Very nice Bob. It is coming along really great. Can't wait to see it finished.

Left side stowage. Will start the right side next. I think I am going to go back after mounting the stowage and retouch the shadowing, and add more subtle streaking.

Periscopes damaged too.

Bob, just catching up with your fantastic build. I usually wait to comment till I'm up to date, but when I saw your box build out of wood, I just had to pipe in. Simply outstanding. Now I got to get back to your build thread.

Joel

Thanks Joel. Today I am working on making a picket pounder from plastic tubing and solder wire. Pretty easy. And I am working on the personal weapons of Sgt Smith and a few of the crew that were left behind when they were evacuated. And the right side stowage.

Bob

Started the small arms weapons and picket pounder and hung the right side stowage. Added the tarp over the orange cones but have not pin washed and weathered it yet. Some more straps to be added to for the packs over the ratchet straps.

And some metalizing done too but probably not apparent in these photos.

Bob, getting closer to the finish. Each update holds even more details then the last. Like I said before, a truly amazing modeling effort.
Joel

OK, I weathered the tarp and the ratchet straps and started the .50 cal. I used the Tasca MG detailed with the Eduard PE. In using the nicely done plastic Tasca MG belt you still need to manipulate (with heat) the belt in a step fashion in order to get it down into the ammo can.

She is looking awesome Bob. Great job.

Bob, truly outstanding build.

Thanks guys. I fixed the squished belt guide on the .50 - I had flattened it too much. The portion towards the outside should be raised up. I also added some PE chain to the MG. Today I will work on painting up the small arms. Then the last thing will be to do the hands/arms of the Sgt Smith figure firing the MG.

Bob

Weapons... There were two guys in the back, one with a SAW and one with an M4. Sgt Smith had an M4 with a pistol grip on the front. The TC had an M16 with a grenade launcher. All were left behind. I am not sure where I really want to put Smith's M4 so right now it is on the pioneer box.

Robert,

Really coming along now, but where are the grips and trigger on the M2 HB?

I have to deal with the figure that will be firing the MG. His hands will be around the grips. I will paint them up first and then attach the hands/grips to the gun. Then I need to line that up with the figure's arms. There will be a lot of adjustments and dry fitting between the hands and the figure. I want to make it look like he is really gripping the MG handgrips and not just touching the grips.

Robert,

Duhh! I obviously need to just go to bed instead of opening my mouth and removing all doubt.

This is starting to look better every update!! Nice effect on the periscope.

One thing, it looks like the feed cover of the M2 .50 is upside down

Hi Gijs. I will look into that. Thanks.

MG fixed. Right side skirt fixed. After consulting with the TC I moved the weapons. And I added a little bit of blood on the TC hatch and troop hatch from the mortar strike.

Simply outstanding.
Joel

Some tweaks. I added rain streaks, some scratches, and fixed the bumper code on the front. I have been painting the hands for the MG and will mount them to the back when they are dry. Then comes the arms for the TC.

Every post is more impressive than the last. Keep em coming.

Robert
It's coming along great!!! All of your details and weather
streaking are an added plus to an outstanding piece. You really are doing a great build. Keep it up. The finished track
will be an accurate presentation. Good Job.

Rob;
Looks amazing. Colors are really expressive without being overdone. Are the straps all foil or something else? Cheers

Very nice. It is looking great.

Robert,
I know I keep on saying this, but each update is just that much better then the last one. I've been modeling for more then 50 years, and your effort is truly up to the highest IPMS National standards.

Joel

Ha ha, we shall see about that!

Damon, the straps are a mix. The ones on the sides are paper. They needed to be really long, and threaded into the very nice PE ratchets. I considered tape but that would have been too cumbersome in my opinion with the threading part. I also used paper to tie in the rucksack straps onto the ratchet straps to make that more realistic - so they are not 'magically' hanging. Paper straps dangle from the bottom of the rucksacks too.

The straps up on the roof needed connections points so I used Eduard PE straps from one of their US vehicle sets. I again used paper straps for the pioneer box with some PE detail.

Straps on the front are paper and PE. Eduard has a nice buckle and strap set for the front of M113s.

On the rear I used Eduard PE again for the water can and missing can on the other side.

Thanks everybody for the comments. I have to finish the TC and when this goes into the dio I will finish it off with pigments for the final dusting phase.

Bob