Nyhetsflöde

gorby
Thanks for the photos, it looks like an amazing show.

David R. Författare
Definitely a very great event that, if possible, is worth a visit.
You will find more Pictures here:

od-factory.de/unterw..-model-show-hu-2025/

Christian W
Thanks for sharing! On the one hand I like, that you share your built of an unusual model kit. Thank you! And on the other hand, I see, that this van has four wheel drive 🙂 I heard about it, because this Astrovan was the donor of the chassis (4WD I think) for GMCs Typhoon / Syclone but never got my hand on a kit. And on your pic #3 it is pretty good to see. What a construction that is 😉

Jean-François Lacoste Författare
True, this kit is the 4WD version. I enjoyed driving it when I went to the US.

gorby
Very nice job!

★ Starfish ★
Beautiful helo!

Ben M
👁️👁️

S M Författare
Thanks for joining! 😄

S M Författare
I wonder when Podkon will notice this. His model from this same kit inspired me.

Robert Podkoński
Almost immediately, S M! 😉 I feel really honoured!

S M Författare
You'are welcome! 😄

S M Författare
Now the model(s) is completed and the leds work fine.

Rui S
Excellent work and presentation 👍

Robert Podkoński
Terrific job, S M! Chapeau bas!

Ben M
Fantastic!

S M Författare
Thank you mates! 😄

gorby
Excellent!

Ben M
👁️👁️

Recce 4-6
"Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work you can always hit them with it." - Boris the Blade

Ben M
I love uselessly large armored vehicles

Steven Van Dyck Författare
I've started building the idlers and sprockets. The idlers are installed with asymmetric legs. Now I'm attacking the bogies. Some figures are chosen to make a little dio near the tank, but I had to order a tortoise and then add it to Scalemates. I even had to make a new subject for it.

Recce 4-6
How complicate is the running gear ?

Yes !

Steven Van Dyck Författare
I assembled the running gear parts, if you take the time to let the components set straight before mounting, I think it will turn out easy. It seems like the wheels will be removable from the bogies to be painted. I hope the connections will not break when I put them back in. I lost one small part, keeping me from completing the last bogie. If I don't find it soon I will scratch it. The SKP figure is also assebled in a looking down position.

gorby
I'll tag along for this. 🙂

Rui S
Wow. That's a beutifully done paintjob & Diorama 👍

V G
Excellent dio! The horse especially looks so realistic, and it's in 1/72! Bravo

gorby
Fantastic diorama!

Rui S
Very well done 👍

gorby
Very nice weathering!

Cristian A Författare
As I promised better pictures with the AH-1W SuperCobra, here there are 🙂

Rui S
Nicelly done 👍

Cristian A Författare
Thanks Rui, much appreciated!

gorby
Very nice!

gorby
Lovely job!

Rui S
Very interesting diferent and amazing build 👍

gorby
Very nice work!

Christian W
I like your Pacecars. Nicely built. I wish, I'd hade those too. I'm wondering, why you didn't paint the rear lights.

Guy Rump
Interesting project, following. 👍

Finn
I'm in too

Simon SW Författare
Thanks for your interest Guy and Finn

Simon SW Författare
Finally finding some time to get back on to this...

Simon SW Författare
Life really can get in the way of model-making can't it?

Some months later and look - some progress! The M10 is starting to look like it might turn out fairly okay. The tractor is at a, well, "transitional" stage. I got hold of the Hasegawa original of the kit and it makes an interesting comparison with the Science Treasury version. I will post some comparison pics. Long story short - don't waste your time with the ST versions if you can get the Hasegawa originals! I'm thinking I will be scrapping some of my work so far on the tractor (pics to follow) and starting over...

Finn
Looking good

gorby
Excellent work so far and I love the period photos.

gorby
Nice, but a shame about the decal silvering. Are you applying the decals to a matt surface?

gorby
Very nice.

gorby
Nice job.

Łukasz Gliński
Nice 👍

Spanjaard
very nice

Dmitry Petrenko Författare
Thank you very much!

Neuling
Nice work!

gorby
Nice work!

Neuling
A masterpiece.

Jakub Fiala
Nice work 👍 These HGW rivets look cool

Rui S
Great work 👍

John Mulhall
Wonderful work Ryan. The amount of detail you added is amazing, especially considering this 1/48 scale not 1/32. Great weathering also, you took it to the limit without crossing the line.

Guy Rump
Excellent modelling, congrats! 👍

Ryan Författare
Thank you everyone for all the kind words!

Jakub - I agree, It was my first time using them and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It takes a bit to wrap your head around (applying decals directly onto primer) and I was a bit worried they would disappear under multiple paints of coat but they still showed up well in the final result after some light sanding.

John - Thank you for your comments about the weathering, I agree that it is pretty close to the line in that regard as I really wanted to depict a bird that's clearly seen a ton of action.

J35J
Excellent work!👍🏻

Gary Curling
👏👏👏

Martin Oostrom
This sheet has been in the database since 2018, and we're still here. No anarchy seen

Leif Hellström Författare
That is so clever.

Martin Oostrom
Okay. Let's start over.
I think you are trying to fix something that isn't broken. You might not have a need for, or see a use for, these decals. But others might be searching for something like this.

Mikhail Petrenko
Неплохо. Колёса, только, всё портят. Не хочешь поменять? Могу поделиться матмоделью.

Bozzer
That's amazing, mate!

Curtis Caden Författare
Thanks Bozzer. It is for a club monthly contest coming up on Villains. Elsewhere you will find my Joker Goon car. Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, PhD) a former psychologist who fell in love with the Joker during her internship at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum. She has transformed into the Joker's villainous accomplice Harley Quinn. Her relationship with the Joker is known for its abusive and codependent nature. Harley Quinn possesses multiple superhuman abilities, having won a gymnastics scholarship at Gotham City's Gotham State University. Harley Quinn is skilled in using various weapons, often employing weaponized clown-themed gag items, including pop guns, rubber chickens, and a gun that shoots a boxing glove, as well as oversized pistols and mallets, the latter being her signature weapon.

Rui S
Beautiful work 👍

Curtis Caden Författare
Thank you Rui S. Perhaps not as interesting as the Polar Lights Coca-Cola or Herbie but it is for a contest of Villain vehicles.

Villiers de Vos
I love the bug.

Martin Oostrom
Great paint job

Curtis Caden Författare
Thank you Villiers de Vos and Martin Oostrom.

Christian W
Cool! Good to see that Bug built! I have two in my shelf but never found the time for one. I like the picture with the Coca-Cola Beetle too 🙂 This on I'm hunting for (an axeptable price) to add to my Polar Lights Beetles.
Your peintjob is amazing. How many coats of clear coat did you paint? And I see, you have the regualr bumpers on it. Good choice. Those nerf bars wouldn't be my chois either. And that you have no chrome on the wheels is another good decision. A much better looking.

Martin Oostrom
I have to disagree with you. Letter font sheets can be used in dioramas and such. Think shops signs and such

Leif Hellström Författare
Sure, they CAN be used there, but then again so can a million other things that were not intended for modelling. Letraset has made over a thousand sheets of letters in different fonts and those could all conceivably be used on models. Should they be included just because of that?

gorby
The lettering decals could be useful for sci-fi modellers. Even though I'm not into that genre I think they have just as much right to have useful items listed on Scalemates.

Spanjaard
i agree with Martin and gorby

Spanjaard
you can always use the filter to get rid of those you do not want

Spanjaard
but if you have 20 brands and only want to exclude one, it is annoying to need to click on the 19 you want, to exclude one, so I have created a request for a feature request to "select all" SCM Newsfeed

Eddie Mann
Aircraft, vehicles and ships actually account for the majority, 1000+

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work.

Curtis Caden Författare
Thank you Villiers de Vos.

Christian W
That is quite strange to see not in red 🙂 Interessting. What was the issue with the head lights? I think they have to be glued in fron the inside, do they? This is basically a very good kit. I built it once but still have some in my shelf. When I remember right, it was kind a tricky to get the bumpers on the body. On this kit it wasn't possible to paint the body as one piece. I had issues at the front bumper. But anyway: that Camaro looks good.

Christian W
Great work under the hood! I'm very happy to see one of these built. I see, that it fits better than the AMT/ERTL brother (especially the wheels/track width) Am I surprised? No. Not really. I already noticed the difference between Revell/Monogram and AMT/ERTL with the Camaro (4th generation), and the two vehicles are – as we all know – almost identical.

Nicely built. A great paint job, as always. Since you used red, it fits perfectly into my shelf 😉

Neuling
Sehr schönes Modell und gute Fotos!

Thomas S. Författare
Many thanks guys.
@Christian: yes this is certainly better than the AMT kits, but by no means perfect 🙂

Nicolas
following

Eddie Mann
Merged.

gorby
Excellent work!

Rui S
Indeed. Beautiful 👍

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

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

Danny Ray Författare
@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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
@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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
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 Författare
@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 Författare
You're very welcome amigo

Danny Ray Författare
I'm embarrassed to post any more pics of the build. It looks like an explosion in a Humbrol liquid poly and Tamiya extra thin plant as an Airfix lorry carrying T34-85 112 Factory production 1:35 kits was passing….😳

Don't think I'm ever gonna get a call from Industrial Light and Magic with a job offer. 😂

Clair Greenwood
Naw buddy, Im sure it's nothing some putty wont take care of, nothing else use tarps and mud to cover bad spots. Perhaps it's a battle damaged 34 getting hauled back for repairs... 🙂

Jakko ‌
Everybody started somewhere, and nobody built award-winning models when they were just starting out.

Also, you'll be amazed what a coat of paint while hide, never mind the suggestions above 🙂

Danny Ray Författare
I think it's because I'm thinking I can put every part in place then use extra thin. I used to apply glue BEFORE placing the part as a kid. Do you glue before for some parts and only glue while in place if you can do that from the unseen side as it were? Like inside a tank for example and the part being on the outside. Also Like the seams of the hull for example?

I am still enjoying building but I seem to be very slow. I just cut a few parts from the tree, sand them down then add a few then stop. I rarely sit for hours at a time. Just half hour here and there while tv is on. 🙂

These 65 kits (yes 65 now but definitely stopped buying. For now 😂 ) are gonna take a loooooong time! 😳😂😂😂

Danny Ray Författare
One more quick question. After handling the model for weeks, it's obviously covered in grease from your hands, do you wash the model before spraying? Like wipe with a little soapy water? It's gotta help the painting, no?

Jakko ‌
I glue some parts by putting glue on first, others by putting the part in place and then flowing glue into the seam. It largely depends on whether I think it will stay put ot not without glue 🙂

As for washing it: if the first coat is going to be paint that is alcohol-based, a lacquer, an enamel, or anything else with a solvent in it stronger than water, there's almost certainly no need to wash off grease etc. Which is to say: I can't remember ever doing it, and the only paints that have given me trouble on bare plastic have been water-based acrylics, especially airbrush-ready ones.

Clair Greenwood
Like Jakko, it just depends for me on the particular part and how it positions before I even decide which glue to use.

For the wash I absolutely give a nice warm bath with Dawn dish soap to my parts before painting, Im a sweat hog so my hands get all kinds of sweat on the parts, probably a bit of tobacco breath too so they get a nice wash n dry, then paint away with usually acrylics.

Danny Ray Författare
To be honest Jakko, I only have acrylic paints, even the primers I have are acrylic so I'll probably do the same as Clair and give this one a bath. I didn't with my first 1:35 build a Tamiya Panther (I should add some pics but it's awaiting its 2nd coat of gelbraun and the olivgrun and rotbrun too) and it looked like it might've struggled to stick in a couple of small areas due to what was probably greasy fingers. I did buy some latex finger glove things. But they'll take about an hour to put on! Each finger. 😳😂

Jakko ‌
It can't hurt to wash the model, certainly. Well, as long as you're careful not to break any bits off, anyway 😉

Danny Ray Författare
Well, there is that of course Jakko. Knowing me, it'll probably end up just adding more glue to the surface somehow. I'll use the wrong toothbrush. One loaded with poly instead of fairy liquid. 😳😂

Jakko ‌
If you apply glue with a toothbrush then I think we've just located the problem 😉

Danny Ray Författare
Hahaha. Actually, I use a toilet cleaner brush. I find toothbrushes don't allow quite enough poly to get on 🙂.
Can I ask you an unrelated question? I know I have literally asked your advice on hundreds of occasions (no exaggeration. You have the patience of a modelling saint). I know I said I was gonna stop buying kits but there are 3 vehicles I love (one was one I discovered reading the book you wrote Tanks at Westkapelle) the LVT-A4 (is that the one with the cannon on top and MG at the back? That one. And 2 aircraft. The A10 Warthog and the P38 Lightning.
I know you did tell me before but it'd take ages trawling thru your previous replies. Do you know a decent kit of any of them but in particular the LVT? I really want one. Watched 2 documentaries last night. One called Hell in the Pacific and it had LVTs as they landed on Guadalcanal.
The other documentary I watched was set in your local area (or relatively close by). Isleer or Ismeer lake? It was about an Avro Lancaster that had been damaged by flak in Germany and as it flew over the Netherlands to the coast it was picked up by a luftwaffe night fighter and it came down with the loss of all 7 crew. But the Dutch authorities in 2023 built a dam around the crash site, drained it and recovered the bodies so the families of the 3 missing could finally have closure. I think it's great your country shows its thanks and respect all this time later!

Jakko ‌
In 1:35 you only really have two options: AFV Club has an early and a late LVT (4), while Italeri has a range of them (those were also sold in Revell boxes, BTW). The AFV Club kits are much better detailed but harder to build, the Italeri ones are simpler to build but have a number of mistakes. Also, you can probably get two Italeri LVTs for the price of one AFV Club one.

For LVTs in the Pacific, any of the above will do. For British ones in Europe, though, you want an LVT (2), LVT(A) (2) or LVT (4) kit, and if you go for the AFV Club one, the early type, not the late. None of these include the 20 mm Polsten gun, though. LVT-2 Amtrac (Italeri 6462, 1:35) LVT-(A)2 "Saipan" (Italeri 6470, 1:35) LVT-4 Water Buffalo (Italeri 379, 1:35) Water Buffalo LVT-4 (AFV Club AF35205, 1:35)

As for the lake: you mean the IJsselmeer 🙂 That's quite a way from where I live, but I had heard of it, yes.

Danny Ray Författare
Yes that's the lake 🙂.
Wow, as ever Jakko your knowledge blows me away. To be honest the first time I've ever really noticed the LVT (prob cos of my new interest in tracked vehicles since starting modelling) was in your book Tanks at Westkappelle. I think I'll go for an AFV club version but the one with the cannon wasn't at westkappelle, is that what you're saying? Please forgive me, not been up long and I've overdone things a bit this weekend. Not booze. Just walking and stuff. I could sleep another week!

Do AFV do one with a polsten cannon? Was that the A4? The 'A' stood for armoured, is that correct?

Basically I want the one that helped liberate my old mate Jakko! 🙂 but the one with the MG facing front and one facing back would suffice.
I was telling my brother that the allies bombed the dykes on your island the hinder the Germans defence but killed 159 islanders thru drowning in the process! Necessary I suppose but civilians bore a lot of the brunt of things. As usual.

Have you ever built an LVT by the way? Sure I asked before.

Ps that Buffalo with the shark teeth looks great. That might be the one I think. Was that version at westkappelle/vlissingen, etc?

Danny Ray Författare
Did you see it on the news in Netherlands Jakko? At the time? Last year? Or year before? The Dutch authorities do spend large sums making sure allied aircrew get recovered wherever possible. Which is fantastic and a great way of trying to repay the allies sacrifice. Good on you all. I've always liked the Dutch (I know Dutch isn't the correct term for all netherlanders but that's how we were taught . That everyone from the Netherlands are Dutch and all from Holland. And you rightly corrected me. Unfortunately my brain isn't as plastic as it once was and new info tends to need constant reinforcement before it sticks. My brain is under assault at the moment too, trying to learn how to build models 😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😂

Jakko ‌
See your private messages for a reply, as it's getting very OT here 🙂

Clair Greenwood
What about the rest of us Jakko?? lol

Jakko ‌
The rest of you who want information about LVT's on Walcheren? That's not that difficult: do what Danny did and buy Book: Tanks at Westkapelle (by Jakko Westerbeke) 😉 (All proceeds go to the museum that published it, BTW, so you'd be supporting a good cause!)

Clair Greenwood
I'll be ordering my copy on payday 🙂

Robert H.
how things going with your T-34?

Danny Ray Författare
I'm priming her over the weekend. Just a few bits to add after priming. I add the wheels and tracks at the end after painting too so a fair bit to do. I'll show the end result Robert H. To give you a laugh 🙂

Danny Ray Författare
Well, after it's painted and decals on. Actually I noticed that I'll have to add the small (handles?) on rear of turret after the decal because of their position. They I'll have to paint one white cos it's exactly in line of the decal but it's too big to drape the decal over. You'll know what I mean from the scale drawing pics from the instructions. I'll post in the album. I'm not explaining it very well.

Danny Ray Författare
@Robert H, I'm so sorry. How rude of me to not ask you about yours? Have you finished? Have you got an album of your one? That I can follow?

Danny Ray Författare
I'm so glad that you people here don't openly mock my attempts. Obviously I'm very, very slap dash at the moment and untrained but I do feel like I'm learning along the way. Like most skills in life, you get some people who have a more natural talent for a particular skill but for most people it's a case of putting in that 10k hours of practice before becoming expert. (I'm too scared to try and work out if I have another 10k hours left! Surely I have? (Don't call me Shirley). Badoom Tsssk. 😳😂😂

Oh @Robert H, I found your T34 album. Inspiring. Absolutely fantastic work. As were the rest of your albums and builds. There really are a lot of talented people on this site. Definitely the right place for people like me to get great advice. Thank you all once again for all your help. And poor old Jakko whose ear I chew off almost every day this year! In fact, if I spent as long actually building rather than asking about it or searching for kits I'd probably already have completed ten thousand practice hours ! 😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😂👊🏻

Jakko ‌
The only thing that counts is whether you're enjoying it, really. The skills will come naturally when you do.

Well, unless you intend to enter your models into competitions, THEN what matters is building them to please the judges. That way, unhappiness lies 🙂

Danny Ray Författare
I think I'll go to one of those competions or trade shows or wherever they hold them Jakko. To see the models in the flesh as it were. I guess they're held everywhere?

Dave
Little late for the show. But looking through your photos I noticed the surface casting effect on the turret. Just wondering if the kit came like that or did you add that effect.

Danny Ray Författare
Hi Dave. Not me I'm afraid. That's a bit beyond me at the moment but I do know some people add some poly to a flat surface then wipe off after a few seconds to roughen the surface. I'd watch videos on it rather than listen to my rudimentary advice though 🙂.
Yeah both supplied turrets (one option is for the later version used in the Korean War) have the casting irregularities already there as part of Airfix's mold. I think it looks quite good. I like when manufacturers have welded seams as part of their molds too. Makes it a lot more realistic. That is until I come along and melt it all with excessive poly cement application! Oooppps 😳😂😂

Jakko ‌
See here for an idea of upcoming model shows: scalemates.com/events/index.php?filter=all

Danny Ray Författare
Thanks jakko

Doubtingmango
Taking a seat! Nice progress

Danny Ray Författare
I know you're all just being kind but, I'll take it. Not that much of it around these days. 🙂 thanks though Doubtingmango. 🙂

Danny Ray Författare
I learned a new technique yesterday. Kind of. Basically when freehand painting very detailed parts, use a very dilute version of the colour with thinners which enables the capillary action to happen a lot easier (a bit like how extra thin cement works) and then, once the thinned paint has set the boundary to the edges that you require you just 'fill it in' as it were with the paint at the correct consistency. Seems good so far. Think I'll stick to this method until my airbrushing skills improve. 🙂

Michael Kohl
I am in.

Matteo Pescarin
looks interesting already! nice challenge

Rui S
I'm in 😎

Yngve N
I'm here too. "It is expected to be a pure assembly with little modification" 🤔 whatever it means when you're building 😉

Martin Oostrom
Sure, oob. That would be ams for me.

Matteo Pescarin
oh that's really cool work you did with the aluminum rod, what did you use as a chisel?

MS K Författare
@Matteo - What you see in the photo is a lathe blade.
At first I used a lathe blade, but I don't know if it's because the aluminum is so soft, but it doesn't cut sharp 🙁
So, unlike in the photo, I carved with a diamond file, cut with an art knife, and polished with sandpaper.
I would like to recommend Oilstone.

Christian W
You are crazy 😉

Sy Bar
Enjoying so far, not sue3 I'm organised enough to do 3 at once I'd cross contaminate them 🤪

🍿 ready for more action

Christian W
That paintjob is amazing!