News Feed

Rui S
A Beauty 👍

Cristian A Author
Many thanks Rui, yes it was a splendid plane in real life as well 😊👍

Łukasz Gliński
While the kit is quite poor itself, your job is the exact opposite 👍 Great colours 👍

Cristian A Author
Many thanks Lukasz!! Yes the kit is super basic, I'm happy with the result despite that. I think the Sniper deserves another model in my collection from a better kit later 😊

Guy Rump
Great result! 👍

Bernd Grün
Very nice build and paint job. 👍🏻 Congratulation!

Cristian A Author
Thank you for the kind words Bernd!

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Great looking bird! I really enjoy the shading on it.

Spanjaard
great colours, i love it.

Cristian A Author
Thanks Robin, glad you like it. It's the second plane I use this specific procedure - gray Mr. Surfacer Primer, MRP black which seems to be stronger than other black paints for pre-shading and thin layers of last paint.

Thanks Spanjaard, I think it's similar to the real plane.

Thomas Kolb
What a glorious paintjob! That blue really has a depth to it.

Cristian A Author
Thank you Thomas, yes the Tamiya LP paint is wonderful and easy to spray as well in combination with Leveling Thinner.

Thank you Guy 👍

Dietmar Bogatzki
Great build and paintjob 👍

Neuling
So it is.

Thomas Kolb
Lovely display, and super nice modeling too!

Rui S
Very nice camo 👍

Anth Author
Thank you. Practising with airbrush

Mark D
Following, same in stash to build (the tiger version). I've heard that you need quite some tape to hold all the parts together and quite some putty at the intakes. In the end it will always be a nice Tornado, good luck!

Siegfried Van den Bosch Author
So far so good...

Martin Weinpold
Following. 🙂

Guy Rump
Me too! 👍

Acki
Was für ein cooles Teil!

Spanjaard
we should be able to report doubles in paints just like we can do with kits. I have requested that in feature request section SCM Newsfeed

Eddie Mann
Merged to paint.

Michael Valentan Author
I bet if i start scratching one Saladin into a Saracen it will come...like in the film "Fields of Dreams"..."If you build it, he will come...!!!

David Taylor
Bit like the Stolly.AA finishes,Airfix take up the reigns.If you have read the latest Airfix magazine it looks like a few versions will be coming along that is if SMM dones'nt get there first.

Michael Valentan Author
Airfix can be a candidate for releasing a Saracen...thought it would be Dragon (Black Label), they already had a Saladin long ago...So lets wait a little bit longer...and no, i won´t start to scratch one...

Tibor Szilvai
👀

Jan Janssen
#me too

DerMattes
Following 👍

Zsolt Czegle
I take a seat! Following!

Cristian A
👀 I'm in

Łukasz Gliński
Following of course 👍

Prieur Gaël
Chouette tu nous refais un bel hélico !

Harry Eder
Following of course!

Ronan Author
Welcome everybody 😉

Cuajete
Great! I can't miss this 👍

Tom Spiegelberg
Following 😃

Adam Gudynowski
Following

Shar Dipree
Following. 👍

Juergen Klinglhuber
need to watch,....

Alec K
Taking a seat.

Bernd Kehm
Following with great pleasure. From where do You get the ideas or plans for all this changes, corrections and improvements you make (mostly with sheet) at your models?

Kewei Su
A stunning piece of work

Alexander Perov Author
Thank you. This is when you want two models and you only have one set

alessandro magrelli
Absolutely fantastic

Alexander Perov Author
Thanks 🤝

Alec K
Another superb work 👍

Rich Urban
This is a beautiful work of art!

Neuling
Something different. Very well done!

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work with the paint.

David Taylor
Nice.

Kirill K. Author
The photos are uploaded. The project is finished.
Enjoy your viewing!

Neuling
Excellent build and photography!

Neuling
Top small scale build!

Łukasz Gliński
Following 👍

Martin Weinpold
Following!

Nicolas
Me 3

DerMattes
Following! 👍

Rui S
Impressive work 👍

Sergej I
Following, great work so far! 👍

DerMattes
Good to see this going forward 👍

Cristian A
Booking my seat, I like the fine pre-shading 🙂

Lost_Erik
👍 Good progress.

Ben M
How do you do pre-shading like that in 1:72?

servalpe Author
@Ben M, I use two hands to handle the airbrush and put the kit in a support.

Thomas Kolb
Those straight and true airbrush lines are impressive. I definitely need to try to improve…

servalpe Author
More details about my pre-shadding: Airbrush Fengda FE-180 with 0.2 needle, Tamiya XF-1 paint diluted with Mr. Hobby Lacquer Thinner around 80-90%, Pressure: 1 bar. The needle has been polished with Tamiya compounds.

Cristian A
Wow polishing the needle with Tamiya compounds is quite the idea. I think I will try that! Which compound out of the three are you using for this? I'm assuming it's the finish product.

servalpe Author
@Cristian A, you need the 3 compounds: coarse, fine and finish. You will see how smooth will be the needle after coarse polishing. Because chinese airbrush needles are not very well finished.

Thomas Kolb
Polishing the needle is a great idea to avoid blotches. But I think it's more a matter of being able to move the airbrush in a perfect straight line and being able to start and stop the paint flow precisely where you want. Something you seem to have mastered.

servalpe Author
@Thomas, please try to use 2 hands and you will see how much control you gain 😉

servalpe Author
Thanks guys, for your nice comments ...

Rui S
Thank you for your detailed explanation. Apreciated 👍

Michael Kohl
I shouldn't miss this

Cristian A
Nice sand colour, keep it going 😄

Cuajete
Very nice job so far 👍

DerMattes
Nice paintjob so far!

servalpe Author
Paintjob needs some corrections, but it is almost finished.

Thomas Kolb
That camo looks very nicely weathered. Beautiful.

DerMattes
Beautiful build! Nice! 👍

Thomas Kolb
The more I look at the photos, the more impressed I am. Absolutely stunning paint job - I wish I could ever do something like that.

Michael Kohl
I can only agree with Thomas. Some mighty nice paint job here - with the preshading particularly impressive. I am afraid that even with three hands and a foot my control wouldn't be sufficient for a similar quality.
Maybe it is still on your to-do-list, but as the instructions are not specific about them (at least thats what I have in the back of my head), I allow myself a reminder to paint the Nav-lights at the wing edges where the dotted triangles are.

servalpe Author
Thanks for your nice comments guys. The nav lights are painted near the extreme of leading edge and flaps, and the triangle. I don't know if you are referring to these ones, @Michael Kohl. In the to-do-list, maybe a litle touches with watercolors pencils and some scratches 😉

servalpe Author
More about paint-job: there is also post-shading with a lighter color and darker color from the base in zones where the pre-shading were lost.
Weathering: PLW with AK 2073 Sand and Desert Camouflage paneliner, streaking and filter with AMMO Mig Streaking Grime and some fading in panels and foward fuselage with AMO Mig PLW Pacific Dust.

Lost_Erik
👍

Cuajete
I agree with the mates. Great job. Fantastic painting job and result. Thanks for the info, Servalpe 👍
Congrats!

It's a shame that AMK hasn't released any other 1/72 scale kits, apart from this one and the L-39.

servalpe Author
@thanks Cuajete. But I think that is L-29, because I have the kit too 😉

Thomas Kolb
L-29 Delfin, now reissued by Eduard. An excellent kit.

Cuajete
Sorry, I meant L-29 👍. I hit the other key on the keyboard. I didn't pay attention to what I typed.

servalpe Author
@Cuajete Suele pasar. Buen fin de semana 😉

Nicolas
Great result. 👍

Neuling
Yes. Very beautiful!

Rui S
Great work 👍

Guy Rump
Excellent work. 👍

gorby
Very nice work!

Dietmar Bogatzki
Great paint and weatheringjob 👍

Neuling
I agree with everyone above.

Torsten
Watching 👀

Spanjaard
Me too

Живко Джаков
... Me too!

Thomas Espe
👀

Dietmar Bogatzki
taking a seat

Villiers de Vos
Lots of fine details.

Cliff Kidd
Hi Jorg, I'm just in the process of getting one of these!...look forward to your build!

Joerg R.
Uii, mein Lieblingsnamensvetter hat losgelegt. 😉😉

Jörg Schäfer Author
Schön das ihr alle dabei seid. 😊

DerMattes
Bin sehr gespannt wie das hier weiter geht 🙂

Jörg Schäfer Author
Wir ihr sehen könnt bin ich im Moment sehr wankelmütig was mein nächstes Projekt angeht.
Es geht also doch weiter mit dem Falken. 🤦‍♂️

Torsten
Great 👍

Torsten
Schöner Fortschritt, durch die Farben kommt mehr Leben rein, stay on target 😉

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Torsten.
Ich werde mit den Filter und Washing Farben noch ein wenig experimentieren um das ganze noch ein bisschen lebendiger zu bekommen. Das kann ich an der Unterseite recht gefahrlos machen, da man die im Diorama kaum sieht.

Christian Bruer
Klasse Arbeit, Bemalung und Alterung 👍

Michael Kohl
Schönes Midell. Sehr schöner Arbeitsplatz. 🙂

Torsten
Was sind das für interessante Halterungen, welche an den Mandibeln sind?

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank Männers. 😊
@ Michael
Ich mag unaufgeräumte Arbeitsplätze nicht. Da ist man nur am Suchen.
@Torsten
Das sind selbst gefertigte Aufnahmen für die Mandibeln. So kann ich sie besser anfassen und lackieren. Einfach ein Stück Gewindestange in ein Kunststoff- und Stahlprofil gesteckt und verschraubt.

Dash Rendar
Very interesting!

Jan Peters
Following this one too

DerMattes
Wow, toll wie du an den Bau ran gehst! Sieht top aus der Falke 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Freut mich.

Christian Lehmann
Sehr schön! Bin auf das Diorama gespannt. Hast du denn den Platz für das fertige Modell schon reserviert?

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Chris.
Bei mir kloppen sich die Modelle langsam um die besten Plätze.

Dash Rendar
You're even building a Diorama for this? Dang. Might need a separate coffee table / display space for this. Looking forward, though, this thing looks great. Recently bought one as well for quite cheap and am looking forward to building it.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Dash.
Da ich sonst Schiffe von über einem Meter Länge baue, kann der hier auf dem Nachttisch Platz nehmen. 🙂
Ja, freu dich drauf, macht echt Spaß den zu bauen.

Sven Schönyan
Das sieht hervorragend aus, Jörg!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank Sven.

John
Absolutely Stunning !!

ALBERTO ITURBURU HERREROS
great job Jörg

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thanks Gentlemen.

Jan Peters
Looking good 👍🏻👍🏻

Zoltan Grotz
Hammer👍👍👍👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you for your kind comments.

Ralf Topeters
Ich bin sooo gespannt! Sieht jetzt schon Knaller aus! 👀 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Ralf.

Villiers de Vos
The weathering is very good.

Dash Rendar
Awesome so far!

Torsten
😎, ich werde den mit als Referenz verwenden 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Besten Dank.

Zsolt Czegle
Klasse Arbeit! 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many Thanks.

Dash Rendar
Oh wow, that diorama idea.... will be... crazy. Really looking forward to that. 😮

Finn
Love to see it mounted in place!

Spanjaard
also a dio?! wow, looking forward to it

Kyle DeHart
Very cool project.

Живко Джаков
This is getting more and more interesting! Looks like a real poorly maintained YT-1300.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Nice that you like it.
True, Han really could have put a little more money into maintaining the Falcon. 😄

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank

Torsten
Still very exciting 👍

Gareth Burge
Late to the party here, but following along with interest. Great work so far!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank ihr beiden.
Immer noch rechtzeitig Gareth.😉

Slavo Hazucha
Spectacular 👍🏻

Might well be better than the actual film prop - wow - great job and an unending field of details to discover - love the weathering and blaster damage ! 👍🏻

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank, Slavo. 😊

Kyle DeHart
Looking truly fantastic.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Möge die Macht weiter mit dir sein, Jörg. Bisher sieht der Falke super aus 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank ihr beiden.

Ralf Karger
Das ganze sieht ja schon echt specktakulär geil aus...

Peter de Bruin
Following! 🤗

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke und schön das ihr folgt.😀

Harvey H.W.
Look at these shadings, definitely top paint job it is

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Harvey. 😊

Gareth Lloyd
Jörg, I'm honoured that you thought my little Falcon was a "Sehr schöne Falke", yours is absolut klasse 😊

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank Gareth.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Bin mal auf das Diorama gespannt, Jörg, aber da wartet mein Falke auch noch drauf..

Jörg Schäfer Author
Und ich erst mal Dietmar.
Mach mir schon einen Kopf wie das Grundgerüst am besten zu realisieren ist.

Gary Kitchen
Stunning. I love the gouge on the underside and the contrast as you flip from the weathered underside to the pristine topside between pic38-39 is a stunning contrast highlighting the work you have put in there. Amazing and inspiring stuff 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Guys, your comments are very flattering and mean a lot to me.

Black Baron
Looking great!

John Hughes
If an LED is defective, just thump the panel. Awesome build!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you. That's right, it always worked out for Han. 😂

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work with the lighting set and weathering.

Treehugger
Q: Unsure if OP said anything about this, but are the LEDs linked in a serie, or are there multiple wires for all the LEDs?

Jörg Schäfer Author
Manny thanks..
Two LEDs each are soldered to a cable, since I only had two outputs, Treehugger.

Treehugger
I have yet to fiddle with LED's for my Enterprise NCC-1701 refit, but I did learn from some place that, if one place LEDs in a serie, then if one LED fail, they all fail. So probably best to have serveral wires around instead of one loop for such LED projects.

Another thing to worry about, is not having the LED die too soon, but I guess that might be just some calibration thing if building all this stuff from scratch.

Heh I invested in a digital power supply for LED projects some years back, but haven't gotten around to using it yet.

Jörg Schäfer Author
I'm not particularly worried about the LEDs.
They won't often be glowing in the finished model. Maybe at an exhibition or when there are visitors. A permanent light is therefore not provided. It's just a nice gimmick for me

KollHBM
Nice looking Millenium Falcon

Torsten
It was time to look again, absolute killer job you show here 😎 😎 😎

Jörg Schäfer Author
Vielen Dank. 😊

Torsten
Nice progress, will the box be part of the diorama?

Thomas Haberl - TH SCALE MODELS
HAMMER!! Mega 👍👍👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Thomas.
Wich box you mean, Torsten?

Joerg R.
Lieber Jörg
Wenn ich meinen Falcon gedrucktbhabe und zusammenbaue, müssen wir 2 uns mal kurz schliessen und reden wegen der Bemalung. Die ist ja wieder Mega von dir!!!
Gruss
Jörg

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Jörg, das können wir gerne machen. 👍

Torsten
I meant whether the indicated tunnel is made of cardboard. You have made a design to that effect behind the hawk

Kyle DeHart
Looking truly wonderful now.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Yes is part of the diorama framework and is then made of stable PVC

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Very cool! The Falcon looks amazing. 👍
This is promises to be a great presentation too.

Tyson Tu
Beautiful work on an iconic ship! Excited for the complete diorama 😀

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thanks a lot.

Alberto
Fantastic Millennium Falcon. It looks just perfect!

James C
Congrats Jörg, that's a stunning result mate 👍

Kyle DeHart
Turned out so nice!!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you and glad you like it.

Simon Nagorsnik
WOOOOAAAA! SO IMPRESSIVE!!!! 😲
Damn excellent work!

Curatorm
Awesome!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you both.

Gareth Lloyd
Jörg, every time I check on your project is it becoming more and more awesome. It just gets better and better every time.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks, Gareth.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Hat schon was, so Jörg, bin auf weitere Fortschritte gespannt 👍

ALBERTO ITURBURU HERREROS
Great!

Mr James
Outstanding work. Simply the best Falcon I've seen. Movie quality work on display here.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you for the great comment.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Hoffe das Dio wird genaus super wie dein Falke, Jörg, möge die Macht mit dir sein...

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Dietmar, ich das hoffen auch, weiter ich kommen will. 😄

Christian
Sehr schön! Die Macht ist stark mit Dir!

Jörg Schäfer Author
I feel the force. 😄
Thank you.

Torsten
I still follow and can only write again what a 😎 build

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks. 😊

Torsten
Nice progress, it's looks better and better 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you Torsten.
It's easier for me now too.
At the beginning I really thought that I would never get the huge free space filled 😅

Dietmar Bogatzki
Fantastisches Dio bisher, Jörg, die Macht ist stark in dir 😉

Jörg Schäfer Author
Danke Dietmar. 😄

Dash Rendar
This will be so amazing when done. Quick question, are you planning some sort of protective case for it as well? Or will it sit in a display cabinet?

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you.
Like my ships, the model will go under a display case.

Dash Rendar
Getting better and better, still watching! Keep it up!

Robin (WhiteGlint)
👀

Jörg Schäfer Author
👍

Spanjaard
The base is getting better and better, it could have been used in the movies!

Michael Kohl
I am absolutely no fan of all this Star Wars, Treck, Shmeck, Heck stuff. But the way you build up layer upon layer of details into a very convincing composition is fun to watch. I am sure that the result will impress even me.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you guys.
Yes Michael, you have to like that. When I was 10, my father took me to see this film and since then I've been into the stuff, along with warships.
And building this Diroama was simply a challenge for me that I enjoy.

Marcin Snakowski
Masterpiece!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you.

Paulo Costa
Amazing!!!Great job

Jörg Schäfer Author
I'm glad you like my work.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Just: WOW!!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many Thanks Roland. 😊

Spanjaard
are you planning to bring this beauty to Lingen next year? please say yes 🙂

Didier
Wahou !
Fantastic work 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you.
I actually want to try that. I think the last time I was at the EME was in 2014.
If I get the model ready by then, you can count on me. 😉

Spanjaard
I am planning to be there, so i hope to have the pleasure meeting you and seeing this amazing dio! 🙂

Jörg Schäfer Author
I would be happy. 😀

Michael Kohl
Brillant. That's gonna be a mission to paint. 😉

Jörg Schäfer Author
I'm already afraid of that. 😅

Живко Джаков
"Did you fly in that trough? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

Jörg Schäfer Author
😂😂😂👍

jan zumack
Wow, looks great.

Kyle DeHart
Incredible work

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks guys.

Christian Lehmann
Beeindruckend!

Roland Sachsenhofer
This is really "next level" - more than just great!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many, many thanks. 😊

Davide Vitali
This is astounding! If I recall correctly, kit-bashing is also what has been done on the actual Death Star model that was built for the movie in 1977.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you.
Not only the star, but also the falcon were realized with this system.
The guys from ILM were the creators of all of today's aging and scratching methods that we as model makers know and appreciate.

Robin (WhiteGlint)
A lot of grey but it is not boring at all to look at! 👀 👍
This looks great, and is full of details.

Siegfried Van den Bosch
just stunning...! Nothing less than that.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you both. 😊

Demigod
Just lovin' it. Impressive display!

DerMattes
Leider kann ich nur ein Like geben, deine Arbeit hätte wahrlich so einige verdient! In jeder Star Wars Ausstellung oder Sammlung sicherlich das Highlight! Fantastisch und vielen Dank für die vielen Bilder!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thanks for the nice comments.

Mr James
ILM couldnt do any better Jorg. Movie model magic 😉

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks, Mr. James.

Dash Rendar
Just incredible.

Hans-Jürgen Haag
Es wächst, immer No h ein Detail dazu. Super, bin schon gespannt wie es weitergehen 👀👍👍👍

Spanjaard
getting better and better. love the structure added to the base

Jörg Schäfer Author
I'm very happy that you like my star so much. 😊

Roland Sachsenhofer
That's what we do! Next level modelling....!

Jörg Schäfer Author
👍👍👍

Sam S
This is so out of this world! Just stunning work 🙌

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thanks so much.

Landlubber Mike
Good to see you here - this is absolutely amazing!!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you very much, Mike.
Also nice to meet you here. 😀

Jason Marson
An amazing build! The Death Star especially! Your dedication, patience, and talent has really been rewarded with this build! Well done!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you very much for the great comment.

Mark de Boer
WOW, this is amazing, absolutely stunning build, cant wait to see it all completed.

Dash Rendar
Incredibly amazing base, looks stunning.

Roland Sachsenhofer
It´s getting better and better...! Top, just adorable!

Shar Dipree
Awesome, indescribably fantastic. An appropriate base for the falcon. I'm looking forward to the illuminated finale. 👍👍👍👍👍

Gary Victory
Totally awesome work. Love your attention to detail Jörg.

Treehugger
Oh, wow! 🙂

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you for the great comments,
I'm very happy. 😊

Dash Rendar
Just incredible!

Jennifer Franklin
*wow* this is a fantastic piece.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks. 😊

Michael Kohl
Brilliant. This is massive in concept and execution.

Spanjaard
truly speechless, this build is one of the best I have seen here, the falcon is magnificent, and with the most incredible base you have made, well, it is just perfect!!
so, it is finished in time for Lingen 2024, right? if all goes to plan, I certainly will look for it there 🙂

Villiers de Vos
Fantastic work.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you very much people.
Yes Spanjaard, nothing should stand in the way of that. It would be really great if we met there and chatted a little.

ALBERTO ITURBURU HERREROS
ZORIONAK! (congratulations in basque language) GREAT JOB !!!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Eskerrik asko. 😉

wolfgangjb
Just WOW!

Ethan Flory
This is one of the best models I've ever seen! It could go head to head with the real models used during the filming of Star Wars.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Your comments make me really proud. 😊

Dietmar Bogatzki
Awesome base and the Falcon 👍 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thanks, Dietmar.

CaptGPF
Thank you for sharing your build process with us - your work is truly amazing and inspirational!

Jörg Schäfer Author
You're welcome CaptGPF and thanks for the kind words.

Skyhiker
Phenomenal. Jörg you really accomplished something great here.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Many thanks Skyhiker.

Spanjaard
great to see this beauty again, safe trip to Lingen, great success ahead, I am sure. killing myself for not being able to be there to see it myself....

Davide Vitali
All my best wishes to you for the competition ahead but, most important, to your wife.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Great to see this masterpiece again! I wish you lots of fun and success in Lingen - I have to go there too, especially when I see how many of us will be there.
But above all: all the best to your wife!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you for being happy for my wife. That's so nice to hear. ❤️
And thank you all very much for keeping your fingers crossed. I'm very excited.
It's such a shame that we won't be able to meet there Spanjaard

Jennifer Franklin
I will echo the above comments, best wishes, and good luck ( I don't think you will need it) with the competition, but most importantly, happy thoughts to your wife. I am glad to hear that she is doing well.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you too, Jennifer. ❤️

Jason Marson
This looks superb Jörg! A really fantastic job. You must be so pleased with this. Im not ready to start mine yet but I intend to build a bespoke coffee table to fit it in. It will be a diorama of the Mos Eisley space port and have a glass top. More importantly I'm glad to hear your wife is doing well. Life is precious.

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you for your appreciation of my model and my wife's health. ❤️
This sounds like a fantastic project, and I hope to see your space port posted here as a build report someday.

John Hughes
Congratulations, a well deserved win!

Gareth Lloyd
Congratualtions Jörg, fully deserved. That medal really should be much bigger for such an awesome model 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

Spanjaard
glad for the safe return, congratulations on a very well deserved medal!

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you all three very much.. Haha Gareth, then I wouldn't even know where to place them on the model. 😁

Roland Sachsenhofer
My warmest congratulations too - a very well-deserved award! 👍👍👍

Dietmar Bogatzki
Agree with Roland 👍

Jörg Schäfer Author
Thank you both very much for the congratulations. 😊

Mark
Wow! A wonderful kit assembled to stunning effect. 👍

Michael Kohl Author
Thanx Mark. Happy to hear. It was no homerun and sat again and again for month until I gathered the motivation to overcome the hurdles I faced. But now I am happy to look at it.

Robert Podkoński
I am deeply impressed with your perseverance...And the effect is stunning indeed!

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks Robert for your kind reply. Much appreciated.

bughunter
Nicely done! It was a good decision to replace the closed cowling with the engine, luckily Karaya re-released the old ExtraTech sets.
One day I will solder this kit too as addition to the other stripdown kits of this series.

Dominik Weitzer
super!

Michael Kohl Author
Danke Bughunter und Dominik.
I hope that Eduard will re-release those strip down kits with improved styrene or/and resin parts as they did with the Fokker Dr.I.

Rui S
Filigrana. Incredible work 👍

Ralf Topeters
Could it be I saw this one in Lingen yesterday? It is a masterpiece of skill and concentration. You must be a Zen-master! 😉 👍 👍 👍

Michael Kohl Author
Hi Ralf, thanks for your nice comment. Indeed, this kit tested my skills, patience and perseverance as it is very fragile and some parts, like the leading edge slats, are quite tricky to assemble. But what you have seen in Lingen must have been another Zen-Master as I happen to work this weekend. 🙂
I case you like that Strip Down stuff, you are welcome to visit my Fokker Dr. I- build too. A kit which is much easier to handle.

Fokker Dr.I strip down 1:72 | Album by panorama (1:72)

gorby
Incredible work!

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks Gorby.
I gotta take some decent pics of this model too. Somehow I always forget.

Finn
Awesome!

Dominik Weitzer
Wow, das sieht Klasse aus 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Guy Rump
Great work. 👍

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks guys for the nice feedback, much appreciated.

Neuling
Great achievement. Nice feedback mandatory!

Michael Kohl Author
🙂 Thanks Neuling.

Michael Kohl Author
Finally added some new and better pictures.

Michael Kohl Author
And Thank you guys for your likes.

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks Dean to you too. Appreciated.

Neuling
👍

Lothar Linke
beautiful aircraft and job

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks Neuling and Loghar29 for the thumbs up.

Michael Kohl Author
And thanks again for more likes. Am a little proud to have finished this one after the hard times it gave me. 🙂

Michael Kohl Author
Thank you guys for sneeking in and leaving a like. 🙂

Zbynek Honzik
Great job, Michael! 👏👏👏

Gary
1/72 scale wow amazing work

CaptGPF
Wow, Michael! Well done and plated!

Michael Kohl Author
Thank you guys and welcome to the last meters. 🙂

Robert Podkoński
Great to see this jewel again!

Thomas Kolb
I am at a loss for words. Simply amazing.

Dave
That looks amazing.

Andrei
How is it possible to build?! Amazing work!

Michael Kohl Author
Thanks a ton mates for the nice feedback. Makes me happy.
@Andrei: actually it is not that difficult as the layout of the kits is quite smart - most of the time. But I admit that some steps are a tad fumbly and tricky indeed.

MS K
Amazing!!!

bughunter
After seeing pic32: looks a bit crazy, because the legs are too long -> in flight position.
I know this only as I built the 1:48 Storch from Tamiya, see how it looks like on ground: Fieseler Fi 156 Storch - A-99 of Switzerland | Album by bughunter (1:48)
Tamiya offers a accessory kit: Fi156C Storch In-Flight Land..lay Set (Tamiya 12620, 1:48) which contains a stand and new parts for a in-flight extended landing gear, so yours looks more like this.

Perhaps an excuse could be that the aircraft is very light because it is only half built and has no fuel and no cargo, so the suspension lifts it up 🙂

Michael Kohl Author
That was precisely my reasoning:😉
Otherwise I would have modified the hell out of this landing gear.

Michael Kohl Author
Kidding aside, thanks Frank for your input. Always nice to learn.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Whoow Michael, in dem Maßstab so was zu bauen 👍

Neuling
Sharp model! Deserves sharp photos ....... 🙂

Scott Dutton Author
Yep, dont know what happened with them. May redo at some stage

Ben M
👁️👁️

Shawn Brownstein Author
Twizzer are your friends on this model little parts and magnifying glasses and great help to

Shawn Brownstein Author
4 days of work and step one is done 3/21/25

Shawn Brownstein Author
Steps 5-6 are done

Shawn Brownstein Author
Almost done 2 weeks so far

Dietmar Bogatzki
Nothing for a novice like me, great job so far 👍

Rui S Author
Thank you very much for your kind words Michael. I will post some more photos soon 🙂 ... But, real outstanding is your Work Michael 👍

Fabian D.
Nice work on the brigde. Hope you can ceep the niveau... not building up pressure here😉

Rui S Author
Is my (almost finished so no pressure at all) first dio in the snow, as such, it is not possible to achieve yours high levels 🤔

Rui S Author
Hum???, maybe... But your Airplanes are simply TOP... 😮

Rui S Author
I've seen your projects... You rock mate. I Hope you still have more decades to enjoy...

Donald Medley
What references did you use?

Fabian D.
Rui, take your time, I´m in the game for more than a decade now (and about 4 years in 1:35)... not a day without learing something new. Saying you´re on a pretty good way is probably not enough.😉

Urban Gardini
Do the Tamiya Panther come with the option to do it as an early Ausf. A? Black 701 is a rather famous early Ausf. A as it's one of very few Ausf. A's that didn't have zimmerit. All Ausf. A's with the MG kugelblende on the front glacis had zimmerit. It was only a few, possible less than ten of the first 50 Ausf. A's with the MG hatch like the Ausf. D's that lacked zimmerit.

Excellent work on the bridge and your diorama is going to be a marvel to behold! This will be nice to follow...

Fabian D.
No, not without cutting the Kuglblende from the glacis, which would be an interresting approach though. But probably a mess to clean up.

H K
I would use scalemates.com/kits/108116-dragon-6160-panther-a which was rereleased at the end of last year, so should be available, and has the decals for 701.
I am a Tamiya fanboy 🙂 but their Panther A is best used for selfmade Zimmerit practise and such things 😉

Rui S Author
Sorry for the late answer, Mates. Donald, I've made a big study in all my books and magazines and ended up with more then 200 photos of wwII wooden bridges (Black and white and colour) ...

Rui S Author
Fabian, every comment is more than enough for me, and very important, so I Thank you all for them (Good or bad) doesn't matter. I'm here to learn and exchange experiences, not to impress the Judges, Purists, or Experts. I think I've something to show, so I do. without pulling narrow goods?... Strange for me was the fact that no one answered, to my comment «Help needed»... 🤔

Rui S Author
Urban, I was so concentrated in my bridge, that I neglected the panther study. I thought that if the turret was equal them it would be a ausf A. It was to late when I discovered that the "A" didn't have the hull machine gun. Not historically accurate as you will see, that's true. But I wanted to make one without the Zimmerit, so I think mine is one of that 10 from the first 50 ones...😉 As said above, sorry to disappoint you guys but I'm not a Panther expert and this will be the first and the last one I have built (unless is the recovery one). Like the Tiger and all the other ones, I want to build different model's. If I start buying ausfs a, b, c, d, etc, My wife would divorce me in a instant hehehe. As I said in "About me" keep the hobby cheap that's my thing... Not Keep on looking for the Ultimate perfection. I'm not a pro...😉 Anyhow I like to Imagine my projects in somewhat real circumstances that happened in the war and study them Like what happened in the Gniloy-Tikich river. Hope you understand my point of view... P.S Thank you for your nice words...

Rui S Author
Sorry HK, but as you can imagine I have to disagree with you...

Urban Gardini
You can make it without zimmerit if you like, it's your build but that kit wouln't be historically correct without zimmerit.

Rui S Author
Wich one, the ausf D? the kit is done Urban...

Urban Gardini
The Tamiya Ausf. A

Rui S Author
Sorry Urban, but I don't understand. The first images show an ausf. A n.º 701 without the Zimmerit, how can it be historically incorrect???

Urban Gardini
If you use the Tamiya Ausf. A for building Black 701 it'll be historically incorrect due to the kugelblende in the front glacis plate that is the only option in that kit. Black 701 was one of the first 50 Ausf. A's that all lacked the kugelblende on the front glacis plate and instead had the same MG hatch as the earlier Ausf. D had.

Rui S Author
Ok, thank you Gardini. Therefore has nothing to do with the issue of zimme. As said above I only notice that to late so it's not historically correct, yes. I had to leave with that. Unless I change that hatch. Is that the only difference?

Urban Gardini
No zimmerit is correct for Black 701 so that's ok. It's just the main feature with the hatch that's not ok. But there's nothing to to about that now as it's been built. I'm sure that you've done as fine job building the Panther as you've done with the bridge. So what's most important in the end is that you're ok with your build. I was too late with my input for you to be able to make something out of it. What you can do with it if you want to compete with your build is to put zimmerit on it and repaint the Panther and use some other suitable markings for it other than Black 701. Why? Here's why, all Ausf. A's with the fixed MG in the kugelblende on the front glacis had zimmerit, no exceptions there. Either way you do it I'm sure it'll be a great diorama in the end.

Rui S Author
Thanks' for your help and nice words Urban. I'm going to stick with the historically incorrect version. Compete is one thing that I'm sure that I shouldn't do, ever. I'm not that skillfull, so don't reach that kind of level...
Added some new bridge photos with snow...

Rui S Author
Humm, let's see, white paint, talcum powder, and Christmas Traditions, snow spray aerosol, sprayed over a bakery mesh...😄

Rui S Author
hehehe... Some photos from the "Thing"

Rui S Author
Thx Michael. "Alternative" I might say...

Rui S Author
Thx😉 , I think it's like we say: "the need the mother of invention" it's a bit difficult to find good modelling materials in Portugal, and when you find them they are expensive so... "Future" or "Pledge" are things that we can't find, for instance...

Rui S Author
hehehe... Not so far in Portugal... but I also do that with my ever growing stash. you change your Profile image?

George Bacon
Great project! Can't wait to see more 👍👍👍

Rui S Author
😢

Rui S Author
Thank you very much George. Your words are a great compliment... I will post some more photos soon 🙂

Rui S Author
Painting the thing. As they say in the first image «is a freshly delivered tank. Whitewash camouflage was applied with notable care». Some new photos...

Gábor Bélik
Impressive. The snow looks great.

Rui S Author
Thank you very much Gabor, Your words are very important for me...😢

Rui S Author
Thank you very much Michael, for your motivating words. Glad you like it...

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Rui S Author
Thx Es-haq Khosravi, do you really think so? 🙂

Urban Gardini
GAAAAAH! That L/70 doesn't look the way it should. I've got an Dragon barrel that you can have if you want it!

Rui S Author
Thank You Very Much for your very friendly offer Urban 👍 , but I've already fix the L/70 with Humbrol model filler, and I think it's just fine now, as you will see in the next photos...😉

Urban Gardini
Good mate!

Rui S Author
Can't thank you enough Urban, really a nice unexpected offer 👍

Urban Gardini
Nothing special I'd say, it's just the way our community work. A bit of modelling karma as you get help from a fellow modeller with a missing part or decals or something else without any real value and it just happens so that a fellow modeller have just that part in his/hers box of spares. I common answer when the receiver ask what the giver want as a compensation is nothing, it's free of charge but somewhere down the line the situation may be reversed and you happen to be able to help someone out, do that then. So it's modelling karma with it's ripples that spreads all over the world. We modellers do help each others in as many ways we can, be it with parts, advice or tricks, you name it. It's just the way the modelling community works!

Rui S Author
I understand that, Urban. It's good to belong, and know mates that are willing to help... 👍

Leif Adams
So cool! The tank, is of course, awesome. What really impresses me? The tread marks/leavings of the tracks in the snow. Wow. Just, wow.

Urban Gardini
Looking great mate! But I spotted an error that is easy to correct for you. The panzerfaust should be dunkelgelb.

Rui S Author
Thank you very much for your nice comments Leif...

Leif Adams
All your projects are impressive, Rui!

Rui S Author
I'm Very glad you like them Leif... hoping to do better in the next one, after completion of the last 3... 🤔 Always in the end I feel that I could/should done better 😄

Rui S Author
Hi Urban, that's completely true, I've been making that mistake since my "9 SS Panzerdivision - SOMEWHERE NEAR THE TRAIN STATION". project... 😠 Like we say in Portugal "What is born crooked, later or never straightens"😉 I've looked in all my extensive reference library for one in grey (just for excuse) and I think I never found one, hehehe. Nice to know you saw it with attention...

Urban Gardini
Glad to help!

Rui S Author
Thx👍

Rui S Author
Hi Urban, I've look again and manage to do a new photoalbum with some strange coloured Panzerfaust's. Might after all not be an error??? 😮

Matthias Weiss
Like it! Looks great!

Rui S Author
Thanks a lot Matthias, it's a great compliment coming from you. I'm really glad that you like it...

Ivo Fanczi
Awesome,great,go on with the good work!

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Rodders61
Hi Rui.
Do you still have the instructions for the panzerkampfwagen V panther nr 30223 I have this kit but no instructions. If you have could you supply me with a copy.
Kind regards. Rod

Rui S Author
Hi Rodders61, I have to scanner them. You can send me a PM with your email and when I can I will send you the PDF.

John Dunbar
The bridge construction is awesome! Very inspiring!

Rui S Author
Thx mate. The photos are a bit hold, and don't show the finalized dio.

Richard
Nice work, thanks for sharing, and some ideas...

Spanjaard
really fasntastic panther and great dio, really good
about those instructions, i would suggest that once you scan them you can upload them to the kit database, so other people in need may use them in the future😉

Michael Hickey
Very pleasing to the eye with lots to look at. 👍

gorby
Exceptionally good Diorama Rui.

Rui S Author
Hi mates,
Thank you all for your nice words & comments. Much appreciated.
As usual on my latest projects the photos aren't the final ones, but they show the idea...😢

@Spanjaard, I'm currently photographing my stash instructions to upload then in the future.

Spanjaard
thanks in everybody's name 🙂

John Dunbar
Really cool, Rui! 👍

Donald Medley
Beautiful

Rui S Author
Thank you for your nice comments, John and Donald.
Much appreciated. Maybe one day I will take the final photos...😉

Xerxes
like the dio. great build

Ulf Petersen
Excellent Diorama!👍 Everything matches perfectly.

Rui S Author
Thank you very much, Mates.
@Ulf, coming from an expert in dios, your comments feel like honey😉

Ulf Petersen
Wow! Thank you so much for this compliment, Rui!🙂

MarSeif
Very well done, Rui S!

Dietmar Bogatzki
Eye Candy Rui 👍

Villiers de Vos
Great work and lots of visual interest

Günther Decock
Dag Rui, knap gedaan. En mooie details. Ooit wil ik ook met een dio starten, maar weet niet waar te beginnen. 🙂

DAVID C
Rui S, extraordinario trabajo, muy detallado, casi se puede ver a PanzerMeyer viendo a los granaderos marchar al frente. Un trabajo genial, gracias por compartir

Rui S Author
Mates. Thank you for all your kind comments and likes.
I thought this One had gone to Oblivion 😄
@ MarSeif, glad you like this work. After this photos i've made 3 more figures and some other bridge details.
@ Dietmar Bogatzki, I think I may take new photos of the finished dio.
@ Günther Decock, if you see the álbum of my first dio "My very first - project". I just used a wood plank gypsun and pepper 😄 in the second "9 SS Panzerdivision" I used a photo frame, coffe, hair net from my grandmather, and some vegetation.
@ DAVID Cuesta, obrigado pelo seu simpático comentário. Fico feliz por ter gostado. O prazer é meu. Quando tirar as fotos do trabalho concluido, o oficial já está acompanhado.

Spanjaard
Certainly deserves not to go into oblivion! 👍

Rui S Author
Thank you Spanjaard, very kind of you.
I will take photos of the new figures and the bridge detail I added after this photos.

Ben M
This is fantastic, the figures really make the scene.

Rui S Author
Thank you for your nice comment Ben, I apreciate it very much.
Some Mobilphone photos are not so good. Sorry for that.

Ingo F
Awesome mate! 👍 Love it!

Rui S Author
Thank you for your kind comment Ingo, I'm really glad that you like it.

Jan Peters
Very nice work, love the amount of figures you've added, really brings the scene to life

Neuling
I agree with Jan. Some pictures look like real life photos.

playtime 222
Oh damn that's good.

Martin
really really good one

Rui S Author
Thank You very much for your comments, mates. (and for the likes too).
@ Jan, I thought (and write) in the Marder II D_16 Inf Mot Div_Rasputitsa_Kalmykiya album, that 14 figures where a alltime record, but afterall this one has 15 figures 😄
@ Neuling, glad you stoped by. I don't know how to work with photoshop, so Improvised and started to use the pc screen in the background 😉
@ playtime 222, It's great to read your comment.
@ Martin, I'm very glad you like it.

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Just wow!

James C
I don't recall seeing this one before... unless I'm going senile? LOL. Very nice dio mate and great job on painting that Panther a single colour, yet still making it look interesting 👍

Rui S Author
Woh, some more kind comments from two excellent and most talented modelers.
I must be doing something right and nice 😉
@ James, judging by your work, one thing I'm sure senile you aren't. 🙂
Thank you both very much. I really really apreciate it.

Jean-Michel Tilquin
Sure you are!

Rui S Author
Thanks Mate. Still so much to learn. But I'm happy that I'm finishing some old projects and practicing.

Peter Batin
Very thorough and serious work!? Bravo!??

Rui S Author
Thank you for your kind comment Peter. Coming from such a tallented modeler as you are, it feels really good 👍

Peter Hardy
Mind blowing in every detail. Another work of art! Bravo Rui. What's next?

Rui S Author
Thank you for your kind words Mate. Apreciated.
I have also been thinking about what to do next 🤔
I still have two projects to complete. The Autumn 1944 Jagdpanzer Tiger (P) Elefant, with a horse and maybe two figures and the base and diorama for the Esci sdkfz 10/4.
But I'm also in the mood to build something, like a armoured car motorcycle or tank for the beginning of WWII ... Not feeling ready yet for a plane. I Don't know yet.
We'll see 😉

Peter Hardy
Well you know my thoughts but considering I know nothing about German armour or the European theatre I will wait to see what you come up with.

Peter Batin
I like your approach to work. It is featured in documentary photos. Very few modelers do this. This is a classic quality style. Thanks for the compliment. Good luck and inspiration!

Rui S Author
@Peter Hardy, please, share your thoughts with us 🤔
@Peter Batin, thank you again, I use that approach to see if I can and help making something more real. That's a defensive move from me 😉 but, I get the inspiration on those old photos. Some are unbelievable, and others great storytellers just by themselves

Peter Batin
This is very correct.? This is how real masterpieces are built.?

Peter Hardy
Rui, desert scene before the charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba. Model Ts and horses.

Peter Hardy
Wow!

Rui S Author
Well Peter, I've started a horse for my elefant on the Outono / Autumn 1944 album, that's what i can do for now 😉

Peter Hardy
There were 800 horses Rui, maybe you should make some molds? Nobody will notice if you do two the same!

Vytautas
Same here, agree with all the others, a top job. Just super!

Bruce Huxtable
Inspirational in all aspects - great work for sure ?

Hekafi1932
This is amazing

Rui S Author
Thank you Mates. This is already a old work, but I apreciate your kind comments very much.
@ Vytautas, coming from a weathering Expert, I'm really honored.
@ Bruce, I'm very glad you like and comment it.
@ OttovonLindberg, I also enjoy and Respect your amazing work.

Peter Schijvens
Really love all the details, beautiful ?

David Pearson
Excellent work, love the detail.

Rui S Author
@ Peerke, Thank you for your kind comment. Not my most recent Dio but I sure enjoy a lot doing it.
@ David, Thank you very much for your comment. I'm really happy that you like it.

Günther Decock
Hey Rui, knap gedaan. Een dio met een verhaal. Volgens de knepen van het vak. Als ik ooit aan een dio start kom ik zeker bij u voor raad.

Rui S Author
Hi Günther, Thank you for your kind comment. I'm really glad you enjoy this one.
I look forward to see a dio from you soon and yes, you can count on me to help, if I know how 😉

Pedro Braga
Brutal!!!
Rui, os seus dioramas são fantásticos!

grappa_0_0_0
It's incredible what you managed to accomplish with such an old kit. great job.

Bobby Thumbs
very nice work

Günther Decock
Thx, Riu. 🙂

Rui S Author
Thank you very much mates, your comments are most welcome.
@ Pedro, fico feliz por gostar e pelo termo usado 😄
@ grappa_0_0_0, That's what I've been trying to achieve, nice results with outdated materials glad you noticed 😉
@ Bobby, I'm glad you like my dio
@ Günther, be welcome, but I'm not sure why...
Also I would like to take the oportunity to thank all the likes from mates that i didn't correspond. Thank you all.

David Taylor
Smart dio.

Daniel Klink
Very catchy and excellent in detailing and storytelling!!
Excelente Rui!!! Bravo 👍👍

Rui S Author
Thank you for your kind words, mates. I apreciate it.
@David, glad you think so.
@Daniel, glad you stoped by and comment, this One. Comming from such a tallented modeler, your words mean a lot to me.

Chan Li
awesome
great effort and great job, I'm planning to build up a German panther D down the road, but I would never be that good to rebuild a story scene like you did.

Rui S Author
Thank you Chan Li, I'm glad you like this one.
I'm sure that if you dig into it, you manage to choose the story and do a good dio.

Alan G
Very nice indeed Rui

Robert Blokker
That turned out into a nice diorama. Was fun to go through the progress.

Rui S Author
Thank you very much mates. I apreciate your coments.
@ Alan, I'm very glad You stop by and like this one.
@ Robert, I just hope my dios evolve into something as near as possible to your magnificent dios. I'm really glad you enjoy my journy in this one, it means a lot to me. Thank you.

Rewop
Beautifully done. Looks fantastic.

Rui S Author
Thank you very much Rewop, I'm glad you like it and sotp by to comment it. Apreciated.

Mr James
It really does look the bees knees. I've got a soft spot for winter dio's.

Rui S Author
@ Mr James, thank you for your comment. This was my first attempt on that, and I know it could be improved a lot but I always prefer not to come back on old dios, to spend that time in doing other new kits and see the improvements

Mr James
I wish I was more disciplined, I cant help but tinker as a go along. Probably why I have finished as the stuff I started.

Rui S Author
I understand you, sometimes it's difficult not to come back, but another advantage is that at least you don't mess it up if it goes all wrong 😄

Ben
Great work there mate!

Clair Greenwood
Holy Moly good golly miss Molly, thats one hell of a top notch dio!

Rui S Author
@ Ben, Thank you. Glad to receive your comment. Apreciated.
@ Clair Greenwood, Thank you so much for your kind comment. I'm very happy that you fell like so about this old one.

Major Oak
Great diorama every angle something going on and I think doing a winter scheme that looks realistic is very hard but you nailed it well done 👏

Doubtingmango
Great work Rui! Love the use of the photo backdrop

Andy
Every time I see a Rui diorama I loose a good 15 minutes just admiring the craftsmanship. The photo backdrop is a brilliant idea

scalemates
👍

Eddie Mann Author
Thank you.

scalemates
thank you!

Adam Gudynowski
Following

Nicolas
👀

Alberto
Nice start 👍

Dave Flitton
Nice start.

servalpe Author
It has been painted mani body color with AK Real Color RC914 Have Glass Grey FS36170.

Nicolas
👍👍👍

Bozzer
Here we go again!
You're gonna run out of kits, at this pace?

Bozzer
There's a couple more, for you to seek out 😉

Qwertzel Author
Thanks Boozer. But I think I will build my Unimog first before building this truck. So I won't run out of kits. I always wanted to buy the recovery truck and convert it to a German one, simply changing the cab to a Mercedes Benz Actros or MAN TGM.

Andre Louis
I also got that kit recently! Looking forward to your modifications. My one will be probably just out of the box

Esoteric Surgeon
I seem to remember KFS used to offer a off-road conversion kit for MAN trucks. I'm pretty sure it at least included the bumper which might be hard to scratch build if you can't print it. Can't find the kit anymore tho

Qwertzel Author
I searched on the internet for this kit but I couldn't find it either. We will see how this trick turns out

Esoteric Surgeon
Just realized the bumper out of the box is accurate for offroad already since it's a 4x4, and the same as in your pictures. I had started working on a similar project but with the older MAN TGA kit from Revell as a basis and that required heavy modifications all around. I'm glad you're moving towards more custom projects because they are a lot of fun to get into, and watch other people get into...

Goldman
Nice stocking up and scratch building... Should be a very interesting build.
Actually, I never saw this concept of fire truck with a rear lift and wheeled equipment carts. Can see the benefits of this when a lot of equipment needed to be moved fast (at least until hitting the first step...).

Qwertzel Author
Thanks Goldman. There is another reason why these trucks make sense: You can carry different stuff which is normally loaded by special vehicles. So you don't need different vehicles just this one and the equipment carts and you are ready for nearly everything

Goldman
The headlights guard looks very good to me. Did you use plastic or metal rods? I don't think you can get any thinner with plastic

Qwertzel Author
Thank you Goldman! I used cables. I bended them to the right shape. The outer and inner parts are from the same cable just with and without isolation

Goldman
The tires looks great. Much better than those in the kit. Well worth the investment

Esoteric Surgeon
I have had some success printing thin parts for the kind of headlight detail you are working on. They are very fragile and I've never tried painting them but I think there's a lot of potential for this kind of application. I uploaded a picture here: FDM 3D Printer experiments | Album by Ecko

Qwertzel Author
Currently I don't have a 3D printer but I think of buying a resin printer for such purposes. It would help me a lot with scratch building. Lets see wat the future brings

Andre Louis
Just make sure that you are aware of potential hazards that come along with resin printing.

Esoteric Surgeon
Yes handling resin and post processing it takes a lot of extra work to do properly. And space too. I can't do it at home because I live in a flat with my cat and I have found a filament 3d printer can unlock many possibilities to enhance scratch builds without the hassle and hazards of resin.

Bozzer
I've gotta admit, I had fun with my entry level filament printer, but I now own 3 resin printers too, and they're never turned off. Yes, they do have to be taken care of, especially with regards to the resin, but it's worth it.
At this point I'd better add, all mine are in my purpose built mancave, however I did run them in the house kitchen, for a while.
Each one has it's own personality, kinda like a cat or a car? But once you hone into it, you can create almost anything? The details are immense and your own imagination, is your limit!
I've literally just printed a 1/14 truck, with all the bells and whistles, and I'm happy with the results. It's taken me around 2 weeks, but I did use 6 bottles of High Speed Resin, which without, probably would've taken me another 3-4 weeks?
For you guys in the know, Standard resin prints at roughly 4 layers a minute. High Speed Resin is around 12 layers a minute.
My love for the printers, is because I can print models, that we can't buy?
I love scratchbuilding, but now I can flick my finger and the cab, hood and sleeper are printing, while I'm building the chassis? It's definitely been a game changer in my life, without a doubt.
You definitely need to be aware of the dangers though. Plenty of ventilation, gloves, mask and goggles. I also have mini air purifiers in each printer, and heaters.
And whatever you do, don't smoke near the 99% alcohol!
And most importantly, don't drink it!

Qwertzel Author
Thank you Bozzer for your information and opinion. I will see what the future brings and if it's time to by a printer, I will definitely research and inform myself about it a little more and maybe come back to you guys, because you know the terms of 3D printers definitely better than I.

And don't worry, I do not smoke or drink alcohol. So this won't be a problem 🙂

Ben M
Yummy 3d project

gorby
Very interesting project. 🙂

Never a Pro Author
This will be slow, as this is going to be hell to paint.

Naram
that is the everest climbing ! definitively taking a seat !

Skyhiker
Interesting

Skyhiker
Here's a link on how to paint checkers easily.
Youtube Video

Lochsa River
....very cool and fun to sit in....

Skyhiker
Here is another video showing the same technique.
Youtube Video

Ben M
Thank you skyhiker! I would not have thought of that.

Desert Marlin
Excellent work!!! I think this is why I want a 3D Resin Printer!!!

Never a Pro Author
I will mask using that technique, the mask I cut is useful to give me the locations

jim green
Good job!

Sebastian Meyner
Beautiful work, of a very rarely seen subject 🙂 👍

gorby
Beautiful work!

Skyhiker
I agree, beautiful.

bughunter
Nice little jet!

Mark K Author
Thanks, everyone!

Alex K
Two thumbs up! 👍 👍

Mark K Author
Thanks, Alex K!

Finn
Cool

Vincent
Great subject and result!

Mark K Author
Thanks, Finn and Vincent!

Guy Rump
Unusual and lovely job, congrats! 👍

Logan Eden
Good Morning, Mark Very unusual but very, very cool!! Great finish. Catch Ya, Logan

Robert Podkoński
Fantastic job! (Where did you find this kit?... I envy you soooo much 😉 )

Mark K Author
Thanks, Logan and Robert. I had the good fortune to find the kit on eBay.

Robert Podkoński
Lucky you! 🙂

Naram
very nice ! very original

Michael Kohl
Special subject, clean finish

Mark K Author
Thanks, Naram and Michael!

Rui S
I'm in 😎

Ben M
👁️👁️

Starbase101
Always thought it was weird that in season 1 they wore environmental suits in the cockpit (I guess in case of life support failure, and too bad for anyone in the passenger compartment), but in season 2 they piloted wearing their regular clothing.

Jörg Schäfer
Interesting, I'll take a look at that.

Skyhiker
Always love the Eagle

Martin Oostrom
Nice build

Rod -
Is that the engine that comes with the kit?

Taro Ford Author
No it is not the engine from this kit. I got out from Tamiya C10 skyline

Anastasios Panagiotou
What colours did you mix? Iam trying to figure out what colours I have to mix in order to get a colour like this

Martin Oostrom
Looks like Tamiya Camel Yellow to me

Tim
Fun

entophile Author
It will be a fun build. I want to experiment a bit with washes on this one, and try more streaking effects 🙂.

Dave
The weathering looks good. If you go into Albums than manage and look for Advance, you can rotate your pictures.

entophile Author
Thanks for the kudos, and the advice on the photos! I will go in and rotate them now that I know how to do it.

Clair Greenwood
At 55 years old here it's really hard to stand on my head, if you go into advanced settings you can turn your photo's to face correctly. I know because I have to fix all of mine too. Have fun with the photo etch, thats actually my favorite part of building a model. You'll need a folding jig to do really nice bends, and for glue I've used and had great results with Clear Nail Polish, Microscale's Micro Kristal Klear, Mig Ultra Glue, and of course super glue. For positioning I do a 2 step process when my pe part is ready to install, first a tiny dab of Microscale's Micro Liquitape and let it dry a few minutes till it turns clear. It in now sticky like a very light adhesive and can be placed and manipulated into just the right position, then a dab of your choice of glue. If you go with any brand super glue and it's the thin kind I highly recommend a Glue Looper set, very cheap and will last forever. Clean up old glue on the tip with a cigarette lighter. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your build 🙂

Danny Ray Author
I've done a terrible job with my first ever part.
Glue looper? Why have I never heard of these things? lol we are practically twins. Well, I'm 56. With the modelling skills of a 5 year old 😳😂

Danny Ray Author
@lorraine are there actual female modellers? Clair is that a male name where you live? Surely there aren't 2 female modellers on earth? I'm showing my 1970's attitude here. 😳😂
By the way Lorraine cute cat. I have a dog but he's scared of cats. In fact he's even scared of doors! lol

Lorraine Lin
Danny, female modelers are relatively fewer in China, especially military modelers. But we do exist😜 And I also see many females in this community.

[img1]

Clair Greenwood
Thats ok Danny, Im 55 and act about 5 lol. I get along with my 3 year old grand daughter on the same level 🙂 Clair is a dude unless there's an e on the end usually. I have 2 cats, the one is super skittish, I remember when he was a kitten he farted, it scared him n he ran a good 15 feet before turning around to look at his butt. Hahaha

Clair Greenwood
Oh and to get that paper off use some nail polish remover. It dissolves super glue pretty quick. Then touch it up.

Rui
Great conversation going on here!

I have to catchup:

1st - I'm in the same age bracket at 59 with the modelling ability of a 90 year old who can't find his glasses 🙂

2nd - whats this I here about using a lighter to cleanup the tip on glue! How does that work? Is it for super glue cleanup? I'm always dealing with nasty clogs.

3rd - Where I live in Canada we have very few female modellers. In fact, I have never seen one. I have a theory that females can be amazing modellers because of small fingers. I don't have fat sausage fingers but they are big enough to get in the way of intricate work.

4th - @Danny I know another modeller on here named Jennifer. She is relative new to the hobby and already quite good. Lorraine's work is amazing!

Lastly - I have cats. I use to have dogs when I was younger, but now it's cats. They drive me crazy and I think the little assassins are trying to kill me, but I love them to bits.

Danny Ray Author
I love this site. So much good advice and just when I felt like giving up I get lots of lovely people encouraging me to carry on. Thank you. I also need to give a shout out to Jakko. I drive him crazy with almost daily questions and he's never once told me to stop and leave him alone! 🙂

@Rui, I'd love to see a few more females in the hobby. In fact I need a new wife and one who could help me build a model would be a definite bonus. It's all about the lack of sausage fingers, as you say 😂

Lorraine Lin
For PE parts, I use lighter to clean up the instant glue. It works very well, 100% burned up.

And sometimes, I wish I had a third hand, help me to hold the small parts so I can glue them together😛

Thomas Mayer
Remove superglue from a glue looper, a needle, blade, or whatever metal item you use, by holding it into the flame of a lighter. Let the tool cool of, remove residue with a paper towel.

Thomas Mayer
Glue loopers:
SCM Search: Glue applicators looper*

Danny Ray Author
Thanks Thomas.
@lorraine a third hand would be invaluable! In fact on a serious note are there items you can get to help with that? I often find myself wishing I had something to place a model in when I need to add a tricky part. I bought a small jewellers vice that I sometimes use but if there are other devices I'd love to try one!

Lorraine Lin
I bought a soldering helping hands in electronics store. It helps sometimes.

Danny Ray Author
I think I'll get one too Lorraine. By the way I'm seriously impressed at your skill. Are you a professional model maker? Or something similar? Film business?

Robert H.
I have the same kit on my workbench right now, take care the instructions have a few errors and some missing steps to do, just in case you haven't noticed

Lorraine Lin
Danny, I'm not a professional modeler. Building
models is just a hobby in my spare time. I've learned a lot of skills in this community.

Clair Greenwood
I have 3 or 4 helping hands of different sizes but this one is on my "snag it eventually" list : amazon.com/gp/produc..8B8CMKBF3NX&th=1 , should prove handy when I am repairing electronics as well.

Danny Ray Author
@Robert yeah I've noticed one error so far. I bet yours comes out a lot better than mine!

Danny Ray Author
@Clair, thanks I'll look at that. I think I'll buy one! 🙂

Danny Ray Author
@lorraine how long have you been modelling? You really are skilled. I'm very new to it but I think it'd take me at least a decade to get to your level!

Robert H.
@Danny, t's not about better, it's just about fun !! and you learn and get better with every model you build - may you've noticed that K3 and K4 track parts the designations are swapped, some drill holes that need to be made are not shown, best you download the instructions of the original Academy kit, last page shows some corretions .... scalemates.com/products/img/5/1/1/839511-44-instructions.pdf

Clair Greenwood
Well said Robert, without having a fun time we'd all be doing something else instead.

Lorraine Lin
@Danny, about 6-7 years. Agree with Robert and Clair, it's all about having a fun time. I enjoy those few hours late at night when I build models. I can fully immerse myself and forget about other worries. And I also enjoy to learn and to share with all the friendly mates here.

Danny Ray Author
I agree but I'm at the stage where I'm messing everything up. I think it'll be a lot more fun when I get a bit better and I have a system for doing things. I mostly make (so far. I have 61 kits and about 2/3rds are AFV) tanks. Can't decide whether it's better to spray the wheels and tracks before adding them or once they're glued in place. I'm veering towards the 'before' scenario. Same with the tools and things like machine guns and rifles (from my universal carrier). I don't feel confident at all with figures. In fact I'd even say they scare me. 😳😂

Robert H.
@Danny, take it easy, may start with your more simple kits, to mess something up sometimes is part of the never ending learning process and fortunely on armour models you can easy hide a mistake by covering it with something, at least mostly 😉 I airbrush the assembled main groups, hull, turret, wheels, tracks... separately. I also glue small things like tools before airbrushing to the hull, I've no problem to paint small things with a fine brush after... just look always what makes more sense. Figure painting is also not such a big deal, many tuturial on YT, start with simple guides.... and don't try to paint eyes, mostly not necessary at all 😮

Clair Greenwood
Danny bro,. you didn't mess anything up... Thats the beauty of modelling war machines, Battle Damage 🙂 I've been building models on and off since '74 and I still make colossal goofs here and there. I was doing a Santa Maria all wood kit and guess what, I goofed and cut off in scale probably about 10 feet on the poop deck. I just planked and kept going, now it's a pee deck that bring your own bottle Hahahaha. We all screw up dont fret just learn and do better on the next one buddy 🙂 As for painting, I always paint parts separately, my hands shake a good bit anymore so I'd make one hell of a mess if I didnt.

Danny Ray Author
Thanks chaps. Great advice. That made me laugh clair. Pee deck and bring your own bottle. 😂
I actually thought this yesterday. Why am I worrying about a rip in a wire mesh on a machine that's had dozens of armour piercing shells slung its way? Of course it's gonna look beaten up! That's a sure sign that I've not (yet) done any weathering whatsoever! 🙂

And Robert I agree. It's a good job I've (now) got 62 kits (just bought another panzer iv by Ryefield oh and a hetzer by Takom so 63 kits! (They were so cheap on temu. The Ryefield was just £11! Well with my discount.
I have now stopped buying. For now 🙂

Danny Ray Author
@lorraine. I hope I'm half as good as you in 6 years!

Lorraine Lin
Danny You surely can do better. Because I just joined this community last year, while you've been here since the very beginning😜

Danny Ray Author
Not me Lorraine. I only joined in November. Or thereabouts 🙂
You did say you've been model building for about 6 years? I might have mixed up your comment with someone else. It's my age! Lol

Danny Ray Author
Can somebody take away my credit card please? I just saw a Takom 1:35 panzer III Ausf.M mit schurzen (armour skirts) on Temu and it was only £15. God knows where I'm gonna put these models once they're built? I'll need at least 3 more houses. Maybe I can build a few model blocks of flats? 😂

While I'm here, do any of you use those PE bending tools to help you? Some are like metal rulers with lots of different shapes to bend around. Another type is a square with another square with shapes cut out and there's a screw down clamp to securely fix the part down when bending. I can get one of each type for around £7 with my current discount . Are they worthwhile or just a gimmick?

On a similar note, I wish I could find a solution to my many different diameter circle masks. Being primarily interested in AFV builds, I find I need (especially if the road wheels are rubber edged and therefore painted in black(ish), I know you can buy specific wheel masks for many kits but they're not cheap. I was wondering if there's a good universal solution. A tool or technique where you can make your own masks or stencils. Bearing in mind, I have the abilities of a not particularly bright or gifted toddler 😂😂😂

Clair Greenwood
I use a Bug from the Small Shop and it's simply a must have to get great folds on the first try. Each bend at the same spot makes brass weaker. So yes, definitely get a screw down type.

As for question 2 >>> Tadah!!!!! scalehobbyist.com/ca..00000048/product.php

I bought one, seems nice quality but haven't needed to actually use it yet.

Danny Ray Author
Thanks Clair. You the man. As they say. Funny to think I thought you might've been the (wo)man before you educated me about the different spellings of your name! 🙂 then again (I'm assuming here yet again) you Americans do love to change the spelling of the mother tongue! lol 😂😂😂😁😁
But seriously, thanks for the reply and advice. It does make it feel like I'm not in this arms race against 1940's nazism alone. Even though I'm building German tanks 😁😊
You've convinced me. I'm gonna buy a screw down clamp thing. I mean, for equivalent of ten US dollars, you can't really go wrong?

Danny Ray Author
I wonder if that stencil you linked would cover the British tanks too? I see that panzer iv is mentioned. I have all the British tanks to build. Churchill, Cromwell, valentine, crusader, Matilda as well as the Brit versions of American tanks like Grants, Lees, Stuart's, and shermans ? I guess it'd be expecting a bit too much to have a single stencil to cover all German, American and Brit machines? 🙂

Robert H.
@Danny, I have this USTAR UA-80026, covers all wheel diameters, at least I didn't have one where it didn't fit in scale 1/35. For bending PE parts just a small tool which is usually sufficient for what I need it [img1] [img2]

Danny Ray Author
Thanks Robert. I've just bought something similar on temu and a square one that you can screw down. Because I've been buying a lot of kits from them I had some discount. The screw down type was originally £20. I got it for £6. Hopefully it'll be decent quality. I'll have a look at the wheel mask. As well as the one Clair suggested. Thanks to you both.

Ben M
Helpful tips abound here. Sorry I missed it til now. Photo 5 looks nicely done. I apply superglue with a sewing needle with the end of the eye cut off like a tiny little U. When it gets gummed up I burn the glue off with a lighter. In my late 50's as well.

My girlfriend builds models as well but isn't on scalemates. I like to build things with my kids also.

Clair Greenwood
Gee Ben, that's a really smart idea there with the needle. I like the ingenuity bud 🙂

Danny Ray Author
Hi Ben. I forgot that I bought this little tool from Temu. It's a very fine needle on a small spring and it unscrews from the handle where it's safely stored away. Basically you just dip it in the super glue then dot it where you want it. When it first arrived a couple of months ago I was disappointed but it really has helped. Though I obviously had to remember I had it first! lol
So your whole family model build? That's great 🙂

Danny Ray Author
@clair shall I post a link to the needle tool I bought? It's just a small bullet looking piece of metal that unscrews then you screw it in the other end. It's just a really fine needle on a small limited movement spring like joint. A lot more handy than I first thought! Bear with me I'm not good with computers/phones. I've added a picture of the tool in the project/build photos. See it? They sell them on Amazon too but it was half that price on temu.

Clair Greenwood
Actually Danny yeah I'll grab me a few next week when I get my ssi in.Thanks man I'd like to give that a shot, looks very useful.

Danny Ray Author
You're very welcome amigo