Saturday 27 October 2012

Trumpeter Challenger II NATO w/dozer blade 1/72.

Hello all,

Back with some more modern heavy armour from Trumpeter! And being British its a bit of a favourite. I really like the the fact that this kit has a dozer blade for clearing obstacles and road blocks. I would guess this was aimed at the Kosovo conflict an era not commonly covered by this hobby.
This kit was knocked up a while back and posted on Benno's forum, because I am trying to catch up with a few duels that I have on at the moment. Now the "plague" has left the west house hold I can try and make up some time.

This painted using a can of Humbrol 86 light olive and watered down Vallejo flat black. The light olive is a great colour for modern British armour and trucks.

This is another great Trumpeter kit, it went together like a dream.

For spraying I would recommend doing in it in three section before final assembly, turret, chassis and upper body.

The blade is movable and could be modelled buried in the earth removing a road block.

This is certainly a monster of a tank as most modern tanks are, but with the blade its huge!

One of the benefits of Trumpeter kits is the fact they have moulded the gun barrel with a hole in it and in one piece.

The usual weathering techniques have been employed, Tamiya weathering powder and MiG pigments.

The only  down side is the lack of opening hatches!!!! I wish they would give you the option of having them open or closed. I have a small but very nice CMSC AFV crew that would look the nuts in the beast.
A brilliant kit that will go well with my other Chally 2 and with an luck I will finish some more soon!
I just wish they would do a scimitar/scorpion as well, the ACE kit looks a right pain in the arse and the Airfix kit to small.

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LARGER VIEW AND ANY COMMENTS MORE THAN WELCOME!

Cheers for looking,   Rich.

Monday 22 October 2012

Italeri Pakistani F-104 A Star fighter 1971 1/72.

Hello all,

Here is one I finished last week before I started to die. This is part of my attempt to improve my aircraft skills and they need a hell of a lot of work!
This kit had sitting in my new local hobby shop and the price was a steal so it would have be mad not to get it to practise on.
The kit like most Italeri kits go together very well indeed the two main half's fit well and very little filling needed.
I tried my had at masking off the canopy with masking tape, which is a art in itself, it can make the model or wreck it in my opinion.

The filling is another trick I am trying to master. I think the sanding is letting me down but practise, practise, practise!

Again I used Humbrol spray cans and a hell of a lot of masking tape!


I decided to go for the more unusual Pakistani air force decals to be different, but on hindsight I think the Taiwanese choice with its blue insignis would have stood out better!

Again its a shame Italeri do not provide crew for their planes but you cant have every thing. Not to sure about the new Revells ones either.

The canopy has a little gloss varnish on it inside from a gap in the side but not that bad.
Glad I built it, gave me some valuable lesson's and spur to build another!

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LARGER VIEW AND ANY COMMENTS MORE THAN WELCOME!

Cheers for looking,  Rich.

Saturday 20 October 2012

Italeri Belgium Leopard 1A2 1/72

Hello all,

Here is another model that I built during the Euros and painted the other month. In honour on the great Peter (of Peter's cave),  I thought I would go for the Belgium decal option for this build. This will not be the longest post in the world due to the fact I am dying of what the wife would call "MAN FLU".
This was not the quickest build I have ever done.


I have never been a fan of track and link kits due to being lazy, but to be fair this was not that much of an issue.

The pioneer tools are moulded on the hull again not a fan of this.

I have been told that the colour of this tank is far to light so please forgive me.

A good dose of weathering powder has lightened it up but not that much.

The cobble street was quickly painted and dry brushed. 
I have always want a leopard for my collection and quite chuffed with this one , I have no idea if it is correct but it look alright to me.

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW AND ANY COMMENTS MORE THAN WELCOME!

Cheers for looking,  Rich.

Sunday 14 October 2012

TQD Castings WWII Russian paratrooper 1/72.

Hello all,

See I am not lying two posts in as as many days! This bloke came from a set of TQD casting figures and as normal these figures are top notch.I am not to sure about the uniform or not so i winged it a bit.
A very simple Khaki jump smock did not take long.

The jump helmet was a simple Vallejo earth brown and goggles was painted with steel.

The webbing and pouches were Vallejo German camouflage beige.

A simple wash of burnt umber brought out the details.

A good brushing of Tamiya weathering powder toned  done everything.

The buckles were a pain in the arse!
A cracking set of figures, much better than the Zvezda offering so I would invest in this set.

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW AND ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME.

Cheers for looking,   Rich.

Saturday 13 October 2012

Trumpeter Challenger II Desert version 2003 1/72.

Hello all,

Well I am back, with the promise of more regular posts and comments on every ones great work. Due to the amount of real life work and other issues I have been neglecting my blog and other duties, but the paint brush  and knife have not been idle just not published.
I love Trumpeter kits, simple as that! The fit is amazing, the detail is top notch and the subjects unusual.
No problems with this build what so every apart from the idiot building which is not Trumpeters fault.

The extra side skirts and ID panels are the only main differences with the NATO version.

Some subtle burnt umber wash and Tamiyia weathering powder was the only extra work needed on this one.

Can't wait for the Desert version of the Warrior MCV to make an appearance.

The only down side to Trumpeter kits is the fact the hatches are closed and I am not skilled enough to open them up.
All in all this is a must have if you like modern armour, very detailed and a great build.

ANY COMMENT MORE THAN WELCOME!

Cheers for looking,   Rich.