I’m baaak! Southern France was wonderful, now back to the real life… Lot of ground to cover here, you guys are really turning this campaign in to a great thing!

Jeremy: Thanks for the comments and for keeping an eye on the campaign in my absence… The PE is from Lion Roar. And yes, I should figure out a new lighting system for quick photos…

Greg: Your M8 is coming along nicely. I can’t quite see the scene yet, seems everyone is looking in a different direction. I’m sure it’ll all come together once you have the base in the works. The two US Infantrymen remind me of the Dragon 101st AB Bastogne set… Coincidence? 

Don: Hope your Eye surgery went well, sorry to hear about the end of your Braille career. Seems like 1/48 is the perfect scale for you! 50% seems a bit much, but under these special circumstances I think we should allow it. Why don’t you post a pic of how far you’ve gotten?

Jim: Good to see some paint on your AB. When I built mine in 1/35 I used Testors Italian Sand, which is quite a different tone than German Dark Yellow. AFAIK the Germans didn’t repaint the Italian Armor but just used it with the Italian Camo. Too late to change anything now though, and after weathering the difference won’t be that noticeable anyway. I like your way of applying the camo pattern. The only little nitpick I would mention is that the yellow lines seem to be thinner than on your model.

Bruce: Good to see you chime in! I will take your 25% recommendation in to consideration, comrade!

Konrad: Thanks for your feedback, I will have a look at the sprue and see what I have. Not at all an expert on the T-34 myself I’m afraid…
Nice work on the Sherman bogies, especially for 1/48 scale! The idler wheels look a bit thin, but maybe it’s just the pic?

Marc: The bike and VAB are truly first class, but were they built after September 1st? I see the VAB has the date of 23. August 2010 on it. The idea of a campaign is to build it within the campaign time frame and post progress pics so everyone can watch and learn…

Stjepan: Hmm, some choice you have there…  Not a German modeller so I don’t really have a favourite. But I would like to see more manufacturer variety so we can get a feel for the differences. So my vote goes to the Opel truck. And I also agree with Jeremy, a Truck-Flak Combo would be cool. Don’t know if it existed though…

I will get cracking on my build tomorrow, check the turret and continue with the upper hull.

Keep the posts coming and a salute to all you fine modellers!

Cheers!
Stefan

Stefan: Lol, sure thing mate!
Regarding the lighting, if you point a desk light up at a white posterboard or other flat white object, it will reflect the light at your model for a good quick photo without needing the flash.


I contacted Meeta at Track48 about my order, and she stated that they had to wait for some of the parts to come in to fulfill my order, but that they hadn't contacted me about it and apologized for that. They are still waiting for one PE item, but the rest of the order is on it's way as of the 27th, which includes the parts I need for my Hetzer build for this campaign.
Should be arriving tomorrow, then I can start building

First, a couple shout outs -

Jim - just love that chemo job Jim - that is going to be a great looking armored car!

Jeremy - glad things are working out!

Stephan - glad to help , not a huge expert on these either, but the parts change by Tamiya on an in production kit is notable (and commendable). On the idlers, good catch! The Toro parts are a little undernourished where the pour stubs attach (probably a casting issue) - those parts will hide under the tracks :-)

Now for an update - while all of you have been making great headway, I have managed to glue on the suspension towers on my M4A4 project. I plead a busy travel schedule. Did scratch some bits rather than use kit parts, as I have figured out how to get a bonus Sherman from the left over parts, but that will be another story. Like the scratched final drive covers though, they have a more consistent rivet/bolt size as compared to the resin hull.





The masking tape is to keep gluing pads clear - I will base coat the hull sides and suspension in OD before adding the tracks (which themselves will have a base coat - at least on the inside sufaces - as I think that it makes it a lot easier to paint those parts of the tank as you go - the rest will be done of a piece.





Not to much to show, hope you find this interesting -

Konrad

Konrad, I checked my kit and of course I have the older sprue... Do you have any more info on what exactly the problem is? Maybe a comparison photo? Maybe I can do something to the kit parts...

Nice update by the way! Keep them coming!

Cheers!
Stefan

Props to John O'Reilly for making this discovery - shared on a thread indexed under "The Tamiya T34/76 Turrets!" on the Track48.com discussion group. He shot some images you can look at on:

http://s725.photobucket.com/albums/ww256/Tanknutter_photos/Tamiya%20T34%20Turrets/

The issue seems to be the profile of the front cheeks on the turret and the turret top plate. You might check with your local Tamiya distributor and see if you can buy the new sprue (I am pestering Tamiya America about it) or use some milliput to re-contour your turret. Unfortunately I don't have any great pix or plans to share beyond this, but they are doubtless out there.

Konrad

Thanks for that Konrad, unfortunately the link doesn't seem to work (also on the Track48 DG). I will see if I find useful references but I might just stick to the Tamiya turret and build it the way it is. Ordering a new sprue will take too long and right now I'm not too happy with my build anyway, the engine grille turned out quite bad I think. I should get more practise with PE...

Cheers!
Stefan

I fixed the link.

Thanks Gary - undoutedly my bad on adding the link - will look at the FAQs first next time,

Konrad

Hi all:

I have some few in progress pics more to share with all of you but looks like the KitMaker gallery is experiencing technical problems so I will upload them asap.

@ Stefan Keep the red tide rising!

@ Greg The M8 looks wonderful with that ghost grey scheme but I´m sure will looks even better with some OD on it!

@ Jim S. Interesting camo work. Paintbrush rules!

@ Konrad What a nice multimedia kit you got up there. It´s always a challenge to face that kind of works, no matter the scale!

Good work! Keep those models coming, please!

Best regards!

Thanks for that Gary, those Photos certainly are useful. But comparing the turret I have with pictures f the Original (Concord's Book on Soviet medium tanks in WWII) it looks to me the kit part pretty much fits the bill. So I think I'll just leave it.

Alvaro, I'm certainly keeping the red "tide" going. Here are some detail images for y'all's scrutiny:




Cheers!
Stefan

Konrad, man, what a great job on that M4A4 so far! The scratched drive covers are fantastic! I'm having trouble staying focused with my M4 build, but this is very inspiring stuff. Can't wait to see your next update!

Looks good Stefan,you are also running a great campaign.

Aloha All,

Konrad and Stefan: Nice detail work. Looks good.

I have made some progress getting the details painted up and the tracks on. Just a little touch up yet to do, then it will be time for decals and winter camo.





Have a good one!!

Zon

UPDATE #2: U.S. Modern 4x4 Utility Vehicle w/Grenade Launcher

Hi all:

Here you got! This is how the HMMWV interior looks OOTB. Again, very nice and acurate detail with excellent fitting. Tamiya rules!

But if you are one of those that love to improve the kit adding some extra detailing, here you got a good chance to enjoy that fascinating side of plastic modelling because you can quickly notice few missing details. Some are more or less obvious -like accelerator and brake pedals, i.e.- and some others would help to make your model more and more acurate -like fire extinguiser brackets, crew weapons brackets, seat belts, ammunition box holders and so on...-. In short, just check your references to discover that you can add almost as much detail as you wanted!

But, please, do not misunderstand my words. As said, the included details are fine but, as in almost every softskin kit available, no matter the scale, there is room for improvements due missing details here and there. So this is neither Tamiya fault nor 1/48th scale kit simplification IMHO.

As this is the weapons carrier version, with doors closed you won´t see so much interior at all, so I can live with what is included in the kit as is. I just missed a handset and a speaker for the radio!








Ah, I forgot to add that for the first time I had to use some putty!

-to fill injection pins in the inner side of the doors-

That´s all for now. Next update as soon as I finished the kit assembly!

Best regards!

Zontar+ Alvaro looking good

Alvaro,I did that kit for the Hummer Caampaign,real nice kit.

pics on my stug III by weeks end !!

Hey all,

Man progress looks really good for so far for everyone.
Hopefully I'll be posting some progress picts shortly....time has not been on my side.

Be that as it may, I have found out that my soldering skills are really terrible, but
I don't see putting fenders together any other way - learning curve per se, I guess.
Also the capret monster has been rabid as of late and has refused to reliquish control over a couple of DRP parts.

Soldering, well, soldering. I did an article that others have found useful:

http://www.track48.com/shop/xnews.php?newsid=654

HTH

Konrad

I was looking at that article earlier... too tired to think about PE for the time being

Hello @All

Here my first steps of building with first test of fit it.
I used some Hauler etched parts but not all.
Also the cal. 50 is not finished at this pictures





I hope you like it, feel free for comments

With best regars from vienna
Andreas
www.modellbaurunde.at

I finally got around to making a small start on my campaign entry today. Although i ahve a handfull of 1/48 AFV's in the stash i decided on the Autoblinda. I bought it as part of the "Supermodel" branded dual boxing with the Italeri CR42 Falco...the toy shop had it priced wrongly at the price of the standalone AB41, so i bought it of course. Most people probably already know that the AB41 in this boxing is the same as the one that comes in an Italeri box and also a Tamiya box.

It looks pretty straight forward, though i always fail to see the reason for a metal chassis. I really like these 48 scale kits as enjoyable quick builds inbetween aircraft or automotive subjects.





Andrew

Wow! Great start to this campaign.

Very nice start on the Sherman, Andreas. The level of detail is very good and will look excellent painted.

Looking forward to see the winter camouflage on the StuG, Zon.

[quote

Soldering, well, soldering. I did an article that others have found useful:

http://www.track48.com/shop/xnews.php?newsid=654

HTH

Konrad [/quote]

Thanks Konrad
That was one of the articles I had read prior to embarking on this. It is extremely useful. There is alot to be said for practice, practice, practice as well..

Hi folks

I made some misstakes at my building but I trying on to repeat it.
First critic I heared that I forgot the welding and second was thatt the light protectors are wrong.

Now I repair it and I hope you like it, I mean it´s better.
Here the picture


for comments, critics or any think else feeel free

With best regards
Andreas
www.modellbaurunde.at

Jesper, I am too!! Just need some more touch up and decals, then the snow storm will start...

Mahalo, -zon

I just received my order from Track48, minus the one item they are still waiting for, and shall start my build soon

Andreas: I'm no expert, but your Sherman looks good to these eyes.