Hello all,

I have been terrible with keeping everyone up to date with my builds of late, and with this 'quick one' started last Monday (16/11) I thought i'd try and enter it in the 'mighty 88' campaign and do a quick blog. I'm already almost complete with the build, but I don't know if I'm going to get it done in time!

The Tamiya kit is older than me, but has stood the test of time reasonably well as seen with their recent re-box of a North Africa version. Fortunately a couple of changes were made with the re-box, and these have been incorporated into the original kit, with an extra sheet to correct the instructions. The mods are only minor, being a revision of the travel lock and the elevation pivots so that there is no need to get the dreaded 'heated screwdriver' out!

The kit obviously shows it's age in places with simplified detail in places and parts needing A LOT of cleanup. I do beleive it's reasonably accurate and so have not gone mad about correcting detail and am just adding a bit of 'finesse' where neccesary.
With some TLC it comes out ok:







The work has mostly been cleaning up the parts, using some filler and styrene to fill gaps, using a bit of copper wire and chain to replace the odd part and add detail along with some lead foil discs. Liquid cement was also used to add some mild cast texture to those parts that required it.

The intention is to build it as an emplaced gun on a concrete mount after some heavy use, plenty of shell cases and a complacent gunner.

Sorry the shots are straight from the bench and the gun will be elevated in the AA poition in the finished peice.

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think!

James

well, well, well what do we have here?

Another build from Mr "Never Ending Story" right? Can a mod take care of this case please? The guy is very cruel. He starts a build, make a lot of people want to see his job done and when they get really involved.... HALT! Let's start another project and make some more victims in the audience! I protest I stil wait for... I don' know how many builds to be finished

Ok let's stop joking. Great job on the oldy!!! I would add some KT wheels & tracks and paint it in ocotopus camo scheme!! That's an idea

Good luck and kep us posted (till the end actually )

spit

You are so mean (but correct) Pawel!

I know i've been terrible recently. But have made a vow to finish a lot of stuff next year.

I promise i'll finish this and photograph it!

Octopus scheme and Tigber B carridge, now thats more your line of work my freind!

James

great work so far man,
im just building up the interior of the Berge, although i dont have much time, and im gonna send out the parts im not gonna use ( the racks) but i just wanna make usre im not sending anyhting out i need.
that cool?

Thanks mate.

By all means finish it first and send me whats left, I am in no rush as Spit delicately pointed out; I seem to have problems finishing things at the minute and the Pz IV D/G is on hold!

Cheers,

James

Speaking of which... I was following you Maus build, Pawel's comment got me wondering if you ever finished it. I was really enjoying watching that one!

Keep up the great work!

SCOTT

Nope still sitting in a box i'm afraid! It's on the list to finish next year though, so please be patient!

James

I took some better photo's on Saturday and thought i'd share them with you.

The build is 99% complete at this point. I just had to add a couple of tiny details before I applied the base coat last night. I'll be photographing that ASAP.

Hope you like, let me know your thoughts:







This shows the 'foundations' of the base:


and a mock up of the finished peice:


At work so can't write much more at the mo!

Cheers,

James

And now some photo's of the gun with it's base coat of dunklegelb, a lightened version of Tamiya's XF-60:










Cheers,

James

Good evening James. I must say I sympathise with you with unfinished projects! (i've lost count of mine) Great work on the Flak 88 mate the wiring really stands out! The base coat looks pretty neat too. Interesting scene I like it and also wouldn’t mind seeing more .

Jaymes.
(with the wierd spelling )

Nice model and base coat.....

I do find it odd Tamiya didn't include the trailers for the kit tho....

How are the figures?

Regards, Paul

Hi Jaymes, thanks for you comments.

I'm not sure it's sympathy I need but a kick up the backside to get things finished!
Glad you like the wiring, I felt that this and the chains made it stand out from just doing it OOTB.





Hi Paul, firstly thank you.
I think you may have this confused with Tamiya's more recent 'North Africa' re-release, which doesn't have the trailers and new figures. This is the original 1970's release (note. blue plastic) with a couple of small details changed to the main gun that were updated for the re-release (Comes in Orange plastic) and included in this one. Trailers are included but I won't be building them and the same goes for the old figures which leave a lot to be desired these days!

Thanks again,

James

Nice to see some progress mate. Looking very, very good. Just... don't stop

spit

Thanks mate,

I'm hoping to get it finished before I move house

Wish me luck............

James

Ok, I have unfortunately not photographed a few steps as I am currently moving job, house and country, and am away over Christmas and so things are pretty crazy!

Still I am finding time to sit down and keep this moving forward.

The gun has camouflage and the first stages of weathering. As it's such an intricate shape I am doing this in scetions for ease.
So far:
Transfers applied between gloss coats.
A filter (thinned enamel) has been applied to dull down and blend in the camouflage.
Chipping done with two shades of enamel.
Most detail painting of other areas with enamels.




The base has been completed and has base coats and first bit of drybrushing done.
I have laid out the kit ammo crates and some Tiger 1 versions. Apparently these are ok for the Flak 36. I could be wrong, they look better than the kit one's though. Some kit shells shown, i'll be drilling these out and adding them to the dio. The paint pot is a Verlinden item.



The figure is coming along well except for the fact I broke off the peak off his cap (for the second time, note it is missing in the first pic then reappears in those later!) and had to scratch one together quickly - It's just a peice of trimmed and bent 10thou plastic card.




I decided as it's just a single figure i'd practice some camouflage, the trousers are a autumn oak leaf attempt and i'm going to go for a spring plane tree type for the cap to contrast. The jumper is going to stay grey but the stripes need touching up.

Some more:





Look forward to hearing what you think.

Cheers,

James

Looking good James. Nice to see some more paint on the acht acht. Chipping is not easy to spot because of the weak light but I see you did it well with some light beige or yellowish paint. The figure... oh yes it will be a very nice addition. May I suggest stronger light or different camera settings for the pictures (or both)? Base is looking good too.

spit

Cheers mate,

I know my current photo setup sucks, and I intend to have a big revamp when I get the new house. These photos were also very rushed as the camera had almost no battery left, so I do appologise, I just wanted to prove i'm still building it!

Chipping was done with a light dunklegelb and then a dark brown for depth.
Glad you like the figure, I hope to make an imposing scene with him.

Thanks again,

James

Almost a month gone and I am getting close to getting this finished now!

The gun and base itself are getting very close to being finished:







Some detail pics:









The base is coming along, as are the ammo and crates:




The figure is also slowly progressing:







Sorry I don't have the time to go into detail of the exact steps used, but i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Cheers,

James

Just an update on this blog.

I am applying the final washes to this build as I write this (well not litteraly, but you know what I mean!), however, this will still not allow me to get this finished this side of Christmas. This is because i'm out tomorrow evening and flying home on Friday for the holidays. However, I am back in Ireland for a week in the new year and will wrap this up and get it photographed then, so I appreciate your patience.

I will check the thread in the meantime though so please post and let me know what you think so far.

Cheers guys, hope you have happy holidays!

James