Panzer IV Arabian

When  starting this Panzer IV (old ESCI kit) I wanted to do something different and was also looking at the new Dragon kits from their '6 Day War' series. I liked the idea of some minor conversions to make it an Arabian.


Since this was in 1/72 scale and I had an old Trumpeter Russian T-72 kit that was going to be parted, I thought this would be a good place to start.  I took the parts for the turret machine gun and found a part to use as a mount.

I also found photos of added tool and parts boxes mounted on the old Panzer IVs.

This will be much more fun in 1/35 scale so will be on my shopping list with Dragon.

Vince B 10-29-17

Sturm Morser

This is the AMUSING Hobby kit.  Another theoretical German Armor piece. This is a large mortar tube mounted on a modified 38(t) chassis.  Technically this design has some issues. Since this is a Mortar, the large shell would have to be dropped into the tube after the trajectory was set. This would require a scaffold and crane to be set up to lift the shell and manually drop into the tube.

Now onto the kit. AMUSING is pretty good on detail, in some areas (individual tracks) they are too detailed. Each link is 1.5 parts. The links are intended to be workable, as the ends are made that way, but in adding the crossbar, you end up gluing the hinge portion together, so I did this as length and link.

The kit provides a great looking shell and a well done crate.  As you can see, there is no way these could be carried on the mobile mortar.

Of course the kit comes with a very detailed Photo Etch set for the screen and the side skirts. I decided that the skirts were torn off, though I did make them, having to bend tiny parts to form the angled attachments.  After all the work I put into the track I wanted them visible.

 I chose an oddball winter camo scheme. Whitewash faded over a dark gray green base coat. An of course, chipping and rusting. I added some basic personal gear to the side sheet, some plastic and some resin components.

Vince B 10-28

Iraqi BMP-2

This was a quick build, purchased the kit from Keith last meeting. Old Dragon kit.  Built out of the box, though the kit includes a conversion set from making the BMP to a 2E including Mine Ploughs.  I left those off to adapt to a standard Iraqi BMP 2.

This wont make it to any shows next year as it is for a client who will probably make a Christmas Present to himself.

Vince B 10-22-18

1/144 Morser Karl Gerat

Yes, this is 1/144 scale Dragon Kit.  Yes, I actually somehow completed this with tweezers.

 Fortunately, there was no Photoetch.

Vince B. 10-2-17

M4A2 Sherman PTO

This is a Dragon kit that I have bene trying to find a good deal on.  I felt I had been neglecting WWII U.S. hardware, so I picked this up in San Antonio in Feb.

I also had been looking for an excuse to try out Value Gear resin products. Coincidentally, they came out with new Sherman bundles whole I was working this, so I bought a few packages to accessorize.

 A few details I added was the Rebar spikes welded to the hull and turret hatches as seen in many of the Pacific Islands photos. I found that using abandoned plastic tow cables worked great to give the textured effect.

 Along with the Value Gear resin bundles, I added other plastic and resin accessories to fill it out.

Using enamels for prime colors, I washed repeatedly with oils and scrubbed in various blue and white accents for the weathering.

Vince B. 10-1-17