Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Hellenic markings.
Comments
8 July 2018, 15:26
Moritz FentzahnCount me in Michael, have the same kit in my stash so I am following with interest.
The roof-matting is not included in the box, is it? Will you add it, and how?
8 July 2018, 15:39
Michael Hickey@Moritz, no the roof mating is not included in this kit so I will,
1. Try to scratchbuild it.
2. Look for after market set.
3. Check Meng's kit TS019 instructions to see if the matting is included in that kit, then contact Meng to buy required sprue.
@Martin, plenty of seating up front, BYO beer & nuts.😢
9 July 2018, 00:55
Michael HickeyWell after talking to the Meng supplier here in Australia and sending an email to Meng themselves, both have said that they can't sell me the Add on Armour parts. I did how ever find a few pics of the PzH 2000 without the Armour on her in the desert camo, but my missus says she likes the look of the Greek one. So I will make a few little changes and turn this PzH 2000 from a German one into a Greek one. Modeling is so much fun😢
9 July 2018, 04:26
Kerry COXMichael. Who are the importers of MENG. ?
Who ever it is will certainly get what you need if it's missing mate.
I did the same with TAKOM when I was missing the whole gun system in my King Tiger interior.
Just a thought mate.
In the meantime, I will keep an interested eye on this beast. 🙂
🙂 👍
9 July 2018, 06:33
Michael Hickey@Kerry, their called Australia Hobby Imports in Wyoming on the Central Coast, he told me the short answer was no, but he could email Meng and see. I already did that and they said no as well, because I wanted parts that weren't in my kit I couldn't buy them. It's not that big of a deal to me, I won't go out and buy the other Meng kit just to do that variant. What I will do is when the time comes I'll use my Kinetic M109 A2 kit and put that in a revetment dio.
James, Lode & Kerry there is still plenty of good front row seats available. I ordered the Vallejo paint that I needed this afternoon from Frontline Hobbies, should have them in a few days so that will give me enough time to get her built.😄
9 July 2018, 07:37
Michael HickeyEverybody bring what your heart desires, and Cliffy I would highly recommend it as it is a good break from aircraft.👍
9 July 2018, 23:35
Kerry COXI do wish this lot sitting behind me would stop rolling Jaffers down the aisle. 😉 hqahahahahaha
10 July 2018, 03:58
Michael HickeyThanks James, the kit goes together effortlessly, painting the wheels will start this arvo.
11 July 2018, 06:30
Peter HardyDon't tell anyone Kez, but I'm down the front feasting on free Jaffas!
11 July 2018, 09:56
Kerry COXMichael. That would be one nasty piece of hardware in the flesh mate. What tracks will be on it. ? Kit or after market. ? Looking mean. 👍
11 July 2018, 10:36
Michael HickeyShe'll have kit tracks, but there the induvial type. there's about 600 pieces to make the two tracks, lots of fun coming my way tomorrow. I've never built tracks like this before so it will be interesting.
11 July 2018, 11:55
Kerry COXMichael. If they are anything like the 'Bronco' Sherman tracks. MINIMAL glue is required. Very tedious, but I know your a patient sort of a lad. 🙂 🙂 🙂 👍
The "Bronco" T80E Workable track link set. AB3565 | Album by RedRoo
11 July 2018, 13:58
Ingo FMichael keep your hands off Rye Fields M1A2 TUSK II Abrams. It got 936 parts only for the tracks. 😄
11 July 2018, 14:49
Michael HickeyI'll take happy snaps along the way as I go down the track, and doing tracks are the least favorite part of building Armoured vehicles. The wheels are all painted now so just have to slip those on, then the track work begins.😉
11 July 2018, 23:37
Ingo FHehe i know what you mean. Thats why i always build/prepare the tracks as the first step of the build. After that i can enjoy the build without thinking about the annoying part. 😄
11 July 2018, 23:43
Michael HickeyI've only built a handful of kits that have tracks so I think I'm going to do the same in the future, thanks for the tip.
12 July 2018, 00:09
Michael HickeyHappy sanding indeed, I just finished cutting all the track bits off their trees and have discovered that there is 2 different types of pads in the kit. Of course I prepared the wrong ones so I will go and bag those ones up and prepare the other set. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.😄😄😄
12 July 2018, 06:21
Murad ÖZERuniverse is simply telling that you'r going to build another one after this one, hence the prepared trackpads... 😄
12 July 2018, 06:22
Michael Hickeyhahahaha, noooo, next in line is a 1/48 Hasegawa VF-11 RED RIPPERS F-14D Tomcat. Defiantly no tracks there to ruin my day.
12 July 2018, 06:34
Ingo FI have checked the tracks on my PzH 2000 and it would be easier to cut the attachment points with a sharp knife then sanding them off. The areas will not be visible after you put a coat of primer/color over the tracks.
12 July 2018, 08:02
Rene ScheiblichWhoa she's looking awesome already! Have much fun with the tracks... Prepare some good music for the cleaning marathon. Benny hill theme on loop maybe😉
12 July 2018, 16:44
Michael HickeyMy eldest daughter is with me for a couple of days and she wants to do some modeling, I have the perfect job for her.😢 Besides her fingers are much smaller than mine and can handle the track parts better.🙂
13 July 2018, 00:12
Kerry COXA family that plays together............You know the rest. 👍 👍 Great stuff Michael. 'Family album shots. ? ' hehehe
13 July 2018, 01:03
Rene ScheiblichHehe yep girls. Haubitzen are female in german👍
Good idea delegating the track parts😉 but be sure to warn her of the insatiable carpet monster🙂
13 July 2018, 03:25
Michael HickeyDamn, now you know my secret.😢 The base still needs some work on the road and maybe a couple of barriers that I'll cast from resin.
14 July 2018, 04:09
Michael HickeyThe base is nearly done, just need to work on the edging and tone down the yellow center line marking.
14 July 2018, 09:30
Martin OostromDo the Greeks have yellow markings? We in the nw of Europe have white ones.
Did a Google search: google.nl/search?q=g..nl&client=safari
14 July 2018, 10:34
Martin OostromI wouldn't mind, just say they're exercising in the US. But I'm not Michael
14 July 2018, 11:13
Kerry COXMichael. In image 4. I must say I am really interested in how you got the cracks and developing breaking surface just the north side of the yellow line is amazing mate.
LOL, not to mention the wild flowers next to the boulders. hehehe 🙂
Was is a secret how you did it. ? Or did it 'just happen', as it looks so amazing, very real looking indeed. Well done mate. 🙂 🙂 🙂 👍
16 July 2018, 22:14
Michael HickeyThanks Kerry, for the road surface I used AK's "Ashphalt", it's a great product and easy to apply. You just use a spatchular to apply it where you need your road surface and spread it around. By not leveling it completly out and pulling it here and there you can easily achieve the results I got. As for the wild flowers they came from an art store here in Coffs, they were part of a bigger bunch of plastic flowers and are perfect in this scale. I got the other wild flowers from a different bunch at the same place, $20 and I have a life time supply to use in many different settings. I love the way we can turn something that was not intended for our modeling into something that is quite useful, I'm always on the hunt for stuff I can use for modeling especially in $1 dollar shops, that's where the real bargains are found.😢
17 July 2018, 00:04
Kerry COXThanks Michael. I must agree with you when it comes to utilizing things in our hobby, as there is hardly a thing that I see that I don't think 'How and where can THAT be used. hehehe
Thanks too for the AK mention for the road surfacing, as I was aware of their stuff for making the sea look more like the sea than the sea. hahaha But I am now thinking of a situation with either a bike or a car in a small diorama.
Thanks again mate.
Cheers. 👍
17 July 2018, 00:26
Michael HickeyGot all the main pieces in place for this dio now. Next comes painting this monster now that the tracks are on.🙂
18 July 2018, 05:42
Kerry COXObviously your daughter has magic abilities with the track assembly mate. 🙂 👍
18 July 2018, 06:07
Michael HickeyYep I wish she would take up modeling for a hobby instead of boys.😉
18 July 2018, 08:39
Michael HickeyBeing about 200 meters from the beach that isn't going to happen for a long while. It's not even all that cold, at the moment it's 15 degrees Celsius. Quite pleasant actually, surely it must be warmer up your way. The last few days it has been around 20 to 25 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. If it wasn't for the road works going on out the front and the house being built next door, I'd take my modeling outdoors and work off the outdoor setting.😢
18 July 2018, 13:25
Kerry COXMichael. I was being cheeky really mate, meaning that the day your daughter gives up the idea of boys for scale modelling, snow will fall in Coffs Harbour. hehehehe 😉 But thank you for the weather update mate. 👍
18 July 2018, 19:51
Rene Scheiblich15 degrees... My perfect comfort zone. 🙂
The base is awesome. But I hope the SPG will far outshine it 🙂
The AK asphalt stuff seems very potent. Do you use it for airstrips too?
18 July 2018, 20:02
Peter HardyI put the Ugg boots on at 25 so 15 I would be in front of a gidgea fire.
18 July 2018, 21:58
Michael HickeyThanks mates,
@Rene, I certainly can't see what would stop me, I love this product.
@Peter, come on mate harden up, I used to run from Sydney to Canberra night run in the middle of winter only wearing my thongs, shorts and company jacket.😢
18 July 2018, 23:28
Peter HardyExhibitionist? We have weeks between 40 and 50 here Mick. That'd harden cotton wool!
18 July 2018, 23:32
Michael HickeyYeah, on the coast here last summer it was nudging over 40-45 but not 50 and you can have that all to yourself.🙂
18 July 2018, 23:54
Michael HickeyA couple of touch ups needed on the yellow, then a coat of Future in prep for the decals.
22 July 2018, 05:27
Kerry COXIt has come ahead in leaps and bounds Michael. 👍
Looking as good as I was sure it would. Good stuff mate. Congrats. 🙂
22 July 2018, 05:39
Rene ScheiblichExhibitionist? Michael puts the model back in modeler😄 that's normal attire for down to 5-10 for a lot of people here. If I should ever come to Australia, I guess I'm going to melt into a puddle.
I shall order a bottle of the stuff, didn't have it on the radar yet but it looks awesome!
And apart from a few small spots the paintjob turned out beautiful. Grand work on the masking, some of those pattern look tricky to get right🙂 👍
22 July 2018, 06:29
Michael HickeyThank You gents, I watched a couple of YouTube videos talking about Vallejo Air paint and what different pressures work best for it as well as mixing ratios. The brown I masked up using the Blu-Tac method and after getting halfway through the black and yellow I thought bugger this I'll try it free hand, and this is the result. Just need to touch up the brown near the yellow on the front left hand corner and same colors again on the barrel. I'll do that and a gloss coat tonight after this.
22 July 2018, 10:39
Kerry COXMichael, Did you, or have you ever tried fine line spraying with the protective 'cup' on the nozzel removed. ?
Low pressure and get that tip as close as possible to your surface and see what happens. ! 👍
Just don't bump the needle tip on the work surface. 🙂
22 July 2018, 11:55
Michael Hickeyoh, I had the nozzle tip removed the PSI between 25 and 30 and a bit of paint retarder in the mix of thinners I made up. For Vallejo, Mig, Hataka, Ak and Meng colors I use a mixture I saw on YouTube. 66% water, 33% isopropyl alcohol and the magic part 0.5 ml of paint retarder. For my Gunze, Alclad II and Tamiya thinners I use multi-purpose thinners that I by from Supercheap Auto. It all works great for me.👍🙂
22 July 2018, 13:01
Kerry COXSweet. 👍
I have used the AB without the protector a number of time and had great results.
Not good if the needle tip gets involved, but something I am willing to chance for that free hand fine line work. 🙂 🙂
The formula you used is most interesting mate. As I have , at times with the acrylics, not get a good result because the paint was almost drying mid air before it got to the work surface, putting me at odds with some brands. 🙁
I will look for that vid on youtube and learn something. 👍
Cheers. 🙂
22 July 2018, 19:45
Michael HickeyThanks James, it took a little while to get done, but it's done now. I'm just waiting for the Future to dry before putting the Greek markings on her.
Kerry, your right it is defiantly worth the risk taking the nozzle of the airbrush exposing the needle, that's why I always have two of each needle size. That way if I bend one accidently I'll use the spare while waiting for a replacement. The guy who made the video was from the UK judging from his accent. I'll see if I can track it down. Then I'll post them here.
Give it a go Peter, it works well.
22 July 2018, 21:13
Michael HickeyThis is the Thinners Mix Video.
bing.com/videos/sear..7B33&FORM=VDRVRV
22 July 2018, 21:18
Rene ScheiblichVallejo paints and me were off to a bad start, since then I only smudge them on by means of a hairy stick🙂
The gunze leveling thinner wouldn't work as retarder would it? Ethanol and IPA make a mess of vallejo, never tried the gunze stuff...^^
22 July 2018, 21:19
Michael HickeyThis is the video showing different air pressure and mix ratio results.
bing.com/videos/sear..amp;&FORM=VRDGAR
22 July 2018, 21:34
Michael HickeyHey Rene, at first when I started using Vallejo paint I was ready to throw it all in the bin, but with patience and practice the Howitzer above is the result. Don't know about the Gunze retarder I use Vallejo's retarder.
22 July 2018, 22:01
Kerry COXMichael. 👍.
Thanks heaps for the links. Invaluable info there and now I don't feel so apprehensive about doing things a little differently. 🙂
Cheers. 👍
22 July 2018, 22:39
Michael HickeyThanks Lode, it's really coming together now. I just finished the base, now to do the final stages of the Howitzer, figures and accessories. You are both welcome in regards to the links, there is a lot of useful videos on YouTube if you have the time to watch them.
22 July 2018, 23:43
Michael HickeyThank You Thanasis, and I sure do they come in the kit. I'll be putting those on tonight then another coat of Future in prep for a wash tomorrow.
23 July 2018, 07:51
Michael HickeyFinally after a week of on and off modeling I've got another kit done, that makes 8 for the year so far. Now where is that VF-11 Red Rippers F-14D Tomcat that I had lying around here somewhere.
30 July 2018, 11:28
Kerry COXAs always Michael. A wonderful exhibition of your eye for detail. 👍
But the look of, "Where do we go from here" on the vehicle commander is priceless, and such dark hair he has too. ! 🙂
A wonderful result my friend. Well done. 👍 🙂
Bring it with you to the QMHE. !
30 July 2018, 12:07
Murad ÖZERMichael great build! jersey blocks are a nice touch too THIS IS SPARTAAAA! 😄
30 July 2018, 13:09
Michael HickeyThank You everyone for your pleasant words.
@Kerry, I think I might, with a few others.
@Ingo, The fellow sitting is from a Russian tank crew set by Meng and the other guy is a resin figure from Alpine I think. Both heads are from a Russian head set by Hornet.
@Peter, You know it scrapping the bottom of the barrell and trying to avoid the wooden spoon, not one of our best seasons in donkeys years. At least our junoiur side looks good.
@James, after just finishing the Leopard I wasn't keen on another Nato scheme.
@Murad, the jersey blocks I molded and cast myself, then made my own posters, was good fun.
@Lode, I too like adding in small details it adds to the realism.
30 July 2018, 23:16
Kerry COXMichael. Not only that mate, but I will introduce you to heaps of folks I know. 👍 🙂
31 July 2018, 02:10
Michael HickeyBit nervous about going to a comp, it's been decades since I've been in one, but Kerry your making it sound most inviting. Should start organizing my budget and more importantly find instructions for the kits I plan to enter. I usually throw the instructions away after I'm done with a build. Luckily I've got the last 3 builds instructions and for my Cats and Hornets I'll get them from a duplicate kit in the stash. The B-25 could be a bit difficult. Might even finish building my B-24 just for the occasion.
31 July 2018, 02:26
Rene ScheiblichYou have to provide the instructions? 🤔
I think she'll get a lot of attention there. The PzH itself is a beauty and the dio rounds it up perfectly. 👍
Don't drive it over that little red car on Kerry's table though 😄
1 August 2018, 19:17
Kerry COXYes. LOL. I will be parked a LONG way from Michael's creation. hehehehe🙂
The rules are on the QMHE web site as to what the judging criteria is and how we need to quantify that what is presented is actually checkable. Good idea really.👍
Michael has seen in the galleries on the QMHE website, what type of competition he will have and I am most confident there will be a lot of the "wow" factor going on when they see his build. For sure. 👍
The big thing is, Michael will have a hard time getting rid of the smile on his face from the moment he walks in and sees what is on offer. Have a ball mate. I will. 👍 hehehehe 🙂
1 August 2018, 20:48
Michael HickeyI have some sad news to report🙁, due to circumstances that happened yesterday I need to go to Sydney the weekend before the comp is on in QLD. So I won't be able to make the comp the following weekend up north, oh well I guess there is always next year.🤔
2 August 2018, 23:54
Peter HardySad news indeed. I suspect your results at the comp may well have been better than you think.
3 August 2018, 00:57
Michael HickeyIt's all good Pete probably get there next year with even better stuff.
3 August 2018, 04:42
Album info
This one will be done in Hellenic markings.
