Hello everyone,

It's me again with another Binge Build thread. I've worked on a couple of artillery related projects and I definitely got the bug. I will make this my personal campaign thread for all those artillery kits in my stash. Working on kits from this subject will make me quite an arty-san!

For starters, I'll post the ones I worked on and completed last year, 2019. The first one would be Trumpeter's 1/35 Soviet B-4 M1931 203mm Howitzer.


By the way, if some of pictures look familiar, I probably have posted them on a group build thread somewhere or you have been to my Facebook blog page.

This is actually my very first 1/35 artillery kit. I chose this one because it just looks mean and green, especially when I saw a picture of one on the streets of Berlin. Side note: I highly recommend Cornelius Ryan's book, The Last Battle. If you are not familiar with this author, he wrote two other ones that became successful movies, The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far. I hope I get to see a cinematic version of The Last Battle someday. Anyway, back to the kit. There are little or no flash and the details are crisp. I did encounter some gaps that are difficult to fill, which I will be indicate later.

Here are gaps that I filled. The following are the easy ones.






And here are the difficult ones.




I'll have to find a better way of filling those. As with my other Binge Build threads, I'll be posting some more pictures later. I'm looking forward to hear from you guys.

Thanks,

-Joseph

Regarding the difficult gaps, I tried a technique I learned online. I shaved plastic from the sprue, placed it on the gap and dabbed Tamiya glue on it. And, it filled up the gaps very well as you can see. I was happy with the results. Here are the before and after shots.




Here is a picture of a gap that was filled using the Vallejo putty. This is the platform under the seat. I saw from an online walk around picture that this is made from one continuous sheet.


With the gap issue solved, the build phase for the B-4 is done. As you can see the pictures, I decided to replace the barrel with one from RB Models. Great looking barrel! I have also decided to have this B-4 in the towed configuration.















Thanks,

Joseph

Very cool. Always liked the look of that piece, will have to build one myself one day. Unfortunately I don't have much advice on how to fix those seams, maybe try a water based putty like Vallejo's and wipe away the excess with some paper towel around a toothpick?
Edit: second post with the fix was posted as I typed this, seems like you figured it out fine

Looking forward to the end result

Hi James, thanks for commenting. Yes, I did find a suitable solution for the gap and I am happy with the result. I do like the look of this piece that's why I selected it. I'll provide some more updates on the B-4 later. For now, I'll post an update on the second kit I worked on. After all, I should not include "collection" on the title if this was only for one kit.

I forgot to mention that the reason I took on artillery subjects was because my local scale modeler club, SoCalAMPS, have elected to do an artillery group build for last year’s IPMS OrangeCon. We voted on this category. My second artillery project was Trumpeter’s 1/35 Soviet S-51 Self-Propelled Gun.

I liked this particular vehicle for its uniqueness. The mounted gun is exactly the same one on the B-4. Makes it easy for me I guess, I am already familiar with the build. The only thing new for me here is the hull. I found this a great and easy kit to build. I did not encounter any flash although there was one piece, the antenna, that was very fragile. As you will see in my progress shots, I ended up replacing it. Regarding the complicated gaps, the only ones I encountered are on the saddle. By the time I worked on this kit, I’ve already completed the build phase for the B-4. So, I already have a solution for that issue. Here are pictures when I was building this, starting with the antenna I replaced with a scratch built one.

For the rear of the hull, I replaced the plastic handle bars thinking I’d break them as I handle the kit. Also, on the picture, I replaced the tow cables with those from Eureka XXL.

The rear deck ladder was a little challenging but it can be done. Here is a before shot.

And after.

Here is the ladder installed.


For the gun, I used the RB Model barrel again. Very nice looking and easy to install.


Somewhat visible in this picture, you can see the gap on the saddle has been fixed.

The track assembly for this kit is probably one of the easiest that I have encountered. What helped is that these are not individual track links but sections. So, the sag was molded in. I wish all tracks are like these.

Thanks,
Joseph

Hello all,

This build thread will incorporate trucks/tractors that tow the artillery pieces. Here's one that I am worked on early last year, the Trumpeter 1/35 SA-2 Guidline Missile on Transport Trailer.


I am planning to incorporate some Eduard PE sets for this kit. We'll see how it goes.


I worked on the engine and the chassis. Here's how I far I got.






More progress shots later.

-Joseph

Speaking of tractors, I am working on Trumpeter's Voroshilovets kit.


I plan to use this to tow the B-4. Here are the latest pictures. I am almost done with the build phase.










For this kit, I encountered some warping underneath the bed. I was able to fix it my using a file and forcing it to fit. Glad I didn't break the chassis.

-Joseph

Russian stuff, ugh...but I do admire your build binge, and as an old artillery modeler myself, I have to admit the gun tractor combination has a bit of nostalgic “charm” for me, even if it is Russian. More so than any German stuff has in fact. I guess I just like those old klunky quirky lash-ups. Keep up the good work— looking forward to seeing that combination finished.
VR, Russ

Very nice work on the gap filling. Looking good!

Hi Robert, thanks! I'm very pleased to cover up that difficult gap!




Thanks Russ, I do have other non-Russian artillery kits and the period covered is diverse. Here is one of them, the AFV Club LVTH6A1.


The finish I am planning for this is the urban camo scheme of the Philippine Marines.






-Joseph

Primer has been applied on the B-4.











-Joseph

Joseph, what primer are you using?
VR, Russ

Hi Russ,

I used two primers. First one is the Mr Hobby Metal Primer which I applied on to the metal parts (the barrel and the PEs) only. I let this dry for 24 hours and then, I apply Badger's Stynylrez all around. This primer is very easy to work with, provides great coverage and does not dull down the details. I highly recommend both primers.

-Joseph

Here is another Russian kit that I am working on for this thread, it is Trumpeter's AT-S Tractor and ML-20 combination kit.


This is my entry for the Trumpeter Mark VI campaign. My format will now follow the one I've set on the Tiran 4Sh build. If I don't forget to take pictures, I'll post the parts layout before they are glued together and then another picture of the parts in place. I think it makes the build interesting. To start with, these are the road wheels. Each of which consists of 4 parts. 8 of these are needed.


Cleaned and glued.


The idler is simple with only two parts each.


And these are for the sprockets.


These are the parts for the hull.


And parts are now in place.


Completed page 1 of the instruction. These are all the parts that I worked on.


Once this is done, the next model in this kit is the ML-20 which I will complete in towed configuration.

-Joseph

Build phase for the S-51 is almost done. Here is how it looks so far.
















As can be seen, I have not installed the railings for fear that I will break them off during handling for the photoshoot. I will install them prior to applying primer.

-Joseph

Here is another one of my projects for the "I like Big GUNS.." campaign. It is the Trumpeter ML-20 kit.


I've completed the build phase and here's how it looks.










It is currently awaiting primer application.
-Joseph

Here is the S-51 with primer.






-Joseph