M114 A1E1 CRV

 This is from the Takom kit 1/35. This was the 2nd version released which mounted the larger gun. Early version only had a 50 and 30 cal.

Though this vehicle  served briefly in Vietnam, I chose that time frame.  It ended up serving in Europe in the early 70s before being decommissioned. I did learn something interesting about the real tracks. They were rubber band type like the old M3 Halftracks but with imbedded steel cleats. 

The kit is very detailed with some really fidley parts for tweezer use. This one took a lot of patience. I painted with lacquers and enamels and filtered and weathered with oils. 

See the vid on U-Tube.      https://youtu.be/nzaayCKtoJM

Vince B. 7-18-23

128mm Flak Train

 These are separate components of 1/72 scale Modelcollect kits. The 80 ton Rail Car was modified with spare parts from other kits. The 128mm Flak, with added scrap built platform, and the Search Light with added LED and other details.

Other details were added such as the Amand Bayardi resin crates and some shells and shell casings.

It was all primed and painted with Alclad primer and Modelmaster and Floquil enamels.  The wood sections were treated with oils then dry brushed.

This was a fun build of hypothetical subject. Though the Germans did mount these large Flak Guns on rail beds, I took liberties with the design. Not entirely accurate. 

Check out the U-Tube vid.   https://youtu.be/Mmqz-GoAN40

Vince B.  7-10-23

IDF M3 Halftrack with TCM-20 Anti Aircraft Guns

 This is from the Dragon "IDF 6 Day War "series of kits produced about 8 years ago? I have built several from the series, and each one has flaws with the engineering of the kit, or important missing details etc. This was no different. 

A lot of the resin stowage was from a LEGEND set for early IDF armor. 

Despite the irritations of building the kit, (YES, lots of photo etch) I was pleased with the overall result. I primed and base coated with lacquers. My subsequent layers were done with lighter shades of enamels, dusted on and stippled to show wear and color modulation. 

The rest of the weathering was done after several acrylic gloss coats, using oil washes.

Vince B.       

Check out the U-Tube vid:               https://youtu.be/T1BvuIQ1xKY

Salvenmaschinenkanone SMK 18 TYP 2

 This is the Das Werk 1/35 scale kit out of the box. Incredible detail and quite fidley to build including the photo etch.

This was painted with lacquers and enamels and weathered with oils.

Vince B.  6-17-23   See the U-Tube at https://youtu.be/Is-8nJmt4m0

Raumer Racers

 This is a humorous take on the use of the WWII German Mine Rollers. These are the 1/72 scale models from the Takom kit. Really nice detail and went together well.  The only extra details needed were the power and control cables between the Raumer sections and the steering chains on the rear of the smaller unit.

The figures, I think, are Preiser. The telephone poles, signs and barrels are Italeri. 

I scratch built the fence from balsa wood and toothpicks.

As usual its all painted with lacquers and enamels and detailed out with oil paints. 

I thought the mine blast hole on the other side of the fence was a nice touch. 

I refrained from putting in body parts since this was for Humor.

The Telephone wires are EZ line.

I used dry wall spackle for the road portions and a combo with sculptamold for the groundwork.

Overall, this came out exactly as I pictured it when I started.      see the video on U-Tube.    https://youtu.be/xDLijdFoRf4

Vince B.  6-8-23            

WWI Canadian MG Carrier

 This was a fantastic Copper State Models kit. Incredible details though I needed tweezers for most of it.

There were a few details which needed to be added after some on line research. There are flexible tubes for the water cooling system on the MGs. The kit indicates hard tubes so I replaced with soft wires. Also there are small hooks which hold up the folding armor plates all around the model. I drilled out the placement and used very tiny wires for the hooks.

I also added some stowage from an ICM accessory set. The resin figures are from TUSK. They fit great and painted up well.

I haven't done a WWI piece for years and was glad that Mike suggested these Copper State Models kits. I have one more Armored Car to build.  See the U-Tube vid.      https://youtu.be/GG1TdJFd3QI

Vince B. 5-17-23

"Do you know what you are doing?"

 1/35 scale vignette of 2 German WWII soldiers working on a Schwimwagen engine. After looking at the details of the piece, you will agree that the question is relevant.

The Schwimwagen was a more recent release by Tamiya with a detailed engine. I needed an excuse to show it, so my warped sense of humor took over.

Also I had a Black Dog Resin set for this kit and managed to use some of it.  The block that replaces the back seat full of stowage, needs to be carefully ground down to fit precisely. You do need to be sure to NO install the back seat or any components here. The resin block is glued to the upper hull before carefully fitting together. 

Once the block is fit in place, the rest of the kit is easy. As always painted with lacquers and enamels.

See the U-Tube vid attached.

https://youtu.be/Gk8_mOMWkXk

Vince B. 5-10-23

"Bullox" No use crying over spilt wine.

 A 1/35 scale diorama. I don't normally do British subjects, but I needed a purpose for this old Dragon M4A3 Sherman Firefly kit. Dry British Humor. Wain for it......

Dry Humor like fine Dry Wine.

Anyway, like most Dragon kits, it was pretty terrible. I did need to add a lot of missing details such asall of the periscope guards and other bits. I also added a variety of stowage resins and made tarps from tissue and white glue.

Two of the figures came in the kit and weren't too bad.  I purchase another unknown manufacturer figure from Ali, to get the point across for the soldiers staring at the busted up wine café in the unknown French town they just destroyed. 

I used components from Miniart for the busted up Cafe furniture and wine bottles. The plaster base was from Diroamas Plus and the broken wall sections are from Verlinden. This is quite a heavy piece. The spent .50 cal shells are actually chopped up styrene rod bits. See the UTube vid. 

https://youtu.be/jkw5HkMpaL0

Vince B.  5-7-23

German 20mm FLAK 38

 This was from the Tri-Star kit in 1/35 scale. The model went together relatively easy.

The only real missing detail was no shell catcher net. I had to scrap build that. The other accessories were included such as the magazine cans and spare barrel crate.

The walls are from the Armand Bayardi collection.  These were also painted with enamels and oils.

I did add the spent shell casings on the ground. 

Vince B. 4-1-23    

German Sd.Kfz. 165 Hummel

 This is an old Dragon kit. The first part of the build was great, fit nicely as it should. The rest of the build was a horror. I managed to save the look by structural modifications.

The tracks were from the kit, individual plastic links. I strung them in sections and folded as the glue was mostly dried. Then I was able to paint and weather the sections separately before gluing onto the road wheels.

I wanted the tank to look weathered but not too beat up. 

Except for some fit problems and missing details, I think it came out OK. 

Vince B.  3-8-23

A Day at the Beach, Another "Girls Just want to Have Fun" build.

 I thought I had already posted this. My apologies to my fans. 

This is from the 1/35 Takom Blitz kit Panzer III M along with the YUFAN girls in the DAK. 

The Palm tree was from one of those rubbery plastic toys that I enhanced a bit.  I made the beach towels. The umbrellas were from China. Had to paint with lacquers as the paper repelled any water based paints.

The Takom kit was OK and I am happy with my weathering to depict some light wear, not totally beat up. Yes I know that this version was NOT used by the DAK, thus how the girls found the beach instead. 

These YUFAN girl kits are always fun to paint up and add a touch of humor to any tank. Look it over and you figure out a good story. Don't forget to include the bucket if iced Heinekens. Finally we know what the Buckets were for. 

The base is a sheet of Styrofoam, the cheap stuff, with a thin balsa wood trim. Don't forget to check out the video on U-Tube

Vince B.  2-25-2023😎 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFEnZgGEvzE

M35 A2 Cargo Truck

 This 1/35 scale AFV kit is pretty old, and well represents AFV as Awful Fit Value. Took a lot of re-working to get the rear wheels in place. Good reason for groundwork.

I added plenty of resin and plastic stowage bits. Special details I added were the tow / wench cable, ammo can straps on the gun ring, and polished the mirrors.      

 

 Actually, I think the improvised stowage came out better than the truck.

Since the truck and resin was so heavy I didn't want to add any wooden base. The groundwork is directly on Jasons dense Foam. I painted with a craft acrylic paint mixed with Mod Podge.

Its not going to win any awards so I will see how it does on E-Bay.

Vince B. 2-20-23

New Tokyo, Samurai City

 The following was inspired by the movie 'Mortal Engines' so New Tokyo is not one of the Traction Citys in the movie. I was intrigued by the concept and decided a few years ago to create a similar effect, keeping in line with the Steam Punk theme. 

  

I started by planning out components from my scrap boxes. I purchased some 1/700 scale architectural structures and started cutting them up. All of the tank hulls, wheels and tracks were mismatched from leftovers and scraps, no actual kits were harmed in the making of this project. 

 

 And so it grew in size and configuration. Many of the interior details became obscured as the city grew. I began planning lighting to help bring to life and show some of the details.

 

Finally it was taking shape. After several re-configurations and fit and light tests, I decided on the final version. Up till this point it was all just experiment.

 
Next came the details to fill in the story and New Tokyo was developed as the Samurai City.

 
The separate modules needed to be designed to fit loosely together to take into account the future terrain groundwork. Wiring had to be planned and continuous fit tests with each improvement.

https://youtu.be/tfvowuLT3V0

And now it is finally done.

Vince B.  2-20-23