Q,
First out of 1 is better than last out of 20, maybe? There's always the next contest. I have a Me-262 which took 3rd out of three entries one year and then 3rd out ot ten the next. I felt redeemed. Do you have to enter in your age category? You could probably do well against the 'big boys'.

The steps you listed are about what I did, but mine didn't come out nearly as well as yours. I'll keep practicing and try some different paints.

Thanks,

Keith

It's been a while since I built for a campaign but here goes. I'm building the Italeri 1/35 Duce N a Half hard top truck in honor of my Dad. He started out driving a truck for the Army Air Corps both in England, and after D Day France. I know it was a Jimmy, but not if it was a hard top or soft top. I built a Tamiya soft top a while back, now I'm doing the hard top.







This is an old kit, but not bad. I started building one several years ago but my then puppy, now 95 pound couch potato of a Golden Retriever decided he liked the taste of plastic and wrecked it. The chassis is more fiddly than the Tamiya, with lots of small parts and separate frame members.





I haven't decided what to do with the bed yet. The gray "canvas" cover is from the old Heller kit. I'm either going to cover the bed, or leave it open and put some figures from Tamiya's half track crew set.

Next step is going to be to begin painting the cab interior then masking it in order to paint the exterior.

Q
Great little track you got there. As Keith pointed out, your modelling belies your age. At your age my models wouldn't even have had paint on...

Rodger
Late start, hope you can make it before the deadline! Maybe we can get a prolongation from our master Q?

Cheerio!

Thanks but I think I can make it. I guess it's better to enter late, and get on it right away, than to enter early and never put glue to plastic, which has been my normal M.O.

[quote]


Thanks but I think I can make it. I guess it's better to enter late, and get on it right away, than to enter early and never put glue to plastic, which has been my normal M.O.

Rodger: Looks great! You sure that you can finish it in time? If any one wants it to be longer, just ask!

Campaign has been prolonged to Dec 20.

M4A2Sherman,

Abdrzej,
Excellent job on both the campaign banner and ribbon. Very creative and yes that does look like a tree on the campaign ribbon!

Stefan,
Excellent tribute of your grandfather with his buddy running up that hill in Korea. You even managed some a photograph, metals and his unit insignia. I'm very sure that he would have really treasured this very well thought out tribute coming from you.

Vance,
Very touching indeed! Opened up the links and read through everything even notice a photograph of your father holding you when you were still a baby . . . that is really cool. He is a very special kind of human being.

Keith,
That knight is just awesome. You did a really super job on the armor plate . . . it looks realistic. What a very intresting and historic tribute to your ancestral knight. There is someone living here at the same apartment complex that my wife and I live in that looks just like your 2nd attempt at painting the knights face, hehe!

M4A2Sherman,
Congrats on the first place! You've done a remarkable job with both the Bren carrier and your grandfathers figure. That close up photo of your grandfathers face is just so life like. Very nice tribute of your grandfather. Is he still around were you could present him with this fine piece of history? Hope your father's eye injury is much better now.

Roger,
Good start on your fathers Duce N'a Half hard top truck. I'll keep dropping by to see how your coming along on your tribute.

Finally, I have not had a change to get started on my contribution. I do not think that I will be able to meet the new deadline as I have not purchased the kits that I entend to use for my tribute. I however will complete my project even if it is not on shedule or on time. I really like what I have seen here and this will be enough to motivate me and see my planed project through.

My father was in the Marines Corps during both WWII and Korea. He was wounded in action during the fight for Iwo Jima. I have been unable to reach my uncle here in California who can give me exact information about my fathers company at Iwo Jima. I do remember seeing a list of the Islands including Guadacanel tatooed on one of his arms. I recall a story that he would always tell my brother and I about an incident that took place one night on Iwo where his buddies and him had gotton tasked with protecting a disabled tank on the farthest airfield from Mount Suribachi. I will elaberate more on that when I post my tribute.

At the moment I have in front of me some USCIS forms to fill out to remove the condictions on my wifes immigration visa and also some needed research via my uncle about my fathers time in the Marines. My father would have been 85 years old this year but is no longer with us. He was my best friend, father and Marine all the way. Sempi fi, dad . . . I miss you so very, very much.

-Eddy

Wow...touching. So welcome braille! Unfortuneatley my grandpa is not here to see my project, he passed away before I was born, so I never met him. If you want me to postpne the date even longer, I would be completely happy, as that might give me time to finish my great uncle...

M4A2Sherman,

You are a gentelment. I couldn't ask you to extend the deadline just for me but I am honored that you asked. It would however be nice if we could hear from those that joined and have also like me not posted there project as of yet to get a better handle on extending the deadline or not?

As stated in my last post I will complete my project and acknowlege this campaign even if it may already be closed at that time. Go ahead a do a tribute for your great uncle . . . I'm sure it would be terrific!!!

-Eddy

I don't know why I do things like this. I've had this kit completed since last month, and the pictures in my camera just waiting to upload, but I keep putting it off. I think it might be some mental thing about not wanting something to end.

Oh well here are my final pictures representing my Dad's Duce N a Half. It is the Italeri kit of the hard top. As I said before I'm not sure if Dad drove a hard or a soft top, so I've finished both types.



My biggest issue with the kit is the fit of the doors. After several attempts to make them appear decent when closed I opted to have the slightly ajar.





This is the first time I've used pigments, Mig Europe Dust. I liked them, but I need to practice more.



At one point I was going to use the covered tarp from my Heller kit but I mounted the machine gun mount too soon and the supports for it blocked where the cover would have gone.



Anyway I enjoyed making this kit. I've got one more Duce in the stash, the Heller kit, and I've got an idea for it.

Wow! That really does look great! What is your idea for the heller kit?

Thanks

M4A2Sherman

The Heller has probably the best, most detailed running gear and suspension. My idea is to have it tipped over on it's side and to have a M32 recovery vehicle trying to right it.

Hey, it's December 20. I guess that means that the campaign is over. I hope everyone had a great time modelling their ancestors and I hope you are all proud. Now I need to go put the ribbons onto your pages (once I find out how...)

Congrats to all the finishers! So, that would be four of us then?? What happened to all the others? There werde some very promising builds?! Well, it will be a very uncommon ribbon at least...

M4A2, thanks for leading this campaign! It was a great experience!

Cheerio!

I really wish that I could have joined this campaign, but I had no time, and no money for the required models. Maybe if there is an Ancestors in Scale II campaign....

Congrats to the people who finished!

zaltar