I couldn't resist putting next to my 1/72 Apache. I wanted to try 1/144 to see how I liked it. I think I will try it again, maybe with a fixed wing this time.

I’m finished! Had a small drama with two of the four supplied figures, one of my children got a hold of them & they are now AWOL! I really enjoyed building this kit; it was a nice break from some of the newer more complicated kits I’m trying to complete.

Hi Gary,




So I see! Thanks alot.
I don't know why I had problems with it.
Anyway, it was nice of you to help me. Thanks.

Cheers

Rei,
Well done on what seems to be a real nasty kit. Your patients is way more then mine. I honestly don't know if I would have had the determination to see this little project through to its conclusion.

David, nicely done. the only real difference I can see between the two models is that the 1/72 scale one has the rotor tips painted yellow, and the 1/144 doesn't. Other then that it looks like it's twin, only half the size.

Nice build, John. this old kit looks very well indeed.

Thanks for sharing

David, I think your Apache may have shrunk? Really nice work on a very small chopper well done mate.

John, well done your panzer looks very very good well done o a excellent build.

Greetings all!!! I've been dropping in and silently lurking but have had too many things on the go to actively participate. Some really fine builds going on and far too many to comment on all of them. Things are quieting down now so I took some time to work on my Chi Ha.

I still haven't resolved a broken track problem but I decided to try to start painting the rather unusual camo. It's progressing but hardly complete. You will notice a rather undefined spray pattern/strip on the rear engine deck. This was an experiment to see if I could use my newer airbrush to apply the camo freehand. Obviously it didn't work out, so I reverted to the old tried and true method of using successive layers of thinned paint applied by brush. It takes about four or five applications to get it opaque enough. Here's the pictures so far:







I have two other builds that are running concurrently, so I'll try to share equal time with each.

Cheers,
Jan

Looking good Jan.

I agree, looking good Jan! Whose kit is this? And aren't Japanese tanks tiny? Just as well they were used in jungle fighting as in an open ground tank battle they'd get ground into the ground. Broken track problem? Tell the forum about it Jan lets see if the sum of our collective knowledge can't help with that?
Cheers
Chris

here are pics of my 1937 Opel Kadett from Bronco:











Sorry if the pics are so blurry, the cell cam is hard to gauge for focus, if you all want better let me know
Rick

Thanks for the comments, guys!




@Chris - The kit is the 1/72 Dragon Type 97 Chi Ha and you can see a build review of it HERE..

Yes, the Japanese tanks are on the diminutive side when compared to other nationalities. I'll take of a picture of it next to a Dragon Pacific Sherman for the next update so you have a size comparison. As for the track, I've already brought the issue up earlier and received quite a few suggestions. The problem is which route to take. They are DS tracks, one piece, but extremely fine and delicate. They were a bit short so I tried stretching them a bit and they broke. I have tried re-gluing the ends but there isn't much surface area for contact. As I still have some suspension painting to do I won't worry about them until a bit later.

Cheers,
Jan

Hi Jan! LOL I was fairly certain that the local community had probably helped but I must admit to having missed those particular posts. Still I must admit to being in two minds over DS tracks, I love the fact that you can use styrene cement on them but they're flexible styrene and as such have no elasticity so they can't be stretched to much. I've built a number of their kits and they are just fantastic! I've been lucky and not had any trouble with the tracks, mind you I still staple mine together as I find that gluing them causes me more trouble than it's worth. Good luck!
Cheers
Chris

Hey Chris,

I have built numerous kits with the DS tracks and this was the first time I had a problem. I've had tracks too long but just cut off a few links and glue them back together. It's always worked. Unless you use copious amounts of mud to hide the staples, the Chi Has is a poor subject for that method. Not too many or large enough area to hide the joint. Although it was a must when I built the old Airfix version as their tracks appear impervious to all adhesives.

Anyway, after a pleasant afternoon of visiting art studios with my wife I had a few minutes to attempt another repair. At this point I shall tentatively say that I met with success. Before I went out I filled the holes on the links at each end of the break with gap filling CA glue to make for a more solid surface area. Upon my return I used the same glue to join the two ends. Fifteen seconds later I once again had a solid one piece track. I'll let it cure over night and see how it fits later tomorrow. Until then, I'll hold off on breaking out the bubbly.

Cheers,
Jan

Shorty,what a great job on that panzer II

Campaign Bail Out

I know that this isn’t the usual campaign post, never the less I feel compounded to let you all know the reason I’m bailing out of this campaign. Of late I have been finding building to a deadline soul destroying in as much as I have begun cutting corners, building very quickly, and making a right hash of the project I happen to be building. The bottom line is I have no longer been enjoying the hobby, and in all honesty it is a hobby and should be enjoyed as such, and it shouldn’t be seen as a chore, and that’s how I feel it’s become, a chore. So I’m going to go back to building whatever I like, at my own pace. Enjoy the rest of the campaign, and I’m sure I’ll see you all on a campaign in the future.

Jason

@Jason - Sorry to see you go but I can understand your point. I try to restrict myself to campaigns that interest me, I have a subject available and am determined to finish. Also, I made myself a rule that I never enlist in more than one at a time.

************************************************************************

As for the Chi Ha, my drive after the track repair has returned . The sprockets are also not glued in the following images as I need to remove the tracks to finish painting the road wheels and suspension. I posted these latest pictures with my Pacific Campaign Sherman for size comparison.







You can note a very minor bit of detailing/weathering on the Type 97 here and there as I experimented today. There are still a few patches of camo to do on the front but they should follow shortly.

Cheers,
Jan

@Jason: I echo Jan's sentiment, sorry to see you go but I understand completely it's a hobby to be enjoyed and if you're not then you need to do something to get the joy back! Funnily enough for me I find it refreshing to be on a deadline so to speak, just the incentive I need to stay focused. But I agree with Jan ONE build at a time I'm enrolled in several campaigns but they aren't all running and have differing end times.

@Jan: Damn small isn't it? But looking good Jan! Track looks great too! Have you seen the Finescale moulds kit of the prototype tank the Japanese were working on just at the end of the war? It had a long barrelled 75mm and heavier armour and a three man turret it looked like it'd give the Sherman's better run for their money. It's in 1/35th scale too but I must admit to having a liking for 1/48 scale as it takes up less shelf space.

Obviously you haven't built a PzKw I or II in Braille scale. But yes, compared to many tanks of the era, the Ch Ha was rather diminutive. During my research I read about the Russians knocking out several with anti-tank rifles fired at the back of the turret.




From one of my books, I surmise that you are talking about the Type 3, 4 and 5. These basically had lengthened Type 97 hulls with added road-wheels. All had a 75 mm gun and maximum armour increased from 50 mm in the Type 3 to 75 mm in the Type 5. Due to diminished industrial capacity, few of these 75 mm gunned versions were made and those were kept for defence of the homeland.

I pretty much (95+%) stick to 1/72 or 1/76 for vehicles. You can get four or five on the shelf in the space that one 1/35 occupies. For aircraft, I have recently decided to try 1/144. Now that IS small.

cheers,
Jan

Gentlemen,
I seem to have 'bitten off more than I can chew". I shall have to withdraw from this campaign, as I have signed up for too many campaigns. If I was to complete all I have signed up for, I would have to complete three models by the end of next month! So please pardon my over-zealousness when it comes to entering Campaigns.

Thanks,
Stephen

@ Stephen: Live and learn Stephen, it's very easy to become over enthused as there are some damn good campaigns here to fire the imagination! We'll miss you but good luck with your other builds!

@Jan: Here's the link to the review Jan http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/misc/military/previews/finemolds/fm29.htm

Here is my entry into the campaign with my start up photos




Tom

Hello
Figured I would give this campaign thing a try. Will be trying to get a T-34/76 Mod. 1943 from Dragon (kit #6564) done for this one. Here are the sprues and the box. It does have some PE with the kit as you see in the pics.

@Tom: Hi Tom interesting choice! I like it! LOL but not Wallace and Grommit? I'll look forward to seeing what you do with this build.

@Easy8: I've always liked large scale armour and these dragon kits are just damn good. I like them better than the Tamiya offerings as you get wayyyyyyyy more for your money IMHO! Although just recently display restrictions have confined me to 1/48scale! AFV Club is another I find really stunning.

Well,that should be interesting,Tom