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Showing results for tags 'rubicon'.
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Another lightning build while I summon the courage to get on with my scratchbuild figures. My kit builds seem to be getting quicker and quicker. Whilst my plan was to move to smaller scales to save display space, the rate I’m popping them out kind of defeats this idea. Ho-hum…. This Rubicon kit is a mixed bag really - nice moulding and very hard plastic which is identified on the box as being ABS, but I’m not so sure. I’ve had no luck in the past gluing ABS with Tamiya extra thin, but this stuff glued really nicely with it. Detail wise, it looks pretty good, but there are some oddities. For instance, the tracks (moulded in one piece with wheels attached) only have the finer detail included on the front run around the idler wheel. The rest of the track has the basic pads/links, but no fine detail. Odd. With only a few parts, it didn’t take long to get together so I didn’t bother with a WIP. I elected to replace all the handles with thin wire, drilled out the floodlight to replace with my usual Molotow liquid chrome and clear glue lens, and added a homemade tow rope to the front. Parts are included to make early and late wartime machines as well as a post war version. I went for the post war, because I liked the fishtail exhausts (which I drilled out) over the wartime cowls. I also wanted to do a bronze green finish. This was done using a 50/50 mix of Tamiya XF-5 and XF-67 over a bit of black preshading. I followed up with a Klearcoat, decals (very nice, and including lots of options; even individual numbers to make up your own registrations), and a black oil pinwash. I wanted to keep this one fairly tidy, with no heavy chipping or dents and rust, so just ground up pastels for dirt. I really struggled to get the canvas mantle cover Matt - I tried Tamiya flat and then Humbrol Mattcote varnishes, but there was still a sheen. Now I recall why I’ve used W&N Matt varnish in the past…. I had a failed attempt to remake the little lantern sight on the turret, but it was just too fiddly, so came up with the idea of a draped camo net to cover it up. The net was made from a piece of elasticated bandage which I teased out a little, soaked in diluted PVA and painted a variety of brown and green shades and sprinkled some dried parsley onto – yum. Although a bit overscale for this one, I think it looks ok, and should certainly look reasonable on 1/35 scale. I made a second, rolled one for the back deck too. The little commander figure is pretty nice and fun to paint. So all-in-all, whilst not exactly challenging miniart detail wise, a super quick build, and a pretty nice result. I may do some more of these kits.
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Hi All. Recently completed is this Panzer IV Ausf H in 1/56 by Rubicon and was completed as part a model club group build where the kits were donated by our LMS. An odd scale and a manufacturer that I've never encountered before. I am no panzer officiado so I couldn't tell you if it's accurate or not but the instructions will tell you that F, F2, G and H versions can be built. The kit built up well with only a little filler needed. There is a jig in the kit to help you fit the turret armour. I added a scratch built box to the rear and removed one of the hull side plates to make it look a little different. Painted with AK paints. Kit decals are supplied but it's up to you to decide what and where to apply them. I think the scale of 1/56 is 28mm, so I think it's aimed at the wargamers(?) Sorry, no WIP. Stuart
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I've been building up a small collection of Rubicon 1/56th scale models, mostly wheeled transport but including their impressive Crusader II/III. Seems like a good time to add something from the opposition: TigerTiger1 by John Walker, on Flickr I bought it especially for this GB, and also acquired the Panzer Commanders figure set. I'll be going for a Tunisian or Italian campaign vehicle. They are safely tucked away in my desk drawer at work, so I'm not tempted to jump the gun. Just hope I remember to bring them home tomorrow... John
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Having enjoyed building the Rubicon CMP truck I decided to try one of their armour kits and settled on the Crusader, which has long been one of my favourite tanks. You get a load of options in this kit, late MkI, MkII, MkIII, MkI/II close support or MkII/III anti-aircraft so there's a lot of parts in the box: Lovely well produced instruction leaflet: Finally there's a generic British armour decal sheet: What to build? Decisions, decisions... I might do some minor conversion work and try to build a first batch MkI with the open mantlet and Caunter camouflage. John
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I started this on March 28th and finished today with about 2 hours per day. The kit is a level 4 as per the box I purchased, but a level 2 on others. Both kits are the "Ranger" version, the same kit number and are identical in piece and piece count. This sort of thing is certainly not unheard of and is a good hint as to why you should research it. See the link above for more information on this kit. There was almost no injection feathering at all. The parts were strong and of good quality with striking detail.The directions were easy and clear as always with Revell. (to my knowledge) I painted the chrome rims as I am not a chrome lover and it never fit my color scheme. A couple of other things that stood out on this one; the rear license plate is too big, instead of cutting it down I threw it into my bonus-bag for future build. The other, was the body being a struggle to fit the frame. After some sharing expletives with the dog I finally got it done. Overall I liked this build and only wish it was a 1:1. The dog concurs. See photos here::: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Google+