Enzo the Magnificent

Windscreen fitted and masked. The model was then primed using clear lacquer from a rattle can followed by a coat of grey plastic primer, also from a rattle can. I'm going to paint the colourful stripes. I sprayed the yellow from a rattle can of Fiat Broom Yellow, then masked it - as always acknowledging the sheer insanity of masking yellow paint with yellow tape. A coat of red, again from a rattle can and some more masking. This was a bit easier. It is just now waiting for the black.

Another day, another blue. This one is Vallejo 7.087 Steel Blue. I'm working to the colour chip in Railway Liveries 1927-1947 by Brian Haresnape, published by Ian Allan I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy an enamel paint.

Another possibility for this GB.

There are plenty of Spanish subjects which would be suitable for the current NATO GB.

Let's discuss that die-cast hull. I think Tamiya regret their choice in this kit as it makes the build a lot trickier - certainly with regard to the running gear. The kits of the later variants have the hull sides in plastic, assembled together with the upper hull. This makes it easier to fit the running gear and allows the upper and lower hulls to be painted seperately. With this kit, the running gear has to be fitted and the link-and-length tracks juggled in from the sides. Once the running gear and tracks are painted, they will need to be masked off while the upper hull is painted. Not a major problem, but it does mean that the kit isn't as fun to build as the later variants. However, to ease construction of the return run of the tracks. there is a handy jig moulded into the sprue holding the wheels and tracks. The track is carefully assembled on this jig (making sure that you don't inadvertently cement the tracks to the jig ) And then removed to allow the cement to set. Easy peasy, 🍋 squeezy!

I resprayed the blue. This is Vallejo 70.809 Royal Blue. It's better, but it's still not right. Of course the easy option would be to use Railmatch or Precision enamel paints, but I really don't like using enamels these days. I'll look for other acrylic options.

Let's look at the parts. They are very interesting as they have nothing in common with the later versions. The late Tiger I and Sturmtiger kits have the same lower hull and running gear sprues. Not so with this kit. The most obvious difference is the lower hull, which in this kit is die-cast. More about this later. The remainder of the sprues are moulded in dark grey plastic.

I had a lucky escape today. Nearly fell down a rabbit hole. I was choosing my marking scheme and realised that some options had the slatted wing. I then started thinking about a selection of RAFG Sabres with both typs of wing. I have a couple of Academy Sabres in The Stash, so it would have been easy... I then realised that sort of insanity is more suited to the forthcoming F-86 STGB so I managed to sidestep the rabbit hole. Didn't help though as I fell down another one in the Tiger STGB. So here we go. Hold on tight, rider! Fuselage interior parts painted up ready for fitment. And fitted. The instructions say that 3g of ballast is needed. I've put in about 8g. Fusekage and wing built up, ready for main assembly. This kit builds up quickly. It needed a modicum of sanding around the intake, The sprue gates are rather large (as was true f all Airfix kits around the time this was first released) and I ended up with a big scar in front of the cockpit, but that was easily filled. The joint line on the fin was also quite prominent so that was filled with a smear of Perfect Plastic Putty.

It's not leading by example. It's a total lack of self control.

I appear to have fallen down a Tiger tank rabbit hole. I already have two ongoing builds in this GB but I'm gonna start a third. It may not be wise, but when has that ever stopped me?!?!? As I've mentioned many times, I like seeing how designs evolve over time. The Tiger I had numerous detail improvements over its short service life and so is an excellent subject for my preoccupation. I can also build it in an overall grey scheme, which will contrast nicely with the other two builds in the three-colour scheme. This will be the early version, again from Tamiya in 1/48.

Any thoughts on a marking scheme? Big roundels or small roundels? Or... as you have two kits in The Stash... maybe one of each? You know you want to...

I think I can speak for the GB co-hosts when I say Andrés. No permission needed. A Spanish IIIEE would be a superb addition.

Zimmerit overlays in the process of being added. The side mudguards are added. In contrast with the Sturmtiger that I am building in this GB, I didn't distress these. I figure that this vehicle was quite new, so only the front mudguards have had any damage. Primed with grey plastic primer from a rattle can.

I added the mudguards on the sides. Well, some of them... I thought that this vehicle would have spent a lot of time in urban environments with a lot of resulting damage to the flimsy mudguards. Therefore I cut some sections away and distressed the remaining bits. The model has been primed with grey plastic primer from a rattle can. You can see that some of the zimmerit overlays need to be sealed with superglue.

Windscreen fitted and masked. You can just about see the PE vent panel on the lower nose. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I annealed the brass in an attempt to get it to curve slightly but it still doesn't fit well.

By my reckoning that's 30 candidates, so into The Bunfight we go...

And we're finished! Stood next to its big brother.

And we're finished! I enjoyed the build, even though the kit needs a bit of work to bring it up to in-service standard. The Trumpeter kit is likely to be the only game in town for... well... ever, so it's work that is worthwhile. Having said that, I think I have modified the wing tanks to be a little too prominent. The larger scale for this model gives it a certain presence. Here it is compared to its smaller brother in 1/72.

It occurred to me that I haven't shown the cockpit clearly. The seat and harness is from Eduard intended for a Hurricane.

My two Whirlwinds are just about to go into the gallery.

I've lost the will to live with the constant fill-sand-repeat cycle on the valances so I think this is as good as I am going to get. I gave the thing a shot of blue. This is Com-Art Pthalo Blue. It's not the final colour though as it is far too bright. It's a shame as the Com-Art paint is lovely to spray. It is airbrush ready, lovely and thin but covers beautifully. It might be suitable as Great Eastern Railway blue. More work on the tender. I plated over the remains of the gangway connection (thanks @Paul821 ) with plastic card.

It already is...

No, that is blocked off at the bottom. As long as the barrel isn't set approaching 90°, the end shouldn't be easily visible.

Indeed! There's just so much to choose from in The Stash.

Zimmerit applied. This is a straightforward process. The adhesive doesn't seem to be very strong and the pieces can be repositioned easily. However once pressed down firmly the pieces sit nicely. However... having said that, I sealed the edges with superglue. Yannow... just in case. The casemate front and top panels completed. I have also added a piece of foam for the figure to stand on. Casemate closed up. The upper hull has had the detail parts added (the mortar muzzle is just a push fit at the moment). The front mudguards have been distressed slightly using a candle. The side mudguards will be fitted shortly but they will probably be severely distressed with whole sections missing. The white is overspray from priming the interior, just in case any of it is visible through the open hatch.