A big thanks to Joe for pointing out the collection and another big thanks to those who stopped in and commented on it.
Okay, here's the latest I got done this past week; most of it done on the Hobby Day weekend. I'll start with the aircraft that got messed up.
Some time back, I realized I needed a lot more weight in the nose of the A-400. A LOT. So, since the rear end was still open, I decided to add it and then tilt the plane forward. Naturally when I maneuvered the fuselage for additional sanding or fitting of parts, the weights were not fastened down so they rattled around and sometimes fell out of the still open rear end. So, I took an empty paper towel; tube and slipped it down through the rear opening and then shot some spray 77 adhesive through the tube to coat the weights and then set it aside propped up on it's nose to let the stuff dry.
Good news: It worked. The weights don't move anymore.
The Bad news: some of the adhesive flowed down to the nose and apparently was 'hot' enough to do this before drying:
So, until I figure out how to sculpt a nose for this, or find something to graft on; this bird is grounded on the Shelf of Doom for a while.
Meanwhile, I moved on and got some progress done on the 1/35th scale M48 Patton tank I'm doing for my local AMPS club Group Build for the Vegas Nationals. First, I painted the tracks that were dry and ready to paint:
I then shot some additional modulation on this:
...which I covered with another thin coat of OD green again. It doesn't show up well in these pics, but there is definite modulation here:
Moving on, I started another new kit. This one is the ACE kit of the AT-1 Snapper Anti-tank vehicle. It was started for the "Goodbye 2020 Group Build" that was started here on these Forums. Here is my early progress...
First I completed the suspension underneath:
Then I did the top part:
I have some brackets for the spare missiles to go in and then I'll have to paint that interior. Once I put the top on, that will be impossible to paint.
Later, I assembled all the Snapper missiles but didn't shoot pics of them.
Before I get into the next models; I have to show this. Do you remember me leaving off the round cylinder off the HEMMTT tank transporter tractor because it got lost? I was doing some cleaning and finally found it! Here it is installed on the model:
Later I painted it to match the model; but I was so excited that I finally found this that I had to shoot it after it was glued on, just in case it fell off and disappeared again.
Moving on to my other in-progress models....
The first thing I did, since this model is so close to the finish line; was to clearcoat the Russian MSTA self propelled gun. Interestingly enough it was such a quick build that I didn't get shots of it under construction! Anyway, here it is in it's basecoat and clear coat:
Later I added the decals to this:
Now all that's left is final parts, detail painting, dullcoat and weathering.
Next up is the US Army M109A6 that got most of the fiddly parts that wouldn't break much during handling before I shoot paint. I added the hatches, headlights and other detail parts:
Next, it was time to move forward on the Takom 2-n-1 kits of British vehicles. I started with the FV-432 APC, adding the hatches, headlights and other detail parts that weren't delicate:
Afterward, I decided to try the tank track jig they included in the kit. It looks like this:
The drive sprocket and idler wheels go on the end posts and the top run of track is glued on to connect them:
On the other side were some huge ejector pin marks that were so close to those posts that one got cut while I was removing the EP. It had to be glued back into place and so I was only able to do one side.
Once the upper run of track was done, then I added the individual track links on the idler and drive sprockets, followed by the end runs to the bottom run of track:
Later that is to be removed from the jig and glued onto the model, then the bottom track run is glued on to complete the tracks. The Chieftains all have the same jig for their tracks. Overall a pretty good system; but I'm hoping the larger track links on the Chieftains are easier to do than these small, fiddly things!
Speaking of Chieftains, I moved ahead on them, finishing off the turrets and adding all the detail parts to the upper and lower hulls; starting with the Chieftain Mk.5:
Later I added the baskets to this tank, but I still have some P/E mesh parts to insert inside them before I paint. You'll also notice that the smoke dischargers are missing from the front of the turret. That's because Takom only molded one in the Chieftain Mk.5 kit, the other one was never molded. I know because comparing the sprues to those of the Mk.10 and Mk.11, the sprues that are supposed to hold the second one were shorter and had no broken connection points, indicating that the plastic never quite got into that part of the mold. I'll need to source some extras from the spares box; M1 Abrams dischargers look closest to these used on the Chieftains.They may not be accurate, but they'll be on there!
Speaking of the Mk.10, I also finished the turret and added the detail parts to the turret and hull:
Late I added the baskets to this too:
On the Mk.11, it was the same; finished building the turret and then adding all the non breakable detail parts to the turret and hull:
That one got baskets as well when I built them and added them with the other Chieftains:
And yes, the reason I waited to do the baskets is that I had to assemble each one from four to five pieces...each! AND I still have to add P/E mesh to them all!
Anyway, here are the three Chieftains ready for track assembly and then paint:
And that completes my latest update on my progress. Thanks all for looking in, comments are always welcome.
