reserve
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Post by reserve on Sept 9, 2021 15:27:07 GMT -6
Decided to roll with this one I was bound and determined to use the length and link tracks provided in the kit On the succsess of this I also decided to glue the running gear together and remove it as a unit for painting; we'll see if this is a better way than I usually use. It's not been easy or much fun to get the model to its current state, however. The molding is excellent and the plastic is of the softer type I prefer, only trouble is nothing fits. Fit and this kit do not belong in the same thought it reminds me of the old Dragon Imperial kits only probably worse. I even had to file the fender braces to get them to fit, I've not yet found a part in the box I've not had to modify in some way to get it to go where it belongs. Takom's engineers sure botched this one Regards, Mark
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 10, 2021 10:47:27 GMT -6
Wow, Mark! Sorry to hear about the quality as it looks like a great little kit.
I've done the same technique as you with the tracks/running gear in the past and found that it works quite well.
Look forward to seeing more progress...
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Post by JCON on Sept 10, 2021 17:41:39 GMT -6
Wow, looking at what you did makes it worthwhile though!!!
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Sept 11, 2021 15:49:28 GMT -6
Thanks guys The last couple sessions of flat sanding, drilling, and filing has brought it this far The closed hatches on the right side of the turret took about 45 minutes of fitting to get right; the plan is for the left ones to be open so I'll not have to do that again. Thus, a very slow build...it'll be worth the extra work and fuss as the molding is so nice. Long's I don't bungle the paint job. I read somewhere that Takom introduced the blitz series kits to directly compete with Tamiya, the idea was for a simpler build requiring less time to complete. They missed the target badly I'm here to tell ya Regards, Mark
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Sept 16, 2021 21:57:45 GMT -6
Right, then it's together, primed and basecoated I'll use olivegrun and schoklatbraun for camo colors but I think it's gonna be hair stick work, I had a hard enough time laying down the first three layers with the airbrush what with all the stuff to work around. Hull schurtzen provided in the kit is brass PE which I'm not too crazy about I may try to make this out of .010 sheet styrene to ease glue and paint but I've not come to a decsion yet Regards, Mark
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Post by JCON on Sept 18, 2021 10:43:33 GMT -6
Nice!!!
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Post by ARMORGUY on Sept 19, 2021 7:43:20 GMT -6
Wowzie!!! Cool Beans Mark.
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 20, 2021 18:27:28 GMT -6
I say you efforts on solving the fit issues are paying off and she's looking really good.
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Oct 2, 2021 19:30:24 GMT -6
Thanks gents
I've not been over faithfull to the bench; the weather has taken a turn for the gorgeous so we've been camping and riding and I've been doing alot of bird and PD hunting. Pronghorn and deer seasons also approach so reloading, rifle zeroing, proving, and scouting for the critters are also happening. I am now up to 1,450 PD's for the year which says alot about where I've been spending the bulk of my time.
I've not completely ignored this project but progress has been limited to small bits of this and that which don't really add up to much. I can say I'll not do the glue together tracks and running gear method again as I'm too accustom to painting in my usual manner that seems quicker and easier...probably 'cause I'm used to it not 'cause it's a bad technique.
So that's where I've been, one day soon I'll set aside a tank day and pay attention to this
Regards, Mark
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Post by BUCKY on Oct 2, 2021 19:55:25 GMT -6
It's certainly looking good, Mark. Hope you find some more time thrash it out!!
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Oct 3, 2021 23:07:29 GMT -6
I could not stand it any longer so some paint flew today As usual, most of the plans I made went out the window when it came time to actually get a pattern on the thing. I ended up airbrushing Tammy OD green which is not as close to the real color as MM Olivegrun, but at least I can get retarder for the Tammy paint. I hate it when the airbrush runs for 30 seconds and chokes out with dried paint, and this always happens with MM acrylics when I try to use the fine needle. It works just fine at high pressure with the large needle for basecoat or mono color finishes but that did not do me much good here. Decided to omit the dark brown also for no particular reason. Here it is fresh from the paint session It'll take some time to tidy up the overspray Regards, Mark
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Oct 4, 2021 21:53:16 GMT -6
The camo still looks good even without the dark brown color.
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bravo1jon
GAINING SPEED
Why is my finger more sticky to glue than the plastic?
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Post by bravo1jon on Oct 5, 2021 4:37:49 GMT -6
Excellent paint woek. I tried to build one like this a while back and it did not go well. Nice to see how its suppose to be done. Looking forward to seeing it finished.
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Post by JCON on Oct 8, 2021 17:36:44 GMT -6
Nicely applied my friend!!!
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Oct 11, 2021 18:42:34 GMT -6
Thanks gents
I've got thru the pinwash which is drying at the time of this note. The addition of the schurtzen does complicate things but I should be able to flatcoat it perhaps even this evening.
I'm not gonna show pics right now as I think they look awful when in shiny coat
Regards, Mark
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Post by JED on Oct 13, 2021 13:32:36 GMT -6
Looks great with the greenage
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Oct 13, 2021 18:18:20 GMT -6
Cheers Jed Got the track runs completed and flatcoated the whole mess. Installed track runs, installed the left side hull schurtzen and one can see my modified little kraut in the hatch. He's been cut, bent, glued, and is now drying in place as I've had glued figure parts drift some if they are not put where they're intended to be. Will, in this order, detail paint, install right side schurtzen, add a Balkan cross to the hull schurtzen (Takom does not indicate that this should be done but whadda they know they can't even make a kit that fits), and dirt/dust application to finish. I've almost got a base for this mentally squared away. I have a pile of game birds in the freezer, got my pronghorn this afternoon and deer season does not start for another two weeks so I should be able to pay more attention to this project in the immediate future Regards, Mark
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Post by JCON on Oct 13, 2021 22:48:05 GMT -6
Sounds good Mark!!!
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Oct 16, 2021 15:08:55 GMT -6
Tank finished and dusted pending my usual don't look at it for a day or two so I can see it with fresh eyes along with my pile of little Krauts who've all been stuck together and puttied Gonna grab up my shotty gun and see if I can knock off a few squab for supper Regards, Mark
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Post by RLFoster on Oct 16, 2021 16:26:51 GMT -6
EXCELLENT!
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