Gino - Thanks for the peek. Details are the key and the fun part.

Tread - Thanks for the late night look. As I said the PE tool boxes beat the hell out of the plastic kit boxes. Will try to mount one open with some tools.....hopefully. Track are usually a PITA....but these since the rubber was separated was a bit nicer.

Carl - I know it was late and so it was snack time and not popcorn time but thanks for stopping by. You know I love the details. I will try to keep you interest with more details

Thanks everyone

Rounds Complete!!

Mike , it sure is looking great . Those details like the Fruil tracks , pe tool boxs and the rubber gaskets you painted on the windshields has really made a interesting model !

WOO-HOO ! MIKE 

Nice update and does she ever look sweet !.... the tracks are really great looking I really like your  'mix ' for the rubber parts.  All the detail is a real eye grabber, and you are right , the tool boxes look terrific !

I am glad I stayed up and waited for your anticipated update... I was getting worried ! LOL

11 days to go !

tread

Ahhh, another great Sunday update from Mike.  It is really coming together ow and is looking great.  The little details on it really pop.  Great job.

Well, getting close to the end, and made good progress this weekend.

Worked on the tracks. I used Fruile T-48 tracks. The M4 HST requires 68 links per side. The Fruile links are two parts, the pad and the metal link with end caps. First I painted the pads with my rubber mix, 50/50 NATO & Flat Black. Then I assembled the pads to the links followed by assembling groups of links. The exposed metal was coated with AK Track Wash

The 3 PE tool boxes make the PE set worth the purchase. After assembling the box, hinges, hasp, and lock chain. The boxes are painted the same as the vehicle with Poly Scale OD. The hasp, chain and edge wear is done with Alclad Steel.

Time for tools. The wood handles were painted with Tamiya OD. The wear areas on the handles are painted with Poly Scale Rust to simulate the bare wood. All the tool brackets are painted with Poly Scale OD. The metal parts are painted with Alclad Steel.  The PE straps are Vallejo OD with Flat Black buckles. This includes the sledge, 2 axes, 2 shovels, 2 pick heads, 2 pick handles and a breaker bar.

The spare tracks were painted with the tire mix on the pads, Poly Scale OD for the brackets and Alclad Steel for the pins. The PE set includes a barrel bracket for the M2 which was painted with Poly Scale OD. Lastly, the M2 tripod is painted with a parkerized color mix.

The front headlight bay was painted with Alclad Bright Aluminum and the clear lens applied. The windshields have the rubber edge gasket painted with the tire mix and their attaching pins to match the M4 OD

The rear headlights were done the same as the front headlights. The rear taillights were coated with Alclad Bright Aluminum and then Clear Red and Smoke (Clear Black).

The muffler and breather were painted with PolyScale OD. On the muffler to create a heat effect on the paint, I washed it with AK Track wash and mixed in some MIG Light Rust Pigment. The exhaust end is rings of MIG Dark Rust, Light Rust and then Smoke at the end and inside. The breather is coated with the AK Track Wash mixed with some MIG Light Rust Pigment. I still have to mount the open tool box but here is a look at the other items.

Lastly I mounted the road wheels, assembled and mounted the track. I still have to weather the track and road wheels, but here is the look with the “shoes on”.

Also started in the wood shop and started on the base. Next it is a matter of finishing the details and getting it mounted on the base. Need to finish up next week.

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

Clay - thanks fo the peek. As for the ammunition carrier for the M12, NOPE....the M12 was usaully followed be the M30 ammunition carrier. Here is some info on the M30. The good thing is you can make an M30 from an M12 kit.

www.network54.com/.../M30+Ammo+carrier

HTH

Rounds Complete!!

hey Mike just an awesome build now a question. is this the animal that would bring ammo to my M12? and also i want to do a dio with a M12. now this kit would look very nice with it. was in all fronts and when did it start in service? thanks for any help.

Clay   

Gamera - Thanks, that was exactly the look I was trying to create. Again thanks for the comment.

Rounds Complete!!

Again, what else can I say but great job! I too love the tarp, looks very realistic in looks and the way you've positioned it with the edge just pulled aside.  

Steve - Thanks for the comments on the build and thanks for the web site peek.

Rounds Complete!!

Well done  to date. Am enjoying the build and your ability to advance the quality of the model.

Enjoyed your web site- well executed and your skill certainly shows in your builds

.

Marc - Landscape cement is basically watered down white glue. It is available from Woodland Scenics

As for Bugs

Rounds Complete!!.

The ammo looks like it would go off if Bug Bunny were to hit it with a hammer. Of course if you've never seen that cartoon that woun't make much sense.

What is landscape cement?

Tread - It just makes it simpler to put the whole bumper code on the decal paper then apply the decal. Thanks for the peek.

Carl - Glad to see I am still keeping you riveted!! Thanks for stopping in

Bill - I love to add the little items.....it adds reality. Thanks for the peek.

Rounds Complete!!

That tarp is practically perfect in every way! Ditto on the rounds Mike, always love seeing you add those types of touches to your builds.

I'm liking all of the details your adding Mike . The aircraft paper works real well as scale canvas . Looking good !

I will be here waiting for more !

Hi Mike

Jeez man..your build is really shaping up sweetly..a lot of cool things going on with canvas for the ammo box and doors and the shells look beautiful !

I kind of don't get the part with the dry transfers and the clear decal carrier. I have used dry transfers before, but Just transferred directly to the model.  Are you using the decal paper to line up the individual numbers you have chosen ? or is there something I am mis-understanding ?

Thanks Mike, looking forwrd to the next installment.

tread

It is Labor Day weekend and it was time to hit the bench.

First I needed to get the bumper markings for the vehicle. These are the markings of the 17th Field Artillery, one of 3 eights inch towed units in Korea. Using Archer Transfers, I created the bumper markings on clear decal sheet. After the letters and numbers are placed on the decal paper, the bumper decals were sprayed with Gloss Future. After drying overnight the decals are ready to be applied. After application, the decals are allowed to snug down overnight. After the decals are set, the bumper is over-sprayed with Dull Future.

To try to complete the ammunition container, I assembled 8 inch ammunition from the AFV 155mm/8inch ammunition kit. The projectiles and powder cans were painted with Tamiya OD. Once dry, the projectiles were masked and the rotating band was painted with Tamiya Flat Copper. After the paint was dry, the 8 inch projectile decals were applied and then the ammunition was loaded into the ammunition box

With the ammunition loaded, I created a tarp with aircraft tissue. After measuring and allowing an additional 1/8 inch on each edge, the edges are folded and sealed using landscape cement to create the tarp edge cuff. After the cement dries then the tarp was applied to the ammunition box with landscape cement. Then, the entire tarp is coated with landscape cement to seal the tissue. I applied the tarp with one side folded back where the crane will be attached.

After allowing the landscape cement to dry overnight, the tarp was painted with Vallejo OD and high edges shaded with Poly Scale OD

With the ammunition in the box and the tarp on the roof, the box was attached to the main frame.

Now I moved on to some pre weathering in the track area. To create some depth, I colored some Liquatex Ceramic Stucco with Tamiya NATO Brown. This was applied in the track area where mud would cake up. This was allowed to dry overnight.

Once dry I applied AK Earth Effects to the underside

Next up are some filters and then it is time to start applying tools and other details

As always all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!