_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Braille Scale
1/72 and 1/76 Scale Armor and AFVs.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Airfix M119/L118
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 09:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Looking great so far!

It is amazing what can be done with some of the older kits, providing you have enough patience to remove all the evidence of the kits advanced age


I appreciate the comments Mike. You are positively correct in your comment about these kits taking patience, a commodity that I am starting to run low on. A 200+ part Dragon 1/72 kit seems like the proverbial walk in the park. This build was "supposed" to be quick, simple and for the fun of it.

Both guns need a bit of touch up but the firing position gun has received the beginnings of weathering. I've assembled various materials for a display vignette but am still unsure as to it's nature. I've been doing far more experimenting with the new camera than building. I've thrown together a "temporary" vignette for photo purposes only. The first picture is with the camera and flash set on "Auto" and my first time using a bounce flash.



Both guns base colour is the exact same NATO green yet the background one is quite bleached.

The second photo is with camera set in aperture priority, F18, a -2 white balance correction and also a bounce flash.



The colours are a bit truer but still not as my eye sees them. More experimenting is due and perhaps a course in macro photography at a local college in the fall.

Cheers,
Jan
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 08:46 AM UTC
Jan, for what you state was supposed to be a simple and fast build, this one is turning into a marathon. I saw a few of Airfix reboxed JB models at my LHS but what you've had to do with your build has truly scared me away from attempting one. Oh, thanks for the heads up on that KaDee Gripper thingee. Found one and t's turning out to be phenomenal. Can't wait to see these little guys done.

AJ

woltersk
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: May 27, 2003
KitMaker: 1,026 posts
Armorama: 654 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 02:20 PM UTC
Now how did that little guy get that big ol' gun on that rock?

Lookin' good Jan. Remember--slow and steady wins the race. Yup, they'll be done before ya know it....
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 08:46 AM UTC
Here I am back again with a bit more progress. I've spent far too much time experimenting (and wasting) scenic material trying to learn to make a vignette. You don't know what you don't know until you make mistakes.


Quoted Text

I saw a few of Airfix reboxed JB models at my LHS but what you've had to do with your build has truly scared me away from attempting one. Oh, thanks for the heads up on that KaDee Gripper thingee.


AJ, you'll never know what you might be able to accomplish with a challenging kit. Glad you were able to find a Gripper as you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.


Quoted Text

Now how did that little guy get that big ol' gun on that rock?


Keith, it's out of the picture frame but there's a CH-53 hovering over the rock.


Quoted Text

Lookin' good Jan. Remember--slow and steady wins the race. Yup, they'll be done before ya know it....


Thanks for looking and the comments. I can definitely use any and all encouragement to complete this thing.

So, the gun and cradle with a weathering start.



Here's a couple of pictures of the carriage after some fairly heavy work. I'm using pictures of guns in Afghanistan as my inspiration. Would you believe that there are actually half a dozen weathering colours on that thing? I'm using the old tried and true "sponge" method as well as a somewhat stiffer bristle stencil brush.





Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Jan

redleg12
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 11, 2007
KitMaker: 872 posts
Armorama: 831 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 01:06 PM UTC
Jan - Looking good...of course I am partial to the NATO tri color. I cannot tell but the breech block and the inside area of the breech should be a steel color. You may be able to do this while weathering.

Keep up the good work. Time to break out some rounds soon!!

Rounds Complete!!
lespauljames
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
KitMaker: 3,661 posts
Armorama: 2,764 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 01:15 PM UTC
Looks Good Jan!
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Friday, August 28, 2009 - 09:29 AM UTC
Thanks for the comments Mike and James.


Quoted Text

I cannot tell but the breech block and the inside area of the breech should be a steel color. You may be able to do this while weathering.


To answer your question Mike...



Both breach areas were originally given a coat of metallic metal colour although it doesn't show up to well in the pictures. I may have to darken it a touch.


Quoted Text

Keep up the good work. Time to break out some rounds soon!!e


Speaking of rounds, I was digging through my stash and found an Academy accessories kit and low and behold there were four 105 mm wooden ammo boxes on one sprue! As much as anything this entire exercise is proving useful in my getting accustomed to the new DSLR, hence all the pictures.

I've started on the camo of the second gun and doing some initial weathering at the same time.

Here's a couple more general interest shots.





I might actually be seeing the proverial light at the end of the tunnel!

Cheers,
Jan

Now off for a few
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 09:00 AM UTC
Cool pictures. I really like the second one above. It looks used and somewhat dirty but not too over the top. Any ideas on how you are going to display these gems?

Good Luck,
AJ
woltersk
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: May 27, 2003
KitMaker: 1,026 posts
Armorama: 654 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 11:12 PM UTC
Yeah Jan, they are lookin' good.
Starting to take on that "I can't tell what scale they are" feel. They could easily pass for 1/35th.
But where'd the big rock go?

Keith
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 12:12 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Any ideas on how you are going to display these gems?


AJ, I stated earlier that I was thinking about something similar to the box art. I am still tending toward that at this time. See the picture further in this post.


Quoted Text

Starting to take on that "I can't tell what scale they are" feel. They could easily pass for 1/35th.
But where'd the big rock go?


Keith, thanks for the comment but I am still not totally satisfied that I've reached the point that I'd like to be at. As with your Roland and what I've seen you achieve with your knight I am trying to push the envelope on this one. As for the rock, I've moved it out of the scene with a 1/72 Skycrane until it's decided what to do with it.

Here's a picture of some of the wooden crates from the Academy accessory kit. It's my first attempt at weathering something wooden. I'm not sure if I'll use these pieces in the display.



Here's the boxes that measure out to be about the right size for 105 mm shell boxes.



Finally, here is a "proof of concept" shot meant to see if there is a potential for achieving something similar to the scene on the box top. It's nowhere near what I'd like but I think that I see a potential. I'll have to experiment to see about a support structure for the netting based on pictures that I have on file. Please bear with me as this vignette thing is still really new to me.



Again, thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions. I really appreciate them and the interest.

Cheers,
Jan
redleg12
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 11, 2007
KitMaker: 872 posts
Armorama: 831 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 12:50 PM UTC
The second picture looks like 105mm crates. Your last picture is VERY dark and hard to make anything out?????

Rounds Complete!!
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 03:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Your last picture is VERY dark and hard to make anything out?????

Rounds Complete!!


Mike , obvious that something went wrong with the upload. Will fix it ASAP. Looked fine before, on my monitor.


Jan

Edited: Found the picture compression was too high so I adjusted it down.
woltersk
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: May 27, 2003
KitMaker: 1,026 posts
Armorama: 654 posts
Posted: Monday, September 14, 2009 - 03:33 AM UTC
The pic may still be a little dark, but it's clear. Kind of a 'twilight in the woods' shot.
It sets the mood.

Jan, what are you using for the foliage? The trees, grass, and shrubbery? It looks good. I have a few projects that could use the same treatment.

Keith
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, September 14, 2009 - 12:28 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The pic may still be a little dark, but it's clear. Kind of a 'twilight in the woods' shot.
It sets the mood.


Keith, as I mentioned earlier, the shot that ended up a bit dark was an experimental concept thing. I was and still am really quite unsure as to what I am doing. In the above shot and several that I have taken but not posted, I see a great potential but question if my skills are up to this task.


Quoted Text

Jan, what are you using for the foliage? The trees, grass, and shrubbery? It looks good. I have a few projects that could use the same treatment.


Your eye must be seeing more than really exists. I put down the artificial turf, suspended two rather long paint brushes between bottles of paint and then draped the foliage material over this ad-hoc frame. The turf is a model railroad/diorama material that comes in single sheets and rolls. The single sheets cost CDN$4.00 and there are instructions on how you can mould it into various shapes. Here's the label:



The foliage is a rather neat item that comes in this container:



You get two "mats" of the material in the package for CDN$3.95. When properly stretched it resembles a camo netting. Unstretched it's approximately 6 1/2" X 11" and you can clump it to form various vegetation effects (bushes, shrubs, leaves). Here's a picture of a mat.



For someone with more talent than me I'm sure wonderful things could be achieved. Oh, and both materials come in a number of varying shades or colours representing from summer to autumn colours from various grass to dirt and sand. My local hobby shop is on the limited side but it has these so I'm sure a larger city's shop might have more selection.

Now, here's a shot with the towed gun on the turf with the foliage suspended over paint brushes on bottles and some loose foliage from the package lightly scattered on the turf. Again, this is part of this never ending experimentation. BTW, can you or anyone name that antique displayed behind the light gun? It was actually a kit by a long since gone company called UPC (I had two of these and after finding them they are undergoing an overhaul).



Thanks for looking and all comments are welcome.

Cheers,
Jan
woltersk
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: May 27, 2003
KitMaker: 1,026 posts
Armorama: 654 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 07:35 AM UTC
Tell me Jan, were you a movie or theater set designer in this or a previous life? 'Cause all that could have fooled me! Actually it did. I thought you had a working diorama going there.

I'm gonna hafta get some o' that stuff. I have a large scale Revolutionary War cannon I want to place on some simple grass with two dirt ruts for the wheel marks.

I'm not going to hazard a guess at the other artillery piece.
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 03:09 PM UTC
Keith I kid you not, I have minimal knowledge of what I am doing with a scene for this build. I think that I am on to something and my SWMBO has been a great help with suggestions. As for a previous incarnation, the jury is still out on that point.

As for your cannon, the turf stuff might work out quite well. You can actually remove strips to help make the wheel tracks. The material base is a styrene (to help with moulding) base but just be careful not to cut too deep. I originally bought a roll of this stuff but ruined most of it experimenting.

The mystery piece in the previous picture is a U.S. artllery item that was also used (and in use) by several nations. I won't comment further until a few others (Mike D.) take a guess.

Cheers,
Jan
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009 - 02:10 PM UTC
Jan, I must say that this build is showing me things that I've never even appreciated before. How do you find and dig up some of the things that you do? That camo type netting has great potential and I'll have to see if my LHS carries it. As for that other gun with the towed M119, Can I guess that it's an old 105 from WW II? IS it the photo or is the barre a bit thicker than the ones with the muzzle break.

A.J.
Braille
#135
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
KitMaker: 1,501 posts
Armorama: 1,485 posts
Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009 - 05:40 PM UTC
Jan,

This is turning out to be quit an interesting and informative build log. I really like the choice of artillery piece you've chosen to model. Great idea concerning the camo netting - have used this medium for bushes, shrubs and thick grass before. First time seeing someone use it for camo netting . . . hehe, to cool. The figure you posted on the previous page looks outstanding. Looking forward to seeing more.

-Eddy
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009 - 08:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

How do you find and dig up some of the things that you do? That camo type netting has great potential and I'll have to see if my LHS carries it. As for that other gun with the towed M119, Can I guess that it's an old 105 from WW II? IS it the photo or is the barre a bit thicker than the ones with the muzzle break.


AJ, I've some more interesting things in the model railroad department of the local HS. I think that they might have a place in the vignette/diorama. Experimenting time again.



As with the others these come in various shades and colours. As for your guess, the mystery gun is not an older 105.


Quoted Text

This is turning out to be quit an interesting and informative build log. I really like the choice of artillery piece you've chosen to model. Great idea concerning the camo netting - have used this medium for bushes, shrubs and thick grass before. First time seeing someone use it for camo netting . . . hehe, to cool. The figure you posted on the previous page looks outstanding. Looking forward to seeing more.e


Thanks Eddy, I hope that your not just saying that to be polite. I'd like to include figures in this build but after searching high and low in my area (30+ mile radius) they just aren't there. Maybe I'll try my hand at modifying some. Now for a couple update shots of experiments.

The gun with the ammo boxes:



A rock wall I found in my stash of unused stuff:



Another shot of the mystery gun deployed:



Thanks for looking.

The experimenting tread_geek
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009 - 01:38 PM UTC
Greetings to all those following this blog. I am sorry that I have been remiss in updating things but I've been somewhat distracted. Through no fault of my own I seem to have been unexpectedly caught up in a Matchbox Nostalgia Campaign formation issue.

Another part of my problems is that I had an unexpected accident. While transporting the firing Light Gun to try some different camera shots, I dropped it. As it fell I tried to grab it and snapped off the elevation counter balance mechanisms/arms. They were a pain to put on straight the first time but proved to be a bigger trauma to reattach. And then there was the touch up painting to get things to match.

Anyway, here's an experimental shot at the repaired gun. This gun I'm ready to call finished. The towed version is now about 90% done.



Here's another shot with a couple of items for scale reference.



Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Jan
woltersk
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: May 27, 2003
KitMaker: 1,026 posts
Armorama: 654 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 - 11:43 AM UTC
That one came out most excellent. The first shot of it in the blizzard with it sitting on the snow with the polar bear eating the vanilla ice cream in the background really shows off the weathering. The blank background makes it hard to tell what size it really is. It looks like a larger scale. Not quite 1/35th, but it could pass for 1/48th.

The second pic reveals the size. It just looks tiny from that angle. Although I don't think those shells are gonna fit in the breech.

Looking forward to seeing the towed version finished.

Keith
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009 - 09:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

That one came out most excellent. The first shot of it in the blizzard with it sitting on the snow with the polar bear eating the vanilla ice cream in the background really shows off the weathering. The blank background makes it hard to tell what size it really is. It looks like a larger scale. Not quite 1/35th, but it could pass for 1/48th.


Thanks Keith, I think.


Quoted Text

The second pic reveals the size. It just looks tiny from that angle. Although I don't think those shells are gonna fit in the breech.

Looking forward to seeing the towed version finished.


The 5.56 and 7.62 rounds should roll down a 105 mm barrel.

It's been a while since posting anything due to two other projects and a LOT of experimentation with the camera. I've found you can take some pretty interesting shots in total manual mode with the camera on a tripod(and no flash). It's all still pretty new to me and the SWMBO has been of great help in passing along information on the process from her photo course. Below are two shots out of 119 that I'll keep for now (glad I didn't have to pay to get them developed).

With this first shot the firing gun is out of focus but I like the way the towed one turned out. I decided to go a bit easier on the weathering.



This next shot is with quite different camera settings. The ammo boxes turned out well as did both guns being more in focus. The rock wall is my very first ever attempt at something like it. Painting it has been quite the learning experience. Does it look okay? Should I dust it up? As with other shots this is all part of a multi-faceted learning experience.



A vignette with a stone wall that Neo did had me want to try the rock wall. Thanks Neo. I've also made a start on the Bedford truck (one of the other projects). I'm quite sure there aren't any of those deployed in Afghanistan.

Thanks for looking,
Jan
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009 - 05:53 PM UTC
Jan, from what I can see the towed gun is looking pretty good. The first picture i'd like to see both guns in focus. The second focus picture is not too bad and I like the shell crates. The grass or whatever looks not too bad. IMO, the rock wall isn't too bad but might do with being a bit duller. I'll be interested to see the truck build also. This thread is cool and I hope you continue.

Regards,
Aj
Braille
#135
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
KitMaker: 1,501 posts
Armorama: 1,485 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 09:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

This is turning out to be quit an interesting and informative build log. I really like the choice of artillery piece you've chosen to model. Great idea concerning the camo netting - have used this medium for bushes, shrubs and thick grass before. First time seeing someone use it for camo netting . . . hehe, to cool. The figure you posted on the previous page looks outstanding. Looking forward to seeing more.


Thanks Eddy, I hope that your not just saying that to be polite. I'd like to include figures in this build but after searching high and low in my area (30+ mile radius) they just aren't there. Maybe I'll try my hand at modifying some.

The experimenting tread_geek


Jan,

I recently modified figures for my initial Tiger I and found that the Presier line of figure offerings gave me just what I needed to accomlish this task as most of the figures come with seperate arms, legs and plenty of spare heads as well as a nice selection of personal gear to go with the figures. Here is a link to a downloadable 72nd scale Preiser catolog: 8th PDF file from bottom of page.

Most of the model railraod hobby shops can order them for you but, should you still not be able to aquire them that way here is an online link (for example the US Modern Infanty set) that carries the entire rage online. The postage is a bit much but I have delt with them before, their service and packageing being first rate with speedy shipping. Perhaps someone reading this could offer more choices online?

The gun with the ammo boxes:



Now 'That's what I'm talking about'

-Eddy
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 05:53 AM UTC
Eddy, I take it that you prefer the camo netting scene as opposed to the stone wall. Actually, I think that I prefer it too. The link you provided is actually to a place in Illinois which in geographical terms is fairly close but the shipping seems a bit high. I found a mail order shop in Tennessee that according to eBay.ca has a stellar reputation and has the figures for $2.00 more but their shipping cost to my location is $2.75. Decisions, decisions.

Cheers,
Jan
 _GOTOTOP