I'm still plugging away at my Italian M13/40 Early Production kit bash:

Armorama:: M13/40 Early Production Kit Bash

I'm putting the Model Victoria #4081 "Gilera LTE 500 Motorcycle with Bersagliere North Africa" on the vignette with the tank.

The "Gilera LTE 500" is a very nice little kit - all resin and photo-etched. It does require a little bit of scratch building to add some fender braces, make some coil springs, and to "plumb" the bike.

The figure is quite nicely sculpted and fits the bike like a glove.

Here're a couple of pics of the bike after construction and before painting.





You might notice the bike doesn't have a saddle. This is because the figure is sculpted with the seat for a perfect fit. (The kit does include another seat to build as a stand-alone bike, and Model Victoria does sell it that way.)

The primer red is Floquil's lacquer based Special Oxide Red which I sprayed on the larger resin parts before I cleaned them up completely and assembled them. This helped me to see all of the details for cleaning up.

I'm working on the figure right now - making a minor change in his pose to fit my vignette idea with the M13/40 and crew. I'll post some more pics as I make progress.

Happy modeling!

Nice work Mike.

Looks great Mike.

Al

Mike, outstanding as usual.

Nice work on the wiring and scratch building.

I look forward to seeing it in person, perhaps at the store today?

I would have thought even the Italians would have a 'kick stand' on the bike and not a screw and rod?

Keith.

Thanks, Dave and Alan!

(BTW: Dave, what's the "Consigliere" do around here on Armorama anyways? Am I gonna have to call you "Boss" or "Don Dave" when I bump into you at the next show!? )




Thanks, Keith! (Had a good time hanging around the hobby shop today!)

For everyone else, the bike was too delicate to hold it normally while I was trying to build it. It was kind of like building a spider web. I felt like every time I touched it something was going to break off, so I fabricated the "screw holder."

It's made of a (#6 I think) brass wood screw soldered onto a piece of brass tubing. It's screwed into a small tapered hole drilled into the bottom of the engine crankcase with the tip of an X-acto knife. I'll fill the hole when the bike is finished and before putting it on the vignette.

Anyways, I've made a little bit of incremental progress and gotten the base color sprayed on:



I started with Floquil's lacquer based Model Railroad Colors Pullman Green as a primer over the resin and PE. (This was after I washed the model - carefully! - in warm soapy water, rinsed, and allowed it to dry over night.)

After allowing the dark green primer to dry, I used Tamiya XF-65 Field Gray for the first post-shading highlight.

This was followed by Tamiya XF-73 JGSDF Dark Green for the second highlight, and finally, I added some XF-55 Deck Tan to lighten the XF-73 even more for the last highlights.

Happy modeling!

Mike thanks for dropping in and bringing the Bike.

I really enjoyed the close up and personal, (almost hands on) look at the beastie. As you say, it even looks fragile to me and you certainly have enhanced it with your usual hard work and attention to detail.

I look forward to seeing more as you progress.

Sorry I won't be at the meeting next week.

Keith.

Hi Mike. That bike is a work of art. Looks incredible. Can´t wait for more.

Still blows my mind.

Thanks, Trevor!

I plan to get back working on this project soon. I had hoped to finish it for the Atlanta AMPS February show, but that's not gonna happen now, so my new target is for the AMPS International Show in April.

At any rate, maybe I can get some new up-dates posted soon on this and the M13/40 project.

Happy modeling!

Well, I've just finished the figures for this vignette, to include the Model Victoria motorcycle rider for this bike -

Armorama::Italian Ariete Tankers North Africa

Some progress on the bike, finally, so here are a couple of quick photos to catch you up:









I still have more weathering to do on the bike. So far, I just have the pre-shaded base coat on. The details have been painted and the decals applied. (Note the rear license plate numbers are painted on the relief etched PE plate. The front numbers are decals, though.)

I've done some pin washes and chipping, but I still have more dirt and grim to add!

The pack isn't glued on yet, I just wanted to see how it would look.

Also, the blue painters tape circles over the tail and head lights are loose on their edges on purpose. I want to keep the very centers of the lenses clean, but I also want "dingy" shadows around their edges. Hopefully, this will give me the effect I'm looking for. (Guess I'll see when I take the masks off! )

Anyways, more to follow as progress is made.

Happy modeling!

Excellent job!!!, I like it

Omar

mike great work. are you going to bring it to the next meating ???
dave

@Omar: Thank you, sir!

@Dave V.:

Oh, yea... I'll have the bike and figures at the next meeting along with (hopefully!) the M13/40 with some real progress on its finish.

BTW: I take it you survived your vacation and are back at home safe and sound?

Everybody missed you at the AMPS regional show in Atlanta, but I'm sure you'll be catching up on things there in April for the really BIG show!

Mike.
We all knew the pack wasn't glued down cos it wasn't secured by any visible means and I know you wouldn't miss that sort of detail

But joking apart, it really is taking shape and on the downhill run mate and should I ever get back to work after this flu I look forward to seeing it up close and in person.

keep the updates coming.

Keith.

Well, except for a shot of Dull Coat and some touch-ups for the weathering after I mount this in the vignette, it's pretty much done -









I'll post some final pics of the vignette once it's finished.

Happy modeling!

Oh I can see the title already "Returned for insufficient Postage"

Beautiful Job Mike and as always I am in awe of your amazing build and painting skills Sir. My hat is off to you!

Keith.

Awesome Mike.....just awesome! Can't wait to see it all together and based. I have a feeling you can't wait either! Finish strong brother!!!

Scott

Thanks guys!

I hope to make a good start paining the tank today. I made a pretty long list yesterday of the basic finishing steps for the M13/40, so for the next week or so, I'll just be working through the list, checking items off of it.

Happy modeling!

Mike, the figure and motorcycle are really really nice. Easily my favorite piece I've seen of yours. Can't wait to see it in person.

Thanks, Jesse!

If all goes well, I hope to have the vignette done in time for the AMPS International Show in April.

I'll see ya there!

Well, almost done with this one...

Just another few shots of Dull Coat tomorrow on some glue spots left over from final assembly, add the name plate, and mount the terrain module onto the finished decorative base.

I'll post a couple more shots of the final work, but thought I'd up-date now with a last WIP.



Happy Modeling!

Blown away I iz Mike.

The groundwork looks better than 1st class. As always the colors and presentation of the story are obvious the moment one looks at it....

Keith.

Thanks, Keith!

I've really appreciated your support and encouragement throughout. I was reviewing this project while putting some notes together and realized that I've been working on it for over 16 months.

I must have been killing you guys in the club with the excruciatingly slow progress!

The wiring on the bike would have taken me at least 16 months...no, I probably would have given up on that part of the project long before that. Just plain awesome Mike. Can't wait to examine it up close.

Scott

mike outstanding can't wait to see this next week
dave