PetrOs

Thanks! I hope to get the parcel with the guns (both Victrix and Perry) today, so I will know, if it will fit. I can make the base up to 40 mm for the guns, I hope they will fit. If not, I will need to think out some other constellation for the Rook figure, maybe a piece of wall with a pair of shooters or so... Just saw the post tracker to show the delivery successful

My father has a birthday in may, and he is a big fan of chess. He played in the highest german chess league for a while, but now making a break until retirng, as his main work was not allowing the chess playing appointments any more. He is a big history fan, with the focus on napoleonics. I thus decided to make a chess set with napoleonic figures. I decided to use the 28mm scale to be able to fit standard 50mm spaced chessboards. Being a russian, I set the theme as the Battle of Borodino, which was the major event of the Napoleons invasion to Russia. My plan is to use following figures: King - Napoleon or Kutuzov Queen - General on horseback Rook - Cannon with 1-2 men Bishop - Infantry officer+standard bearer Knight - cavalryman Pawn - infantryman I decided to paint the units to suite the most fought central position on the Borodino battlefield - Raevski's battery, also known as a Grand Redoubt. It was initially defended by the russian VII corps, commanded by general Raevski. During the day, several other corps were moved to the area as reinforcements. French corps of Ney, Davout, and Prince Eugen Beauharnais, supported by cavalry of Grouchy and La Tour Mauburg were the attackers. French mounted several dozen attacks on it over the day, and these were either beaten back or even if taken, russian counterassaults driven the french away in a short while. It was the deadliest place on the battlefield, ground covered with dead in several layers. Several russian and french corps were grinded to shambles there. French infantry would be painted in the colors of 30th Line Infantry. This unit managed to capture the battery for a while in the morning. As the russian defenders fell back, generals Ermolov (Chief of Staff of the 1st russian army) and Kutaisov (Chief of russian artillery, renowned to be the best artillery general in Europe by the time, superior even to Bonnie) led the freshly arrived reinforcements (18 Jaeger and Ufa regiments) to retake the battery in an uphill bayonet charge. 30th line was nearly destroyed, only 300 men remained from the starting 4100. No prisoners were taken except the french general Bonnamy who was badly injured and captured. This attack was also costly to the russians, as the young general Kutaisov was killed. French 30th Line is well documented here, with lots of profiles - http://frederic.berjaud.free.fr/030edeligne/30e_de_ligne.htm, I will be making 4 fusiliers, 2 voltigeurs, and 2 grenadiers, the command groups would be in regular uniforms. Russian infantry would be most likely painted as the grenadiers of the grenadier bataillions of Ufa Regiment (Red collar, yellow shoulderboards, white gear), 18 Jaeger (Green collar, yellow shoulderboards, black gear) from the reinforcements, and the regiment colors of the original defenders (12th division, containing Narva (Red/Red/White), Smolensk(Red/White/White), Alexopol(Red/Yellow/White), New Ingermanland(Red/Dark Green/White), 6 Jaeger (Green/Yellow/Black), 41 Jaeger (Green/Light Blue/Black)) which also supported the counterattack. Cavalry - I will try to either convert the 2nd guard lancer figures to the polish 11th Uhlans from the Latour-Mauburg corps, or use the plastic hussars as the 6th Hussars from Grouchy corps. The russians cuirassiers would be from the 2 most elite russian regiments - Guard Cavalierguards, and Guard Horse regiments. These two regiments (1st brigade of the 1st cuirassier division) were sent to support the dragoons, uhlans and hussars from the IV cavalry corps, and consequently routed and inflicted heaviest losses on Grouchy and Latour Mauburg cavalrymen. I got the following sets for the work, but only a few figs will be used. Most other would be used either in later chess sets, or in a diorama Russians From Perry (metal): Cuirassiers attacking (PM-RN31), Foot Artillery aiming 6pdr (1809 Kiwer) (PM-RN06), Foot Artillery firing 6pdr (1809 Kiwer) (PM-RN05), Grenadiers attacking, summer dress (1812 Kiwer), Grenadier command advancing, summer dress (1812 Kiwer), High Command on foot, 1812 ( Generals Kutuzov, Barclay de Tolly, Yermolov, Osterman-Tolstoy, Ouvarov, Koutaissov, Wilson and Colonel Toll). From Warlord: Napoleonic Russian Command (1809-1815) (WGN-RUS-23, metal), Early Russian Napoleonic Infantry (1809-1815) (WGN-RUS-01, hard plastic) French: Victrix (Hard plastic): Napoleonic French Artillery 1812 to 1815 (VX0018), French Napoleonic Infantry 1807-1812 (60 figures) (VX0005) Perry (metal): Mounted Corps Commanders (PM-FN002), 2nd (Dutch, 'Red Lancers';) Lancers of the Imperial Guard ,charging, couched lances, full dress, Napoleon and Staff part 1 (this includes Napoleon, Ney leaning on table, Soult, Drouot, Colonel Gourgaud ,Hussar officer acting as ADC and map table), Line Voltigeurs / Grenadiers advancing at 'the charge', Line Fusiliers advancing,'high porte' Warlord (Metal/Hard Plastic): Napoleonic French Hussars (WGN-FR-08)

And a few pics of my progress in the last 1-2 days. MGs were of course blackened since then, but the progress is slow due to work, 2 kids, scale model shop secondary business and 2 other projects on the workbench

A few weeks ago, I was presented by a kit of A6M3 Zero in a christmas present exchange action in a forum. It was an old tool Tamiya kit of Mod.32 "Hamp". As I have no japs in my collection yet, I went on to start it! I got lots of goodies for it, but I managed to destroy the kit as my skills in engraving the panel lines are nonexistant.... Thus, I aquired a new tool Tamiya kit, its a different A6M3 variant (Mod.22, different wings), and started it after a few weeks of research. Following goodies are here, but its likely not all would be used. Sure use are only the BigEd set and the "Saburo Sakai" pilot, plus diorama items. I always want to make a diorama out of my kits, but noone makes the japanese mechanics working on the airframe! I asked Luis "Panzer vs. Tanks" on shapeways, if he can make a set, but its not yet there, and he's not sure he will make it in time for decision. CMK Sakae 21 Motor - only if ground crew would come CMK Weapon bays A6M3 - not likely CMK Rear conus A6M3/A6M5 - not likely, new Tamiya looks correct to me CMK Cockpit - most likely not Big Ed A6M3 - already HGW Seatbelts Zero - not really, pilot has the belts molded on Scale Aircraft Conversions Metal Gear struts - quite sure use, I always have a stability problem with plastic struts when transporting to shows SBS Model Seat - nope Squadron Vacform canopy - likely True Details Wheels - sure Techmod A6M3 "Aces" decal - sure For the diorama I got CMK Ground crew (winking) CMK Saburo Sakai IJN Pilot PJ Productions IJN Pilot Tamiya Kurogane 4x4 jeep Tamiya Komatsu G40 Bulldozer Barrels, crates, etc from different kits. The plan is to make an aircraft coded T2-165 in a highly weared green over the IJN glossy faded grey green. This machine was a mitsubishi build A6M3 Mod. 22, so mitsubishi specific coloring applies. It was a part of 204 Kokutai activities in the Solomons in 1943, based on Rabaul and Buin. It was mostly flown by the top ace Shoichi Sugita. Shoichi Sugita was one of the 6 pilots who were escorting Admiral Yamamoto's Betty when P-38 Lightnings ambushed the group and shot down both Betties, killing Yamamoto. Sugita shot down one of the Lightnings, but too late to save the admiral. 6 Pilots were ashamed to have failed, and swore an oath to fight the enemy with no respect for their own life. In a few months, 4 were killed, and another went home after loosing an arm, only Sugita remaining. He was respected as the most agressive japanese pilot, and shot down between 70 and 120 aircraft. He was injured a few times, but returned to action, fighting over Truk, Peleliu, Phillipines and japanese mainland. In 1945 he was a part of the elite 301 Hikotai, 343 Kokutai, which was commanded by Minoru Genda and flew the brand new N1K2-J George to a devastating effect (most likely my next build ). However, on 15. April 1945 US carrier Hellcats from VF-46, led by Robert "Doc" Weatherup, struck the airfield. Despite the order to get in cover from Genda, Sugita and his wingman Miyazawa ran to their fighters and tried to start, only to be blown to pieces on takeoff by Weatherup. The plane weathering should look like this (its another Zero from the same area) The profile is:

Thanks! I tried to give him that dusty look, glad it also comes over like this. I have to say, I have no idea how tall he really was. The figure is on the larger side, about 60mm to the eyes and 68mm to the top of the hat without plume, but he looks to be a short and crafty from his proportions...

The sleeve is empty, his arm is below the jacket

I finally finished my General de Saint-Sulpice vignette in 54mm scale. Figure by Tin Belin, Reality in scale base, wood socket by Diosockel, Nameplate by Schildermaxe, Coin is a copy of a 1814 20 Franc coin. Painting by acrylics and oil, with pigments and flat enamel top coat. A nobleman by birth, Saint-Sulpice joins the army as a sublieutenant in 1777, becoming a lieutenant-colonel in 1792 in the Army of the Alps. He is then suspended, from September 1793 to May 1795, because of his aristocratic ascendance. Despite the proclamation of the French Consulate, the career of Saint-Sulpice seems to stagnate until 1803, when he is finally promoted to brigadier general. With the proclamation of the Empire, Saint-Sulpice gets a position as Écuyer cavalcadour of the Empress Joséphine. With the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, Saint-Sulpice is given the command of a cuirassier brigade in d'Hautpoul's 2nd heavy cavalry division of the cavalry reserve of the Grande Armée, which he will command between 1805 and 1807. At the battle of Eylau in 1807 Saint-Sulpice is wounded, but a week later, on the 14 of February, he gets promoted to general of division and takes command of the 2nd heavy cavalry division, replacing d'Hautpoul, who had died of his injuries. Named count of the Empire in 1808, he fights in most of the major engagements of the Fifth Coalition in 1809: Abensberg, Eckmühl, Ratisbon, Aspern-Essling and Wagram. During the French invasion of Russia, Saint-Sulpice is given command of the dragoon regiment of the Guard. The next year, in March 1813, he is named governor of the castle of Fontainebleau but then is called to serve in the Grande Armée again for the War of the Sixth Coalition, fighting in Saxony. In 1813-1814 he serves as a commander of 4th Honor Guard Regiment, a regiment paid and manned by noble and rich families, and attached to imperial guard. In 1814, as the fighting continued, this time on French soil, Saint-Sulpice is assigned to serve under Marshal of the Empire Pierre Augereau, whose orders were to defend Lyon against the invading Allied armies. Retiring from active service, he became a Peer of France in 1831. His name appears on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

They are now deliverable, just received a pair to my store shelf!

After doing polls in lots of forums and facebook, following vehicles are the winners 1) Shared by GAZ-24 and VAZ-2101 2) GAZ-21 3) Shared by Moskvitch 408/412 and VAZ-2106 I would be starting my work on one of the first placed models immediately, depending on for which of them I get the better 3D model.

I recently heard the question from several guys, whether any soviet 70th or 80th cars exist in 1:35. The answer is unluckily no. Thus I decided to tackle this, and produce a resin kit (or a series of resin kits if the first goes well). If done, it would be 3D printed with manual polishing afterwards, then cast in resin. I have the skills and equipment for that, but would like to hear if there's the interest. I also would be interested, if someone would like to cooperate, be it a company or a person. I would be using either a free or a commercial 3d model for the base.

Hey, looking good! However, the kit's both main and secondary guns are badly oversized and not correct.. I also plan the Varyag and I would replace the guns with the resin ones from Komplekt ZIP - these are damn great....

Hey, I have a weird idea, and maybe you guys can help me. With a baby upcoming in a few weeks, I would probably need to pause modeling for a while, due to a stunk/noise/dust which's not perfect for a kid. However, doing Corel Draw and AutoCAD work would still be in. Thus, being already a 1/350 PE and decal developer, I thought about doing some interesting decals for 1/48 aircraft, which would also sell. A requirement is that at first, I want to limit this to only the kits I have (so I can make sure that the designs fit without buying the new kits). So, I picked a few aircraft from my stash which would be interesting for me to work with so you can vote which are also your favourite. Also, you are welcome to suggest the particular color schemes, contribute the drawings/photos, etc. I would prefer to stay with allied or neutral airforces, so feel free to suggest US, British and Dominion, Dutch, Soviet, French, Chinese, South and Latin American, Swedish or whatever aicraft, as long as it is documented how they were painted. The aircraft which are covered by the in-production decal sheets from other manufacturers would not be considered.

Ok, thanks! How was the first plane painted? Do you know any photos?

Hello, Does anyone know if any SB2U-3 Vindicators were ever painted in a yellow wing paint scheme? I think the first of these were delivered about the time it was abolished. I just have a great Accurate Miniatures -3 kit here which I would love to build, and a set of very attractive Techmod decals designed for SB2U-1/2. If not, which were the major visible differences? I know about the stabilizer increased by several inches in span and that would be a doable surgery, but was there more?

Hey, thanks for the great informative answers! My aircraft is USAAC, 1941, Wheeler field, in a yellow wing/tail + blue fuselage livery. And its a bit late to find out about the mooring hatch, the fuselage halves are already closed, and a guy (the second man of the crew) is already stretching his hand out of the port-side hatch... Pilot is in the port-side seat, too.

Thanks! As Goose is a fixed wing flying boat, left hand side it is

Hey Just got a question relevant to my diorama of a 1/48 Grumman JRF Goose - I plan to show it on water, picking up pilots from a raft. With one pilot sitting in cockpit and steering the goose, and the second pilot trying to pull the survivors from a raft via the open side door. The question is, was the left or right pilot the aircraft commander? On which side to put my pilot figure? I mean, the senior one would usually be steering, and the younger one doing manual labor of pulling 2 men through the hatch...

Hey I have theirs F4F-3 late, which shares several parts with F4F-4, and it is pretty decent. However, there are definitely a few bits to refine with a good PE set for both interior and exterior, I've ordered Eduard's Big Ed set for mine, but that one is quite pricey! The decals miss stencil marks in my kit, too - so aftermarket ones are also a good idea. Cheers Petr

Hey Ive got a few, however I'd separate models which I started and abandoned for good, and models which are on hold, but which would some day continue. Completely abandoned are Alanger's Yak-9DD in 1:48, and Modelist's 1:350 Yamato. Several projects are on hold - 1/48 scale Albatros D.III, CR.42, Ju-88A, 1/350 scale Mare Island Diorama/USS Norman Scott destroyer... those Master Models 20mm PE and turned brass guns require 10 days rest after doing one gun!, 1/350 torpedoed liberty ship, and KuK Uzsok destroyer On a table I have 4 projects, rotating in short intervals (putty drying->swap). 1/350 russian cruiser Boyarin, 1902, 1/350 scratchbuilding master model for M/S Ebro 1920, 1/48 Grumman JRF Goose, and 1/48 Accurate Miniatures SB2U-3 Vindicator.

Thanks! Looks like I'll order the Ford V8 truck. I used to build Wespe's 1/35 Phaenomen Granit amulance a few years ago, the kit was rather basic, but with some minor details it allowed me to build a really nice replica

Sounds like a good idea! I like the looks of Eligor's Ford V8. I searched farther, and seems like I found a 30es Dodge, and several european Ford and some Diamond T versions done by Wespe Models.. The thing is, the Wespe model kits are quite commonly mislabeled from my experience... This one is labelled as a Dodge D8 - http://www.wespemodels.ro/dodge-d8-p-758.html but it does not look like a D8 from wikipedia... More like a early dodge? A Ford 917 - http://www.wespemodels.ro/ford-steel-shelter-p-787.html - is there a US equivalent for that? Ford V8-51 cargo truck - cant find an equivalent for that too http://www.wespemodels.ro/ford-v851-steel-truck-p-784.html Diamond T 968, 969, 972, 975, 980 in several versions - were any of these prewar?

Hey I am planning to do a yet another trip to a Yellow Wings time, and plan a small diorama with a SB2U-3 Vindicator and a Devastator from the Lexington's group (or maybe an SBD-1 or so...) using aftermarket decals, resin and PE. I want to portray them on a coastal base, and put a vehicle nearby. The question is, which vehicle would be realistic. I went through many online shops, and 99% of softskin vehicles are WW2 time - jeep, GMC/Studebacker trucks, Dodges of different marks, Tamiya's 1942 staff car - non existant by 1938-40 timeframe. Only thing I have thought is to convert UM's GAZ-AA truck back to its ancestor, Ford-AA... Could it however be that someone has a good suggestion for a vehicle? Also, how did the pilot and mechanic uniforms changed between 1938 and wartime? Would it be realistic to position some WW2 era figures near a 1938 yellow winger? P.S - and yeah, I work in 1:48

Hey In 1/72 there are quite a few kits around.. Less in 1/48.. The bomber with 2 I-16 fighters was a TB-3, a few such were used rather effectively against the romanian oil factories during the first days of the war.

Hey Cobras were not the regular material for the division Same as T-bolts these were evaluated, and flown operationally for a few missions to see if they are suited for combat there. Lavochkins were selected instead. As for Yaks - 3rd GvIAP had experiences with Yak 1 and 1b variations in 1941-43 period. Thus, when La-5 were selected, Yak-9 D/DD was also evaluated as a possible material. These were retained on strength until phased out by attrition. Being one of the most experienced regiments of the baltic navy, they were often used for evaluational purposes apparently. The stuff about the cobras is however only from the "tales" my greatgranddad told me, i have not seen the photos. His point of view was in fact that they tried everything but Kittyhawk which was lend-leased or produced in the USSR.. I would however assume P-51 or Spitfire were also never used, but who knows!

Hey That is also likely. 3rd GvIAP had Yak-9 D and DD variants as their main equipment by the time, exactly to provide cover for Bostons and Il-4s of the navy. I think ORAP (R for recon) was not really a suited unit for P-47.. Could well have evaluated them however. As for 3rd GvIAP, I assume this was their machine. As the lost photo I am based on shows my greatgrandfather (who served only in 5 IAP KBF/3rd GvIAP KBF since 22 june 41) near a bomb and rocket laden T-bolt with soviet markings, and captioned Kushskaya Kosa (a salient near Koenigsberg) 1945. My granny (a 13 years old by the time, who stayed with the regiment since late 44 as both her parents were serving there, dad as a political officer, and mom as a staff assistant) remembers that photo well, and she told me that on that airfield only 3rd GvIAP was based. I guess all T-bolts were delivered in OD/NG. Russians wanted all lend-lease aircraft to be painted so as long as I remember, silver wings were not really suited for low level combat!