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The_Lancaster

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Posts posted by The_Lancaster

  1. So Eduard’s Facebook page has just shared photos of their design team working on potential schemes. So far I can see two schemes for the 352nd FG, including one OD and one NMF. Both have full length invasion stripes. Then there’s ‘Margie Maru’ a 354th FG aircraft in OD with full length invasion stripes. Knowing Eduard though this is probably just the tip of the iceberg 

     

    • Like 3
  2. Hey all,

     

    Benefitting from my first Christmas off in six years, I managed to sneak one last build past the goal post before the new year. This is Trumpeter's BTR-50PK from 2011, which followed on from their release of the PT-76 amphibious light tank, of which both vehicles share a common hull. 

     

    This kit comes with decal options for either Russian or East German vehicles. The decals contain set numbers for vehicles depicted on the colour schemes as well as a set of numbers 0-9 to make up your own vehicles. 

     

    I painted the vehicle using the suggested body colour as per the instructions, which was Mr. Hobby's 303 Light Green. I feel it might be a little too light, and for future builds I might shop around for a darker shade prior to painting. 

     

    Departing from the colour scheme, I recently purchased Tankograd Publishing's book on NVA T-34s, and one image of interest I found was that of a T-34 ARV towing a disabled BTR whilst on winter exercises. The image shows both vehicles in a field applied winter scheme with daubs of white paint applied hap-hazardly over the vehicle. I was inspired by the look to replicate this on my vehicle. Ultimately I used a somewhat frayed old, square brush I had and with Humbrol 34, I took the excess off the brush and applied the rest in a random pattern over the vehicle. 

     

    The weathering was achieved with oil paints, thinned down Tamiya Acrylics to make filters as well as AK Interactive's Acrylic Mud. I also used Tamiya snow effect. 

     

    In a departure from recent builds, I decided to have a go at a vignette, which is a first for me. Using a cheaply sourced canvas, I glued down polystyrene sheet and shaped it to create a sunken road. I then applied the same acrylic mud that I had used on the vehicle. I blended some Tamiya snow into the mud to create a slushy, snowy, muddy look. The rest of the snow was applied to make it look like recent snowfall. I added grass tufts that I bought off of a wargaming vendor at a recent Tankfest, and then I drybrushed the tufts white to make them look suitably wintery. 

     

    My final addition to the vehicle was a commander figure, which was spare from a recent Tamiya T-55 Enigma that I had built. 

     

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    Thanks for looking!

     

    Sam :)

    • Like 15
  3. Compared to last years output this year has been a bumper crop of models for me! Partially I think because last year I was going after my EMT qualifcation, though I don't know how that'll bode for next year considering I'm starting my Paramedic Science Degree. 🤔

     

    In the mean time however! I have built plenty of Shermans, and some other stuff... 

     

    This is Tamiya's 1/35 M4 Early, converted to a Sherman I used by the British Army. Markings show it as a vehicle from the Northants Yeomanry

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    This is Asuka's 1/35 Sherman III, with a deep wading set from Resicast. The vehicle is depicted as one used by the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry

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    I had a change of pace and moved on to Cold War subjects, starting with the old Revell 1/35 Kanonenjagdpanzer, which I built just as Das Werke announced their new one!

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    Related in it's development, I managed to get hold of Revell's Raketenjagdpanzer in 1/35 as well. Hopefully Das Werke/Amusing Hobby has one of these up their sleeve as well, if not another variant as I think they're a fantastic looking vehicle!

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    On the other side of the iron curtain I had a look at Takom's T-55AM2b which I built with T-Rex's 3D printed track. 

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    Occasionally it's been known that I build aircraft, I suppose I have to in order to earn my username and profile pic! This is Trumpeter's 1/48H-34 done as an Italian vehicle. 

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    Moving back to the Cold War however, when Tamiya re-released their early Marder 1A2 in 1/35 scale and I snapped it up. I built it out of the box but played around with stowage from my spares as the stowage included in the kit was a bit dated in areas. 

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    I also ventured into 1/144 for the first time this year with Mark I models Wessex, which I enjoyed building so much that I snapped up a couple more of these kits in different markings. I'm hoping along with the rest of Italeri's re-releases recently, we might see their earlier wessex's re-done in 1/48. 

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    Moving back to Shermans, I next built another Asuka Sherman III, with this time the base section of Resicast's Deep wading gear, all in 1/35 of course. 

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    I moved on next to Airfix's 1/35 M36 Jackson, originally from Academy

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    And then I did another Sherman, this time Tamiya's 1/35 M4A3E8, out of the box. I really found their commander figure impressive, with an impressive posture. 

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    An earlier Sherman followed, this time Tamiya's M4 Early in 1/35, done as a vehicle that landed at Utah Beach on D-Day.

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    For something completely different, I was inspired do some middle-eastern subjects and used a Tamiya 1/35 JS-3 to make an Egyptian variant, only to find out the Egyptians used the later IS-3M part way through the build, but nevermind i suppose!

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    Keeping with the Middle-Eastern theme, I built Tamiya's 1/35 T-55 Engima, which was a beautiful kit in all fairness. I thoroughly enjoyed weathering this one as well. 

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    Clearing the stash a bit, I cobbled together a 1/35 T-34/85 from the old Italeri kit with some help from Miniart and other spares to make a DDR variant. 

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    However, moving back to a Middle-Eastern theme I built Dragon's 1/35 SU-100 as an Egyptian example.

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    Finally, with a build I finished today, and what I foresee to be my last build of the year, though I do have a 1/35 BTR-50PK in the works, is Tamiya's 1/35 M2A2 Bradley ODS.

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    Overall a varied year, though I have learnt a lot, tried a few new things, and hopefully will carry across newfound skills into next year. Here's to a hopefully fruitful 2024!

     

    Sam :)

     

    • Like 19
  4. Hey all,

     

    This is Tamiya's Bradley. The kit was originally released in 1985, but this updated version was first released in 2003. I initially got hold of this kit to build it as an example used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but seeing some of the other schemes, I had a change of heart to do it in European markings for a unit based in Germany at the time.

     

    The kit was built out of the box, but this time I took the oppurtunity to drill out the muzzle of the vehicle. I painted the vehicle using Tamiya Acrylics, and Humbrol Enamels. I weathered the vehicle with oil paints, and Acrylic mud effects by Mig. I also used all of the stowage handily included in the kit, which was painted with acrylics and oils. 

     

    As a finishing touch I added Mantis Miniatures branches. They look fantastic, and are easy to use. However, they are quite expensive, and looking at them, you could probably achieve the same with a large tub of mixed herbs and some roots pillaged from the garden. I have seen techniques where you use PVA to dab the areas where you want the 'leaves' to stick and then sprinkle mixed herbs or similar over them to create some convincing albeit fragrant tree branches. 

     

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    Many thanks for looking! 

     

    Sam :)

    • Like 21
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