bull-nut

From what I can gather reading through Mikes article over at MAFVA, being softskined vehicles, the interior would likely have been the same as the base exterior colour, which, judging from the contrast in your photo's, looks like Portland Stone. Of course Mike is the real expert, so he may well have a different opinion. Good luck with your build, I love projects with familial links, makes them so much more relevant.

Well, I got the tracks on, and added some suitable markings from the kit sheet. The markings are entirely made up, and represent no ctual vehicle that I know of, but since when did that stop some museums? I then went at the model with some ModelMates normal shade rust effects. The stuff is great, paint it on, let it dry, and it forms a patina of rust over any surface, lovely matt finish as well. I tried to keep the rust to where moisture would gather on a vehicle exposed to the elements, so the bottom of the wheels, on top of hubs, runs from handles, vents, etc, and so on. then used some Citadel shades as colour filters to try and show some streaking and weathering in the paint finish: Not remotely happy with the result, I'll have to get some artists oils after all I think. Next step is some sponge chipping with a dark grey, and then I need to make a few rags/tarps to cover up those gaps in the track runs.

Work continues, albeit at a much slower pace than I would like, I blame a family holiday. On the other hand I got to go to Bovington twice while we were away, and see the Sealed Knot in action, so it wasn't a complete loss. I ended up picking up a new box of lightweight hydrocal, since after drying, the groundwork shrank more than I expected. It also didn't lighten as much as I am used to, likely because I used the paint as the sole source of moisture, rather than just a colouring agent. So I made a couple of molds from my sons Lego, and poured some oblongs. These will make a plinth for the T34, and a pedestrian walkway. After drying overnight, I had this: I then cut out the groundwork to sink the casts into: I need to sand, trim and colour the Path and Plinth, I'll get to that later this week. In the mean time, I've painted the mechanics, using citadel acrylics. Any similarity to real world museum uniforms is entirely coincidental. Front: and Back: Still need to get the eyes, and so on. By the way, the coverall colour variation in deliberate.

Well, it hasn't stopped completely! I haven't been able to get the primer on yet (I have a plan for that), but I managed to grab an hour or so tonight to mask all of the transparencies, and fit the greenhouse nose so that I'm no longer in danger of knocking off those incredibly fragile rudder pedals. I also glued together the gondola and main canopy, and fitted the propeller spindles. I will leave off the power eggs until final assembly, as I have chosen to build the box art aircraft, painting all that yellow will be easier without having to mask them. I hope it will also give me a cleaner finish at the end. All those flexible guns I will add at the end as well. No pics just yet I'm afraid, all of the batteries are flat. I'll try and get some tomorrow.

If you have a stockist of Citadel paints near you, you could try the new gem paints, they are like a translucent coloured gel you can brush paint, and come in red, green and blue. I plan on trying them over a bright silver for aircraft formation/nav lights.

Thanks 'Stix. I like working with this stuff for natural groundwork because, in addition to the texture, the working time is much longer than plaster, but it weighs far less than plaster or clay, and it's cheap to boot On a slightly related note, I found one of my small foam bases I had precut. It measures about 6x4 inches and I was thinking about putting another build in, featuring the Tamiya Pz38(t) if I get time, do you have any objections to using the same thread, or should I start a new one when the time comes?

Oh Ivan, why do you vex me so? Having 10 minutes spare yesterday evening before work, I decided to drybrush the track waffle pattern with a little citadel Runefang Steel to bring out the high points, and both track runs promptly suffered multiple joint failures! While I could attempt to repair them and attach them at the end of the build, I'm not going to take any more chances and so will fix the tracks and running gear in place now. Since the model will represent a static museum piece, rather than a vehicle in active use, the lack of weathering behind the running gear will be less of an issue, and you can't see much with the wheels on anyway.

Thanks for the welcome 'Stix. The plan has changed somewhat for this build. I was in the garage looking for my usual bases (25mm insulation foam), but couldn't find them. Instead I found an old sheet of 2mm plasticard I'd forgotten about, so10 minutes with knife and glue, and after drying a quick blast with some black rattlecan primer, and I had this Unfortunately, I also couldn't find my pouring plaster, which is where the plan change came in. I dug out my bag of instant Papier-mâché, and mixed it with some burnt umber acrylic paint to precolour it. In case the top surface gets damaged, the material will be the same colour right through. I find it best to use disposable utensils when using this stuff, luckily I don't need to use it that often because my vignette/dio build rate is so slow Anyway, I spooned it into the centre cavity of the base, roughly levelled it, and then impressed the T34 tracks, suitably dampened with tap water, into the material, just dipping the tracks into a shallow bowl of water is enough, they come away clean enough this way, I find. This will show the tank sinking into the earth over time, and gave me this This is going to take some time to dry, the material is about 6mm thick in places, but luckily it will dry a lot lighter than it looks now, so it's easy to tell when it is ready to work on. In the mean time I have the tank and figures to get ready, and my Ju88 GB entry to finish.

Work has slowed drastically while I put a did some rather large jobs about the house, but I'm now back at the bench and working on this again. The final model is destined for a small vignette, the build thread for which can be found Here. To begin with I have closed the hull and attached the exterior fuel tanks, and the engine access panels in the open position, as well as the radiator cover with its moulded in PE insert. Then gave the exterior a coat of Tamiya Deep Green XF26 I also sprayed the running gear, and hand painted the tyres while I was at it And sprayed the tracks Tamiya Dark Iron Next job is to make up some replacement grab handles, since the kit parts are very fragile and I don't trust myself not to snap them at some point.

Otherwise known as "Old soldiers never die" I will be using the model from my build thread Here. Along with some figures from ICM and Prieser. The plan is to replicate the interior of a modern day fictional tank museum, with the ICM mechanics pondering over the old girl, access hatches open, and a veteran looking on, which is where the Prieser figure comes in. This will give me a way to show off at least some of the interior, while keeping to the more emotional but at the same time, peaceful, aspect of vignette building which I enjoy. So to begin with, here are the mechanics I spoke off, Assembled and primed with Citadel Macragge Blue rattle can. More to follow later.

Looking good stix. Though Russians on a 7x5 base was what I was planning on doing. Never mind, mine is set a little later than yours One thing I would say though, is to watch out using MDF for the base frame,. It is fairly stable as wood products go, but you will still get some warping over time, especially if you are using water based glues/paints/fillers on it. Also, have you considered using instant papier-mâché for the groundwork? I have found it dries with a nice lumpy texture very like actual earth, and it doesn't have the risk of cracking like plaster does. My figures are coming from the same ICM set, though they wont be painted green. Thread should be up sometime today.

If it slows much more, I think it will stop completely!

Has it really been 3 weeks since the last update? Oh well, the patio is down, so back to the bench it is. To start with, I noticed I'd forgotten to put the Instrument panel decal on: So out came the extra thin and blade, and I separated the IP cowling from the rest if the cockpit assembly: Then on went the decal after separating the Compass? Then, after replacing the IP cowling, I added the flying surfaces and gear nacelles, and some seat belts from Tamiya Tape: I think the belts are too wide, but I guess once the canopy is on, it will give the right impression. Finally it was on with the bomb carriers and to put the engine cowlings together: . Now that the canopy masks have arrived from Hannants, I can start thinking about getting some filler and primer on over the weekend, if the kids give me the chance

Well, so much for photo's soon. Anyway, with so many Revell JU88's in this GB, I didn't see the need to post pics of the box or sprues, I'm sure you've all seen them already Also not worthy of pics are the subassemblies I managed to build, wings, fin, waggly things, etc. However this isn't a completely photo free post, as I have gotten the cockpit mostly done. Main colour is Halfords white primer washed with Citadel Nuln Oil, it works rather like a combination wash/filter, tinting the white and shading it at the same time, time saving is important around here! Details were picked out in a variety of acrylics, prior to applying the wash and closing the fuselage sides. It seems to have taken forever to get this far, but I hope things will get faster now as there is a singular lack of much detail aft of the crew compartment, certainly nowhere near what I put into my Liberator

+1 for Tamiya. Any reason you specify 1/35? There are other scales out their as well, and some subjects are only available in smaller scales ( Airfix Op Herrick, I'm looking at you) Nice Avatar by the way, any reason for picking the Tin Triangle?

I think the problem with this is that the slat armour is still current issue, therefore getting details on the attachment points will be nigh on impossible (I know several people who work at MoD procurement, and I've learned very quickly NOT to ask questions around current equipment). The warrior running around the arena at Tankfest last year (Video) had it's bars shrouded in camo netting, possibly to prevent anyone taking detailed pictures of it?

Sorry I'm late to start this one everyone, real life got in the way again! Revells new(ish) 'A-4 kit seems popular in this GB, so why not add another to the list? Pics will follow tomorrow when I can dig out the camera, so this is a place holder for now. Not sure what scheme to go with yet, I need to order some paint masks from big H anyway, so I'll have a look at the AM sheets available and see if anything grabs me. Other than that, this will be a simple plain jane OOB build, except maybe some seat belts.

Further to the above, I received a copy of "Fear Nothing" by David Watkins the other day and have been going through it to plan out my builds, when I came across a bit of a puzzle. RAF Cosford has what is apparently the oldest Spitfire1 in existence, K9942, and have it coded as SD-D. However the books serial list has 18 Spit1's, but no mention of K9942, and I can't find it in the squadron ORB's. Can anyone with other references shed any light on this discrepancy, or is this just a case of the museum painting her in a semi-fictional scheme?

So I finally managed to get some pictures taken, sorry they're not great, taken in a hurry with the 'phone camera. Better than nothing though I guess. First up, turret interior components were painted and installed over the primer; Then the main gun got some detail painting and the whole got a targeted wash with agrax earthshade; Followed by some light chipping the same way as on the Hull interior; Then the gun went into it's trunnions; Take a good look, because now it looks like this; Loaders hatch and TC's Episcopes went in (yes, those episcopes are all individual pieces); Followed by the TC's cupola and hatches; The scopes etc need some paint, and I need to clean up the hatch interior, then I can mask off and think about the outside colour. I have also started on the track runs, and having looked at the hull again I think I'll put a light coat of white over the walls with the airbrush to tone down the wash that seems to be looking very pink now, does anyone else pick up the pink hue?

Maybe we should collaborate on a piece for the new aviation museum at Filton? Edit:Typo

Thanks nick, I am familiar with the Avon branch, unfortunately work commitments and a young family mean I am unlikely to be able to attend, I'll have to see if/when my schedule lines up. Heard of the BAWA centre, but never been there, not even sure where it is. Edit: Never mind, found it.

Thanks for that Nick, a veritable treasure trove of information, even if most of the abbreviations go right over my head! But I think I'll go with EP121-T. I'm a little closer to Filton than you, only about 1 mile as the crow flies. I vividly remember being woken early one afternoon a few years ago, following a 10 hour night shift, by a quartet of RR Olympus engines attached to a big Avro "Tin Triangle" pulling show turns over the house! Turns out Airbus were having one of their Family Days. Best wake up call ever! I am nowhere near as far along as you are, I have a Tiger moth & Mk1 Hurricane in the stash, Spit Mk I and Mk IX on the way, now to source Meteor, Battle trainer, Tempest V, Spit XVI and 3 different Vampires! and a Hind/Hart, and maybe a Wapatti if I can manage it (I think the later may prove difficult). I think the wife may kill me before I get them all finished

I have heard that the new tool Airfix MkI/IIa box contains all the parts needed for a MkVa. I have one on the way anyway so I can check. Would it be worth picking up the Revell or Italeri kits, as they are more readily available for me, for the outer wings and mating them to the Airfix fuselage and centre section?

Thanks all for your efforts. I was actually after an id for a clipped MkV, so EP120-Y will do the trick. Nick. You say 501 was your local. It would have been mine if they hadn't moved up to Brize. I'm planning on building examples of their singleseat types from Hurricane to Vampire. Having trouble finding suitable Vampires and Tempest though.

Thanks for the replies all. Graham, you say avoid the Revell kit, amongst those mentioned it and the AZ are the only clipped wings I believe. What are the problems with it, apart from the spinner shape that I already know about? Edit: I see that the Italeri kit has clipped wings as well, and it comes with EP120 serials, any problems with the kit? Peter. 501 seems to have aircraft serials painted in standard 8inch characters in black over the Sky fuselage band, the exception is the Mk1 at RAFM Cosford which has it atop the fin, though I am hesitant to accept museum paint schemes without further evidence. Sky Pilot. You are quite right about the serial on the Duxford aircraft, my mistake trying to do too many things at once, however if EP120 was coded -Y with 501, then that solves my dilemma, do you happen to have a photo of her in colours? I have the squadron ORB's from Kew, so I'll go back through them, it's quite possible I missed something. I really shouldn't try and plan a new project at the same time as a kids birthday party