Italeri Group Build Sept. 1, 2006-Jan. 15 2007

My "son of a gun" 13 year old Michael (aka Sherman Shepard) has been working 2 Italeri models in parallel - the Elefant and Chaffee.  He's shown a lot of enthusiasm and persistence at these builds.  Although not quite finished, he's OK with me taking a few photos of his progress to post.  I'll try to get these uploaded this evening.

He's chomping at the bit to build the Dragon D-Day landing craft I got him recently.  I told him he has to finish these two kits first before starting the new one.   

Larry

zokissima wrote:

Good luck espins, I'll be watching that one with interest. I got the same one in the stash, but I've been gathering resources and AM for it for a while. I don't think I like the look of the moulded on zimm. Anyways, it'll be good to see what you come up with.   Gun Tech, that is pretty nice.

Thanks a lot Zokissima, I appreciate your good feedback 

zokissima wrote:

Good luck espins, I'll be watching that one with interest. I got the same one in the stash, but I've been gathering resources and AM for it for a while. I don't think I like the look of the moulded on zimm. Anyways, it'll be good to see what you come up with.

Ya, the more I look at it the more I think the Zim needs to be toned down a bit.  I may have to get a bit "creative" with that. 

Good luck espins, I'll be watching that one with interest. I got the same one in the stash, but I've been gathering resources and AM for it for a while. I don't think I like the look of the moulded on zimm. Anyways, it'll be good to see what you come up with.

Gun Tech, that is pretty nice.

tigerman wrote:

Great work so far Gun Tech. You're doing a heck of a job. As for the December issue, I haven't got mine. I have a feeling that they've dropped the ball. My subscription mysteriously expired (I renewed, then sent in another renewal, and nothing) I guess they don't want my money.

Geee Eric. That's not good at all. Did you try to contact some of the staff? Thanks for the comments. I hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon   

Great work so far Gun Tech. You're doing a heck of a job.

As for the December issue, I haven't got mine. I have a feeling that they've dropped the ball. My subscription mysteriously expired (I renewed, then sent in another renewal, and nothing) I guess they don't want my money. 

Ok, here we go, finally FINISHED!....... with the interior.......       This is the second subject that I'm seriously airbrushing....... and  first time weathering.  I took the pics inside with artificial light..... not much sun lately.....

Since the last pics I posted, I added grab handles and  frames around the driver's visor and the windows. The Eduard PE doesn't include those frames, not a problem if you own the Panzer 1 B PE. (I already built mine, messed up the inside and glued it hatches down. I had to improvise by taking solder, shape it and slowly beat it down with a hammer. Bolts head came from my punch and dice set.

Since I'm just starting out with weathering, I decided that a sludge wash would be easier for me. That was before I read the FSM December issue. I gave a try and added a chipped paint effect, after reading the same issue     I decided not to go too heavily. I also tried to simulate some wear where I suppose the crew would be standind.

Let me know what you think guys. I'll probably glue the hull tomorrow and start with the exterior!

tigerman wrote:

Too bad the kit doesn't come with the link and lengths. Yeah, the molded zim is okay and at least you don't have to minkey around with it.

It does seem a bit heavy and uniform.  I read somewhere to sand it down a bit and ding it up some for a more realistic effect.

Hey guys, now that the bathroom renovation project is finished and I'm wrapping up my Wildcat for another GB, I'm ready to begin on my Panther Ausf. A. 

Interesting that Italeri includes the zimmerit already molded into the parts.  This should be a fun build.  I think I'll order an aftermarket barrel though, I've never had much luck with the plastic barrels included in the kits as they are ALWAYS warped and the seam lines are a pisser to get rid of without making the barrel too skinny.

Anyway, here's a shot of the kit with all the parts freshly washed and ready to be built. 

Nice! It'll be great to see them built! Thanks for the word on the guns. I have built the UM 1/72 scale 57mm gun, the UM 1/72 scale 76mm gun, and the PST 1/72 scale 122mm and 152mm guns. Would love to see more mortars being done in my scale. 

Keep up the great work!

Thank you, J.M.

Later, I'd like to build dioramas with the guns, but it is hard to find good figures of soviet artillery crew. The mortar will be towed by a Soviet truck (Zis or GAZ). And, yes, I like guns too, since I've started building them, I have bought the "Karl" mortar by Dragon, and the 88mm gun by Tamiya.

Michel

michel.vrtg wrote:

My 3 models will soon be finisehd, but they still require some painting job. (Soviet 122 howitzer, 120 mm mortar, and Zis 3 anti tank gun).  Sorry, but it is hard to have good photographs of these models, pictures are too dark and must be edited. Michel

Good looking guns Michel.   I love guns

Thank you Duke,

yes, they are 1/35th scale.  Please note, that in the mortar box, there was a missing part, shown in the instructions, but no place for it on the sprues.  This can be the reason why it is no more available.  They also write, that the German 1200 mortar was identical to this one, the Germans having found plans of the Soviet mortar in a factory and duplicated it.

There are some new 1/35 scale Soviet artillery models by Alanger : 100 mm, 45 mm, regimental 76 mm and, in 1/72 scale, I could see, too, the 57mm Zis 2 by UM and, soon to be released, 152 mm by Ace.

Michel

Those are Italeri? Nice! I didn't know they made Ryussian Artillery! That is so cool. They are 1/35th scale right? I have the two artillery pieces in 1/72 scale from PST and UM Models. So far nobody I know of does the 120mm mortar in 1/72 scale. That would be awesome of they did and I could get one.

Keep going Michel! These are looking great! 

My 3 models will soon be finisehd, but they still require some painting job. (Soviet 122 howitzer, 120 mm mortar, and Zis 3 anti tank gun).  Sorry, but it is hard to have good photographs of these models, pictures are too dark and must be edited.

Michel

Gun Tech wrote:

Whoa! That's really small!

That's what she said.

tigerman wrote:

Duke Maddog wrote:  zokissima wrote: Some good progress from everyone.   Duke, is that utility car in your usual scale, or a 1/35 offering...?   Zoran, thank you. And yes, the utility car is in my usual 1/72 scale.    Could you get a pic with something of contrast to give the M-20 a size comparison? I'm betting it's really small.

You got it my friend! Here it is with the wheels assembled and some interior painting done:

The Exacto blade is for size reference.

Comments are welcome. Thanks for looking. 

Prometheum5 wrote:

Thanks for the info....I drilled out the sight and added a seam on the eye-piece end so I can paint it to look like rubber.... also tonight I added the cross supports to the fenders, dinged up the fenders, mounted the front plates and fixed the sink marks on the gun support yoke thing.... and dinged up the rubber roadwheel rims.... looks great so far.  Next up is more gun assembly and making the tool box out of metal so it can be dinged up...   One question tho, for the Italeri group build, can I add some Tamiay figures for a diorama?

Pleas do. Just as long as the main subject is Italeri, which in this case is.

Prometheum5 wrote:

Thanks for the info....I drilled out the sight and added a seam on the eye-piece end so I can paint it to look like rubber.... also tonight I added the cross supports to the fenders, dinged up the fenders, mounted the front plates and fixed the sink marks on the gun support yoke thing.... and dinged up the rubber roadwheel rims.... looks great so far.  Next up is more gun assembly and making the tool box out of metal so it can be dinged up...   One question tho, for the Italeri group build, can I add some Tamiay figures for a diorama?

Pleas do. Just as long as the main subject is Italeri, which in this case is.

Thanks for the info....I drilled out the sight and added a seam on the eye-piece end so I can paint it to look like rubber.... also tonight I added the cross supports to the fenders, dinged up the fenders, mounted the front plates and fixed the sink marks on the gun support yoke thing.... and dinged up the rubber roadwheel rims.... looks great so far.  Next up is more gun assembly and making the tool box out of metal so it can be dinged up...

One question tho, for the Italeri group build, can I add some Tamiay figures for a diorama?

Gun Tech wrote:

I would say yes, but the side on the gunner's end might have an rubber eyepiece or some kind of little tube that you can get close to and read your mesurments inside.

Since my refs aren't very good, I concur with Gun Tech on this.