chadwijm6

So I've decided which plane to make. I really wanted to do a full chrome version and I wasn't taken by the sharks teeth that are okay of the kit to be honest. At the same time I wanted to find an airframe with a history and keep it as accurate as I can. So I'll be making 'That's All Brother' from the 340th BG, I've found this photo on the net.

And I've also found decals for it

Here's a link to the history of the squadron for those who are interested. The plane was deployed to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations during world war 2.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/340th_Flying_Training_Group

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

This  is  XV-666   in here  prev  role  shot by  myself   some  years ago.

 

OC.

How cool!! 😄 

6 hours ago, Egilman said:

Uh, Pilot, Co-pilot and Bombardier are clearly in box cover pic..... 

 

I'm in for this one as well..

24 minutes ago, Dave_E said:

I’m in. 🍿🥤

Thanks for following along. 

Now I look more closely at the cover art, the picture of the pilots reminds me of the autopilot in Airplane 😂

56 minutes ago, mtaylor said:

I'm in as I've not seen any of their models if I remember right.    Interesting on the box art... the bird is flying, firing all guns and no visible crew.   

I'm assuming it's the autonomous version. Much safer for the crew, who were in the pub and probably should have been more widely utilised! 😂

Nice to have you on board Mark.

2 hours ago, Danstream said:

I will follow your build of this nice lady. Never seen this kit before.

Good luck,

Dan

2 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

This looks  so good  -  a  very  interesting kit.

 

OC.

You're very welcome gents. Thanks for following along 👍🏻

Well for my next project I'm trying a new brand, HK Models, as a change from the Airfix I started with. This will be my 4th build. I love bombers, my first model was the Lancaster, this will dwarf it though a that was a 1/72.

I bought this on eBay, saving £100 off a new one and as you can see in the pictures, everything is still in their bags.

I've not done any research yet so I think a read through the instructions and a Google will be the next steps....

Excellent detail OC, looking good 👍🏻

The whirlybird is fully assembled now but I'm not finished yet...

I've started to build a simple diorama to sit him on, which needs some grass variation and some mud adding over the next few days. Maybe a few bushes.

Another lovely kit from Airfix and I'm pretty pleased with result. 

Multiple errors means this bird will not fly. Microaces very generously looked through the build and have pointed out where I went wrong, mostly the twisted airframe. They have also let me have a discount on a replacement. So a second go will be coming soon. 

It's been a while but back to the whirlybird.... Decals today, rotors tomorrow 

The large grey decals that should have been fitted, by the exhausts, I could not get to go on right at all and the 2 black decals on the side are also not very good but at least they're on. I'll see how it looks but I might paint them instead. 

Other than that the rest were no problem. 

I think I'm finished with this one. He can join his friends on the shelf

32 minutes ago, Baker said:

Seen too late, sorry.
But this ring goes on top of the periscopes, and not in front of them.
Your Commander doesn't see anything this way.

 

Lots of mistakes on this one .... I realised too late and it was already glued so I decided to leave it. I will call this my experimental phase!!

Thanks for the heads up 👍

Happy birthday Craig. 🎂

1 hour ago, NavyShooter said:

That looks bloody amazing!!!!

Seconded!

I could do with some lessons from you OC!!

More progress on the diorama and weathering the Tiger, which is assembled now. Muddying up next...

Great photos OC

In the end I've painted the tracks in gun metal grey, Vallejo Air, and now I've added AK liquid pigment rust to them.

I've gone quite heavy but that was the intention at the beginning. 

I've also been working on the diorama. A photo frame base with some thick foam and then Sculptamold to give some texture.

Primed in black. 

I've then sprayed in a road in a mid grey, then a coat of crackle, then a coat of concrete. I've used dark earth for the areas that will have grass and then some other earth tones and beige for the rocky bit. 

There will be grass to come and rubble I think. 

I've also ordered a motorbike and rider from Tamiya, I might add this to create a scene that the troops are resting on their way through Belgium. Let's see. 

The German tank crew have arrived. There's even a couple of birds included. 

They look quite detailed to me, certainly good enough for my first attempt. 

3 hours ago, Darius359au said:

Was going to apologize for the slight history hijack of your build thread😎😄

Ironically I'm doing a Battle of Berlin theme for my 1/16 armour models ,the T34/85 1944 I shared pictures of is  55th guards brigade Berlin 1945 ,I'm in the middle of building a Panzer IV J late based around some photo's i've found  ,after that the plans for a tiger 1 ,tiger 2 and a Panther G late with IR - all in 1/16 ,next thing is to find somewhere to display them ,i'm already out of room with 2🤣

Richard

Great project Richard. Do you have a log to follow? I've been having a look online at 1/16 tanks would be really interested to follow along....

Maybe a house extension is the first part of the build 😉

20 minutes ago, Baker said:

Yes.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33rd_Waffen_Grenadier_Division_of_the_SS_Charlemagne

 

Ps
We're covering this entire buildlog with Tiger 2 history ... 😳

Seems appropriate content to me. No problem at all. 👍🏻

Tracks are coming together....

9 minutes ago, Darius359au said:

There are a few photo's of  koniegstiger's in berlin but they are Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503  ,so im thinking they've been confused with Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 there's no real clear images of the camouflage they had https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/tiger2/kingtiger-somewhere-in-berlin-april-1945/

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/tiger2/tiger-2-tank-6/

Here is the actual tank, number 233 in Budapest.

2 hours ago, Baker said:

Breakfast with Tigers... 

Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 received their first Tigers 2 mid-44. With textbook camouflage scheme and standard numbering.
At the end of September 44 they received 45 new Tigers 2 and were transferred to Hungary.
In the early 1945's the name was changed to sPzAbt.Feldhernhalle.
This unit was totally destroyed in Budapest. So Berlin 45... very unlikely

 

The 9 or 18 tooth sprocket.

You have the 18 tooth sprocket, this is the first (early) model of the sprocket.
Definitely build a mid 44 model (your camo is already good) Everything built later had 9 teeth and the simplified tracks.

 

 

 

So maybe for my diorama I should be thinking Budapest 🤔

If I may ask a question gents, I'm just doing the tracks and I'm wondering what colour to paint them before weathering. I was thinking gun metal grey. Or would a non metallic grey be more appropriate?

24 minutes ago, Baker said:

Breakfast with Tigers... 

Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 received their first Tigers 2 mid-44. With textbook camouflage scheme and standard numbering.
At the end of September 44 they received 45 new Tigers 2 and were transferred to Hungary.
In the early 1945's the name was changed to sPzAbt.Feldhernhalle.
This unit was totally destroyed in Budapest. So Berlin 45... very unlikely

 

The 9 or 18 tooth sprocket.

You have the 18 tooth sprocket, this is the first (early) model of the sprocket.
Definitely build a mid 44 model (your camo is already good) Everything built later had 9 teeth and the simplified tracks.

 

 

 

Thank you for the research Patrick. Very helpful. 

If it's breakfast with Tigers then I guess I should get some Frosties (For the non-Brits Tony the Tiger, the cartoon character associated with the cereal, thinks they're Grrrreat!)

5 hours ago, Darius359au said:

The paint schemes looking good ,there's no right or wrong way with the German ww2 vehicle camouflage! , there was a large variation in schemes in the field and the only consistent pattern was as it came from the factory ,and even that changed at the end ,the Panther I posted earlier is ,like i said, very late war under the worn whitewash ,it's base is red oxide primer ,instead of dunkelgelb, that's had patches of reed green and bands of light dunkelgelb which was a paint saving measure at the end.

I've just noticed a slight problem with the turret and I know it's too late to change it now so it's more a heads up than any thing ,the spare track hanger hooks and the tab's for the track pins to lock the track in place should be vertical instead of horizontal https://tankmuseum.org/tank_collection/tiger-ii

For a 1st build it's looking good👍

Thanks Darius.

Of course they should be 🙄. Now I re-look at the instructions it's obvious but I can still see how I got it wrong, but honestly I should have realised that. Thanks for the heads up. At least I've got 5 more in the bundle I bought!! 😀 Thanks for the heads up though I could easily have seen that being a mistake I would have repeated!

2 hours ago, Egilman said:

Like Darius says there is no "right" Especially in very late war German camo... Looks fine to me... If anyone ask, answer with this question... "were you there" {chuckle} Usually shuts them up.... (but there are die-hards)

 

Looking good my friend, especially for a first build... I don't think I could do better...

Very kind, thank you. 

For me, what I've found is that finally, in my mid 50's l, I've found something 'arty' and creative that I'm not too bad at. At least I like what I'm producing. I can't draw or paint to save my life and have always found things like that frustrating. Modelling relaxes me. And on top of that I'm learning so much, not just modelling techniques but the history behind the models. Important history too.

In the world today so much is instant and short lived that it's therapeutic to do something that takes time, develops skills sets and is ultimately rewarding. The other thing that I didn't expect is the community. Particularly on this site. I take as much enjoyment from looking at other people's builds, not to mention inspiration, as I do building my own. Feedback is helpful, constructive and kind and you get a sense that everyone has your back and wants you to do well. It's a nice place to be.

Philosophical ramblings over.

Thank you all for your comments and likes.