The EMPIRE Strikes Back

No, this isn't Star Wars. This is a group of Modelcollect 'Fist of War' series kits. These BLF 100 walkers do remind me of the ATSTs in Star Wars, and Yes, being in an icy snow covered terrain MIGHT be reminiscent of the Planet Hoth, just a different Empire involved.

 The burnt out Sherman I believe is an old Revell kit from my scrap box. The 1/72 figures are from various sources including Preiser and Hasegawa. Stowage for all vehicles is from Black Dog. The bridge is a combination of HO bridge railings with some wood planking from a 1/35 flat bed rail car.

I had fun with various water, snow and Ice techniques using Woodland Scenics products.

Vince B. 10-29-19

Russian KZKT-537L Russian Tractor

My attempt to build one of Takom's 1/72 trucks that come in the Russian Army Tractor Set.  Believe it or not after 30+ years in this hobby, this is my first 1/72 scale kit, and it made my eyes bleed.

It went together well, just a bit of small stuff to fiddle with.  I used Ammo by Mig paints and the salt chipping technique to create the rusty spots.  The load in the bed is a mash up from my spares and a barrel set from Value Gear.  I broke the mirrors of about 4X each and you can imagine the fit I had with the photo-etched wipers.  I hit it with an enamel wash and lightly dusted it with pigments.

I added slapped together a base to show the vehicle setting on a tarmac with some other cargo setting on a concrete slab.

Maybe I've got one more 1/72 scale kit in me, but I got to rest my eyes for a while.

Thanks for looking - George

Panzer Kampfkanone

Yes, this was a  Gundam kit which I modified slightly. Though as a GUNDAM, it was 1/144 scale, I figure it closer to 1/96 for practical purposes.

 The kit itself was simple as a Bandai, it would all plug together. Since I wanted to do some mods, I build it out of sequence and in sections to better paint it as a Nazi vehicle. 

Of course I am still using enamels and lacquers with an oil wash.  I think  I'm going to go back and do some more weathering.

Vince B 10-16-19

SOVIET BTR-70 AFGHANISTAN Version

This is Trumpeters' 1/35 BTR-70 Afghanistan version.

She was painted using Tamiya acrylics. Given a pin wash (which didnt work out so well). And weathered with Vallejo Pigment Powders.

She has a complete interior and nice detail but way too many fiddly bits! This kit has a part count of 520 which is ABSURD for its size.

She came out ok and I am glad she's done.

Testors / Italeri SdKfz 234 / 3

This is the old yellow box kit. As with all of these old Italeri kits, they fit well and the instructions are marginal.

Though this is open top, there was very little interior detail. What was provided doesn't appear to be accurate. Since this wasn't intended as a long term scratch building project, I added a little detail and personal stowage items.

Though the kit provides two generic stowage boxes inside, these were really open shell racks. There were also 2 folding wooden platforms to stand on for the gunners and loader.

I did a base coat of steel and then covered it with a white wash. Using the dabbing sponge, I chipped with Gunmetal before gloss coating several times. Then several washes and wipes. Added dabs of rust over the chipping and washed again to blend.

Vince B      9-21-19

Panzer IV Ausf H Eastern Front

Tamiya 1/48 scale kit with Black Dog Resin stowage.

The weathering was accomplished with several layers of oil wash and wet brush wiping. This helps with the effect of showing several applications of the German's white washing of the vehicle.

  

Not much to say about these Tamiya kits.  They are near perfect to start with.

 I airbrushed some basic primary colors before the overspray winter white wash. Then I streaked the white with a wetted Lacquer brush. Using oils to highlight and show the rust. The scratches and wear marks were done with the sponge dab of gunmetal. 

Vince B. 9-19-19

The Crew @ AMPS

Our club had a good turn out at the AMPS show in Austin on Saturday. The crew was in good spirits when I left at about 1:30 pm, as you can tell from the photo. A few other club members were we not available for the photo shoot as they were helping out with the contest. Tom Moon was running part of model distribution system shuttleing models from the judges area to the tables under the watchful eyes of the builders while Eric Choy was running everything else.

I personally had a good day wining 2 door prizes and picking up some un-needed inventory for my stash. Both 1/35 scale kits (Tamiya's M4A3E8 and Zvezda's new T-90) new in the box with shrink wrap.

Most of the guys had entries on the tables and should have placed well in various categories. I hope to see some of their award winning builds posted here.

It was a nice show and a good way to spend a Saturday.  If you couldn't make this year's event try to make the next one, it was worth it to me.

Model on dudes - George

(PS, If my wife ever asks, I won everything I came home with.  Ya'all have to cover me on this one)

Takom Merkava Mk I

This is thee very detailed Takom Israeli Merkava MK 1. Early 1980s.

 Other than adding stowage and antennae, this kit doesn't need any additional detailing. It is almost set up for adding a rear interior set.

 Th back hatch interior details shouldnt be wasted. I had to leave it open and boxed off a small area inside the doorway.

I used the Legend  Resin Stowage components and added other items. I like to fit the items in and glue in place before starting painting. Then I can go back afterward and detail paint, blend and wash. 

The antennae are actually Fiber Optics. I wrapped wire bases so that I could realistically bend the antennae for being tied down. 

Vince B  9-1-19

Israeli Magach III

This is the Dragon kit labeled 6 Day War series.  In actuality, this M48 was captured from Jordan during the 6 Day War and put into service by the IDF afterward.

 I only managed to find one photo of the M48 in this configuration, with the 50 Cal in the commanders Cupola and the search light still in place.

 The Cupola was later replaced and a separately mounted 30 Cal in its place.  The search light was replaced with the standard 50 Cal that you see on the more modern Israeli tanks in line with the main gun.

Lots of fidley bits in this Dragon kit. I did need to add a LEGEND stowage set which was for the early Magach series.

Vince B 7-29-19

T-14 Armata

This is Takoms 1/35 scale T-14 Armata.

Kit was built right from the box with the exception of the tracks. I put Fruilmodel tracks on her as the plastic tracks required way too much work.

 The only PE were the screens. All in all an excellent offering from Takom.

I used Tamiya Olive Green for the vehicle and she was weathered with pin washes, Vallejo pigments and a light dusting of Tamiya Flat Earth. The ground work is Sand Colored Grout which was airbrushed with Tamiya Flat Earth. Some Woodlands Scenic Turf was added for grass and so forth.

LEGAL LIMIT

Back in the days of World Wide Hobby, or maybe it was Hobby Island, an old gravel neck modeler told me there is a law on the books in our great state of Texas that limits how many models you can have started or in progress on your workbench at any one time.  I’ve never been able to confirm such a law but if there is one, I am approaching the legal limit.

In some pictures below I’ve attempted to share just part of the volume my work bench(s) have to support.  Since the genre of the site is specific, I have only included the armor horde that has besieged my workspace.  As with many of you I have several planes, ships, cars and Sci-Fi in progress, but I did not want to offend anyone by showing them here.

The kits in progress range from a really enjoyable build of Takom’s M3 Lee to the gut wrenching, never ending, widow making overall kick in the groin Rye Field Models M1 Breacher.

First off is Hobby Boss' M4 with AFV’s Howitzer.  This stalled because the howitzers OD Green turned out too dark

Next we have Dragon’s Marder III H and Sd.Kfz.234/4.  This stalled because I don’t like the camouflage.  One is too hard and dark the other too loose and light.  Maybe I need a 3rd to be just right?

Here is Takom’s M3 Lee.  This stalled because after filters were applied and some washes, the green got a funky color.  I will get back on this one soon and I’ll make the Russian lend/lease version.  Russian colors are a black art to me anyway.

And last, Rye Fields’ M1 Breacher (Turret and Mine Plow).  This stalled because the kit hates me.  Even at 1/35 scale, 50% of the parts are tweezer installed.  I’ll get back around on this one, it just needs to go away for a while. 

Thanks for letting me vent and share.  I would like to see any of y’all’s  bench queens or let me know how many kits are on your bench.  I’d like the solace to know I’m not alone.

1/72 IBG Chevy C60S Wrecker

This is a 1/72 scale Canadian "Chevrolet C60S with Holmes Breakdown" by IBG. Mostly nice little kit, but there were a few parts that would have been improved by having more definitive attachment points. Paint is Tamiya (body) & Velejo (tires) acrylics with oil washes. Completely box stock build. The cables probably should have been replaced with EZ Line as the included nylon line is a little stiff. I'll remember this when I get around to building their Diamond T wrecker kit.

(Sorry about the dish towel background. It was handy and rather neutral.)

Russian BMPT Ramka "Terminator"

This is the ZVEZDA kit, no photo etch, but if you like fidley bits, this is the version for you. I did most of this with a tweezers.

 Meng and Trumpeter put out the same kit but both have 2 sheets of Photoetch. That was why I chose the ZVEZDA version. This was built out of the box, no stowage or antenna were added.

 The tracks were length and link with separate guide horns. That was a real pain.

 I finally got done with the fidleys so that I could freehand airbrush the color patterns. These were glosscoated and then oil washed, dullcoated and again oil washed and dullcoated.

Finaly I very carefully drybrushed on the details.  These came out well over the darker base colors.

The last detail was the groundwork of sculptamold and plaster powder in a Elmer's glue and acrylic brown slush.  This was covered with various grass and woodlands scenic clutter.

Vince B.  6-23-19

1/35 M109 A6 Paladin

This is Tamiya's rebox of Italeri's M109 A6 Paladin.

The kit is straightforward, but has lots of small issues. Things like gaps and seams on just about EVERY part. It requires a great deal of effort on something that should be a snap, but once all those issues are dealt with it builds up into a nice looking piece.

I put Fruilmodel tracks on her and just a little bit of aftermarket PE. She also came with a Tamiya equipment set which I applied.

I used a combination of Tamiya and Vallejo paints; and Vallejo pigments for weathering.