Take Five - Part 2

Back in September I introduced the MiniArt Russian Tank Crew. At that stage I had assembled them and had primed them. Over the last couple of evenings I have painted them. At this stage I should say that there are certain things in life that people just have a natural ability at or learn through practice. Painting figures is something that certain modelers excel on. Unfortunately I am not one of those. I have read books, watched videos and practiced on figures but I still struggle and my efforts don't stand close scrutiny so excuse the somewhat poor picture. Hopefully if you look from a distance (several yards probably) and squint they may look just about passable! Anyway, still some more to do to them but they should hopefully be finished and off my workbench in the next few days. I am hoping that they may be good enough to pose with the T34 Tank diorama (picture below) that I built earlier this year but I will wait and see how they finally look once finished.

I also did a bit on the Dapol Service Station so the windows and doors (the workshop door even opens and closes) are now in and some weathering of the roof has taken place but still more to do. It is surprising just how involved these kits can get.

Italeri T34 finished!

Something unusual for me in that I have finished something - must be a subconscious New Year resolution although I did start this kit in January 2020!

Although revealed in the last post here are some, I hope better pictures - click on the pictures to see a larger version.

The interesting part about this kit is that it does have an interior and although not mentioned in the instructions it is possible to leave the top part of the hull loose so that the top half can be removed to see the interior. There is not a lot of room in there and the floor was covered in ammunition boxes which lessened the space for the crew even more.

If you want to get a really good understanding of the T34 and its anatomy there are two good videos on YouTube that I found. 

Inside the Chieftain's Hatch T34/85 episode 1 does an external walk around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRtj_TSOHjw 

episode 2 covers the interior 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTnS0XS2al8 

I have no connection with this site but I learnt so much about this tank from these two videos.

From a build point of view not too much to note and there are a number of reviews on the net by far better modelers than me. However I would highlight that the rear engine hatch will not fit into its opening unless it is reduced in size - I left mine in the open position as the tank is supposed to be undergoing maintenance. The other thing is that there is no mention in the instructions regarding the turret rotation ring. It is a self evident fit and without it the turret cannot be located properly into the hull. The kit does include either molded tracks or the rubber band type. I went for the molded ones and they seemed to work well. The base is a piece of Styrofoam pizza base ( I have a stock of these as it seems pizzas in the interests of the environment now come on a cardboard base - good job I like pizza!) with the road stones scribed by using the end of a round file. Painted and with some static grass I think it looks good. The oil drum, oil can and tools come from the Italeri Field Workshop kit 0419S which is a great source of diorama accessories and as mine cost 50p from a club stand at a model railway exhibition great value!

With no connection to any of the firms involved the photograph below shows most of the products used to finish the model. I do like the Tamiya Extra Thin Cement and it is less aggressive on the plastic parts than other solvents if you get too much around the part. Paints from Vallejo with the main colour being 71017 Russian Green. The interior was painted during construction and was masked off for the final painting. I did not prime the model which is unusual for me but sprayed the green straight from the bottle which is a great advantage of the Model Air paints. A second coat which was lightened with white was sprayed over the horizontal areas to give a contrast. After a coat of matt varnish weathering started with coating the lower parts of the hull where mud would accumulate Mig Turned Earth Ground acrylic mud  Ref A.Mig-2103. This was then followed up by weathering powders from MIG and Ammo once the decals had been added. The canvas roll on the back of the turret is a piece of kitchen towel painted, rolled up and fastened with some very fine wire.

I think the kit is a good one and with some care in building and painting you can create a model to be proud of. Have you built this kit and if so how did it go? Tell me in the comments section.

Happy New Year and the first post of 2021!

Happy New Year!

I did say in my first post that this would be a diary of my modelling activity and some six months later I am making my second post. To be frank not a lot happened modelling wise in that six months. All sorts of things happening in my life - none of it Covid thank goodness - so modelling was something that took a holiday until the past few days. Hopefully I will have more time for model making in general so hopefully this blog may have a few more entries to it than in 2020!

The Volvo FH16 has made no further progress apart from re-doing the fuel tank which just did not mount to the chassis in a realistic way but more of that another time. The 009 layout has not progressed any further but I have finished the Italeri 1/35 scale T34!

Not the best of photos but gives an idea of where I got to on this and in real life it, to me at least looks good and is better than my last model which is always something positive!

I will do some better pictures and go though some of the details of what I did and used on this kit in the near future. 

As the start of a new year gives that opportunity to make a resolution to change something in your life looking at the junk in the background of the photograph above does make me think I need to be tidier and better organised so that will be something to aim for this year. Have you made any model making related resolutions for 2021 and if so how are they going even at this early stage of the year? Leave a comment if you would like to detail yours.

A well belated start to this blog!

Well this should have started in January 2018. For all sorts of reasons it didn't, which is probably more down to me putting off until tomorrow!

Why am I doing this? Mostly as a diary. Looking at models I have built over the years I begin that thought process of when did I make that? In my case it is probably more when did I start that - I am a great one for starting projects but not too good at finishing. Too many distractions of new projects! However if anyone is reading this and what comes after I hope it is of some interest? I know I find reading other peoples blogs interesting and in many cases inspirational.

So as an introduction here are some of my current projects.

The 1/24 scale Italeri Volvo FH16 Globetrotter. Retrieved from the loft, I started this in October 2019. Bought as a part built glue bomb on eBay some years ago (can't remember when but do remember it was only £10) the engine and chassis had been built and had to be unpicked and is now at the stage of the chassis and engine almost complete and the cab interior waiting to go into the cab and then the finishing touches. No major modifications apart from trying to put a more accurate cab underside in place. The photos below probably explain better then my words do!

Italeri T34/84 in 1/35 scale. A Christmas present that I started in early January 2020. My Dad died in late January so it has been on one side like most of my projects as I deal with all the usual matters following such an event. The kit itself has an engine and interior and I have got as far as having completed the lower hull with those parts installed and weathered Again pictures explain better.

Lastly for this first post there is my 009 layout. Baseboard built at the start of the lockdown and track laid and initial scenery started. The idea is that there will be a second matching board. The initial board will have some a quarry served by a siding. Not an imaginative design but I do enjoy on occasions just watching trains go round - something very therapeutic! Hopefully this will continue yo progress faster than my normal glacial speed! In the meantime here is a picture.

Today's modelling will be painting the fuel tank for the Volvo and some old Triang fencing that I found in my box of railway bits which will hopefully find a home on the 009 layout - must think!of a name for it!