Well I can safely say that the actual building part of the Challenger is virtually complete (side skirts are still not permanently attached). The only small issue was that the axe head broke and took some delicate surgery to get it mounted properly. I did some preshading and then sprayed the tank with a lightened coat of NATO green to match the colour I've seen in Internet photos. Here are a few shots as it appears now.







It is pretty much ready for all the fun painting but may need a touch up or two. It is with great relief that I say that I can see this thing finally nearing completion. The only small issue is that I can't remember where I put the decals.

Regards,
AJ

Thanks for your update, AJ. You look like you are making progress and hope you continue to do so. This ism't proving to be as easy a campaign as I anticipated.

To all other participants, don't wait too long. we are nearing the half way point. I am involved in a couple of other campaigns but I also must put my nose to the grindstone for this one. Good fortune to all.

Cheers,
Jan

Hi,

As always, groundwork has been a challenge for me. Been struggling on this for the last several days -- can't seem to get the colors right. Am trying to depict a city ruin so I'd guess it would be dusty in different shades of gray (?). Am fine with the brick wall, but at the back of it the ground looks like a rock face to me. Any color am missing out, or using too much? Its glossy right now as it still has Future on. Appreciate feedback / comments on improving this.

Cheers,

Tat

I remember this one, the Jagdpanther. I think your wall and the bricks side looks good, maybe a bit more reddish colour than greenish to the odd brick, but variation is the key thing, which you have achieved. Over the other side of the wall, I think it could be more muddy coloured - the softness suggested by the depth of the track marks could only reasonably be on soft earth, or some kind of sandy gritty earthy mixture I guess, maybe like industrial waste ground? Browny /sandy / grey?



I hope to post pictures of my finished Puma this evening - just waiting for glue to dry between all eight wheels and the road before mounting the figures and the turret.

Thanks Matthew. I actually started with a red-brick wall but chucked it away since it seemed to be too dark for me. And yes you're correct -- more for variation. Did the ground in earthy colors but it didn't seem to visually blend well with the pavement colors. Went to look at some sample dios of ruins and got the gray theme idea. Tried to follow, and that's where it got me. I was thinking the wall separates a street from a building, but probably it can just be a wall that separates an open field then? Hmmm... I'll give your suggestion another try then -- maybe its just the selection of tones. Cheers -- Tat

It is true that they have put some broken concrete beam in there or something, like it's not exactly someone's garden.

Here are pictures as promised of the finished Puma. It was good fun to do, these bases certainly do present a bit of a new challenge to paint, and with the figures as well, I think the vehicle itself probably took less then 50% of the time. I remember Jan's comment about the difficulty of getting all 8 wheels on the ground; well I didn't quite manage it! One of them separated from the base once I took the heavy weight off, but I don't think it is obvious.

Hope this isn't too many picures for anyone, I got a bit carried away . . . In the first one you can just see the dog pee stain next to the lamp post - well, they always have them.

@Tat - Matthew pretty much expressed the same thoughts about the base as I was thinking. It's really coming along nicely.

@Matthew - Unless someone is on a dial-up connection there can never be too many pictures. You've done a very nice job on you Puma build and I particularly like the figures. The weathering on the vehicle is both subtle and effective. I personally find that less is more when it comes to making something look "used."

Cheers,
Jan

Updated "score card."

firstcircle, your Puma and it's base turned out very nice. Have to agree with Jan that your figures turned out well.

As for my Challenger, things are finally starting to progress despite a couple of minor glitches. I guess that I thinned the base coat too much as any contact a hard object had with the body took the paint off. I sprayed it again with less diluted NATO green and added a bit more white to make it look more faded. I finally found the decals, it seems that I inadvertently left them in the box when I threw it in the trash. I also found that I had misplaced the base but after a while I found it had fallen behind the work bench. The rubber on the wheels is done and I started weathering the suspension. Also got a good start on the fabric covered area of the main gun. Now for some progress pictures.





Regards,
AJ

Wonderfull works,guys!!!

Nice pictures AJ, looks like after all your mishaps things are looking up. The thermal sleeve on the main gun doesn't look bad.




Greetings Dani, haven't seen you around the forums in a while. Have you decided what to build yet? I recall you were thinking about a Firefly.

Also a big welcome to our 37th enlistee, NWBrit. We still have eleven people that haven't expressed a choice of what to build. Remember, it doesn't have to be an original Matchbox kit but can be a Revell rerelease of one. If you are in doubt please feel free to ask.

Cheers,
Jan

Nice work gents!

Thank you for the welcome Jan.

I finally decided to take the plunge and enlist in a campaign. I eventually decided on Montys Caravan and Daimler Mk II. Mostly because this was the only one in my cupboard that no one else seemed to be doing.

If I've managed to figure out posting photos correctly then the pre construction photos will be below

Chris

Welcome again, Chris.Nice choice for a build and I hope that it goes smoothly. Now that you have picture posting down pat, please feel free to show us any progress shots and commentary.

Cheers,
Jan :[]

Hey all! I put the side skirts on the Challenger and have started some initial weathering on the tracks, lower body and base. I am trying some new techniques and they seem to be working out. I got my inspiration from some pictures on Prime Portal. If I interpret the rules correctly we are allowed to add some stuff to the base? I'm thinking of a bit of ground cover and perhaps a shrub or two.





Regards,
AJ

@AJB - That Challenger is really starting to look like something. Whatever you are doing to achieve that dusty look really seems to be working. I also like the way the front tracks are turning out. Are you going to leave it a solid colour or will you do the two tone camo? As for the base enhancements you mention, they are within the rules.

As for me, I haven't made a lot of progress as I've been filling, sanding and filing and sanding. The front of the hull has been particularly a pain and I've filled and sanded it three times and yet the seem still shows.



I originally was going to cut off the grab handles at the rear as the right one was grossly misshapen and replace them with brass wire. Being in a masochistic mood I decided to attack them with a super sharp Excel blade and jewellers files. To my great suprise they turned out better than I could have anticipated.



The campaign duration has now crossed the half way mark so all you procrastinators should think about getting started.

Cheers,
Jan

Jan

I did the same thing and under a base coat they look quite acceptable.

I also shortened the hydraulic arms to allow the barrel to achieve a firing position angle.

Cheers

Mike

Michael, I always base coat areas after I work on them as it never fails to show the flaws. I am happy to report that the front transmission housing plate finally looks the way it should.




I am still pondering what look to go for with the actuator arms. Arms normal with barrel in the travel lock, rear deck plate up and spade up or some form of firing position pose. At present I am leaving my options open until I see what other hidden gremlins await.

Cheers,
Jan

Hi, Well I have finished my M-7. I still haven't figured out the pic posting process but I don't feel real bad as my son who posted the pics of my old builds can't remember how he did it!! I still need to weather and I haven't added the gun crew but after I added the fire extinguisher I decided to call it. I don't know if I will start the 251 or not (probably will), but it will next week . The panel alignment was a pain and I didn't get the pulpit correct but it still looks ok just not great!
Good Hunting, Gdub

Gary, we are all dying to see any photos that you have of your build. It would be a good idea to read the Photo Posting Instructions. Or get your son to read them However, if you still have difficulties, myself or another member would be only to glad to assist you.

Cheers,
Jan

As the rules of the campaign specified that the kit had to be started within the campaign dates, this Panzerjager IV/L70 couldn't qualify, but now my Puma is done, I thought I'd finish this one off as a kind of bonus. There was a comment that we were lacking a few German vehicles, and no-one has previously entered this kit. So, I think the last bit of work was done on it in around 1979.

This was what came out of the box:


I had obviously got all enthused by the base. Also note my prepainting on the sprue, now somewhat unfashionable. Then there's my misguided idea that a vehicle from '44 - '45 could be finished in grey - not helped by Matchbox's choice of plastic colour I suppose.

Incontrovertible evidence that this is a Matchbox original release, ah, the good old days, when you still saw this phrase on products!




I'm quite pleased that I got all the boring wheels bit done when I was 14! I decided I had to remove the sprocket teeth where they mesh with the tracks, otherwise they were never going to bed on properly. Had to remove and re-attach the rh idler with a bit of rod. Now I have it to this state, looks quite cool with the rear armour plates on:

Matthew, what an industrious fellow you are. I personally have not the least objection to you completing the Panzerjager and sharing your build with the group. You have already qualified for your ribbon so any extra builds are appreciated. There are still a few (nine) who have yet to pick a kit and exposure to this one may be of some assistance to them. I myself have a somewhat similar vintage (early 80's?) Challenger 1 that never saw completion for various reasons. From looking at that incomplete kit It is rather amusing that I appear to have run into somewhat similar problems that AJB has experienced including two broken main road wheels and severe fit problems with the searchlight housing.




Quite fascinating to see an old build like this finally come together. The road wheels at first confounded me as the two front most are so dissimilar from the others. In checking a couple of sites with pictures of finished kits and construction sheets I confirmed that this is indeed the case. Removing teeth from a sprocket is not unknown to me. I had to do this with an old Airfix Tiger I or the tracks would never have sat correctly.

While this kit would not have qualified for a ribbon under the original rules it may find it's way into a Matchbox feature at a future date. A few people have inquired whether they could submit mostly incomplete models and finish them for this campaign. For a ribbon that just would not do but after they fulfill the original rules perhaps we should allow them to post progress shots of an uncompleted build. Any and all comments on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Jan

I finally found time to start work on my Challenger Mk.1. First thing is to take photos of all the parts while they were still on the sprues.




I thought this was a three color kit? How come my copy came in 2 only





I started building this last week while waiting of the Paquiao vs. Clotty fight. I was sooo happy to be building again I forgot to take more photos of my WIP. The tracks were beginning to deteriorate and they broke when I tried locking them together. Luckily for me this tank has skirts that'll conceal the remedy I did on the tracks...




After working only about 60mins this was what I've accomplished...





I hope to be done by the weekend and maybe have time to build a second kit

Toby, it's really nice to see someone else building the Chally 1. I too was a bit perplexed by the kit being promoted as a "three colour" but then I realized the "poetic" license that Matchbox took. The one sprue was a kind of orangey-brown, the other two are green but, the tracks are a silver like colour. There's your three colours.

If you have read my postings here you will know that I also had trouble with the tracks (and the suspension wheels, box on the turret...). One track went together fine but the joint was at the bottom and I'll have to make it less visible. The other track broke where it's supposed to interlink with itself. I had to use CA glue to try to get it to stay together. It worked but each time I tried to fit it over the wheels I broke one. Like you, I am thankful for the side skirts hiding several sins.

Best of luck,
AJ

Toby, thanks for posting your update. From what I see of yours and what I've seen of AJ's it looks like these little rascals are going to need putty and sanding. With some of the problems you two have encountered it makes me a bit skittish to finish mine. I won't worry about it at the moment as I've got the M40 to complete first.

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks to Toby posting his progress pictures I got inspired. I started on doing the black camouflage and experimenting with the base. In this picture you can see my first attempt at trying to do some ground cover. I've never done this sort of thing before so it's just experimenting to see how this stuff works.



The Challenger is by no means done as I still have to weather it up more but I can see the end of the tunnel.





I am not sure how it will sit on the base but in this picture you can see the track joint that I still haven't figured out how to handle.

Regards,
AJ