Robert Stuart

Looks big, but not too complex (I hope).

I've never built one of these, not sure that I've even seen the boxes. Going to watch with interest. A Tamiya kit for a tenner?

Look interesting and very different Alexey.

OK people, the rules are up.

Welcome to the TLC - Transports, Loaders and Carriers GB! The hosts for this GB are JeroenS, Pin and myself. Thank you to everyone who's joining in or just following along. I'm looking forward to some interesting builds! The rules for the GB are: A group build for the support and transport types; the supporting tail rather than the striking head to be held between 18 Mar and 9 Jul 2023 Allowed types Military and civilian transports. For example: troop carriers, buses, lorries and supply carriers, and associated support units. Excluded: Bombers, fighters, tanks (the striking elements). Included: Types where the primary role is as a carrier, loader or transporter (the supporting tail) and many civilian types. Edge case examples: HP Victor tanker - yes (carries/supplies fuel); HP Victor bomber - no. C-130 Hercules - yes; AC-130 gunship - no Standard Rules Any scale of model is allowed, your model can be as big or as small as you like. No buying or selling in the GB, there is a dedicated section of the forum for that. Models must have a significant amount of work still to do when you start your thread. If you are unsure then please ask JeroenS, Pin or me. You must keep an updated thread with pictures going, no going from box art to finished model with nothing in between. Be civil to each other, we all have our own techniques and ideas on what to do but don't go trying to force them on others. And most importantly, HAVE FUN! That is what this is all about. Enjoy the group build! Robert p.s. Haven't signed up, but want to join the fun? If you are confident your kit fits the constraints above, please feel free to start a thread. You may start building on or after 18 March. p.p.s. This is a group build, please support each other's threads. A friendly comment means a lot more than a like.

Making Tracks I've started work on the tracks. The first test was to see if there is a difference between the pins. There is. The difference is subtle, difficult to see while building, but would be noticeable on the finished model. A solution to that is to spray one set of pins a different colour ... Here they are covered with MagicTape to reduce any risk of projectile modelling. The value is more visible when the pins are added to the tracks. So far, I've joined sixteen links of each side in blocks of eight. I'll need about 123 per side.

Sounds good @Andwil. BNA are about half-a-planet away from me, but I've bought stuff from them - the stuff arrived in good order.

I'll be building this kit or, at least, the tracked carrier. The load, the six-pounder may be built in parallel, but won't be a core part of the project here.

Transport sounds good, as does Casevac, both are appropriate roles. If your build can focus on one (or both) of these roles, you are good to go

All look interesting Enzo. You do know that the chorus is lining up: WWEMS

Looks good Graham Will the evergreen plastic form part of your build?

Looks like a fun project @Enzo the Magnificent. As to costs; given the price differential between N gauge and OO or HO, or the lack there-of, I'd suggest the smaller gauges offer a difference in space requirements, but not a significant cost saving.

Graham, you and Trevor ganging up to give me a heart-attack? You with your photo of a Marder I kit, him with his 'AA' truck. OK, yes. This cross kitting project sounds interesting, and should produce something a bit different.

Hello @stevej60, what role did that airframe perform in US service? @dnl42, those all sound good. @PeterB, yes, think IFV were discussed earlier. Their primary role is transport, on or off the battlefield. @ColonelKrypton, Graham, those sound intriguing. The Lorraine cause a double take, until I understood what you were doing.

The build is open to both civilian (club?) builds and military, so, build whichever you prefer.

Looks good, with MiniArt's usual level of detail. Have to admit, I had a mild panic when I saw 'AA' in the title, but, of course, that is the chassis designation.

There is about a year to add to your stock, treat the other two as practice, and make this your definitive build

Plant names are so rarely used for vehicles that I'll keep them in. Poisonous animals? Since poisonous plants are allowed, I should say yes to poisonous animals. @zebra, yes to your Platypus. I'm not about to check how it identifies; whether 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they', 'them' or whatever. You had to ask about a 'Double Mamba' engine! My mother had a story about dealing with a Black Mamba, trying to get it out of our garden (for a few years, when I was very young, we lived in Africa). Heart says yes. Head? Think 'yes' is consistent with encouraging units with poisonous animals in their badges (92 Sqn, 213 Sqn).

Thanks @Rob G, you have some good suggestions there. I googled the Taipan; the Inland Taipan is, apparently, the most venomous snake in the world, though not the most dangerous. The MRH90? If somebody can find a kit, sure. Arbath? Given we allow units with appropriate symbols, then yes, anything with that badge. Looks like they are/were connected to Fiat, with a lot of cross badging? Arbath, yes. Equivalent, non Arbath, Fiat, no. If you change your mind, and decide to join the build, you'll be very welcome.

@Andwil, another Black Widow would be great @Toryu, your snake restoration sounds interesting @TEMPESTMK5, I hadn't heard of either of those brands, so I googled them; they both have interesting ranges of kits. Another few snakes will be very welcome.

It is snowing outside. Had a day to relax in, but ... I never paint when it is cold, acrylic paints stop setting below 7C (they harden, but are not to archival quality). Painting SCC 15 today: And, last night I started on the crew Today was only meant to catch the gun & mantlet together with the wheels and lower hull - the rest is overspray.

Mmm, yes, that does trigger memories. Think I'd've called it the Auster Antarctica and would have left it in the yellow plastic.

I'd guess you'd be right. A little progress The crew have been started, and some additional boxes added to the turret: One figure has suffered severe amputations, losing both hands and feet, the other will recover his head later. AM Goodie: a box of 3d printed tracks from Heavy Hobby, a brand that is new to me (Voyager Model I'm aware of; I'm not sure what the link is between the brands). The box contained three bags, a large and a small bag of links (why the small bag?), and a bag with track pins. And those links in close-up: The hole through the track's tooth would be very difficult with traditional metal or plastic mould casting (suspect the originals were sand cast). {edit} p.s. Just found out, the small bag contains six links with complete track pins; obviously designed to be used as spare links on a vehicle. {/edit}

A few bits and pieces for this build arrived today... Crew, two of whom are likely to be used in this build, some decals (a choice of Welsh Guards, or an artillery OP tank), and some cheese cloth.

One project, but two kits. I'd be stoopid to try (who said I wasn't ...?)