Gallery 1:
This is the Tamiya M1A2 kit built as the M1A1 version and put together out of the box. The build was a little fussy, but the fit was good and most of the moldings were very clean. I spent a majority of my time on this kit modifying the supplied stowage to fit around the bustle rack. Again, I used light washes with dark drybrushing for the finish. I have one more of these kits in my stash and I can't wait to build it.
This is the Tamiya M2A2 ODS kit. This has not proven to be one of Tamiya's better offerings. It looks as though Tamiya has updated this kit two or three times with new spurs. This means that the molding ranges from bad to superb. I used the kit as a test bed for some new weathering techniques. Light washes were applied with dark drybrushing to simulate the dusty conditions of the desert in Iraq. I rather like the results.
This Italeri Pz IV was built for the FSM groub build. I have made quite a few modifications to correct inaccuracies, but keep finding more problems the harder I look at the kit. Considering that a Dragon Pz IV is much more accurate and about the same price, the Italeri kit does not stack up, but I enjoyed the build just the same...
This is the Dragon Pz IV F2 built for the Pz IV group build on the FSM forum. I found the build to be a little tricky, but this is expected with a Dragon kit. Excluding a few minor issues, the detail was superb!! (also expected for a Dragon kit) I tried a new technique to save me time on painting the road wheels. I painted the wheels all a solid color, assuming theoretically that they would be totally covered in dust. I am not sure that I like the look.
This is the Tamiya M26 Pershing kit. It was built out of the box and proved to be one of the most enjoyable kits I have ever put together. I thinned down the guards for the head lights and added a little extra texture to the turret with a Dremel tool. Because of the extra texture, I decided that the kit decals would not set well, so I used vinyl masks for painting the stars. Since I didn't have masks for any other markings, I left it at that. I really am proud of the finish on this model.
This is Tamiya's Wespe built right out of the box. While it was a simple kit to put together, painting the open topped vehicle was a little tricky. I enjoyed the build, but don't think I will attempt another one. I tried to keep the painting process as simple as possible and did not weather it at all. I will probably give the model a figure at a later date to add some interest.
This StuG III is from Tamiya and was built straight out of the box. I used some of the painting techniques learned on my Italeri Tiger and I am really pleased with the results. The markings are for the battle of Kursk.
This Tiger I is from Italeri. I was a little disappointed with the detail of the kit and the sloppiness of some of the molding, but after all it is a very old kit. I didn't want to spend a lot of time fixing the flaws of the kit, so I used it as a test bed for some new painting techniques. One new technique that turned out very well was using a number 3B pencil to make scratches in the paint. Something that I think did not work too well was using a toothbrush to splatter on some dust color to simulate dried mud. The splatter went everywhere and it just looks like I mixed my paint too thick for the airbrush. Overall, I am pleased with how the paintjob turned out.
This is my AFV Club M10 that was built for the Sherman Family group build on the Fine Scale Modeler Forum. The kit was suggested by other modelers on the forum and I was very pleased with it. I added Modelkasten M4.T48 tracks, scratch built clear headlight lenses, storage accessories from Academy and Tamiya, and tarp rolls made from tissue. I am quite please with how the weathering turned out. I don't know if an M10 would have acquired that much rust, but I liked the look of it so much that I decided to skip the application of mud. Somehow, even though it is February 1945, (towards the end of winter) this particular tank destroyer has managed to stay out of the mud. Perhaps the ground has just been too frozen to be muddy.
This is the Tamiya Late Panther G with Eduard barrel and Royal Models detail set. It was built for the Panther Group Build on the Fine Scale Modeler Forum. The Tamiya kit went together great. The Eduard barrel had a minor fit problem but has great detail. I was a little disappointed with the Royal Models kit, but overall I was pleased with the final build of the model.
This is the Italeri LVT. The kit had some fit problems, but the detail was rather good. The only problem I had with the build was the tow cable that should be mounted on the back. For the life of me, I could not figure how it was supposed to line up, so it got left off. Overall, I am rather pleased with this kit.
This is the Tamiya T 34/85. The kit was cheap, but needed a lot of work. I liked how the final model turned out. However, I am a little upset about the decals, which glare in the right light. I will never use decals again!!
