Some minor progress again this week as I finish up some other stuff that's keeping me busy. I did get all the suspension units built and after trying a couple of color samples I decided to stay with steel on the bulkhead clamps. I didn't like white and I found it hard to imagine the factory spending time and primer on something like that during war time construction. So steel it is!

That completes Step 1 in the instructions, now on to Step 2, building and painting the fuel tanks. Two of them require the attachment of a top shelf. Here you can see one has been attached so far.

There was a minor quality control issue with the large springs. Some were far too long and would not allow the shock shaft to stay inside the upper reservoir. I had to clip a few turns off some of them.

Looks great Jason! I really enjoyed my Emil build.



Jeff

Hi guys,

Still working on the suspension & wheels

Looks a bit painful John.. Good luck!

On with the bridge superstructure, I have used the WEM etched life raft racks, and for ease of handling attached them to their platforms whilst still on the sprue.



The port side platforms added, along with their railings, (although once section appears to have gone walkabout)



The starboard platforms added, along with the chaff launchers on the bridge level, (paintwork still needs a touch up here and there)



Si

It is... just 8 to go. Still needs some paint too..

John,
thats the problem of making a tank wich I can´t write...

The Emil is nearly done, got the decals on, some drybrushing to highlight certain parts. And then a coat of AK interactive Panzer grey filter. This stuff really gives some depth to dull looking grey!

Then I used some Ak Panzer grey / green wash and streaking paint for Panzer grey (also by AK interactive)
This was the first time I had ever tried grime streaks and was happy with the results.


View from the back:


Time for some mild rust streaks and some light mud on the running gear and hull.

Only have the pioneer tools to paint and a few little touch ups on bits and it will be done

Now how was the mud created? I like that!

Seeing your build makes me want to get another Emil... it was a fun build and yours is shaping up real nice!




Jeff

Nice one James, I also like the mud

John those wheels must be never ending



Paul

Very nice Emil Jason, the mud and weathering are great.

My least favourite part of any build done (and a reminder why I rarely build post WW2 ships) the decals are on.



for the funnel I used the etched coronets rather than the decals. I first thought wrongly trumpeter had made an error with the Invicta shields as they had the white horse of Kent facing the same way, so it would be facing forward on one side of the funnel, but aft on the other, after checking pictures of the real thing, this is in fact correct.



The details to the bridge deck level have been added, railings, lifebouys and signal lamps (I used the kit supplied ones, firstly there are 4 supplied and secondly they are 3 dimensional) railings also added (starboard side the fit is a bit iffy, but that may just be me.



And fitted in place on the hull.



Si

@ Jason, nice target mate!

@ Simon, did you know WEM make a brass set for these Type 78s and a different forward gun turret in resin so you can build a correct Montrose.. Looking very good though,

Cheers
Warren

@ Jeff, the mud was created with various brown shades of artist's soft pastels. I use a sharp craft knife to scrape some of the pastel into a palette. I do this with a few browns and you get a fine powder with some small chunks in it. Then I load up a brush with turpetine, dip into the pigments and apply to the running gear. For even chunkier mud, add some baking powder to the pastel dust as well.
And then a light spray of artist's fixative to keep them in place and protect them when applying matt varnish.

Warren & paul, thanks very much

Simon, That frigate looks great like how it's all coming together!

Thanks Jason,

Thanks Warren, I am hoping to pick up the turret at Telford for the Montrose I have hiding in the loft. (don't tell Mrs Duster, she doesn't sometimes understand the need for more than one of a class)

Si

Well I am calling this one finished
I hope this will be my first campaign of many, seeing we still have plenty of time left. I will probably build my Stryker command vehicle for this one as well.
Just have to finish up a M113 Vulcan SPAAG first for the unfinished business campaign.
Anyway some pics of the finished Sturer Emil:
I have also uploaded four photos to the campain gallery.










Will definitely follow all your progress on the epic builds that are taking place.

(Puts on his picky-bugger, rivet-counter hat) You forgot the flat clear coat over the decal on the end of the barrel.. -10 points for that..

Please take that as the ribbibg it is meant to be. I am not a rivet counter by any stretch of the imagination and your build is an excellent example of weathering.

I didn't know it had actually got into combat but one of the prototypes made it that far and reportedly did a good job except for the fact that, from Wikipedia..

'This Sfl. (self-propelled vehicle) is not sufficiently maneuverable for employment in a Vorausabteilung (lead unit). The limited traverse makes it necessary to turn the entire vehicle to aim at targets. This takes considerable time when done repeatedly, especially off-road because of the heavy vehicle and weak engine. In addition, because of its armor layout - only thick in the front and 50 mm lower in the back - it was built for frontal use. The vehicle can be shot into from the side and rear. Employment in a Vorausabteilung requires the ability to quickly engage targets in every direction.'
'The gun has proven itself capable of supporting an infantry attack from an open firing position by direct fire as in the Szczarar crossing. It is not possible to observe our own shots because of large dust clouds raised in front of the gun. The Sfl. must alternatively observe each other's fire or an observation post must be established off to one side, manned by a Richtkreis-Uffiz. (gunner) familiar with the crew. Because of its size, lack of mobility, and large dust cloud raised when firing, in the future the Sfl. will only shoot Sprenggranaten (HE) by indirect fire.'
'Up to now, the Sfl. has been employed in its specialized tasks - engaging concrete bunkers by direct fire and engaging heavy tanks in coordination with other Panzerabwehrwaffen (anti-tank weapons). Its high penetration ability appears to be suitable for this.'
'No specific problems have occurred with the engine or transmission. The steering brakes are overstressed. Bolts in the steering slide of one steering brake have torn out three times and the brake bands have had to be changed twice because the rivets were over-heated.'

And I thought it was just another paper-panzer..

Cheers
Warren

LOL
I am still waiting on some flat varnish to arrive in the mail.

Thanks for the information, one of these did rack up 22 kills on the ostfront before being captured. The only one in existence is at the Kubinka tank museum in Russia.
Sound like they had a lot of mechanical problems though!

Hi Jose, I see your getting close to the painting stage ,
so I thought I'd try and confuse you some more as to to camo choice . I have checked some ref. books of mine and found the following pics:

KV2 the top pic could be using red brown over the russian green-



KV 2 the top pic is is winter white washed, but the bottom one is using red brown and possibly a sand colour-



KV 2 both pics the same vehicle, red brown definitely and sand over russian green?



I think this is just russian green with the balken kreuz-



I hope this isn't to much confusion



Paul

Jason, Emil looks great, excellent job there,

On with the bridge roof details.

The forward type 911 fire control radar assembled.



The foremast is a kit in itself, the basic assembly ready for a quick spray.



The foremast completed, except for the aerial spreader that angles aft and up.



The mast and fire control fitted to the bridge roof.



On with the central superstructure section next.

Si

Finished the small wheels.. still need to touch up some paint.



Love the Emil !!

Thanks for the references Paul !!!

Great work there Simon !!

Not a lot of work to show. I'm probably going to take a break from this one until after the Holidays.

I had textured the turret using liquid cement and my fingertip. I didn't want a heavy texture.


I went ahead and decided to pre-paint the insides of the roadwheels. I went ahead and painted the nooks and crannies of the running gear as well.




And that's where I am for now.

I finally have a chance to post a little progress on my two entries.

Il-76:
This being my first Trumpeter aircraft kit, I have to say that I'm highly disappointed. The fit is absolutely abysmal!
There are huge gaps in fuselage sections, and the way some of the areas are engineered is questionable. For example, the "shoulder" into which the wings are mounted should have been designed as a single piece that drops into place, rather than just part of the fuselage halves. The resulting seam is going to be a chore to get rid of because the fuselage tops don't align very well. There is a ton of nice panel engraving that's going to need to get rescribed as a result. It's been probably a decade since I've worked on such a poorly fitting kit.

All that aside, I have a little bit of progress made, but all the filling and sanding is really going to lengthen time frame for this build.


Nose weights added to the insides of the fuselage halves. With all the cockpit and navigator window glazing and the lack of any interior parts provided, I decided to spray the insides flat black to cut down on the amount of light bouncing around inside.



A couple shots showing the gobs of filler I'm needing on the fuselage. The engines and wings are only slightly better fitting:





Panzer 38(t):
I'm having much better luck with the Panzer 38(t).

So far, I have the tracks together and some other odds & ends. I've done a little more work since I took these shots, and will try and post an update this weekend.

So far, the 38(t) has been a wonderful kit and the exact opposite of my experience with the Il-76.

@Bill The 38T looks awesome and should look even better when painted and weathered. cannot believe the amount of putty required on the aircraft though, with the excellent mould making technology now available. There really isn't any excuse for any manufacturer to make kits that don't fit together properly!

@Alex & John, some great progress being made by you guys

@Simon, WOW top work mate!

I will be back in a week or so to build another kit for this campaign if I may.
Have to build the missus a 56 Chevy and then I will start my Trumpeter Stryker command vehicle. May get some etch to go with it as well.
Cheers and keep up the great building!

@Jason: Thanks a lot for your comment, the Emil looks great!!!!!

A little more update...

More updates....