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I'm dog sitting at my son's house for a couple of weeks so although I do not have access to my paints or books I am planning on a quick build of this Dragon M4A1 as used in the battle of El Alamein. Between dog walks I can clean up and glue the running gear together and get as far as possible before I need to add some paint. Here is the kit that has been in the stash for at least a decade it's a pity Dragon never included any figures but there is a lot of PE for the dust shields and mounting brackets for the decoy covers they used in the desert: The kit includes DS tracks of the smooth rubber pad type T51 so I will replace those with my last pack of AFV Club individual track links. So here goes for a quick mostly oob build. Just hope the dogs don't eat any bits.

Hi all, this is going to be my entry for this fine group build, a late M4A2 of 1st marine tank battalion on Peleliu. I’m going to be using the dragon kit for this build, mostly OOB but with a few additions: metal barrel, resin .30 cal for the commanders hatch and resicast wading stacks, plus some stowage and spare track links. Much as I dislike them I’m going to be using the DS tracks as my modelling time is limited so no indi links. And the main two reference books I’m going to be using. Now, I said mostly out of the box, but there are a few changes I need to make to make an accurate version of this. I’m going to be basing my Sherman loosely on this picture. Notice the tracks in opposite directions. The first 50 large hatch M4A2’s were built without the hull ventilator cover, as well as the early large hatch versions having the longer splash guards in front of the hull hatches, padded lifting rings on the rear hull and dry stowage with the sponson appliqué armour. These very early large hatch M4A2’s, or at least a lot of them, ended up in the marine tank battalions, as in the picture above on peleliu. so there’s a few changes I need to make to the hull before I start building, highlighted in the picture below. Can’t wait to get cracking on this.

Hobby 2000 is to rebox the Dragon (link) 1/48th Focke-Wulf Ta-152H kit. - ref. 48017 - Focke-Wulf Ta-152H-0 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/H2K48017 - ref. 48017 - Focke-Wulf Ta-152H-1 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/H2K48018 V.P.

One of the 'small' dragons recently released by GW

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 Dragon T-34/85. Painted with Mr.Hobby acrylics, photographed by Wolfgang Rabel. I added OKB Grigorov resin tracks and wheels and Golikov Project resin turret. Towing cable from Eureka. Decals from Kagero. Weathered with artist oils and real mud, mixed with white glue and pigments. Thanks for your interest. Roman

Evening all Now I'm back at the bench, and working through the backlog........I've decided to complicate it all by kicking off another build. I recently picked this up from a fellow member (cheers Rob ). Been looking for one for some time, always had an aim to do one of these smaller open halftracks. I also decided to make it as painful as possible ( I never learn ), and picked up the Griffon Model upgrade set specific for this Dragon off KingKit for just above half price compared to what they are asking off Ebay. Anyway, most probably will kick this off in the New Year. Need to study the instructions.....plenty there to read in both the kit and the PE....... Considering a diorama for this (my first). Keep meaning to get one under my belt at some point. Well off to update a couple of ongoing builds. Cheers all.

This next project will continue with a theme of creating a display to include a piece of space memorabilia and a model or models that are directly related to it. The piece of memorabilia is a commemorative patch that celebrates NASA’s 60th Anniversary. The patch spent approximately a year aboard the ISS. It was flown up to the ISS aboard an Antares-Cygnus flight (NG10) & returned to earth aboard a Dragon Capsule (CRS-19). The vehicles used to transport the patch to the ISS & back will be modelled using the following Antares Launch vehicle will be a 1-144th Scale resin kit from New Ware (NW120). Dragon capsule will be a 1-48th Scale Resin 3D print, I have “designed” and drawn using Fusion 360, and it will be produced by a 3D print service. Preparations for this project have been ongoing on & off since 2018 when the seller of the patches announced his plans and started taking orders. As the Falcon 9 project is nearing completion they have been kicked off again in earnest so that all of the "hardware" will be ready to go as soon as the F9 gets completed. The base kit for the Antares The kit as supplied The new ware kit was first produced in 2013 and was modelled on the vehicle as it was then. The NG-10 flight was in the November of 2018. Between these dates there were some changes to the launch vehicle and spacecraft 1. First stage In 2015 the first stage (100 series) was retired due to the unreliability and age of the AJ26 engines, the final nail in the coffin was the loss of the Orb 3 flight in 2014. These engines were 15 year old Russian NK33 engines (that had been purchased by Aerojet, refurbished, and renamed AJ26) The first stage was replaced with the 200 series, which in essence was a beefed up version of the 100 series, powered by a more modern Russian Engine, the RD181. 2. Cygnus Cargo spacecraft & Second stage Castor Engine The original standard Cygnus version was last flown on the ill-fated Orb 3 flight in November 2014 and replaced with the Cygnus Enhanced version. Over the intervening years the second stage Castor solid fuel engine was upgraded 3. Northrop Grumman acquiring Orbital ATK In June of 2018 Northrop bought out Orbital in a 9 billion dollar deal. The NG10 flight in November of that year marked the first flight of the vehicle by its new owner/operator To accurately reflect these changes the model will be modified as below 1. First stage The AJ-26 engine bells were heavily insulated with a pink coloured insulation. The current RD181 does not have this present. The only correction needed will be to remove some material from the engine bells that represents the insulation. 2. Cygnus Cargo spacecraft & Second stage Castor Engine The enhanced Cygnus is 2.5m longer than the standard version. The Second stage Castor solid rocket engine was also upgraded. Although the later engine is physically larger, and the Cygnus was lengthened by 2.5m both of these upgrades were accommodated by lengthening the payload fairing by 2.3m At 1-144th scale a 16mm long extension will need to be inserted in the payload fairing. Fortunately, whilst I was looking into these changes I was in close contact with Martin, the owner of Martins models. He very kindly cast me a resin part of the correct dimensions 3. Northrop Grumman acquiring Orbital ATK This change meant a relatively minor change in the vehicles livery, the Orbital logo being replaced by Northrop Grumman’s corporate logo. Again, I was fortunate with the timing of this as I was having a sheet of assorted decals printed for a model, I was working on at the time so a batch of various sized logos were added. I think I have got the main changes covered and looking at the three points laid out they look fairly insignificant, but it took a fair few hours of internet searches, head scratching, calculations and educated guesswork to get there. A screengrab of where the proposed cut line (the red one) will be for inserting the extension Two shots showing the changes to the livery The second element of the model is the Dragon Capsule. I had previously looked around for a capsule on the open market and had made an approach to Oli Braun of Buzz media labs who produces a range of Space X rocket kits. Nothing came to fruition, and I left the looking on the backburner. A couple of years down the line and armed with a bit of Fusion 360 knowhow coupled with google & you tube I decided to have a bash at drawing one up and having it printed. If I rewind time back to the early eighties when I was just about to leave school and I was messing about with my newly acquired ZX80 the younger me would have not imagined that the older me would have access to, the tools, and the knowledge to create 3d parametric models. Then with a couple of presses of a button, send (for that time an unimaginably huge) file to someone who could then turn that information into a physical object using a 3d printer. In this COVID era it appears that to travel you are required to print an extraordinary amount of paperwork to carry around, that is then totally ignored by the people that request it. So, whilst in quarantine the paper, and the enforced idle time were put to constructive use The capsule was drawn up as two separate elements When it was finished, I had a play around with it, and the different visual effects available in Fusion A couple of shots in a wireframe environment, and one of a very quick render with some colours added This part of the build should be relatively straightforward. Glue A to B and apply paint he said. I have gone for a 1-48th scale, and that measures up at approx. 81mm diameter at the base and around about 70mm tall, a nice healthy size. The paint application is where I will force myself to leave the comfort zone and for the first time attempt some creative weathering. Here is a shot of the recovered capsule and the look I would like to recreate, any pointers as to how I could do this would be gratefully accepted

Here are the results of a project I have been doing on and off since the beginning of the year, Dragon's old but good Ferdinand and Tamiya's great Elefant kit, with extra bits like Atak Zimmerit and metal tracks on the Ferdi. My photoing is getting better but some good weather would be nice so I can get some natural daylight involved. As always thanks for looking and thanks for following the WIP and some great tips and history lessons and general chit-chat.👍👏

After the delights of last month's very yellow aircraft (a CL-415), I have done something a little less stressful this month. This is the excellent Dragon M1296 Stryker Dragoon in 1/72 scale. I've already done an Academy build of the normal M1126 Stryker, so this provides an interesting comparison. The Dragon kit is an easy build, well thought out and nicely detailed. ....and with the Academy kit: FredT

L&M Scale Kits is to release 1/72nd de Havilland DH.84 Dragon resin kits. Parts: - ref. 72-132 - de Havilland DH.84 Dragon - prototype Source: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/de-havilland-dh84-dragon-prototype-lm--resin-kits-lm72132-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=182147 - ref. 72-133 - de Havilland DH.84 Dragon - BATA Source: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/de-havilland-dh84-dragon-bata-lm--resin-kits-lm72133-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=182146 - ref. 72-134 - de Havilland DH.84 Dragon - Turkish AF Source: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/de-havilland-dh84-dragon-turkish-air-force-lm--resin-kits-lm72134-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=182148 - ref. 72-135 - de Havilland DH.84 Dragon - Iraqi AF Source: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/de-havilland-dh84m-dragon-iraqi-air-force-lm--resin-kits-lm72135-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=182145 V.P.

I built this guy in the current Hellcat STGB, and thought I'd do something a little different since the Cyber-Hobby kit allows for a wing fold option. It certainly takes up less room on the shelf! The kit also comes with some detail in the engine auxiliaries bay, but provides no way to show it, so I had to remove the panel with a razor saw and add a little more detail - the build thread can be found HERE if you're interested.

Hallo This kit is nothing special. A unique model it is. One of the first quite inexperienced designs. You may notice it on awkward solutions for easy things. As the direction indicator, mirror or search light mounting. The rear license plate mounting is a superb solution by itself. Just wondering… The kit by itself has some miracles: Holes of extra big size for pins, where no pin fits. The driver seat for instance. No holes, where pins requires a hole and so on. Maybe this is a special Dragon kit, actually, I had some of these experiences all the way long, when building amour. The age of the kit is no excuse for such errors. Anyway, I got along. Now on a Sad.Kfz.251 from ICM. Happy modelling

I found this one sitting on my “Shelf of Doom” where it has been residing for several years and wondered why I never finished it up since it is close. I have gone back and forth with stowage issues and had a base that was a bit of a disaster, so I scrapped those and shelved the build. This kit is the old Dragon Ausf. E Orange Box issue which I believe is based on the (now ancient) Gunze Sanyo Pz III chassis from the late 1980s. It’s an ok kit-not great, but serviceable. I have the Bronco Ausf Es which are a bit better, but the finish line is near on this one. I’m going to try to finish this up and started in that direction today by adding some tarps to cover the stowage (a lead foil tarp didn’t end well) and the gun mantlet/gunsight areas. Still a bit to clean up and work out, but I’d like to finally finish the project up this year.

The 1/48th version of this hasn’t been forgotten, just put aside so that it’s big brother can take centre stage (yes, I know; it’s becoming a habit!!) I picked this kit up off of Ebay for a reasonable price, so that I could tackle the IDF M1 in 1/35th scale. I did one of these a few years ago, but that one mounted the M1A2 main gun with the muzzle brake. The one that I intend building this time has the earlier M1A1 main gun without the muzzle brake. For this build, I'm using the Dragon kit No.6083, M4A1 (76mm)W, Operation Cobra. As I said, I bought it off of the internet, and I'm a little bit suspicious that the seller has cobbled it together from different kits. Some of the reviews that I've read state that the kit contains an aluminium barrel. Mine didn't. This kit has been around for a few years now, and I think that maybe Dragon have changed a lot of what is included, as some of the reviews state that the kit includes British T62 tracks, whereas mine contains two sets of DS T48 tracks, one with duckbills and one without. These will end up in the spares box, as what I need for this build is a set of T54E1's. I found a set in a Tamiya kit and they don't look bad, so providing they fit the sprockets, they will suffice. There are one or two features which I don't like about the kit, most noticeable being the OTT casting texture on the hull and FDH. Dragon state on the box lid that the hull has “realistic cast texture”, and even some of the well known online reviewers say that it's realistic. I beg to disagree. Cast hull Shermans had very little casting texture. This is way over the top. It will need sanding down quite a bit to get it to a more realistic appearance. It's very reminiscent of the cast hull in the old Dragon M51. What I do like though is the slide moulded M1A1 barrel, so IMO, there is no need for an AM barrel. Also included is a new exhaust deflector. So, hopefully, I'll post some progress in the near future. John.

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 Dragon Willys Jeep with Armored Cab. Built from the box, with the addition of Black Dog stowage items. Painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics, pictures by Wolfgang Rabel. The Dragon kit contains two complete models with various optional weapons. The armor shield and radiator protection are photo-etch parts. I added ammo boxes and stowage from Black Dog. Greetings from Vienna! Roman

Good day, colleagues. In parallel with the previous work from the leftovers, I took out one model, which my father began to do for a long time. Starring-Dragon 6418. The hatch under the German commander's cupolla is from another Dragon box, the combat tower itself is from the Zvezda Pz.III Support rollers - from Su-100 Zvezda with replacement of bolts. Machine Guns - Zedval All the garbage on the wing from different manufacturers, MB figures and a combined "solyanka"(one in commander's cupolla) Welded seams, the texture of the casting on the tower, replacement of bolts, fitting the model in accordance with the photo of the prototype(although the photos, as always, shine with quality) The prototype is extremely interesting. I will give a description from Y.Pasholok. "The 1st Leningrad Tank Red Banner Order of Suvorov Brigade (previously called the 123rd Tank Brigade). In the summer of the 44th, the tanks of this brigade had numbers ranging from 100-199. One of the most interesting tanks under the number "154". This tank was released in the spring-summer of ' 41. It has a German commander's cupolla installed on it turret , later tracks, and some other details not peculiar to it." Thank you all for your attention, enjoy your viewing

Hi all This is my attempt on Ju88G-6 D5+AX, from 12/NJG3, which took part in 'Operation Gisela' on the night of 3/4 March, 1945. The idea behind Gisela was for the Luftwaffe nightfighter fleet to follow returning bombers back to their bases in the UK and attack them as they prepared to land. D5+AX, flown by Hptm Johann Dreher and his crew, attacked Halifax bombers of the French Air Force as they returned to Elvington, in Yorkshire. After his attacks on returning Halifaxes, Dreher continued to strafe the airfield and the surrounding area. While making a low, high speed turn for another pass, his aircraft apparently clipped trees (or may have been hit by flak - reports vary) before crashing into a farmhouse (tragically killing the occupants) and finishing up in an adjacent field. Hptm Dreher and his crew are buried at Cannock. One of the props from Dreher's Ju88 is on display at the air museum at Elvington. Dreher's Ju88 was the last Luftwaffe aircraft to crash on British soil before the war ended. Long intro, sorry, but I thought it was worth mentioning the context. Finally, a big thanks to @SafetyDad for his help with the research and the decals Anyway, here's the pics

I may be pushing my luck with a 4th build but seeing as this turned up today, slightly battered but the plastic was undamaged on it's journey from China. I bought this kit because it includes all the parts to make either a mid or late StuG Ausf.G built by the MIAG or Alkett assembly plants from mid September 1944 after zimmerit had stopped being applied. To be able to build either version requires different rear engine covers and different track guards and their attachment brackets, these are in the kit but not identified, so you need some reference material to correctly assemble your chosen version. The kit also has some other spare parts, 3 different patterns of return rollers, 2 different sprockets, 2 different mantlets and the kit contains metal schurzen with different attachment rails and open guide horn magic tracks. I will be building this kit as a MIAG assembled StuG made at the end of 1944, camouflage to be decided. Any questions or comments are welcome.

Hi, This is Dragon 1/700 HMS Illustrious R06. Build with WEM PE set, Orange Hobby Harrier + tow cart, 3D printed mobile crane, and WEM and Eduard Figures. My original plan was to represent the carrier in her final fit. But I learned I can't achieve it with what the kit provide. So I decide to built her as the 2000ish version when she operates from sierra leone. All the aircraft was detailed by PE and modified. Harriers become FA.2, folded the Lynx blade, deflated bag for the parked seaking, and modify sea king to become HC.4. Cheers, Mario

Hi all Can't remember the last WIP thread I did, but I thought this project might be worth one I decided to make this a project after a visit to York Air Museum at Elvington last year. I won't burden you with the details again, but here is a link to the thread I started about it at the time: Thanks to the kindness of @SafetyDad I have the majority of the decals I needed to get started. I hadn't made a start before now because: 1. I still needed the 'D5' decals and was looking at getting a set made up - until I realised I had them all along. Sitting in the stash is a Tamiya 1/48 He219 which includes provision for an NJG3/D5 scheme... 2. I also had no experience of airbrushing a nightfighter 'reverse mottle' scheme - but after a bit of practice on some test pieces (and a bit more to follow), I reckon that by the time it comes to painting, I might just about be ready So, on to the obligatory pics.. This will be OOB (apart from the decals and mask kit)... Last pic for now - cockpit parts underway and primed, before painting.. That's it for now. There are still some issues I'm not clear on, such as the spinner colour, spiral/no spiral, etc, so if anyone has any views on that - or anything else related - I'd welcome the input. Meanwhile, hopefully this will provide entertainment for some..

My first completed model of the year. I build really slowly so this is quite the milestone for me. Some small issues that I'd go back and fix if I could, but at this point I'm just keen to move on to the next kit 🙂

I have had this Dragon kit in the stash for over 20 years so it's not one of their newer kits but it still looks quite nice for it's age. I have just ordered a metal barrel with brass muzzle brake to improve it's looks and a few more bits of AM to bring it up to date. Sometime in the distant past I made a small start on this and attached the axles but that's as far as I got, everything else is still bagged up including the track links which are the pre-magic track individual links on sprues. so now I have retrieved from the stash I might as well finish it off. At the moment my idea for camouflage is red/brown over dark yellow but there will be lots of extra tracks for added "armour". Kit p/e is limited to just the engine intake mesh in that old very hard and shiny metal they used in the 90s. The hull with the axles attached from when I last made a start on this kit.

Hello, I present the M48A3 Patton model from Dragon. Added the mantlet and searchlight set from Legend, PE parts from Eduard, AFV Club tracks and machine guns from Aber. Painted Tamiya Olive Green on B&W base. Enjoy watching and I hope you will like it.

Hi Guys. Been Lurching around while Building a MLRS in the Desert Storm GB. But I miss the banter of a Pure AFV Group Build. So as the MLRS is going well, I thought I'd give this a go, I've had the kit since this Gb was proposed and been tempted to start many times. So here goes. Box top and packaged content. This is the box suggested colour scheme. Be the first time I've attempted the basic grey, but have quite a few different greys to choose from, so can hopefully make it a bit more interesting by varying the shades. Started with the wheels. So Far so good, as I have seen lots of broken studs in other threads, all mine were good. First bits of PE applied last night, and all wheels ready for assembly today. Going to paint the inner surface Pre assembly as the space between these is quite tight and want to get into all the faces. Then it will be onto the hull/suspension. So, a question. The kit has rubber band tracks, but I believe that the PzIII / PzIV used the same track design. So if I'm correct, I have a few sets of plastic individual tracks available, so will swap to them (Glutton for Punishment🤪) Cheers for Looking Paul

Feeling like a break from US/UK stuff, so next on the chopping block is the venerable ex-Trimaster FW-190 with over wing slipper tanks. Picked this up second hand last year for a song, so let's see how it goes! Obligatory sprue shots and box art. Decals look okay, and a small PE fret lurking in that bag. Parts look okay considering they come from a time before Bill Clinton changed his humidor. Some flash and some soft panel lines here and there. Been reading up on this kit, and besides needing spacers to prevent mucho filler on the wing root join, any other tips would be appreciated. Also, wheel well colour. The instructions call out for a light blue (FS 35622/H314) not RLM 76 like the underside and not RLM 02 (like I thought they painted the bays etc)? Gonna have to do some research here.