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Quick update. So, three sprues of Track parts equals: and I have seen another Meng Sherman which has a coil of wire, which you straighten and cut to size. But I think this later kits pre-cut wire pins are a much better option. Straight and quite stiff, and from the first trial build a perfect length with a tight fit into the connector piece. So after cutting the parts off the sprue the two part Pads have been glued together and cleaned up (more to do). rough coat of Tamiya rubber Black has been applied Inside face of the Connector plates got a coat of Tamiya Dark Iron, Followed the instructions, and with the supplied jig (clear glass as well, so you can see the alignment), got: Duck Bills still need fitting, but from first build up, they look really good. Fully articulated and not to slack between links, so give a nice feel while moving if you know what I mean. I think that connecting the sections together will require the jig to be modified, as the two halves don't sit correctly with links over the ends But there has been a casualty. While removing the connector plates from the sprue I tried a tight cut between the connector and Sprue Ident plate (?), must have twisted the nippers while cutting. Useable but shorter now. Luckily, I have just received a set of Master Tool nippers, so no biggy. Guess the Karma gods are punishing me for starting early. Much more cleaning up to do, but the results seem worth it so far Cheers for looking Paul

Can you get 1/35 scale Kangaroo's🧐 Paul

Skeleton Idea is intriguing. As I've always struggled with the idea of displaying interior kits Paul

Hi Again. Confession time. As I am building the Individual link tracks, as they are fully functional when assembled. I may have started prepping them. OK, I have started, no maybe in it really. But In my defence here's the amount of sprue gates to clean: 78 links per side recommended my Meng. 2 pads per link, 4 gates x 156 links = 624 clean ups. Nice flat surface so no biggy. 2 connector plates (?) per link, 4 gates per plate = 1248 gates. 2 are Flat surface, But 2 are on Curves Doh!!! 1 Duckbill per connector. 156 x 1 gate Flat surface, easy So approx 2000 clean-up's required. Will keep me busy for the next week, and avoid starting anything else. Paul PS. thank God for single blade nippers.

Hi guys. Due to RL, modelling has been non-existent, but as I had signed up for this, I thought I'd better provide something. History. 254 Jumbo's were ordered, as Standard Shermans were deemed a bit weak against German Armour. So this up-armoured version of the M4A3 was developed. The Kit. Looks nice on the sprue, but I'd no expert. Comes with Individual track links, or Rubber band tracks. Metal springs for the suspension units, and a turned metal barrel. Nice touch is the printed Jack Daniel's / Chesterfield's on the Spring packaging, which can be cut out and glued. Aftermarket. Plaster Base I picked up a few years ago at Telford. I also have a Miniart Base which I may steal some accesories from. Black dog set. Although its for a A2, I'm hoping to use it. Not standard for a Jumbo, but early users carried on adding armour until they Knew the Tank better. So a bit of artistic license will be employed. Hope everyone Enjoys their builds Paul

During the discussions about the way GB's and STGB's were allocated, I proposed a few slots be allocated to non-aircraft subjects. But with the proposals going to a vote of the general population, the amount of aircraft only people will always win out. The only real answer is to have a quota system, but that also causes resentment, ie a small interest subject gets preference over more popular things. Maybe, as Bertie suggested, a area could be setup under each section (aircraft, armour, ships, etc) so ad hoc builds could be organised within that community. It would take away from the annual bunfight, but at least would allow like minded people to build lesser / more specialist subjects which have little chance of successfully being voted through. Just my opinion Paul

Hi Guys. Been a while since I've been on Britmodeller (or modelling in general), and seeing Stix's reminder about this STGB has got me interested again. So' wallets come out and Meng M4A3E2 "jumbo" should be arriving today. Looks a nice kit (metal barrel, PE and 4 sets of markings, even has choice of individual track links or rubber bands), and I've not seen anyone else trying a Meng kit on the first post list. It's going to be OOB, with a street scene base. Paul

Interesting to see one, as I have same kit that I'll be doing in the next few weeks. Looks fabulous Paul

Hi mig. Test fitting shows its fine. The lower is just placed there for effect. Their are "V" shaped plates for the slots that clamp the top and bottom plates together. But not fitted yet as I had moved to my ship, and it fitted back in the box better for the flight and moving around. Probably won't get much more done now till I return to UK in middle of August. But have started building up the engine exhaust box, and found the first bit of filler needed. I'll try getting some pictures up later, of the progress. Paul

At last this Build can start. But First up is my wonderful wife's anniversary present to me. She got gold, I got: And after putting them to use, I can highly recommend single blade cutters. Lovely close cuts with little clean up required. So first up was 74 wheel pairs, but the good thing is they are almost totally hidden by track skirts, so was a bit lazy with the clean up. They drop into the slots and then a long pair of bars lock them in place. then the side skirt is installed on the underside of the hull. Lovely fit of all parts, and the skirt even has standoffs so the sit with a small gap. Top hull is made of four sections, first up is the main center area. Small amount of detail and hatches/covers fitted to front and rear, and a single piece of PE for the name plate. Left the single headlight off at the moment next up are the side assembly's. nicely made and engineered, went together nicely with good clear instructions, as those upper rollers all have different angles. There is a slight difference between sides but minimal. The sides then connect to the center section, with a good positive feel, giving this: and final progress for now turrets and engine box added for enjoyment, and pot of paint for scale. It's definitely a big lump. next bit is the engine exhaust area box, which looks interesting cheers for looking and all comments welcome Paul

Stop making me hungry, and roll on tomorrow. Paul

That's good to hear. Paul

Hi guys. A quick question for anyone that's built a Revell Mustang. Can you make up the body before fitting to the chassis/interior tub. it would be a lot easier for me to have it together to get a consistent effect. Instructions show the nose pieces and rear panel being fitted afterwards. Test fit of the chassis shows a tight fit, but might just work. Any info, gratefully accepted. Paul

Hi Guys. Well, made it here. I'm not a car freak, so this is going to be pretty much OOB. I have always liked the worn out look that I saw on a episode of Fast & Loud(?), were they just cleaned up the worse of the damage/corrosion, then sealed the surface to protect it. So this will be my attempt to replicate that sort of finish, so very little shiny paintwork, and a lot of rust, debris and patchy paint work. Standard, easily available, Revel boxing. I'll spare you all the sprue shots, as everyone must have seen them a thousand times. First up, is my hatred for plastic model chrome parts. I did not know how easily it is removed until very recently. A 5 minute bath in cheap bleach and... Magic. No more plastic'y chrome. With that sorted, I have completed the engine. Went together OK, Brush painted with a mixture of Tamiya acylics and Vallejo Metal Color. I Only have limited modelling kit ATM, as away with work, so may get a bit of detail added at a later date. Wheels are a Work in Progress Next up is the Body. So, been playing with things. First up was just rubbing in AK-086 Dark steel pigment with a finger, which worked, but left a very bright and shiny finish. Next up was trying AK451 True Metal. It's a waxy substance, in this case Metallic blue. Rubbed it over the pigment, which instantly disappeared, and just stained the plastic that baby blue you can see on the wing's. So that was a failure. Reapplied the pigment and sealed it with a 50/50 mix of Tamiya clear/thinner, only the Door at the moment. On a Plus note, it darkened the pigment quite nicely. So, tried the True metal again, and it worked as I had hoped. Now all I have to do is repeat the process over the rest of the body. May have the bonnet/hood and boot/trunk in a different effect, as if they had been replaced and have good paint work, but I'll decide that later

Hi Guys. Been waiting for this to start for a while. And wouldn't you know it, coincides with a work trip, 8weeks in Australia. So first build I was attempting, was going to be a 2CV. But with 2 weeks in quarantine, and a choice of 3 kits, it didn't stand a chance. So that's off the list. other 2 are aircraft and I really need a more comprehensive tool kit/workspace to build them (special Hobby Walrus with its resin interior, and eduard Spad XIII which looks very delicate to shove into a soft luggage bag and fly half way round the world.) So what's a man to do. Aha, Metro hobby's in Melbourne (where I'm quarantining) has something, and we are allowed deliveries as long as the cops can inspect it for illegal stuff. So here goes build 1. It's a big beastie, 69t of slow, under gunned, armour and steel. Thats 27cm long at 1/35 scale. Unfortunately, I cant find the aftermarket tail or railway bogies. A few of the sprues, and close ups for detail. Looks good from first inspections, and looking forward to the off. First up is 74 pairs of wheels. Sounds fun Cheers for looking Paul

We have a winner. 69 T of metal, crew of 12. To give you a idea of size, the hull is 30cm long and 8cm wide in 1/35 scale. The mystery surrounds 1 tank. They were being moved to a safer location by train, but were caught up in a train traffic jam due to a burning fuel train. Unfortunately, the train stopped on a bend, so the tanks couldn't be off-loaded(they had dedicated transport bogie's), and it was decided to destroy them rather than let the Germans capture them. Out of the 6 that were on the train, 5 were destroyed, but Champagne (99?) explosives failed to detonate and was captured. This tank was transported to Berlin where it was displayed as a war trophy. The others were used as target practice to test German anti tank gun effectiveness. But here's the mystery, it is supposed to have been captured by the Red Army and shipped to Russia, but has never been seen since. It's believed to still exist, but kept hidden from view, as it would probably cause a international incident due to the French wanting it back. cheers for looking Paul

So, got another kit for this. Surfing the web is bad for your wallet 🤣 Can you guess what it is yet? Biggest. check Late to the party. Check National pride. Check Total disaster. Check A mystery ending. Check Paul

While looking for a model for this, I was surprised by the number of Skylines that are available. Or maybe we can get a manufacture company (i.e. ford, general motors) allowed as a STGB. I don't believe a car would ever get a standard GB, so this option would allow a more varied choice. But that would be up to the illustrious leaders, as requires a bending of the rules. just a idea Paul

I'm a bit confused. The initial post said aircraft, but now I've seen a couple of Sci-fi ships. So, is this going to be open to any subject that's bristling with weapons. cheers Paul

It is not good news. I have started the 2CV. Although I do have a good excuse. Arrived Melbourne yesterday to start my next work rotation. 2 weeks locked in a hotel room under guard. So what's a man to do, apart from bringing a mobile modeling tool kit and as many models as I could. So the 2CV is the first victim. I understand I cannot enter it in the GB, unless I can get a early start date. I know I won't be building anything once I join the ship, as 12hr shifts for 6 weeks, boat movement, and general conditions on a work boat, make it impossible. Anyway, back to staring out the window thinking of escape routes Cheer Paul

Cheers Max. Already ordered the revel boxing along with the walrus decal sheet Paul

Can I play. Walrus with French navy markings, and spad XIII. Looking for a 2CV to rust up as well, but need to source a kit for it Cheers Paul

Hi Rich. Those 3d printed decals from Quinta look excellent. Quick question about them. Are the self adhesive, or do you treat them as normal Decals? Cheers Paul

Last Bit today.. well maybe some paint on engine later😉 One side of Fuselage modified, forgot to take pic of panel above wing root that's been shortened for new cowl. Still need to drill 4mm hole for Propeller shaft Taped both sides together for comparison. Tomorrow will be second side trimmed and more engine work. Hope everybody's still having fun Paul

Hi Guys. More progress, and even opened the actual model today. Finished up all the cockpit and canopy PE upgrades, I'll post pics later when they get used. Tyres and Hubs have had their basic clean up, but more to do. Started on the Engine, after a lot of sanding and coffee, we have this Lump. That's stage 1 and a little of 2 complete, there's 37 steps in total, and all ready looks amazingly detailed. Also started cutting the kit panels and structure to allow the fitment, but still more to go. I'll post pics of the modified half compared to the unmodified when I get the first half finished. Cheers for looking Paul