A few more u[dates to my Gepard build.....





Just the turret




had a go at re-scibing the doors on the back


the tracks were a bi#ch to join, super glue wouldnt work on them, in the end i had to go old school and heat up a screwdriver


also on an anti-aircraft track, but started way before the campaign did, i have a kugelblitz on the bench






my first attempt at freehand camouflage spray painting, finally found some paints that i can work with, Mr Hobby Aqueous colour

Hi Colin, looks good! Are you going to paint the tracks in place on the Gepard?

Looks great on both builds, Colin. What markings and color scheme will you use on the gepard?

Hi John,
no, the wheels arent glued on yet so the tracks are removeable.

Jesper.. i'm still toying with the cheetah pattern on this one, will be something different

Gepard looks great.

A bit more progress on HMS Dragon,

Bridge bulkheads fitted, and test fitted in place.



bulwarks and roof fiited and the bridge glued down, the fit issue was the bridge roof.



Filling started.



More soon

Si

Hello,
I see a lot of great models will soon join you.
I have a question, you know, maybe if someone produces a barrel 88mm Flak 36/37 Tamiya?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Paweł

Hi,

I am starting late after surviving a 3-month sinus infection concurrently with a 6-week bout of bronchitis.
I will be starting with the Academy M163A1 Vulcan.
.
Since the 15th I have finished the basic hull


My original photo shows two Eduard PE sets to use. I had a brain fart with the interior/exterior PE sets are for the Italeri kit, while I have the Academy kit. I could make some of the PE work, but I will save it for a Italeri kit. The Academy kit does not have an interior so one PE can;t be used anyway.
As fast as this build is going I plan to build the AFV Club M7301A1 Chaparral to complete the 1970s-80s US Army air defense battalion "twins.

So much variety in this campaign! Fantastic!

Some really great-looking WIP!

I hope I can get my work bench re-established soon! You guys have really inspired me!

Jeff, welcome onboard. Good start and hope you are feeling better.

The M163 looks good. I built the Italeri back in the day with the eduard sets. It was a nightmare since the turret ends up being almost all etch since the Italeri stuff was so basic. The Academy already looks so much better.

Hi Jeff,

I have that exact same kit! Those tracks scare me.

Apologies, put the wrong picture in the middle.

This is the one that shows the poor fit of the bridge roof.



cheers.

Si

Jesper, thanks, feeling much better.
Steve, There are some issues with the Academy kit. The half molded shocks, but they will be hard to see behind the large road wheels. Additionally, there are large gaps at tops and bottom of rear ramp.
John, The one issue with the tracks for M113 family is getting the correct sag on top. I commanded ten M113A1s as a scout platoon leader and we were always checking the track tension. Too loose and make a hard turn and watch the tracks pop off! never had it happen.

Below is work from Thursday. I finished the Vulcan and its mount


I put down base coat of NATO green, then masked for NATO black, using Tamiya spray cans.

I weathered the hull behind the suspension now as cantt get to after wheels are on. I needed to do some touch up after tape and putty rolls were removed.
LESSON LEARNED- use a clean surface to roll the putty, it will pick up any dire, old paint etc., which effects ability to stick model

John,
I know what you mean about being afraid of the kit tracks:
There are 65 blocks per side. Could try to fill dimples on only the track that will show: around sprocket and idler.
I went for a replacement pair. Haven't checked them for length. I will have to see what paint to use as a primer for the tracks.

Wow, I would go for replacement tracks as well. Those kit track links are basically useless.

Nice progress so far.

Yeah, scary. No replacements available here (that I know of) so I will have to do it the hard way.

Your build is looking great so far!

@Jeff

Nice build - the gun & mount looks awesome! I will be watching your progress with great interest.

I also have the same kit in the stash - terrified of the track after seeing that pic. As John mentioned, replacement tracks are not easy to come by in our neck of the woods. I guess there's going to have to be some 'old school' filling and sanding when I eventually get there.

Was there any fit issues or other problems that one should be aware of?

Regards,
Kobus

Thanks Jesper, John.
Kobus-only issue so far has been the back ramp at top and bottom. The ramp is not thick enough so about 1-2mm gap at top and bottom.

Hi Jeff

Thank you for the feedback - I'll keep an eye out for it.

Regards,
Kobus

Alternatively you could grind down the pads on the tracks to simulate worn pads. Coming along nicely.

Steve,

I have as little interest in grinding 130 track pads as I do filling the same.
But worn pads is a good idea, although in 19 months on a scout M113A1, I don't think we changed any worn pads. Had more with chucks of rubber missing. Rocks tear our chunks, turning circles in the motor pool wear down the pads

Every time I did a road march behind a gaggle of M113's we always saw all kinds of chunked rubber and whole thrown track pads.


I have done two Academy '113 series with lots of putty and grinding. Some of us take pride in being able to do stupid worthless things like that. I'm just too stupid not to. That whole mule-headed, "Just do it anyway" tank crewman mentality.

You just put out the sprues and put a dab of putty in each link. Let it dry and sand over the whole sprue. I usually sand down any link rubber track since it looks too unworn for me anyway.


Oh what am I talking about, I'm building a 60 year old Monogram kit out of the box with minimal changes to avoid angst and be lazy.

Okay, I've got one AAA machine in my stack, and it's the old Matchbox M16.

So, I'll be starting it in a month or so, and I'll post pics when I dig it out of the stash.

I've never done a campaign before, so this should be interesting.