Miguel, Many thanks for the kind comment. I have to say that I have enjoyed the project so far. Now I have to pluck up courage to cut away the original MG gun mount on the Stuart in order to fit the new one! Regards Tom
My first post here iirc and I'm linking it to one I've posted in the CBI department... First off, the detail images are on the link so I won't repeat it all here... Most important, being a resin-virgin, are pointers re assembly and painting - I have no fears about the detailing, but my previous experience (albeit some time back) is of aircraft... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/burma-india/52100-chindit-bren-gunner-120mm-resin-model-kit-opinions-please.html#post568269 This is the only item I have completed in recent years - this being the original release of the Airfix 1/72 version... Others sitting in limbo are a 1/100 Vickers Viscount 1950's BEA livery, and a 1/48 Revel Eurofighter - both partly painted and assembled - the eurofighter is stalled as I was hoping for someone to come up with a fantasy fin (seen a really nice "Red Arrow") as the grey is sooo boring... Serial purchaser and kit-stasher too, I'm afraid... 1/48 - pair of TSR2 and an F86 1/72 - Grumman Gosling, Catalina, Concorde, Valkyrie (a true monster - the AMT, not the Italeri retool) & spare TSR2, also a "garage" BAe EAP (Typhoon prequel) 1/144 - TU144 - beautiful detailing... a couple of Academy mini kits of the XB70 and TU144 I made up and sit on the bookshelf a really tiny Comet miniatures model of the 2001 shuttle "Orion" - sitting on a bit of wire from an acrylic block... Delta format fan, I'm afraid... Nearly forgot the monster that lurks in the loft - the large scale Revell Saturn 5...
Here are the humble beginnings of a scratchbuilt Henschel L33 truck in 1:100 scale (odd for me, isn't it?) The cabin looks a bit out of joint but it's all stuck with white glue to check the fit, later on I will glue it all nice and proper and add the framing and tilt.. In the background the body of an Aerosan, a Russian sled with an aero engine in the back. Let's see where this leads
Carbine, Very nice 3D Computer modelling and yes the finish I have achieved is very similar. Regards Tom
With regards to the Armorpax .30 cal that I have assembled, before Fitting to the turret I decided to make the Mount fully functional. ie, to make the supporting arm assembly swivel under in order to free up the gun and provide 360o Rotation and Elevation/Depression. This was due to the fact that the castings when assembled and placed up to the turret resulted in the gun only being able to face Forward as the Swinging Support arm was soldered in place and unable to drop away for Action use. I thought of a simple solution and the result is a fully functional fitted .30 cal. The soldered Swinging arm was removed from the lower Boss and the Boss was cut away using a razor saw and filing. The Boss was replaced using a Piece of brass tube and a push fit nut at each side. The nuts were soldered in place and tthe Boss cleaned up by fine needle files. I drilled two holes in the casting sides where the Boss was located and a screw inserted from each side. I then located in place the Swinging arm and soldered it to the brass Boss and cleaned up the unit. The .30 cal was refitted on the holder and the retaining Pins refitted. The rear pin that holds the MG and the Swinging arm link to the Mount fitted perfectly. As per the original gun, the pin can now be removed to enable the Swinging arm to drop down and the gun be freed up fully for Action. I then plucked up Courage to cut out the original gun Support mounting and clean up the area ready for Fitting the new unit. I drilled and tapped holes in the gun Support castings, Drilling out the turret wall to take the screws and assembled the new unit using epoxy resin and two screws in the turret wall and one metal dowel on the outer side of the assembly. The assembly was left to fry overnight before touching up with Matt Olive paint. I am more than pleased with the result. Regards Tom
Clive, Thank you for your kind comment. Here are the last of the photos that I took showing the Support in the lowered Position, enabling the gun to be freely travered and elevated. I have since touched up the Areas effected by the work with Matt Olive Green Acylic paint. Regards Tom
OK, head above the parapet time. This is the first time I have picked up a paintbrush and gluepot in anger for the best part of 30 years. A friend has started collecting and painting plastic Nazis in 1/72. I thought I would give him some opposition to play with, so naturally I'm going for the RKKA. This is a recce element from my growing horde of Heroes of the Motherland. An Airfix carrier kit with 20mm SHG crew and descanti. The kit is every bit as bad as I remember from the 1970s, possibly even worse. It is moulded in India from a strange, green plastic that has both brittle and soft qualities that are deeply unhelpful. Cue much swearing and shouting. Paints are mainly Vallejo. CS
Looking good, H. Make sure I'm not there when the Soviets invade baldy's; I have a very poor record of wargame disruption. Though I suppose I could promise to leave the bangers and lighter fluid behind. .