Shelf scrapings phase one finished

[reserve]

While I'm waiting for aircraft stuff to arrive I thought it would be a good idea to reduce the shelf of unfinished, unrealized, and got tired of working on it things which is looming larger than I like it these days. Accordingly, I'm back to my beloved tanks.

Here's the mess









What's gonna come of it, who can say

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Very cool... I'm in!!!

[ogrejohn]

Should be interesting. 

[reserve]

Hey blokes

First change is already in. I fondly recall building the Tammy Panzer IV D quite a few years ago but after an evening on the bench with it I ain't so fond of it anymore. Molding is coarse, fit is poor, and detail very sparse. Now, this is nothing that could not be overcome if one took the time to correct said defects, however I do not feel like making 30 weld beads, new fenders, suspension bumpers and the like. Accordingly, I've replaced the poor old Tammy with this





To keep the earlier war theme going I'll build it as an F2 and finish it in Panzer Grey. The kit smacks heavily of Takom, too many similarities to ignore. Plastic is very thin and the instructions would have you put all the detail parts on the hull plates and fenders, then assemble them. I know better that this, the hull gets built up first. 

I reinforced the glacis from the inside due to the thinness of the superstrucure sides and the fact the hull roof fits tight as a drum



and the hull roof is not only paper thin but is also warped like a noodle



I did get it installed correctly but it took about an hour and a half to do. Despite all that I think this is gonna be a decent kit

Regards,
Mark

[rustybaer]

I like it. From "shelf scrapings" to a new kit. Novel idea. I'm gonna remember this one.

[reserve]

Well there's still some shelf stuff there. It had occurred to me I might be defeating the purpose here but needs must when the devil drives, eh?

[reserve]

OK the Border Models kit

The Panzer IV series up to the G model had a folding step on the left fender. Border gives you PE to replicate it and we all know how I feel about PE. The old Tammy kit comes to the rescue with a couple thinned down parts



The roadwheels are very well molded but they have a sharp outer edge that benefits from sanding and a scrape or two with a hobby knife on the outer edges. Softer plastic makes this go pretty fast



Just about done with the hull. Lovely well molded details







Since the G and up models did not have the little view hatches in the turret and the F2 and earlier models did, Border has taken a rather novel approach in making ths two in one kit



Other than the somwhat fiddly major hull assembly this build is going sweet

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Looking good Mark!!!

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Yes indeed!

[reserve]

Cheers gents

I had a set of fruils laying about and assembled a short run for a test fit



Much to my delight they fit like a glove. Now I'll be able to display an articulated suspension and I won't have to mess with link and length plastic tracks.

Model stuck together and primed







And off to the next step

Regards,
Mark

[JED]

Lovely looking kit and good job on the build. I think I have more shelf scrapings than finished builds!!

[JCON]

Looking good!!!

[reserve]

Cheers gents

Here's the state of things, have everything basecoated and am working thru pinwashes and detail painting









The tank's awfully dark and monotone but this should change when it's flatcoated. Naught but a general base idea yet

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Very cool!!!

[reserve]

No matter how I positioned them I could not create a pleasing arrangement between the buzzard wagon and the tank, so this came off the shelf



which has been sitting there for a couple three years. This will now turn into two projects; I did say somewhere that no established outcomes were envisioned somewhere I think. This might be a good catch all thread for all shelf items

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Cool!!!

[reserve]

It was not long after I picked this truck kit back up that I remembered why I set it aside in the first place; it's not the nicest kit to work with. This time however with a clear objective in mind I carried it through and here it is in base and fading coats







Now that most everything's assembled here's the general idea



I'll probably make a well for in back of the truck and I'm not too sure about the horse yet

Regards,
Mark

[reserve]

So after some bumbling about I managed to get the truck and the nag finished with a start on the figures









Due to the ongoing demise of Model Master paints I'm beginning to learn how to work with Vallejo (SP?) paints; they are a bit different. I sprayed the nag with their RLM dark brown, then built up areas of Tammy XF-1 flat black with thin coat at high pressure. The harness is V's leather brown and his shiny little eyeball is MM gloss black. When the harness is dry I'll come back and do the metal harness parts, probably in silver enamel. Supposedly this color horse is a particular breed, could not prove it by me I just googled "horse pictures" and copied the one I thought looked cool.

The truck kit was something of a fight to the end but I was able to wear it down not sure I wanna do another


Regards,
Mark 

[RLFoster]

Just catching up on this thread, Mark. Outstanding work all around!

[Dukemaddog]

What a magnificent job on that horse! Way to go! He looks so lifelike!