Merkava Mk IV

This is the 1/72 Hobby Boss kit. Pretty impressive detail and fit.

 The kit was out of the box. I did need to add the antenna by trimming and drilling out the tiny antenna holders.  I used a #80 drill bit and fine fiber optic line.

 I added a few bits of Black Dog resin stowage to enhance the stowage basket.

 Painted with enamels and weathered with oils. Dullcoated and drybrushed.

Vince B.  4-20-19

Russian S-51 SPG

Well, its time again to play Russian Roulette. This will be my entry for the SPG club challenge.
This is an older Trumpeter kit.  Yes, it was a challenge. Hope you are all sitting down because I did do the Photo Etch.

 I was pretty OK with the parts fit and detail from Trumpeter. I was unable to completely figure out from an engineers perspective exactly how the mechanisms were intended to operate.

 Of course I had to add some stowage. I used components from a MiniArt weapons set to hang on the rails. I used micro tape for the straps.

 Apparently this was a one of a kind experiment. I only found a few photos of the real one on line to go by. There were several modeler interpretations which would indicate they may have found some actual drawings of more details.

Vince B.  Apr 18-2019

Rail Yard in 1/72

I am not yet sure what to call this diorama. I guess first I need to review what all is in this.
1) Reintochter Rockets and Launchers.(Modelcollect)
2) Flat Transport Cars ( Modelcollect)
3) Diesel Locomotive (Hobby Boss)
4) Figures (Hasegawa)
5) Special Rail cars for launchers (Hasegawa)
6) 5 Ton Cranes (Trumpeter)
7) Rails / Tracks  (HobbyBoss)

Some special features added were the Ghost Canvas covers on the rail cars. There are no rockets or anything else under these covers made from glue soaked paper towels and some ship line ropes.

The brick crane pedestals were made from Tamiya Brick Wall sections and evergreen strips.

For the crane cables I used EZ Line to allow for some flexibility in the tension.

I made the Rocket Lift Yokes from tape, evergreen rod and wire.

Vince B 4-15-19

Russian KV 1B

The Russians are coming.  Yes, another Russian model.  This is the old Tamiya KV 1B kit. Perfect for an out of the box subject. Wow, No stowage or antenna?  That was tough for me.

Typical old Tamiya kit. Not much to it.Just follow the directions.

 ts all in the weathering,  Painted with enamels. Washed with oils. Then dullcoated and drybrushed.  Finally did dot washed and rusting of the scrapped steel.

Vince B. 4-7-19