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Tiger 1 - Turret Number 313 of 3./s.Pz.Abt. 503 (3rd Company 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion) This Tiger 1 was part of my project for the Tiger 1 STGB and the D-Day GB. The kit is the Skybow 1/48 kit which was a pleasure to make. I added Hauler etched grills and Skybow individual link tracks. This is the Tiger 1 that would become famous as the one which was overturned at Manneville during the Allied heavy bombing at the start of Operation 'Goodwood' on the 18 July 1944. Three of the crew actually survived that bombing. My version is modelled before that date while the detachment was still fighting against Allied tank forces during the battles around Caen. My finished kit can be seen in action against a Typhoon Mk.1b in the D-Day STGB. Kit: 1/48 Skybow Tiger 1 Ausf.E (Late Production) Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylics all applied by brush Extras: Hauler Grill set, Skybow track links, stetched sprue arial and Vallejo Mud The W.I.P. can be found: Here The Typhoon RFI can be found: Here The Diorama RFI can be found: Here Photos against a white background: Some photos of it on my Spitfire display shelf with the photographic sky background: Plus three with my Pz.IV build: Some on the base for the D-Day GB scene: One photo showing the scene it features in: .....and finally one showing the whole scene:

My D-Day project is going to be a 1/48 vignette using the kits below: I am going to to use some aftermarket for both kits - these from Airfix and Eduard for the Typhoon: .......and these track links from Skybow and the grills from Hauler for the Tiger: I'm going to be doing a crossover project where I build the Tiger 1 also as part of the Tiger STGB (at the same time as this D-Day GB) and the Typhoon and vignette here. I have some figures from Tamiya to use as well. Really looking forward to getting started on this. Kind regards, Stix

My Tiger 1 project is going to be part of a vignette that I'm going to build in the D-Day GB. I'm going to be using this rather lovely 1/48 kit from Skybow: The plastic inside has also been re-packaged by AFV Club. I built the Skybow version a while back and it does build up rather nicely. I'm also going to use the Skybow individual track links and Hauler's grills : Big thanks must go to @Ozzy and @Robert Stuart for agreeing to the idea of a crossover project with the D-Day GB. Can't wait to get started next week! Kind regards, Stix

This was my build for the Patton Tank STGB. Information about the actual tank can be found on this page: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/us/t26e4-super-pershing This was my first 1/35 HobbyBoss kit (I have built one of their 1/48 Shermans before) and, apart from a few minor niggles, I found it an enjoyable kit to make. I haven't made an AFV with an engine compartment before so I decided, seeing as how HobbyBoss provided a reasonable looking version of the engine and transmision, that I would display my project with the engine compartment open. This resulted in a bit of a vignette which can be seen in the Diorama RFI section. Kit: HobbyBoss 1/35 T26E4 Super Pershing Pilot #1 Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch - all applied by brush Extras: Tamiya Tank Crew, Italeri Tools WIP: Here Vignette photos: Here The first few photos I took to show the size of the gun - no wonder it needed a system for balancing it! I have also made a bit of a base for this project - one photo here: More can be found here: Well I had a great time building this. A big thank you to @Corsairfoxfouruncle for hosting the Patton STGB and to everyone who took the time to comment and make suggestions in my build thread. I'm still helping Dennis (I think) by co-hosting the GB but I'm also about to start a project in the the Panzer VI Tiger STGB. Kind regards, Stix

This was my first project for the Panzer VI Tiger STGB. My second, yet to be started, project in the Tiger STGB is going to be a crossover project with the D-Day GB so I wanted something to occupy me for a couple of weeks until the D-Day GB actually got underway - and the result can be seen below. It was actually a really fun kit to build. I had planned on it being a completely OOB project but I realised something I already knew - and had put out of my head - that Porsche turret KTs (apart from a couple) all had Zimmerit. So, even though this is a Toon kit, I was pondering how to do the Zimmerit until @MarkSH mentioned in his thread that No More Nails seemed to be a good product for representing Zimmerit. Luckily I had a Zimmerit tool in a 1/35 Academy Tiger 1 kit in the stash so, following the buying of some No More Nails from the local hardware shop and a bit of practice on some scrap, I applied it on the kit. It's not the best ever home-made Zimmerit I've seen but it looks okay and I'm pleased I've had a go - I have a couple of 1/48 KTs that will require some Zimmerit and there doesn't seem to be any etch or other Zimmerit out there for them. I know these kits arn't to everyone's taste but, as a quick, fun project it was great! Kit: Meng Toon Kit (no scale given) Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylics all applied by brush Extras: No More Nails Zimmerit (thank you to MarkSH for the idea), lead wire and Vallejo Mud products Base: Wilko's small picture frame, 3mm MDF, Polystyrene from frozen Pizza box packaging, household filler, Woodlands Scenics Turf and Course Turf plus a variety of army painter tufts and plants. WIP: Here These photos were taken against the sky background from my Spitfire display shelf: Some photos against a white background: ....and on it's picture frame base: Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment in my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

Panzer IV Ausf. J Sd.Kfz.161/2 1 SS Pz. Div. 723 Normandy 1944 This was my second build for the Panzer IV Single Type Group Build. It was a nice kit to make (as all Tamiya 1/48 AFV kits, I have made, seem to be} and I had my first go at using Tamiya's aftermarket Zimmerit stickers, which seemed to fit well despite being badged for their Ausf. H version. It was finished in a bit of a rush - to make sure it was completed for the end of the GB (tomorrow) so I didn't add any stowage (apart from the bucket - gotta have a bucket....apparently) or figures or make a base. It was still a very enjoyable build. Kit: Tamiya 1/48 Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch acrylics all applied by brush Extras: Tamiya Zimmerit stickers (the set for the H version - which fit fine), Vallejo European Thick Mud, stretch sprue aerial and a bucket Build thread: Here And a few on my Spitfire display base with some grass matting underneath: Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment in my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

Tiger ‘131’ is probably one of the best-known Tiger 1s and is currently the only operational Tiger 1 in the world. Captured by the British in Tunisia, in April 1943, it is now at The Tank Museum at Bovington, UK. As part of this project for the MTO II GB, I wanted to include some figures representing some of the crew and possibly their commander. There is still and air of mystery around the crew and some sources suggest that at least some of the crew survived the war but their identities have not, as far as I am aware, been revealed yet. I have included a photo below of the crew figures with '131' below but more can be found in the diorama and vignette section. *While doing some research for the project I also found out more about '131' that I didn't know. Some of you may be already aware of this, but I managed to miss it last year. It turns out that, as of September 2017, new research has shown that '131' was probably disabled quite a few miles away from where originally thought. The new location is at Point 174 rather than near Djebel Djaffa. Anyway - rather than me re-explaining it - more information can be found here: http://tankmuseum.org/year-news/bovnews63935 and here: http://blog.tiger-tank.com/tanks/happened-point-174-part-vi/- For this build I used Dragon's kit of '131' (Kit No. 6820). David Byrden was involved with the kit so it is considered to be quite accurate although David suggests some modifications on his Tiger1.info website http://tiger1.info/models/products-page/DR6820 to further improve it's accuracy. This was my first Tiger 1 in 1/35 and, I have to say, I had a great time building it. Kit: Dragon 1/35 No.6820 Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch all applied by brush Weathering: Vallejo Thick Light Mud and Light Splash Mud Extras: Stretched sprue aerial, Lead wire for smoke launchers WIP: Here Vignette RFI: Here And finally just one to show it with it's base and figures: More photos of '131' with the figures and base can be found here. Thank you must go to everyone who contributed to my build thread in the MTO II GB and I'm really looking forward to making another 1/35 Tiger 1.......maybe with Zimmerit next time! Kind regards, Stix

This is one of my two builds for the Eleventh Hour: Commemorating the end of the Great War - Group Build. Information about the Medium Mark A Whippet can be found here. This was a good kit to build and, despite some odd shapes to fit together around the crew compartment, it goes together very well. I made this to be part of a small vignette together with a Renault FT-17 and a few figures from Master Box. The RFI photos of the FT-17 can be found here. Kit: 1/35 Takom Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylic paints all applied by brush Extras: None for the tank itself just some stowage items from the Meng FT-17 kit and Academy. Most of the weathering was done with acrylic paints and the mud is from Vallejo. WIP thread: Here Vignette photos can be found: Here. [ A couple of photos of this and the FT-17 on the base: Finally thank you to Robert Stuart for hosting the excellent GB and anyone who commented or offered advice in my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

As you may or may not have seen, I am planning to build a 1/48 TIger 1 in this STGB but it's going to be a crossover project with the D-Day GB which starts in June. So that I don't get to far with the 1/48 Tiger before the D-Day GB starts, I am going to make this one as well over the first few weeks of the Tiger STGB: Obligatory box contents photos: x2 Decals and poly caps: Sample of the instructions: Looks like it should be fun! I have made the Toon Sherman before and it was a fun build. I will make it OOB although, at the moment, I’m thinking I may do something different from the suggested Panzer Grey scheme which I think was only used very late in the war in Kng Tigers when there were issues with the paint - depends on what you read and believe on various websites! Kind regards, Stix

Hi guys, About to make to a start on my Tamiya Tiger I Early. For the first time I'm going to adding a little aftermarket in the form of some Eduard engine grills and some ARV Club single link tracks. The kit will be brush painted using Revell and Humbrol acrylics ( not chosen the exact paint scheme just yet). I will be shamelessly copying some of Plastix excellent techniques to get the best finish possible. Will put some photo's up in the next few days. Cheers Andy

This was my project for the Panzer IV Single Type Group Build. The kit is a much simplified Dragon kit with far fewer parts than their usual offerings but the detail seems pretty good all the same. It was actually a really fun kit to make. The photos below were taken on my Spitfire display base. Kit: 1/35 Dragon/Platz Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylic paints all applied by brushes Figures: MiniArt Special Edition German Tank Crew Base: 3mm MDF, Wilko picture frame, Household Filler, Vallejo European Mud, Woodlands Scenics Blended and other turfs, Army Painter tufts and grasses WIP: Here Lots more photos of the Pz.IV and crew: Here From above: And this is what it looks like on it's Wilko's picture frame base: Kind regards, Stix

This was my project for the Panzer IV Single Type Group Build. The kit is a much simplified Dragon kit with far fewer parts than their usual offerings but the detail seems pretty good all the same. It was actually a really fun kit to make. Kit: 1/35 Dragon/Platz Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylic paints all applied by brushes Figures: MiniArt Special Edition German Tank Crew Base: 3mm MDF, Wilko picture frame, Household Filler, Vallejo European Mud, Woodlands Scenics Blended and other turfs, Army Painter tufts and grasses WIP: Here Vignette style photos: Here Some photos - first without the picture frame: Some closer views: .......and on it’s Wilko's picture frame base: I also took some vignette style photos of it on my Spitfire display base: The rest of these can be found: Here Kind regards, Stix

This will be the kit I will be using for this STGB: As you can probably see from the artwork on the back of the box - this is a simplified Dragon kit with far fewer parts than their usual offerings: I'm also going to include some figures from MiniArt: I may also make base for it to go on. I'm really looking forward to getting started next weekend. Kind regards, Stix

Now I have almost finished my 1/35 Dragon/Platz Ausf.D kit I decided that, having seen so many wonderful 1/48 versions finished and still in progress, that I'd like to have a go at one too. I'm going to make the J version that came with the metal lower hull. I am going to make it as an earlier J version which will require Zimmerit. For this I'm going to use Tamiya's Zimmerit stickers that were made for their H version kit. I have both kits and, upon checking, I made sure most of the kit is the same base kit as the H. As I said - the tub is metal in the J version kit but when I checked the Zimmerit stickers against it they seemed to fit fine. So - this is the box: ....and the contents: Detail looks good: The metal hull: Decals: Sample of the instructions: The Zimmerit stickers I will use: I have made a start over the weekend. First job was to test the fit of the Zimmerit stickers for the sides of the lower hull. They seemed to fit fine: Then I fitted the front plastic section and it's stickers: Same with the rear of the hull: The plastic parts are all the same as in the H version of the kit so the stickers should all fit fine from now on. Then I got the suspension parts fitted to the sides: It's been fun so far. Hopefully I will get chance to do a bit more on this in the evenings. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

These are my two builds for the Eleventh Hour: Commemorating the end of the Great War - Group Build. These two were my first ever World War 1 tank builds and I thoroughly enjoyed making them both - they are fascinating vehicles in their own right. I had planned on doing a much more detailed scene but realised I was starting to run out of time to do anything too complex in case I didn't get it completed before the close of the GB at midnight today. The scene itself is set very late on in the conflict and I was imagining what the thoughts of the British crew must have been about the idea of the rotating turret on the FT-17. Kits: 1/35 Takom and Meng Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylic paints all applied by brush Figures: Master Box Base: Wilko picture frame, pizza box base styrene, Polyfiller and various scatter materials and tufts from Jarvis, Woodlands Scenics and Army Painter. WIP thread: Here Whippet RFI: Here FT-17 RFI: Here The photos below were taken on my Spitfire display base which has the sky backdrop: Some photos of the vignette in it's picture frame base: Finally thank you to Robert Stuart for hosting the excellent GB and anyone who commented or offered advice in my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

Hello All. I have been visiting the forum for a number of months now however i have yet to post any WIPs. The vast majority of my models are normally 1/72 scale aircraft and normally painted when i have been deployed for something to do to pass the time. I kinda fell out of love with modelling as i never managed to achieve good results, also having a baby kinda threw a spanner in the works with free time, however after seeing the work done by PlaStix, who i owe a huge thank you too i dug out an old Panzer i had semi started and have been trying lots of new techniques and just experimenting really. So this is where i am so far, OOB, however i have been experimenting with the painting and using it as a test bed for future tanks. 20190103_150143 by daron trevascus, on Flickr This is where it was when i got her out of the garage, put together with a basic paint job 20190102_185246 by daron trevascus, on Flickr Since then i have been working on the wheels and treads 20190102_185024 by daron trevascus, on Flickr This is where she sits now. need to do some more weathering at a later date. 20190105_172032 by daron trevascus, on Flickr Again big thanks to PlaStix, for his help and support and will continue to update when i can. Regards Daron

This was my build for the Gumman GB and I used Airfix's relatively new tool 1/72 kit. It was a nice kit to build and I made it as the aircraft of Capt. Marion E. Carl, VMF-223, United States Marine Corps, Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, September 1942. I had originally thought of doing the model with it's wings folded but decided I'd prefer to display it in flight over water. I haven't modelled water before and I have an idea for a project next year which may include scenic water - so I took the opportunity to try out some ideas. I think it worked okay. I didn't have time to motorise this aircraft like I have done with some others so instead I used PE PropBlurs. Kit: 1/72 Airfix - A02070 Extras: PropBlurs Paints: Revell and Humbrol Acrylics all applied by brush Base: MDF and filler. Clear perspex rod. The WIP can be found here. Now some photos which include the base: Thank you to everyone who commented and offered support or advice in my build thread and thank you to @TEMPESTMK5 for hosting the GB. Kind regards, Stix

This is the kit I am hoping to build, but it will depend on how well I get on finishing my current builds in the Eleventh Hour GB and how much time I have before the Panzer IV STGB starts on December 15th, which I am co-hosting. It will be a while before I actually start this. Kind regards , Stix

This is one of my two builds for the Eleventh Hour: Commemorating the end of the Great War - Group Build. Information about the Renault FT-17 can be found here. This was fascinating little kit to build which went together very well. This was the first AFV kit that I have built which included some of the interior – hence the reason I left the driver’s hatches open. I made this to be part of a small vignette together with a Mark A Whippet and a few figures from Master Box. The RFI photos of the Whippet can be found here. Kit: 1/35 Meng Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylic paints all applied by brush Extras: None. Most of the weathering was done with acrylic paints and the mud is from Vallejo. WIP thread: Here Vignette photos can be found: Here A couple of photos of the FT-17 and Whippet on the vignette base: Finally thank you to Robert Stuart for hosting the excellent GB and anyone who commented or offered advice in my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

These two will be my entry for this GB: I am happy to be corrected, but I think these types of tank never actually fought alongside each other and, from looking at a map of where these two were operational, they may not have ever have met - but I'm going to do a chance meeting while heading to battle (if that's okay with @Robert Stuart). I have found this one photo so far: but I think it's possibly post war as, to me, it looks like the armament is missing. I have some figures to go with my possible scene: I'm really looking forward to getting started on these. I haven't made any WW1 armour before so it's hopefully going to an interesting experience. Kind regards, Stix

Tiger ‘131’ is probably one of the best-known Tiger 1s and is currently the only operational Tiger 1 in the world. Captured by the British in Tunisia, in April 1943, it is now at The Tank Museum at Bovington, UK. As part of this project for the MTO II GB, I wanted to include some figures representing some of the crew and possibly their commander. There is still and air of mystery around the crew and some sources suggest that at least some of the crew survived the war but their identities have not, as far as I am aware, been revealed yet. My vignette is set before the capture of "131" and I was wondering what it must have been like for the crew as they were preparing for their encounter with the enemy. I have tried to show them planning their next move. Kit: Dragon 1/35 No.6820 Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch all applied by brush Weathering: Paints plus Vallejo Thick Light Mud and Light Splash Mud Extras: Stretched sprue aerial, Lead wire for smoke launchers Base: 4 MDF, Filler, Vallejo Thick Light Mud and Light Splash Mud, Army Painter tufts, Dragon DS Cacti Figures: Master Box WIP thread: Here "131" on its own RFI: Here I also took a few with a desert backdrop: This final photo kind of represents what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to do one of those scenes that looks a little staged but didn't want the crew just looking at the camera. It would be interesting to know what happened. Thank you to everyone who contributed to my build thread. Kind regards, Stix

I thoroughly enjoyed my build of Tamiya's 1/48 Bubbletop P-47 in the last STGB: so I thought I'd try the Razorback for this one. This is going to have to be a quick build as I have plans for other builds in other GBs. In fact this will be the first time for a while that I will have several builds on the go at the same time. I'm still finishing off Tiger 1 '131' in the MTO II GB at the moment. Box art: Typical Tamiya instructions: Sprues: Decals: And this is the one I'm going to make it as: .....partly because there are less complicated decals to apply and partly because I reckon there's probably less of this one built because it doesn't have any nice nose art. I will try and get something started on this today and, I have to say, I'm really looking forward to building another of Tamiya's lovely Thunderbolts. Kind regards, Stix

Really looking forward to this GB and the chance to build my first 1/35 Tiger I. And I figured, because this is my first 1/35 Tiger I, I ought to build the famous '131' Tiger I that was captured in North Africa. More details can be found here on Wikipedia, but here is a brief introduction from that page: It was shipped to Tunisia between 12 March and 16 April 1943. The tank was assigned to No. 3 Platoon in No. 1 Company of the 504th Schwere Heerespanzerabteilung during the North African Campaign. It was given the turret number 131 by which it Is now very well known and is now at The Tank Museum in Bovington. It is currently the only operational Tiger I in existence. The Germans were aware that the Allies were preparing a major push towards Tunis and so set up an attack on the night of 20th April 1943. Four points were attacked simultaneously, including a pass on the north side of a hill called Djebel Djaffa*. Two Tigers and several other Panzers advanced through this pass before dawn, and were gradually driven back during the day. Tiger 131 was hit by three shots from British Churchill tanks of A Squadron, 4 Troop of the 48th Royal Tank Regiment. A solid shot hit the Tiger's gun barrel and ricocheted into its turret ring, jamming its traverse, wounding the driver and front gunner and destroying the radio. A second shot hit the turret lifting lug, disabling the gun's elevation device. The third shot hit the loader's hatch, deflecting fragments into the turret. The German crew bailed out, taking their wounded with them and leaving the knocked-out (but still drivable and largely intact) tank behind. Their identity and fate are unknown. The tank was secured by the British as they captured Djebel Djaffa hill. * Photo after 131 had been captured: The photo is from http://ww2live.com/en/content/world-war-2-28-stunning-images-german-tanks-knocked-out-abandoned-and-captured-tunisa. I can remove this photo if there are any problems with having it here. The kit I'm going to use: Some details from the back of the box: I'm hoping to make a start over the Bank Holiday weekend but I also need to finish the Hurricane I'm building in the Hawker Siddeley GB. I've also got some figures to go with it so a small vignette might be a possibility. Can't wait to get started. Kind regards, Stix * Edit 11/07/18 - Djebel Djaffa hill - this location may now not be accurate More information can be found here:

Mk.I Hurricane - L1592 KW-Z No.615 Squadron, RAF Kenley, England, August 1940 Kit: Airfix 1/72 Starter Set Extras: PropBlur, EZ Line aerial cable and some scratchbuilt bits and pieces - gun-sight, struts in the radiator, etc. I also thinned the trailing edge of the wings and removed the fabric moulding behind the armament bays - this work included a small amount of re-scribing. Paints: Revell and Humbrol acrylics all applied by brush. The base was made a while back for my first 1/72 Spitfire and all I have done is add the clear perspex rod to display the Hurricane. WIP: Here This was my first build for the Hurricane Group Build and represents a number of firsts for me. It's the first time I have built a Hurricane since returning to the hobby. It's the first time I have risked doing any changes to the basics of a kit - I did some fairly serious thinning of the trailing edges of the wings, removed the fabric moulding behind the armament bays and did a bit of re-scribing - all, I have to say, following the examples and suggestions of fellow Britmodellers. It is only the second time* I have done an aircraft in flight rather than wheels down - although I have done this one as if it has just taken off - with the undercarriage partway up - again based on some examples from other modellers on here. My original intention was to display this and the other Hurricane I am building in the GB in a sort of diorama - but I think I'm going to be struggling for time to get the other one completed by the end of the GB - hence the reason why I'm posting this now. Please note in the first two photos I have removed the clear perspex rod in Photoshop. To take the photos I placed the base for the Hurricane on my Spitfire display shelf that has the sky image as a backdrop. A couple to show how it looks on the base: And finally one to show the underside: EDIT 27/04/16 - self-indulgence time - some Photoshop versions of three of the photos above: I do apologise about the number of photos!! I took many more than this and it took me a while to whittle them down to this many!! The kit just seemed to lend itself to being photographed. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix *Edit - I had originally posted that this was my first aircraft in flight model but Giemme reminded me that it's actually my second! I'd completely forgotten my 1/72nd Typhoon build for the D-Day GB - doh! Thank you Giemme - you've got a fantastic memory!

Hello again folks, I'd like to share my newly finished Airfix P-40B in 112 Squadron markings. The kit was absolutely great to build and is on par engineering wise with Tamiya et al. A very enjoyable project, and i will be sorely tempted to get another. I didn't particularly want to do the kit finishing options of the Pearl Harbour or Flying Tigers markings so i rummaged around in my spare transfers box for the ones i eventually used. These are from an old Aeromaster set and depict the Tomahawk of Australian Ace Jack Bartle from Landing Ground 102 Egypt Oct 1941. This particular aircraft AN413 was personalised by Bartle with the name Nan below the cockpit. Unfortunately the set i have doesn't have the kangaroo he also added, and i'm not arty enough to go painting skippy on the nose! The decals themselves were a bit thick, and i knew i had no hope of getting the sharkmouth to conform to the contours of the nose so i painted my own. The whole model is brush painted in acrylics. I hope you like... IMG_2768 IMG_2767 by [url IMG_2766 IMG_2765 IMG_2763 IMG_2762 IMG_2737 IMG_2739 IMG_2746 IMG_2747 IMG_2748 Well thats plenty to be getting on with. Thanks for looking. Cheers Greg