Newsfeed-

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Rui S
Welcome to scalemates🙂

Kate Ward
If I do them in batches of 8 I need 11 batches for each side. That helps me keep count.

Ben M
Ah, armor modeling. Endless tracks. Watching!

Kate Ward
Oh good, peer pressure, that'll keep me from slacking off. ^_^ I'm up to six 8-link sections of track so far, 16 to go. I had a panic moment where I was afraid I'd bought the wrong tracks, so the first thing I assembled from the Trumpeter kit proper was the sprocket wheels. And whew they do fit! Got a start on the lower hull too before bedtime.

Ben M
I've been curious about metal tracks. I find the plastic individual links hard to work with but maybe I just need more practice.

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat here 🙂

Kate Ward
I'm still figuring this website out, is the 2nd photo visible? I'm halfway there with the track, 11 of 22 sections, and in addition to the sprockets I've got the idlers and all the road wheels assembled. I was hoping to finish all of Step 1 as well, but I had some fit problems with the upper deck. Did it have to be in 3 pieces, Trumpeter? 😛

For one part of the rear, there's a choice of plastic or PE parts, and I had a go at trying the PE, using a tool handle that was about the right diameter as a mandrel. It didn't come out perfect, but I was looking at photos online of a real KV-85 on display in St Petersburg--the kit instructions were a little unclear about how it should look once assembled--and the real flange has a good big dent in it too. So I figure I'm good. ^_^

Following some old advice I remember from ~20 years ago when I first heard of Friul tracks, I'm using sewing pins rather than the softer wire that comes with the tracks. The fit is snug enough that I can press two links together and they will (4 times out of 5) stay put long enough to slide the pin in. Couple things I've learned the hard way: 1) gotta use a pin vise to drill them out, as hard as it is on my poor old wrists. Using a Dremel, it's too easy to do irreversible damage too fast; 2) don't cut off the pin heads and glue the pins down until I'm REALLY REALLY sure I've got them in the right order.

Two days, 11 sections totaling 88 tracks, and I've only stabbed myself with a pin 3 times. Go me.

Ben M
Yes, the second photo is visible. You can go into the album, click edit, then for "teaser" select "use last image" and then click "save and close" if you want the newest picture to always show.

I would never have guessed to use sewing pins for this, yeah I think drilling all those holes with a pin vise sounds like fun for my arthritis.

Kate Ward
Finished Step 1, not counting some gaps to fill and other cleanup. Oh god, those tiny tiny engine deck lift rings. Thank god the kit came with spares, I yeeted at least 6 of them into oblivion. 😛

Kate Ward
Today's progress was making those two engine vents from the ET Model PE set. I've had that etch-mate sitting in a bin for 20 years, still in the original packaging, never used. 😛 It was a little frustrating to get those teeny teeny pieces aligned, but it was also very satisfying. Part of what attracts me to modeling--especially tank modeling--is a fascination with machinery. How parts fit together, and how they move and interact with each other to make a working machine. It's why I had to choose a subject I could get those working metal Friul tracks for. And bending those PE parts, turning flat sheets into a 3-dimensional object, that just really makes me happy for some reason.

Thank GOD for my optivisor, though.

Hey, more experienced people, I would really appreciate some advice on how to fill that horrible gap between the middle and rear upper deck pieces.

Ben M
Perfect plastic putty is my lifestyle choice.

Jakko ‌
> If I do them in batches of 8 I need 11 batches for each side. That helps me keep count.

Quick tip for building tracks: write 1 on the tenth link right after you put it in, 2 on the 20th, 3 on the 30th, etc. That way you can build the whole track in one length but don't have to keep counting to see how far you've gotten.

Kate Ward
Ben M and Jakko, thanks for the suggestions! I ended up trying a technique I found on youtube that uses Mr. Surfacer 500, because that's what I had on hand. It seems to have worked pretty well, although the cleaning-up process afterward was a bit of work. I'll have to see if I can find that putty. Here's a link to the technique I tried: Youtube Video

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.

M4A1
The final shots are up. I've got more shots so if more shots are wanted just let me know and I'll post more.

coporado
Fantastic finish, congrats! Will you bring it to any upcoming model Show? Would to love to see that live.

M4A1
Thanks for the kind words. 🙂 Unfortunately I won't be attending any model shows.

Mathias Decommere
Fantastic work! Very impressive! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Neuling
I agree with Mathias! "Sie sind gekommen, sie sind schon da!"

J35J
Impressive work!

M4A1
Thanks guys! Very nice to read! 🙂

Shar Dipree
Impressive dio. 👍

Spanjaard
really impressive. let us know if you change your mind, would love to see this beauty in Houten or Veldhoven 🙂

Pietro De Angelis
The premises were already fantastic,
extraordinary result, congrats!

M4A1
Thank you guys! Will do Spanjaard!

Doubtingmango
Fantastic finish!

Moaske
Stunning, truly stunning 🤩

M4A1
Thank you too guys! 🙂

Marcin Snakowski
Impressive, fascinating and inspiring!