Nyhetsstrøm

gorby
Exceptional work so far Alec.
You're going to show us all up again aren't you? 😉
(Come to think of it that should have been a statement rather than a question. 😄 )

Alec K
Thanks Gorby! Not my intention, just sharing my modeling joy in my characteristic pedantic manner 😄

bughunter
Finally a new project from Alec 👍 Watching for sure!

Bernhard Schrock
One of my favorite prop classics! Please a seat in the first row! Excellent start. I'm curious for more scratchbuilding especially flaps & co. 🙂

Cuajete
Very nice job so far. Following!

Alec K
For such exulted following, I better up my game. Welcome to the show mates, I'll try not to disappoint.

Michael Kohl
My kinda stuff. I am in too.

Łukasz Gliński
Bigly yuge indeed 👍

Finn
Looking really good and looking forward to see more!

Andy Ball
excellent and useful build tips....didn't know about acrylic glue....thanks for sharing the build!!

Alec K
Thanks for checking in mates, and thanks for the kind feedback 👍

Erik Leijdens
Nice to see another project form you, Alec. Great start. Looks like the Neptune need a lot of extra detailing.

Nathan Dempsey
Can't wait to see the finished kit.

Jakub Fiala
Very nice work in the cockpit, Alec 👍 I'm looking forward to see next steps. Also, i'm surprised how big this bird is 😮

Alec K
Thanks gents! Erik, you are right, the additional details will make it a nicer build but it's noteworthy how good this kit is after so many years. And yes Jakube, it's a BIG bird 🙂

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: they were several colors schemes used on dash 7. Which scheme intend you to build?

Alec K
Hello Bernhard - I really like the later schemes of Light Gull Gray with white fuselage decking. I came across several renditions of BuNo 147967's scheme (see my project's banner) and as long I figure out the markings (specifically, what kind of decals I will need to make myself), this will probably be the one.

Oliver Zwiener
Really wow - take a seat !

Alec K
Welcome Oliver! I have added info about my fun time with Plus Model's flaps 👍

Cuajete
Good progress, Alec 👍

Ludvík Kružík
Really interesting project. I believe that in your rendition it will be another exceptional model. I will definitely follow this build 👀

Dave
A lot of work ahead, but it seem that you have it worked out before hand. Nice

Bernhard Schrock
Excellent start on the wings. Watching for next steps. 🙂
P.S. is #PJ 12 in gullgray & white you choice?

Alec K
Thank you all for looking. Bernhard, PJ 12 it is, for now 😉 🙂

Maciej Bellos
Watching!

Cuajete
Wow... great job so far 👍

S M
Wow! Must follow!

Alec K
Thank you friends 👍

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, your modifications to this kit are great. 👍 I just don't understand one thing. Is there any reason why you didn't simply weaken parts 62-65, 66 and 67 from the inside and then glue the Eduard parts to them?

Jakub Fiala
This is a pleasure to watch 👍 As usual 🙂

Alec K
Welcome Jakube 👍

Ludvíku: A fair question regarding a choice I myself questioned. I though the Eduard parts were too thin (the formed reinforcing metal structure on the interior of the doors seems quite deep to my eye). Also, the front wheel bay door structure looks different than the Eduard interpretation. All that said, I think thinning the kits' parts and adding styrene strips would have been easier. Cheers 👍

Konrad
Amazing!

Ludvík Kružík
Thank you for your reply. I don't mean to disparage your work in any way. I knew you had a reason. I just didn't know what it was.
The result looks very good. 👍 Especially considering the actual size of the parts in 1:72 scale. It's obvious you take great care with all the details. I wish you a steady hand and a good eye throughout the build of the model and look forward to seeing the progress. 🙂

Alec K
Completely understood, I knew what you meant 🙂 👍

Daniel Klink
Most impressive Alec.. That Metalwork is awesome!
Love the outcome so far👍

bughunter
Exactly Daniel! A joy to follow 👍

bughunter
A drawer like this is indispensable! The search light is beautiful!

Guy Rump
Great modelling! 👍

Alec K
Thank you mates! Frank: I imagine you and others will relate 🙂. Recently I was going through my "keep for just in case" items and failed to get rid of much. Most of such items do not occupy a lot of space, it's much harder to justify keeping junk that does 😉

bughunter
That it also a fact: if you don't used a thing for years and drop it in the bin one week later you will need it! That is caused by Murphy's law.

Alec K
😄 😄 😄 👍

Alec K
Greetings mates! Contrary to what you may be thinking, I have NOT been screwing off and AM actively working on this, just veeery slowly. Here is an update on my labors.

Cuajete
Good progress, Alec. Looking so good 👍

Ludvík Kružík
I'm watching this with great interest. I am always amazed at what can be done on this scale. 👍

Alec K
Thanks much guys. This gives me strength to keep plugging away at this beast 😄

Erik Leijdens
Impressed by your build, great scratching and use of "household" materials.

Alec K
Cheers friends. Just so you don't think I gave up on this beast, here are some progress pics. This project has been a MONSTER but it's progressing, despite my every effort to screw it up.

Ronan
Very nice so far 👍

gorby
Remarkable Alec! Your attention to detail is jaw-dropping.

Michael Kohl
Very fine build log with loads of fixes. I thoroughly enjoy it.

J35J
Great progress, detail level is outstanding.👍🏻

Nicolas
I'll take a seat and watch.

Alec K
Thanks gents for stopping by and for your kind comments. It's always a pleasure to read those 👍

Jennifer Franklin
I love your journaling, so much to learn from you, following 👀. Your work is amazing.

bughunter
Great that you continued to work on this bird and uploaded new pics....
But, have you deleted all old pics and uploaded new ones? Normally I check the date to see, where the news are, but here _all_ pics are of the actual date 🙁 But some were definitely not new for me.

Clement
Wow, this is trully impressive. I admire your scratchbuilding ability!

Alec K
Thank you friends for your comments and support, very appreciated.

Jennifer: I am glad you like my ramblings. I realize I get into the weeds, but I always enjoyed others sharing their progress in detail and it has helped me great deal with my own modeling journey, so I am trying to do the same.

Frank, you are correct. There was a discussion some time ago about the preferred sizing of images for albums and I realized mine were pretty small, so I decided to re-upload the old pics in higher resolution. The teaser in the album marks where new work images begin. I hope it's not a big faux pas to do this as I plan to upgrade some of my older albums this way.

bughunter
Thank you Alex - the new bigger picture size is for sure a _good_ reason to replace them 👍
There was also a discussion in feature request that replacing pictures by better ones do not trigger a notify. So this can be done behind the scenes without bother anyone..

Jakub Fiala
Hello Alec. I'm glad to see you back here after some short break 🙂
That new vacu canopy looks great 👍

Alec K
Díky Jakube, glad you stopped by. This thing WILL be done this year… 😄

Cuajete
Great job, Alec. I'm glad to see you again here 🙂

Alec K
Thank you Cuajeye 🙂

Lochsa River
a master class....

Alec K
Finally painted something on this bird that will be visible on the outside. Cheers!

Michael Kohl
A pleasure to follow you on this journey. Sprue goo bubbles are a problem I am familiar with too and is doesn't have to do with stirring. Unfortunately I cannot provide an alternative theory why this happens. Maybe someone out there can enlighten us.

gorby
Good grief you've put an amazing amount of effort into those flaps!

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, good progress! 👍 I admire the precision with which you create the details of the model. My admiration is all the greater because your model is in 1/72 scale.

The bubbles could have been caused by a chemical reaction between the sprue material and the solvent, or between the plastic of the model and the "plastic slurry" during drying (similar to adding yeast to dough), but that's just my guess.

Zbynek Honzik
Alec, what a no-compromise project! Very inspiring! And fingers crossed that the wind doesn't get out of your sails. 👍🍀

Alec K
Hmm, interesting observations regarding the sprue goo bubbling, thanks for commenting on that Michael and Ludvik. Ludvíku, I think there is probably something to your theory. I just bought some dissolved putty from GSI and have high hopes for it.

Gordy: "good grief" about sums it up…

Zbynku, thanks for the encouraging post 🙂

Jennifer Franklin
great job replacing the messed-up canopy

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: I am very happy to see that this great project continues. You solved the canopy problem very well. I suspect that your self-made part is clearer than the one from the kit….🙂.
Great details on the wheel bays & landing gear, which is also movable! I am looking forward to further progress.🙂

bughunter
Great and careful work again!
May be your sprue putty layer was too thick? The extra thin glue need a way to go out. So it is may be better to work in thin layers and give the glue the chance to left the plastic.
I'm also not a fan of normal putty, but I used some days ago the Tamiya Light curing putty (I wrote about in my Swallow project). I like it! But also there it is recommended in the manual to use only thin layers up to 2mm. If you put light on a thicker layer it will get too hot inside and create bubbles. But as this hardens quickly with UV-light it is no problem to apply additional layers.

Cuajete
Wow... fantastic job so far 👍

Alec K
Thank you mates. I think the canopy was the correct decision, the thickness alone makes it so much better. Silver linings…

Bugs, I think you are right about the goo. I did glob it on pretty thick, forgetting all my school chemistry 😄. Thanks for the advice as well, I'll have to look up that Tamiya light curing putty.

Marius
Alec, such a gorgeous aircraft which I also want to build. I got dissapointed to find out that the Hasegawa kit has raised lines and I wasn't yet willing to do the effort you are doing now.

Outstanding work, I admire the dedication you're pouring in this project. Thank you for recommending some scribing tools, mine got old and blunt and needed new ones.
One question: why use the saw for scribing? What is the advantage?

Thomas Bischoff
I missed this thread completely - outstanding work! Landing Gear, Cockpit, Flaps and much more just makes me feel like a beginner.

gorby
Amazing work Alec!

Alec K
Thanks you guys. Thomas, your work looks rather advanced to me 🙂 👍

Marius, this is my first scribing/riveting project on the entire model and I really enjoyed the process. Regarding my use of thin saw blade: on curved surfaces like the sides of a fuselage, I find it difficult to use the UMM scribers. It's hard to describe, you just have to experience it. To get a nice even panel line with the scriber, I apply several passes at low pressure. This is hard to do when you are following a curve because the scriber's "angle of attack" relative to the surface is important and must be continually maintained as you move the tool. Saw works much better and produces a comparable result. Cheers!

Michael Kohl
I can only second Alecs arguments. Particularly if you have a panelline which was interrupted- by sanding for example - the saw can use the still existing grove as a guide much better than a scriber can.

Gary Kitchen
Wow. What an odyssey of a build log. So detailed and painstakingly explained. Thank you. All aboard for the remainder of this journey.

Łukasz Gliński
Dat rivets look great, watching with envy. 👍
Thx for the Dymo tape hint, I have to test it, all these fancy modelling scotch tapes seem too thin for my taste.

Alec K
Thanks Gary, welcome to the odyssey. We should hit port soon 🙂

Łukasz, Dymo tape is pretty good and readily available, but couple words of caution: its adhesive is very aggressive and tends to leave residue on smooth surfaces, and it's not very "bendy". It sticks to Surfacer fine and comes off the same, but I had it peel off paint on smoother paint finish. The Carving Guide Tape (HIQPARTS CGT-6MM, No) is a better option IMHO but not sure how easily available.

Łukasz Gliński
Thx for the additional info. The transparent ones don't work for me at all - my eyesight is too poor 😉
But I think Dymo could be good for the basic rescribing, even before surfacer.
For the later corrections I have these green semi-transparent one, but its edges are not thick enough for me to do the long straight lines:
mojehobby.pl/product..-Edged-Tape-3mm.html

Clement
What an impressive work! Your dedication to the project is inspiring.

Nathan Dempsey
Great build log. Some very useful information on scribing too.

Jakub Fiala
Very nice rescribing, Alec 👍 . As for dymo tape, I have the same experience as you.
Its nice to see, you are using Hauler products. This company is located about 500 meters from my home 🙂

Alec K
Thanks Clement and Nathan!

Łukasz - for sure, give it a try. For straight scribing, I like a firmer wide tape to keep the "straightness" and Dymo tape works great for that. It's also nice and thick for guiding the scribed. My only complaint, again, is that the adhesive sometimes stay put.

Jakube - thanks for encouragement. Do you mean PlusModel? Or does Hauler makes their PE? Either way, I am jealous 🙂 👍

Jakub Fiala
Alec, i mean Hauler ( scribing template on your pic#110). They really make their PE. I saw it with my own eyes 🙂

Alec K
Oh yeah, sorry! Got it. I have many Hauler PE sets (as well as their kits) in my stash 🙂

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, the longer I follow your work on the model, the more I like it. The care you take with all the details is admirable. 👍

In the time I have been building my models, I have come to the same experience as you. For restoring panel lines on curved surfaces of the model (like the fuselage), a razor saw is best. It's exactly as Michael Kohl writes a bit above.

To transcribe the lines on the model I use (among other things) rulers, which I made from an ordinary rolling ruler metal tape measure. I cut strips of different lengths from it. These strips are flexible and adapt easily to a curved surface. For even more flexibility, the strip can be cut lengthwise into two narrower strips.

Marius
This has turned in a very helpful thread with all the discussiond about scribing. I would like to share my own method for irregular surfaces. I'm using tape for electrical cable insulations together with a pointy tool. The tool is normally aimed at scribing access panels or doors, but I use it for larger panel lines too. Check photos #36 and #38 from this album:

MiG-23BN - Iraq - 1982 | Album by Redicus (1:72)

Alec K
Great techniques Ludvik and Marius, thanks for sharing 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Interesting ideas, thx for sharing 👍

Cuajete
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing 👍

Alec K
Managed some progress, engines are on the wings. Getting close to assembling this beast and finally painting.

Cuajete
Wow...I can't believe what a huge improvement you are making to this tool. Looks great!

Alec K
Thanks Cuajete. The beast finally has wings and received a coat of paint. The saga continues...

Ludvík Kružík
That's great progress. The beast is coming to life. 👍

Bernhard Schrock
The painting results are looking great!

Michael Kohl
It certainly does

Tony Cooke
Phenomenal!!

Alec K
Thanks very much! Neptune is now decaled, very happy with how that turned out 🙂

gorby
Nice work with the decals Alec. I looks great.

Robert Podkoński
How did I miss this master-class modelling tutorial? From now I am definitely following this talent show!

Alec K
Thanks gorby. Robert, thanks for stopping by 🙂 👍

Gordon Sørensen
Great work on all the detail you added to the Neptune, Alex! Looks fantastic!

Cuajete
Great painting job, masking and good job with the decals 👌

bughunter
Once again, this will be a dream of a model!

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, it's admirable what you've done with this model. It looks fantastic. Fingers crossed that you manage to finish it successfully. 👍
The finish line is very close. 🙂

Alec K
Thanks all for leaving encouraging remarks. It's indeed getting close and chances for me screwing it up loom large: weathering is not my forte…

Jennifer Franklin
It's looking great Alec! You can do it.

Mark D
Great subject, great work! 👍

Maciej Bellos
Looks beautiful! Take your time, don't rush things!

Alec K
Thank you mates, I'll do my best 😄

Oliver Zwiener
Klasse Ding !!!

Alec K
Danke Oliver!

I am in the final stretch on this one. Just some final weathering and it should be done. Cheers!

Michael .
Following

Gary Victory
Lovely build and progress Alec.

Mark Medwell
This is an amazing build... those main gear bays! I can smell the oil and fuel as if I was standing inside them on a pre-flight walkaround.

Cuajete
Wow...

Pietro De Angelis
An impressive quantity and quality of work, masterpiece by photoetchs and scratchbuild, congrats!

Skyhiker
Somehow I came late to this show...

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, you're doing top-notch work. The very fine and precise execution of all the details adds to the convincingness of the model. It's really hard to believe that this is a 1/72 scale model. 👍 👍 👍

Bernhard Schrock
A true masterpiece! I have looked at the current, new photos three times. And will definitely do it again. Great great great! Detailing, cleanliness, implementation and painting! 🙂🙂🙂

bughunter
Yeah, I can only sign the last comments! Your careful preparation to allow a clean mounting pays back now 👍
Last week I saw a finished model of this kit at a local club meeting and it reminded me of your build.

Zbynek Honzik
I fully subscribe to the above comments. 👏👏👏

Alec K
Thank you mates for your kind and encouraging feedback. This has been my longest continuous project to date ( too long imho). It's interesting to note that this 1972 tooling still has life in it (based on how many, even today, continue to be built). Certainly not comparable to today's fare, overall it's a very nice kit. Just have to finish few details as I plan to bring it to the IPMS-USA annual contest next week. Cheers.

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: Enjoy the exhibition. If I were in the jury, it would be the first place for me just because of the initiative and the skills in scratch building🙂. In my opinion, it is not really art to replace the half the model with brass, resin and 3D, but to create a masterpiece from a 50-year-old kit. 🙂

Alec K
Thank you Bernhard for your kind comment, I really appreciate it 🙂. Getting a prize would be nice (I am as vain as the next guy), but I keep my expectations low. IPMS-USA judging focuses on build quality and execution, and my skills are not strong in this area. If two models are tied from this perspective, then the more complex one wins, but if there is a clean-built Neptune with no errors but no modifications next to mine, they win. A lot also depends on who shows up (I.e. the models on the table).

I am looking forward to the show as it's a great time to see many great builds in person, chat with fellow modelers and support the hobby. A big plus is that it's close to where I live, so no vendor room limit for this stash hoarder 😄. I will post pictures from the show when I get back.

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, I think the chances of success are good. Maybe luck will smile on you. In any case, I'll keep my fingers crossed 🙂
... whatever the outcome, enjoy the show!

Maciej Bellos
Loss for words. The Neptune looks superb. Fingers crossed!

Looking forward for the show photos.

Cuajete
I hope you get the well-deserved award, Alec 👍
Good luck!

Alec K
Thanks very much mates. No pressure... 😄 😄 😄 Ludvik is right, I will need some big smiles (hopefully not laughs) from Lady Luck. I have uploaded the final WIP pics, finished build and show albums hopefully by end on July.

gorby
This has been a remarkable build to follow, absolutely stunning work mate! If this doesn't win best in show the judges should get better guide-dogs. 😉

Marius
Hats down Alec, a true masterpiece. One of the most attractive and special models I have seen here lately!!

Michael Kohl
I can only agree with Marius and Gorby. I enjoyed following your build immensely. And I will strive to come closer to the cleanliness of your construction, which is impressive.

bughunter
What a marvellous finale 👍 Hats off to your perseverance!
Good luck and have fun there 🙂

Neuling
An amazingly clean and detailed build!

Alec K
Guys, I really appreciate your really nice comments. I just realized I started this project back in June 2022 and worked on it pretty much continuously since then (with the exception of few months during this past winter). To date, the largest project for me in all aspects. I am in active recovering now (just finished a mojoreset OOB 🙂.

Arrived at the contest yesterday and there were already many worthy builds in my category on the table, so I will be surprised if I even place. So many great modelers out there! The show promises to be a feast for the eyes (there are 2500 registered entries with many more walk-ins expected). Cheers!

Cuajete
Great job, Alec. Fantastic result... I love it!
Congrats!

If this project is not a winner, it is because the judges have had to think a lot to give the prize to someone else. But for the Scalemates colleagues this will be a clear winner in all aspects. Good luck!

Guy Rump
Great build! 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Good golly that's a fine finish!

Alec K
Hello friends. Lady luck got drunk and the Neptune received first place in the "1/72 large twin engine aircraft" category 🙂

For those interested, here are links to a selection of pics from the show:

Aircraft: IPMS-USA National Convention 2024 | Album by Pardubak
Military Vehicles: IPMS-USA National Convention 2024 | Album by Pardubak
Figures: IPMS-USA National Convention 2024 | Album by Pardubak
Dioramas: IPMS-USA National Convention 2024 | Album by Pardubak
Other (Ships, Automotive, Sci-fi, Misc, Venue): IPMS-USA National Convention 2024 | Album by Pardubak

Michael Kohl
I'd say Lady Luck was sober and good mooded. Congrats and thanks for this ambitious, informative and extremely clean and precise build thread. I enjoyed it very much.

Zbynek Honzik
Congratulations, Alec! Lady Luck didn't get drunk, she stayed completely sober, because you deserve that first place! 😀🫵👍

gorby
Nothing to do with luck mate, purely down to your remarkable modelling skill. Fortunately the judges recognised that. Well deserved award Alec. 🙂
Thanks for the links, I'll enjoy having a look thought them later. 👍

bughunter
I can only sign what gorby said 👍 Congratulation - well deserved!

Robert Blaschke
Tomu hovorím modelárčina. Narobíš sa ako kôň a nakoniec 95 percent práce nie je vôbec vidieť. Ešte aj tá konštrukcia krídel nad klapkami je zospodu, skrytá normálnemu pohľadu 🙂
Ale inak úchvatná práca a nádherný model. 👍

Maciej Bellos
Congrats!!!! Well deserved and no luck at all, but a reward for all the tremendous effort put on this kit.

Spanjaard
arriving late to the party, but what a trip .. . amazing job everywhere, stunning patience, planning and execution. certainly no luck involved in getting the award, truly deserved!!

Ludvík Kružík
I can only agree with what those before me have written.
The honorable and precise work on this model has been deservedly appreciated. Congratulations on a well-deserved victory! 👍👍👍

Bernhard Schrock
I'm looking forward to it with you! The referees appreciated YOUR OWN performance.🙂

Pietro De Angelis
Nothing else to add,
only congratulations!

Michael .
Congratulations!!!

Cuajete
I totally agree with all mates. It is a well-deserved award and the judges have appreciated it 👍

Congrats. Enjoy it, Alec!

Oleg Smilyk
Wow,masterpiece ,thanks for the sharing!

Nicolas
Congrats, well deserved. 👍

J35J
Congrats Alec! Top performance, enjoy!👍🏻

Dieter Bihlmaier
Amazing!

Jakub Fiala
Aleši, tohle je prostě nádhera! Gongratulations to very well deserved award. I am looking forward to see final pictures.

S M
Congratulation!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Łukasz Gliński
Well deserved, joining the congratulations

Alec K
Mates, thank you all for your very kind words and support, it means a lot. This build was sucking the lifeforce out of me so it's nice to see it turned out pretty good. I was amazed how much more effort a bigger model takes (I have a whole new appreciation for large scale builders). Going down the detailing rabbit hole did not help, but that's just the OCD acting up… 😄

Few finished pics are now uploaded. I am having a helluva time fitting this thing into my photo booth, so more will follow once I have time to make some modifications. Cheers!

gorby
WOW! Absolute stunning result Alec. Beautiful photos as well.

Robert Podkoński
Awesome model. Well deserved prize. Congrats!

Skyhiker
Alec, great job and congratulations! In the future instead of using ridged rod for static dischargers, which can easily break off, you would be better off using brush bristles, preferably pig hair, but it depends on the scale you are doing. They are strong and flexible but keep their shape if they are touched. They are also great for antenna.

S M
What a beauty!

Alec K
Thanks mates. The wire static dischargers are indeed problematic and I managed to knock them off already. Good idea with the brush bristles, thanks Skyhiker 👍

David Taylor
Nice.

Finn
Master class!

Nathan Dempsey
Well deserved! What a great build. It was fun to watch too.

Dutch
Alec, Beautiful work on this vintage kit. I have built two many, many moons ago during my teenage years and you have truly brought the old plastic to life. It looks like you could jump right in and fire her up. Great work. I look forward to more of your handiwork. Kind reregards. Dutch

Alec K
Dutch, glad this brought back fond (hopefully) memories. This was a memory build for me too, although I did not get to build one back then for reasons I get into under the project's writeup. Still a very fine kit indeed.

Dutch
I just build kits, you create masterpieces. There is a difference. But, yes, it brought back fond memories. It went together well and stayed together well. If I remember correctly, it was somewhere in the $8-10 range at my local hobby store. You have much more patience than I do.

Oliver Zwiener
State of the art !

Guy Rump
Excellent result! 👍

Chan Li
Neat as official cast.

Gary Victory
Fanatic build. I really admire the work and level of detail you have added Alec. Really lovely finish and build. Top job Sir.

Alec K
Thank you guys for your mojo-building feedback, much appreciated 🙂👍

CaptGPF
I can't add anymore praise than those above. You are a craftsman!

Ekki
Me neither!
A beauty!

Landlubber Mike
Wow nicely done - really beautiful clean work on this one.

Cristian A
very interesting, watching

Spanjaard
looking really interesting 🙂

M4A1
Thanks! Hope the result will meet your expectations. 🙂 Not the first D-Day project, but just my attempt to built a part of the Atlantikwall in Normandy during D-Day.

Rui S
This is going to be huge. I'm the first boat😉

M4A1
Added some pics of the construction of diorama base and the construction of the PAK gun.

M4A1
The roof parts of the bunker are dry fit.

M4A1
Added some pics of a couple of G.I.'s painted in the base color and the PAK gun which is constructed. Currently assembling some ranger figures and steel obstacles for on the beach. Try to minimize the amount of pics because I love to take lots of pics when working on a project. Also included a pic of the nameplate.

M4A1
Obviously the tyres on the PAK are not fitted the way they are supposed to be fitted. This is done for test purposes.

coporado
Great idea and nice Start, following!

Tini Hendriks
Very nice!

M4A1
The beach, dunes, trench and the German bunker are getting more and more to how I want them to be.

Rewop
Looks great.

coporado
Great progress

M4A1
I've painted the PAK in the dark yellow base color with the airbrush. First I painted it with grey primer, than with black paint and then dark yellow. I tried to do some preshading but that didn't really turned out as I hoped it would. Nevertheless I'm happy with how the PAK looks. I've also painted the details and now I'm doing chips. Washes and drybrushes will be done at the last step.

Simon Nagorsnik
a lot of work to do but look impressive 👍

M4A1
The first piece of barbed wire is finished. Hand made. Painted with Tamiya metallic grey. Still my favorite paint for steel, metal or iron.

Bruce Huxtable
The home-made barbed wire is very impressive. How many more metres to do...? It's coming together for sure 👍

Pepe
Muy buena pinta

M4A1
Thanks for the nice comments. I don't know how many metres of barbed wire I have to add, but it's quite alot. 😁

M4A1
And a little update. Worked on creating sand bags, placed the PAK gun in the bunker and closed the roof.
I've put sand and tufts of grass on the roof of the bunker. Also placed the first parts of barbed wire.

Rui S
Nice progress. Keep it coming 👍

M4A1
A few items of this project have been finished. I finished the German mortar crew and placed them in the dunes. I also added more barbed wire. The barbed wire obstacle is getting somewhere. Also finished painting the dead German that will be placed in the door of the bunker.

David Taylor
Just wow.

M4A1
Thanks David! The first American G.I. is finished. I'm quite happy with how he turned out.

Robin (WhiteGlint)
What a huge project. Awesome work so far! 👍
I think your figure painting skills are top notch.

M4A1
Thank you! Another German soldier is finished. This one might not be as good as the previous German and American G.I. but it's good enough for me. The only thing is that the strap on his rifle is a bit width.

Guy Rump
Looking great! 👍

M4A1
Thanks Guy! The 2nd American G.I. of the 29th ID is finished. I'm happy with the result.

M4A1
The 3rd American G.I. is finished. That makes this one the 9th completed figure of this project. As with the other figures I'm also happy with this one. Let's start working on the 10th. 🙂

Rui S
Impressive figure painting 👍

M4A1
Added some sand bags at the back of the pillbox and added the dead German in the door of pillbox. Also used a white drybrush to add depth and to make the damage to the concrete more visible. On the roof of the pillbox I put some camouflage netting.

M4A1
Added more self made camouflage netting on the roof of the pillbox.

Spanjaard
Nice!

coporado
Great progress here!

M4A1
Thanks guys!

M4A1
Thanks Karl! Add pics of another finished German. Will get it's place soon in the trench.

Rui S
Again, impressive figure painting 👍

M4A1
Thanks Rui! Nice to read. 🙂

M4A1
Sure I can share how I made the sandbags. No problem. I got it from a Dutch tutorial. Will translate it and send it to you.

I've placed the commanding German in the trench. Added a pic of that.

Spanjaard
add the link to the tutorial here, aub 😉

David Taylor
Figures look superb.

M4A1
Thanks for all the positive feedback. Started building seven years ago and never thought I would got this far. Many thanks goes out to a building buddy here in the Netherlands who taught me alot about figure painting.

Guy Rump
Your building buddy taught you well, the figures are excellent! 👍

Pietro De Angelis
Wow, amazing project, figures and dio,
can't wait to see it finished!

Mathias Decommere
This is a magnificent diorama! I love already every inch of it!

M4A1
Thank you Mathias and Pietro. Can't wait myself to see this project finished. By that time I've made more than enough barbed wire. 🙂

Munkyslut
What a fantastic dio!!! I'm more & more impressed every time I look👌

Marcin Snakowski
Good job. It looks very promising!
Using an airbrush, I would add some sandy color to the vegetation. It is now too distinct from the soil. In a similar way and with an oil wash, I would slightly differentiate the sand with darker shades here and there.

M4A1
Thanks guys! When I'll resume working on this project I'll take your suggestions in consideration.

M4A1
The first row of barbed wire runs from left to right in front of the bunker. Took alot of time to get there. I'm gonna add 2 more rows of barbed wire left of the bunker and in front of the trench right to the bunker. Also added the German mg gunner. Gonna add a opened ammo box and a belt of ammo running to the mg.

Doubtingmango
Love these huge projects!

M4A1
Huge it is. 🙂 Currently working on one more big project and after that I'm quite sure I'm done with huge projects. 🙂 Because of the amount of work that goes with it I kind of loose my motivation after a while. Fact remains that if a project like this gets completed you really have something.

M4A1
More barbed wire added. We're getting somewhere. 🙂

M4A1
Last figures are done. Finally, after four years. 🙂 Now I have to finish the base. The end of this project is starting to get in sight.

Mathias Decommere
Patience is key

M4A1
Absolutely. Fact is I shouldn't be working on so many projects at the same time. 🙂

Munkyslut
This is just getting better & better everytime you go near it…….. is your name Midas? Seriously impressed every time I check in👌👌

M4A1
Thank you very much for your compliment! Very nice to read. 🙂

M4A1
The barbed wire is still making good progress. Now working on the area in front of the trench.

Mr James
All that beautiful painting and weathering on the PAK and only the barrel to be seen 😉 Your figure painting on the uniforms is splendid. What a project 🙂

Holger Hubbes
Absolutely awesome

M4A1
Thank you guys! Yes James, in a way it's a pity that only the barrel of the PAK is visible, but I knew that when I started this project. I'm glad that producing and adding the barbed wire is reaching it's end. That took me way more time than I imagined.

CaptGPF
I agree with Mr James - your figures are always top notch! Curious to see how this turns out.

M4A1
Thank you!

M4A1
The final details have been done. Added bits of concrete blown off the bunker by shell fire and sand that got blown away by other shell fire. Next set of photos are from the end result. Coming soon.

CaptGPF
Wünderbar!

M4A1
Thank you!

coporado
Outstanding! super excited for the final shots!

M4A1
Thanks! I'm excited too so I hope I can post them very soon and show this project in it's entirety.

Desert Marlin
This is looking like it will be a blast to complete!

Desert Marlin
Any suggestions on which squadron would be most appealing?

Mr D
Nice model here... Enjoy 😁👍

Desert Marlin
Thanks!

Desert Marlin
The IsraDecal publication is absolutely pricesless for this project!

Guy Rump
Interesting, following.👍

Landlubber Mike
Cool project, following along as well. Not sure I can help you on the squadron selection - lots of good options.

Desert Marlin
Right in the middle of a perfectly good Mirage 2000N build, I wound up building this Iron Dome Battery. Not sure how I got sucked in, but the build was pretty easy until it came to the cabling...

Neuling
You won´t get tangled up, mate! As expert modeller you´ll make! 🙂

Desert Marlin
Aye, I have been blessed with time and opportunity!

Desert Marlin
Time to paint the IDF soldiers that came with it!

Desert Marlin
Done with the ladies!

Neuling
Very good diorama! 👍👍

Desert Marlin
Thanks! I appreciate that very much Neuling!

Robert Podkoński
I agree with Neuling - nice work, Marlin!

Desert Marlin
Thank you Robert! Much appreciated!

CaptGPF
Wow! I can't believe I almost missed this! The details are top notch - especially the cabling!

Desert Marlin
Thank you!

Landlubber Mike
Outstanding work - beautiful base!

Chris T. An
This is the first time for me to tackle a complete resin kit. And when I look at the individual parts, it will be a real challenge. There is an extreme amount of rework needed on each part. Hope I can get it to work.

Finn
Best of luck, it will be interesting to follow

Michael Kohl
I am in too

Robert Podkoński
I will watch with pleasure and interest too.

Alex K
A 3D-printed PZL Dromader???!!! Following for sure!! (The Grand Models cast-resin kit is perhaps above my skills - and I still wait for the Karaya injection one...). Your ag-aircraft & ground equipment dio will turn... monumental! 👍

Marcel Klemmer
Very interesting project👍 I am in

Villiers de Vos
Very nice progress on an unusual subject.

Chris T. An
Thank you all for watching. Alex, I also saw the Grand Models kit for the M18, but I was frightened from some build reviews, there is a lot of rework to do on that kits. I have now the same or a bit more work, but I got the 3D file for free from Thingiverse.

I am really not a Pro in sratch building but I will try to engrave some panel lines and add some more greeblies to the plane. The 3D file is very poor in details.

Alex K
Nice progress! 👍

Robert Podkoński
Fantastic Dromader! (I wish I had one... I have no access to 3d printing, alas...😭 )

Chris T. An
Robert, you can have a look to the Grand Models resin kits. I am much more disappointed that there is no kit in 1:72 and no 3D file of a PZL 106 Kruk. I would spend some money on that because it would fit perfect to the Dromader and Cmelák.

Robert Podkoński
Actually, that is something that makes me angry too - I would love to see (and buy) decent kits of "Wilga" and "Kruk" (not mentioning PZL M-15 "Belphegor" 😉 )... but apparently no Polish manufacturers are interested in preparing these.

Alex K
Guys... let's look a bit at the bright side: who would have thought a few years ago that one day (today!) there would be kits of the Cmelak, the Dromader, the Grumman AgCat (in both 1:72 & 1:48!!!), the Piper Pawnee?! Some are short-run, some are cast-resin, some are 3D-files-to print - nevertheless, something is slowly moving towards that direction! So, yes, I do hope too there will be someday a Kruk available in 1:72 or a Belphegor! And your buys of such kits and your modelling work proves that there's some interest in such topics! Keep it up! 👍

Robert Podkoński
You're right, Alex 🙂 "Always look on the bright side of life..." 😉

Robert Podkoński
I am afraid there is a spelling error on the decals, Chris... I see "Dromedar" instead of "Dromader"... The plane looks awesome!

Chris T. An
Robert, I can understand that it is confusing, but in the GDR, "Dromedar" was actually used. This is the German translation of the word. Feel free to search for pictures of it, here would be an example: [img1]

Robert Podkoński
I have not known about that, sorry Chris... That's really interesting.

Alex K
Nice trivia... and as Robert said: it looks awesome!

Bernhard Schrock
Dromader: An outstanding result from such a simple kit!

Neuling
Everything top notch here! But what about the excavator? May a combined diorama?

Chris T. An
The excavator is still coming. I haven't dared to go any further yet. Let's see, maybe I'll get motivated again in the fall/winter. 😉

Neuling
👍

Michael Kohl
Very well done Dromedar. Anxious about the excavator.

Jose Motta
Very nice progress. Where did the pilots and the fuel tanks come from?

Fabien
Thx, the pilots are from Reedoak and the fuel tanks from Renaissance models

Desert Marlin
Really nice!

DuperScale
Nice, gonna follow

Laurent VILLANUEVA- "HELLER ForEver"
super !

Łukasz Gliński
Following

Dave Flitton
Watching!!

Sergej I
Me too 🙂

Guy Rump
Me as well. 🙂

Ekki
And me.

servalpe
Thanks guys for following, comments and likes 😉

Cristian A
I'm here as well 👍

Nicolas
Me too.

Harry Eder
Nice job so far! 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Highly impressive interior (that telly!), the shading looks grand too 👍