Brian Eberle
Nice job Rick.

Michael Hatch
Out standing! Do you have any photos taken during construction? Would love to see those.

Rick Taylor
Thank you Brian and Michael. I don't have any under construction photos as the parts count is only 44. I will add photos of the parts to the album.

Ben M
Looks great, Rick. Thanks for the information on how you got the finish. I've never tried the hairspray technique, I should give it a try.

Pepe
Raro.... Feo.... Un trabajo excepcional... Muy bueno

Michael Hatch
Thanks for posting the extra pictures. I ordered one.

Rick Taylor
Michael, why do I feel like I just got you started on drugs??? These Vargas kits are very addictive.

Rick Taylor
Ben, you are welcome. The hairspray technique is a useful trick to have in your bag. Most folks only use it for chipping. I use it as a weathering technique to give the paint a very worn, beat-up look. I suggest that you first try it on a paint mule or some scrap plastic. Like all techniques, it requires practice and persistence. Good luck!

Neuling
Very interesting and good looking. I like the dusty weathering. 👍

Rui S
I like it 👍

Rick Taylor
Thanks Rui!
Thanks Neuling! I'm pretty happy with the dust on this one. When I look at old photos of my units, it is often hard to see the camo pattern, MERDC or NATO under the dust.

Guy Rump
Very nice build. 👍

Rick Taylor
Thank you Guy!

Dan Reed
Looks great

Mr James
Very nice dusty M2. Great painting and lovely weathering

Rick Taylor
Thanks Dan and Mr James. I've been trying to improve my "dusty" weathering. This is perhaps my best effort yet.

Jakko ‌
Just came across this, and reading your project intro, had to comment on this bit: "The kit is detailed, accurate"

Sorry, but it's a kit with two faces. The hull top looks accurate enough (though I haven't actually measured it), while the entire suspension, from the drive sprockets to the idlers and everything in between as well as around them, is a cartoon version of the real thing 🙁 The track is much too narrow, all of the wheels are wrong in shapes and details, the bogies have what look like rivets where there should be cast-in reinforcing webs, etc. etc. etc. It's made me rather regret buying this kit, TBH.

Your model looks very nice, nothing wrong with it in that respect 🙂 But I think it's a bit of a case of lipstick on a pig …

John E
Very nice. 👍

Michael Kohl
Splendid result.

Rick Taylor
Jakko, thanks for your comment about my build. I pulled out my copy of Hunnicutt and the calipers. The tracks are 1mm too narrow, the road wheels have more rubber than they should, and the bogie detail could be better. Overlaying the kit on the D.P. Dyer drawings shows excellent alignment for shape and size. I updated my comments about the kit in my build write up. There are only 3 options for this subject in 1:35th, Vargas, Commander Models, and SSModel. I've had the Commander kit for years and kept putting it back on shelf rather than building it. I've bought a couple of SSModel kits and found them to be toylike. In my assessment, the Vargas kit was the best option and remains so. If you know of a better kit, I'd love to hear about it. Have built an M2 Medium that you can share with us?

Jakko ‌
I have the Vargas kit, but not built it yet, and as I've noticed your model on Missing-Lynx too, let me link there for a pretty in-depth look at the problems with the suspension: tapatalk.com/groups/..pension-t335134.html 🙂

I hear the SS Models one is better, but the renders of it put me off … The suspension looks better in terms of accuracy, but it seems very clunky — though maybe it isn't in the flesh. I would want to see pictures of the actual model before deciding to buy it (or not).