ScootyPuffJunior

Shes all finished she's up and walk around pics are in the RFI forum!

Krupp 21cm Mörser 10 in 1:35 scale from Takom. Finished with Ammo of Mig and Vallejo acrylics; MIG and AK Interactive enamels, 502 Abteilung oils, and MIG and Vallejo pigments. This model represents a German piece captured by Canadian soldiers of the 27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg) during the legendary Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. After my Whippet build last month, I've definitely fallen in love with these First World War kits. When I started deciding which kits I would buy, this howitzer was definitely on the top of my list. I find subjects like this rather interesting; it's a niche (artillery), within a niche (First World War subjects), within a niche (armor modelling). I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite builds out of all the stuff I've done in my short time in the hobby. Like any build, there's things I like and things I don't like, but overall I think it turned out rather well. Comments and criticism is welcomed as always!

I cleaned my camera's sensor yesterday so I took a couple test shots of the nearly-complete 21cm Mörser just to make sure I got all the specs of dust off (I did). Since I took a picture, I decided to figure out where and how I wanted to add the title. The problem was finding a spot for the manufacturer and scale. Normally, this would go near the subject name but I also wanted to add "Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 1917" near the title. Having the manufacturer and scale, along with the battle and date seemed out of place so I added it above my "signature" at the bottom. I think it turned out okay and I'm very excited about finishing this and taking the full walk around pictures. I say "nearly complete" because I still need to add the pigment/dirt mix on the wheels, box trail, and spade tail. I'll be using MIG Pigment Fixer, which I have never used before. I have some pigment fixed with it drying on a paint mule as I type this to made sure it turns out the way I want.

Thanks a lot, everybody!

Takom does indeed sell their workable tracks separately! They're "Mk. IV Workable Tracks," item #02008X.

While the decals dry, I set to work adding some dirt and grime with 502 Abteilung oil paints. I used a couple of different browns to vary the finish, adding anywhere that gunk and dirt would likely buildup. I don't usually do this with oils as I much prefer using enamels, but I thought it would be a good way to practice a skill that I feel needs improvement in my part.

That looks fantastic. I really like what you've done with the supplied diorama base, it's a huge improvement over an already pretty nice piece. I have this kit in my stash ( as well as the cast turret version) and I hope to get it built soon.

Thanks! The decals are okay, they're just really matte so the film stands out compared to the glossy surface of the model. I think once they're sealed and everything if flat coated they'll be just fine. The big one on the gun shield laid down quite nice and so did the one on the barrel, except for that one tiny spot. It's above the P in "WPG" and you can't really see it from this photo, but it's pretty noticeable in person. I think it will be an easy fix, though.

Thanks mate! Following a coat of Alclad gloss, I applied the awesome graffiti decals on the gun shield and barrel. The decals are extremely matte but seemed to go down better than the ones on the Whippet. I had to cut the "WPG" part of red lettering on the barrel off and apply it separately to make it fit properly. There is also a little curled piece on that part of the decal that I think is from my cutting it; I've tried to force it down with some MicroSol but haven't been successful. I'll most likely attempt to slice it off with a sharp scalpel blade. The carrier film is pretty obvious, but after they dry I'll seal them in with some gloss varnish followed by some matte varnish to hopefully make the carrier film disappear.

Out of frame on a coaster off to the left of my big cutting mat. I try to clean my workbench after every project but it usually just ends up looking exactly like it did before in about an hour!

Fresh off the heels of my Whippet build, I decided to stick with the First World War theme and build this interesting little kit from Takom. The kit gives you two options for construction: the short-barreled 1910 model and it's replacement, the long-barreled 1916 model. I opted for the 1910 model because the color guide shows a piece captured by Canadian soldiers of the 27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg) during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Overall, this kit goes together well with no major issues. The biggest problem is the photo etch rifling for the barrel; it's kind of a pain because it's too large and rolling photo etch can be troublesome, but after trimming a couple of ridges off it went it much better. The two pins under the barrel housing snapped while I was attempting to remove them from the sprue, so they were replaced with brass rod. The support rods for the gun shield didn't quite fit so I cut them off and will replace them with styrene rod after assembly (the gun shield was left off for ease of painting). I also added a few extra bolts taken from the spares provided in the Whippet kit plus pins for the wheels and gun mount. I used Alclad grey primer and then preshaded with Tamiya German Grey (XF-63). The main color is Ammo of MIG Yellow Grey and the green is Pale Green mixed with Yellow Grey. A different green is listed in the color call-out, but the Pale Green is closer to the pictures provided. All of the chipping was done with Yellow Grey (over the green areas) and a mix of some Vallejo dark browns and black over everything else. The track pads were also painted with XF-63 separately from the wheels. After a brown filter was applied over the entire model to tone everything down and bring the colors together, the rivets and details were given a wash with Dark Green Grey panel line wash from Ammo of MIG's aircraft line and some streaking was applied with MIG Streaking Grime. After gluing the track pads to the wheels, I sponged on some Yellow Grey to simulate worn off paint. With a majority of the weathering done, the model was given a coat of gloss varnish to seal in the enamels and prep the surface for the two decals representing graffiti applied by Canadian troops to claim their prize (these are applied after weathering to show fresh paint). After the decals go on, I'll add more dirt buildup using oils and more enamels on the lower areas of the model.

I'm looking forward to seeing this come together!

Thanks again. I am guilty of setting a rather high bar for myself, but I like to do it to push myself to improve with every model I build. Plus, you know, everyone is their own worst critic and all that!

Thanks mate! I got that clear rod from an eBay seller in China. It's 3mm, which fits the hole in the bottom of the model perfectly.

Bandai 1/72 scale RZ-1 A-wing with a Ralph McQuarrie-inspired paint job; finished in Tamiya & Vallejo acrylics, MIG enamels, and Tamiya pigments.

It's in the process of being painted as I type this! Thanks mate. I'm not happy with the mud. It looks okay I suppose, but I was having a difficult time getting the texture I wanted with it. Some of it looks good, like the parts over the identification strips on the sides, but as a whole I think it could be better. Also, the tracks... they just bother me. The first attempt was pretty bad so I started over again and what's in those pictures is the second attempt. Thanks everyone for the kind words!

Takom's 1/35 scale Medium Mark A Whippet, completed as tank A321 serving near Achiet-le-Petit, France, in August 1918. Finished in Vallejo & Tamiya acrylics; MIG enamels; Abteilung 502 oils; and MIG, Secret Weapon Miniatures, and Vallejo pigments. This was my first entry into armor modeling and there are some things I don't like about the finished product and some things that I think turned out great, but overall I'm pretty happy with it. I've always been fascinated by the First World War and I think this will serve as a nice springboard into more models in this subject. (I've picked up this kit, the Meng Whippet, the Meng Renault FT, the Takom Krupp 21cm Mörser, and the Takom Mark V heavy tank kit in the last month!) Please feel free to tell me what I can approve upon as comments and criticism are always welcomed!

Fantastic job! The mud and weathering look great.

Great work so far! This was at my local hobby shop for 50% off and seeing your build makes me really wish I had picked it up when I was there.

Very cool! I love the little stormtrooper doll!

Very nicely done! I definitely agree that the TIE Interceptor is the coolest looking TIE.

Brilliant as always. Your work continues to be an inspiration!

I love that one trooper holding the little droid sprocket. Fantastic work!

That looks fantastic as always. I just got this kit in the mail today and I was thinking about starting it, but I also just got four WWI armor kits that I might do instead.

The wing panels look great; using steel over black is a brilliant idea. I have always added a metallic tinge to all of my TIE wing panels as well by adding in a couple of drops of blue metallic paint to some black.