Robby

Have now had time to procrastinate on the interweb (don't tell the boss ) It seems like there were two separate trains associated with the Italian K5 guns, one for the gun and one for the support staff and equipment (with two guns per battery): https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=526 Obviously I can't check on the accuracy of the above, but it seems pretty logical. It's not a photo, though... This said, it appears that an accurate K5 diorama when firing would have the K5 itself and a covered wagon (I presume) for the shells and a refridgerated wagon for the cordite bags. In transport the K5 train would be pulled by a BR52 or WR360 on its own, depending how close to the front it was. One thing that I didn't realise was that some K5's were destined for North Africa. As an aside, it seems as if the camouflage in the accompanying photo is dunkelgelb applied over a sun-bleached dunkelgrau, which is different to Hobby Boss' sand/red-brown suggestion for camouflage. Hope this helps PS: I've heard a rumour that Modelcollect will eventually release some passenger cars...

Sure, I'll have a surf and let you know if I can find it again - it was a while ago but it must be somewhere out there in the vast expanse of bytes

Maybe you could make a small diorama of Annie coming out of her mountain hideaway? Then you would only have to have the locomotive and some of the cars, I think that I have seen a photo of that on the interweb. Maybe some artistic licence, as well Dora is BIG, even at 1/72 scale, which is the only scale that I have space for her...

Both Termin Molds (T-model) and Modelcollect are releasing the 50t and 80t flatbed railcars, I know that quite a few will be coming my way... I have Dora in my stash. I have already created one diorama with it, a 1/1 scale man attempting to get it indoors without SWMBO noticing, and I have another planned, a 1/1 scale man trying to build a display cabinet big enough...

You're completely right about Flyhawk, as my bank account knows all too well... T-model and Modelcollect are both releasing some railcars to put tracked things on, and Modelcollect are releasing a 128mm flak on a railcar. I for one am VERY much looking forward to those...

I've tried OKB's tracks on three different kits (2x Revell Pz III and Hobby Boss' munitionspanzer IV) and I have to say that they are worth the price. One thing that I will try (and report back if anyone is interested ) is to get the sprockets from OKB as well, I had to chop a few teeth off of the Revell kit sprockets in order to get a good fit. With Revell gradually bringing out all of MACO's kits, my support for them is guaranteed. Back to Dragon: I hope that they haven't screwed up the original moulds...

Whoa... that look remarkably like a 1990's short run kit... On a good day that's not far off a Revell IVH with OKB resin tracks and a turned barrel... Robby, having just purchased a Revell IVH and OKB resin tracks

A 1/24 Fw 190A/mid-war Spitfire priced between the Mustang and the Typhoon...?

As much as I'd like a new Vulcan or Battle in 1/72, I'm going with a mid-war Spitfire in 1/24...

I don't have any images apart from what Dragon has on their own website, but suffice to say that this is all you need to look at. I've been watching how Dragon market their new releases and I've noticed that the first releases emphasised the advantages of the new type of track and simplified (and fewer) parts, subsequent releases mentioned that the tracks are one piece without really emphasising it, and now with the latest two releases - a Sherman and Wittman's Tiger - there is no mention of how the kit parts are broken down. I wonder if Dragon have got the message and are playing down the QB nature of the kits due to absent sales, or whether the latest releases are in fact straight re-releases of the original kits...?

Got the Dragon newsletter through this morning, the F1 will indeed be replaced by pants... The pants do exhibit a 'judicious use of slide moulds', so all is not lost.

So let me get this straight... the old Dragon F1, F2 and G are great but soon will OOP and to be replaced by pants, Revell do a good H but the J is not quite up to par and Mirage do the early ausf's but are challenging? Given the widespread use of the Pz IV, this seems to be odd Model Collect have announced a Pz IVH, a Tiger and the flatbed wagon (not to mention a flaktower), all of which I doubt will see the light of day, unfortunately. Paper panzers, the Ratte and this weird, sci-fi 'Fist of War' seem to be keeping them in business at the moment...

Hi all, Was just wondering what anyone's preferred Tamiya AS straight-from-the-rattle-can RLM favourites are for bomber camo (RLM 70/71)? Any other manufacturers of spray cans? /Robby

I really do find it strange that we don't have a mainstream, new-tool Pz IV apart from the three Dragon efforts that seem to be being replaced by quickbuild releases. Having examined the stash, I think that it might be a good idea to wait until someone brings one out. Speaking of which, I've actually just bought the HB munitionspanzer but it is reserved for a diorama with the HB Mörser Karl and Rail transport, and the BR52 that I have just sneaked into the house Here's hoping that Modelcollect release their promised SSWS rail tank transporter, or that HB shrink Trumpeter's railway wagons to 1/72...

I don't have enough experience with acrylics, but with a little care with the lid, Humbrol and Airfix tinlets last a loooooong time... I have a tin of Hu70 that I use 'regularly' that my father gave to me when I was a kid (about 30 years ago) which actually pre-dates me AFAIK, and I still have 2-3 of my grandfather's Airfix tins (the tall thin ones) that are so old that the green is probably WW2 surplus

Having worked with normal (e.g. CMK) resin, the resin that OKB uses for the track is very flexible and seems to soften up nicely with a couple of passes with SWMBO's hairdryer. It seems to have some 'memory', though (probably due to its flexibility, I am no engineer), which I will try and deal with with using cold water. SleeperService, you're right about it being worth it as the detail is great on the tracks, and learning (and hopefully mastering) a new technique is always so very satisfying

Perfect! Thanks JackG, I will follow your advice - and I'll remember to state which scale I'm working with next time I post here as well

Hi all, Having invested in some of the highly detailed OKB resin ostketten track runs, my attention has turned to how to actually fit them to the model (a flaw in my dastardly detailing plan...). Has anyone got any tips on where to put the join between the two track runs? I thought about the top of the sprocket and the top of the idler wheel, but I thought that I would ask here for advice first. Thanks, Robby

Thanks - I've used the DAK Sand on a LeFH 16 (ACE), it appears a bit lighter than what it is in real life. The wash is Charadon granite (citadel) with pencil chips. It's finished in my world, we have to take the small victories in stash reduction where we can get them! I also use The Army Painter's Uniform Grey for panzer dunkelgrau. Again, it's matched to a pot of paint. It quite light so it needs a wash with black paint, but I think that it works for the most part.

I've also looked around the interweb at various walkarounds and I can see that colour changes on the same vehicle under the same lighting more often than I change a certain undergarment (socks). I've experimented with some spray-cans and have decided on Flames of War DAK Sand for, er, DAK Sand, and Citadel's Zandri Dust for my dark yellow, the later has the advantage of being matched 100% (give or take) to the Citadel paint pot. Haven't quite worked out the camouflage colours yet, but I'll keep going; I want to support my LHS as much as I can rather than sending all my custom online. Badger, I thought about the UM kit but I really don't think that my skills are up to it - yet!

First of all, beautiful Pz III and Tiger AgentG, not only are they masterfully built and weathered but they also show off to good effect the issue surrounding the two-tone camouflage blending to appear to be one colour Could the dark yellow-painted vehicles have been re-directed examples that were originally going to the Eastern Front? Maybe a factory that didn't have any DAK-appropriate base colour and used dark yellow instead? Pure speculation, I know... I suppose the old adage of 'check your references' is the best course of action!

Hi G, that's some good information, thanks - now I know that I can either paint the tank allover 8020 as if it is fresh from the factory or battered up with some 7027 camouflage. Maybe the former in a diorama with a Me 323 Gigant delivery 'plane...? Now I just have to find a 8020 that I like... /Robby

Thank you all so much for the comments, knowledge and help! I really appreciate it. I have also done some digging and came across the following website that focuses on interiors but has some good archive material: https://web.archive.org/web/20001204220400/http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/pz3/pz3a.html First photo - late model J's ready for shipping with the L/60 gun, three vision ports and no appliqué armour. I think that in the first instance I will try to add the three visor covers on the turret and make a late J in DAK markings, similar to those in the photos (the paint looks relatively light, although I don't want to start a discussion about identifying colour in old b/w photos!!). Time to start improving my scratchbuilding skills, methinks... Once more, thanks for the help and the discussion! /Robby

Maybe a decent Pz IV D will be making an appearance soon - with the help of Moxing Studio and OKB, together with a turned barrel. It will be a bit pricy, but it will look great when it is finished, even for someone of my modest abilities! I've seen some of the OKB upgrades and they do look very, very good - and I suppose I would been tempted to go with resin tracks and a turned barrel anyway... so...

Ranting is justified when faced with the prospect of binning two Dragon kits... 😢 I wonder whether Dragon's people read these forums? I am going to be really interested to see if the original running gear is included in the August releases of previously available kits (if indeed they are straight re-releases or otherwise), or if the running gear has gone the 'soft and squidgy' route. AFAIK, sticking an extra sprue in the box doesn't cost the earth as the mold already exists. I'm going to hope for the best...