Here are some shots of the M-18 Hellcat that is "just finished"
I will be asking for help with a decal problem at the meeting Thursday.
Tom

Here are a couple of photos of the Dragon 6553 Sd Kfz 7/2 armored Halftrack w/AA Flak Gun .

Tom

Here are a couple of Photos of the BM-13 Katyusha "Stalin's Organ". Enjoy! Tom

Tiger Train: A Hypothetical Subject

First, a list of the major subjects being used:
Tiger Tank on Ferdinand Chassis
Flakvierling 38
Rail Car Gondola

The other half of the project is Evergreen and other structural materials.

After studying the multitudes of Armor Rail Cars used in the early wars, I realized that IF there had been an abundance of Tiger Tanks and the war had continued, Germany MIGHT have developed a Tiger Train. So I came up with the concept of a stripped out Ferdinand version of the Tiger prototype mounted to a rail car.

I added structural details to the Gondola and mounted the Ferdinand Chassis, building it into the armor plating. I created a superstructure to protect the men and a Flakvierling AA deck, similarly used on other armored trains.

The photos show what I have created so far.  Wasn't Frankenstein German??????   
 

 Vince Barrale

1/35 Hobby Boss RSOV (Ranger Special Operations Vehicle)

This is the 1/35 Hobby Boss RSOV (Ranger Special Operations Vehicle). I did it out of the box and there were a lot of parts in that box. Way too many fiddly bits that didn't need to be added.

As a matter of subject, the kit comes very complete with lots of stowage and weapons as it should. By nature, the vehicle is for hit and run attacks. It is painted dark grey, nearly an old Panzer Gray so I mixed some Model Master blue with gunmetal to match the finish. The ammo cans and other weapons were in a dark green so there is some slight contrast to color. The machine guns are gunmetal and black.

I wish I had done more research on this before I had started. I would have taken a little more care and probably would have added some detail and alternate stowage and weapons options. There is another Hobby Boss kit with a variation on this one. Other than all of the cool stowage, this is a very dull colored vehicle and difficult for me to photograph.

I added some washes and pigments for mud and grime on the undercarriage and dry-brushed the main vehicle. I also used a new metallic buff to make the mirrors.

Vince Barrale

June Meeting Report - Model Photos

Here's a list of the models shown at the meeting. Please email me if you know the missing names.

M60 with mine roller by David Bozarth (3X)
M3 Light tank by Vince Barrale
Tiger I by ?
Pz IV by David Bozarth
Chinese APC by (Kevin Boggs)
British Tank by Mike Stucker
Munition Schlepper by ?
German Ht by Vince Barrale
US Halftrack by (Paul Sacco)
Russian KV-1 by Tom Moon
2.8cm AT Guns by Tom Moon (2X)
Russian T-34 by ?

If is walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be a DUKW.

This photo has a container of sand from Omaha Beach, thanks to Frank Stumpo for sharing it with me.
Tom

Here are the photos for the  shelf Queen contest.
Tom

Trumpeter Panzerjagerwagen

This is the Trumpeter Panzerjagerwagen. I did this one out of the box as practice for designing my own version in the near future. This seemed to be a good kit, simple, well fit and required little research. I managed to avoid using the photo etched parts for the turret armor plate. The plastic worked just fine for me.

It was painted standard Model Master colors, mixed to provide the green and brown over a tan base which itself was painted over a dark gray primer. The rest was washes and drybrushing.

Vince Barrale

M5 Light Tank‏

Tamiya M5 Light Tank. This is the old kit with the switch and battery holes still in the chassis. This really fit together well, so well in fact that I didn't even need to do any research on the M5, which seems to be a variant of the Stewart.

Notice??? No Additional Stowage.  Yes. I did this out of the box. I like Tamiya kits for that purpose.

I was able to practice some old techniques that I hadn't done in a while. Drew's last presentation inspired me to take that reminiscent step and use powders for mud and muck. I combined that with some grime I had saved. I don't know what it is exactly. Might have been coffee grounds at one time.

I also did the oil washes over the gloss coat and the dot wash over the flat coat. I think you can see the slight color variations and fading of the green.

I added some trashed floral bits onto the hedge cutter with more mud.

Vince Barrale

How Historians Recovered the Only Surviving Nazi "Flying Pencil"

Great article from Gizmodo:

http://gizmodo.com/how-historians-recovered-the-only-surviving-nazi-flyin-1577110261