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Armor/AFV: Braille Scale
1/72 and 1/76 Scale Armor and AFVs.
Hosted by Darren Baker
My fastest build ever..
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 01:39 AM UTC
Hi Folks,

Relations, don't you just love 'em. Last Thursday my brother phoned me to ask if I would build a tank for his youngest son's birthday. He had visited me a few weeks back with his son and I had shown him my model collection, it must have made some sort of impression. His birthday is today (Monday)! He also said that he wanted a British tank. Well I have no British tanks in my stash, so I had to race around to a local model shop and get something. I managed to get a Dragon Firefly Vc (the special edition one for "Douglas Kay" Tank Gunner). I finished it last night at 11.30, with weathering and built totally OOB. Here is the result, the fastest build I have ever done..















Before anyone points out that the tracks are on the wrong way round, I do realise this and put it down to the pressure of the build and the fact that when I realised I couldn't rectify it.

All the best,

Paul
Braille
#135
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California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
KitMaker: 1,501 posts
Armorama: 1,485 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 02:53 AM UTC
Paul,

Happy Birthday to your nephew! I'm at work so I can't see your model but I wanted to say that what you've done is very important in his young eyes. I remember watching my father putting together a car model for me. It was a 1940's Ford coupe, Monogram I believe. I thought it was so neat. I've been modeling ever since. As a matter of fact I recently found the same kit at my LHS and plan on putting it together in memory of my dad. I'm sure your nephew will be so thrilled to get his hands on that British tank. The look on his little face will be something to treasure for a lifetime.

-Eddy
Tojo72
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 04:42 AM UTC
It came out very well,good amount of weathering for my taste
jgaudon
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Newfoundland, Canada
Joined: May 08, 2008
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 12 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 05:33 AM UTC
I give you.. my candidate for .. Uncle of the Year...PAUL GILES!!!!!!!

Awesome job.. For a speed build, that is just too good.

Joe
madmax5510
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Hunedoara, Romania
Joined: May 06, 2008
KitMaker: 354 posts
Armorama: 343 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 07:38 AM UTC
In my country, many modelers say i am too fast[and my work too bad because of that speed],but you really amazed me.Is very hard to believe that it took so little time.
You did a great work on this Shermie,congrats...

All the best,
Dani
tread_geek
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 09:13 AM UTC
FAST!!! INDEED! Especially considering it was a Dragon kit. Very nice outcome for a "speed" build. I'd like to see you or anyone try to build it that fast while using all the miniscule PE that comes with it. Great job and sentiment.

Cheers,
Jan
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 10:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Paul,

Happy Birthday to your nephew! I'm at work so I can't see your model but I wanted to say that what you've done is very important in his young eyes. I remember watching my father putting together a car model for me. It was a 1940's Ford coupe, Monogram I believe. I thought it was so neat. I've been modeling ever since. As a matter of fact I recently found the same kit at my LHS and plan on putting it together in memory of my dad. I'm sure your nephew will be so thrilled to get his hands on that British tank. The look on his little face will be something to treasure for a lifetime.

-Eddy


Hi Eddy,

I delivered it this afternoon and his face was a picture. He was 10 today which, I reckon, is the right age to begin modelling. So here's hoping he'll be inspired. Judging by his reaction I can see a future Braille Scale affectionado in the making.

All the best,

Paul
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 10:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

It came out very well,good amount of weathering for my taste


Hi Anthony,

Glad you like it, so did my nephew.

All the best,

Paul
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 10:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I give you.. my candidate for .. Uncle of the Year...PAUL GILES!!!!!!!

Awesome job.. For a speed build, that is just too good.

Joe


Hi Joe,

Thanks for the accolade and the kind comments. The lad was well pleased, worth all the effort. I have, however, asked him to give me a little more time if he wants another next year!

All the best,

Paul
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 10:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text

In my country, many modelers say i am too fast[and my work too bad because of that speed],but you really amazed me.Is very hard to believe that it took so little time.
You did a great work on this Shermie,congrats...

All the best,
Dani


Hi Dani,

I don't usually build this fast, although I am a quick builder normally. It was a fine kit and I was impressed by the quality. Says volumes about Dragon quality.

All the best,

Paul
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 10:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

FAST!!! INDEED! Especially considering it was a Dragon kit. Very nice outcome for a "speed" build. I'd like to see you or anyone try to build it that fast while using all the miniscule PE that comes with it. Great job and sentiment.

Cheers,
Jan


Hi Jan,

This was a totally OOB (nothing added and no modifications whatsoever) build, I didn't use the PE as that would have taken a lot more time. The kit is a fine example of the advanced moulding technology used by Dragon and was a joy to build. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

All the best,

Paul
Korpse
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: October 06, 2009
KitMaker: 382 posts
Armorama: 378 posts
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 01:05 PM UTC
Hi Paul

Good work ! People who don't model don't realise how much time and effort goes into a build - I think they see it as being small, and equate small with quick/easy, your brother would not have realised it was a tall order to finish it so quickly.

I wouldnt worry about reverse tracks, plenty of wartime pictures of german vehicles with reversed tracks, even with just one track reversed, seems possible this could occur on allied stuff too, and its for a youngster, not a pontificating grey haired expert.

If the nephew starts modelling you just have to make sure he doesnt start with any of the more 'challenging' kits, those reboxed matchbox kits with the dioramas might be just the thing.

I remember when I was 10 that 1/72nd seemed much bigger back then, about the size that 1/48 does now.

cheers
Neil
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 11:09 PM UTC
Hi Neil,

That's a good point you make, the Matchbox stuff (now Revell) is currently on offer in the Hobbycraft stores in the UK. I hope my brother (and his wife) are prepared to put up with the cost/mess/smell/occasional accident that comes with the hobby.

All the best,

Paul
vonHengest
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 04:09 AM UTC
Lol, I found out the hard way that small does NOT equal quick nor easy, and is in fact quite the reverse

Nice job Paul! How could that little gem not put a smile on a 10yr old boy's face?
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 01:19 PM UTC
Hi Jeremy,

The smile I got was worth all the effort, I should have taken a photo, it was priceless.

All the best,

Paul
weathering_one
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 07:43 AM UTC
What a nice sentiment for a build, and it looks good too and also being made so fast. I really like your subtle colour variations on the turret. Nicely done.

Regards,
AJ
spacewolfdad
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: May 23, 2010
KitMaker: 642 posts
Armorama: 593 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 01:16 PM UTC
Hi AJ,

Thanks for the comments. I was pleased with the result, I sprayed the vehicle at an oblique angle with a paler version of the base colour and this seemed to pick out the edges nicely. A bit of gentle drybrushings and jobs a good 'un.

All the best,

Paul
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