Andy Dallibar It seems that all I build is Centurions lately. I don't touch the 1/35 stuff though, the kit you are using is new to me, it seems very basic. I'll be watching closely to see how you get on with it. What country/era are you doing?
6 April, 11:15
John Hughes Hi Andy, yes, it is a fairly basic kit, but that's due to the fact that it was originally a motorised Academy kit. That being said, the molding is nice and I think it has posibilities. As for country/era, I'll certainly be doing a UK version. The paint/decal instructions in the kit are all in Korean, which is not helping a bit. However, as my father worked on the prototype for the Mk.III, it might just get a basic green coat & no markings.
John Hughes Be warned that the inside dimensions quoted are wrong! I've just bought one for a 162mm base (to fit a quoted 165mm) and it doesn't fit inside by 2-3mm!
Curtis Caden Lots of interesting tidbits about the "circle". "The circled star having the purpose of avoiding mistakes by Allied airplanes (not by Messerschmitt and Focke Wolf airplanes!) the circle around the small stars on jeeps was more for uniformity than for said purpose, and therefore at times omitted. That is why bigger stars on the sides of bigger vehicles had the circle, be it broken or solid."
I had heard another story where the circles were removed in France by some troops to prevent aerial targeting by the Germans. For me modeling has to be fun more than accurate, for me it is a representation, nothing more. I feel your pain when decals don't go right and sometimes, I have just tried to make the best of the situation, although a part of me wants it like the instructions.
John Hughes Thanks, all. It takes a bit of work due to the age of the kit. I've got the whole set of these old Airfix/Italeri/whoever kits. Most are the Airfix versions, so the moulds would have been fairly new when they were made. The decals might be another matter, however.
Bruce Huxtable Here to share the journey, John, and learn from your skills too 🙂
2 August 2023, 07:14
John Hughes I've stripped the red paint off the prop spinner as it had dried with a very grainy finish. After adding a dose of Acrylic Doctor to the paint, I've done a very thin new coat and will repeat until done.
2 August 2023, 18:53
August 8, 2023
John Hughes Now out of production and out of stock at the factory. Grab one while you can!
John Hughes The Masterclub tracks arrived today. No bag of pins. I said it was going to be one of those builds.
2 August 2023, 18:51
Mathias Decommere Yeah, I have the same experience with Zvezda, a lot of gaps and the manual isn't always correct in comparison with the real tank. These kits are good to practice creatieve solutions😁
4 August 2023, 09:35
Bruce Huxtable Plenty of challenges to keep you on your top game, John! Slow but steady, and the final results will be even more satisfying 😉
John Hughes
Andy Dallibar
Robert Podkoński
Curtis Caden
Mathias Decommere
Bruce Huxtable
