Canadian Stuart V

Well it has been a while, but life, Christmas upcoming and of course, some modelling.  I have managed to finish my AFV Club M3A2 Stuart V, dressed up in Canadian Grenadier Guards colors.  The AFV Club kit is great, goes together very well, I added a Eduard PE set to add a little more detail.  The Eduard PE set adds tie-down, smoke launcher, .30 Cal barrel, and other detail.  It is a quite extensive set that adds great depth to the model.

As usual for me with Allied armor, I painted the model with Testors Military Master Acrylic Olive Drab.  In my opinion, it best creates the color of Allied armor.  The decals are from UltraCast, are were applied between a couple of coats of Future.  I then applied washes from Mig and pigments from Vallejo.

This tank was build for another campaign on Armorama.

List of my models

Something new I have created, a list of models, past and present.  I did this using Google docs, what a amazing tool.  I will try to keep this list up to date.  Hopefully it will be helpful, ie if you are thinking about buying one similar or need advice on a particular model.

Kevin's Model List

I have also but the link on Currently on my Workbench section, so it will be available all the time.

Bf 110D-3 - Build Log 1

Well I have started on my CyberHobby WingTech (Dragon) 1/48 Bf 110D-3. Upon opening the box I was in awe with the amount of pieces. The kit contains photo etched, as well as good cockpit, gun bay, and engine details. The instructions looked well laid out.

So on with the build. I started with the cockpit, straight forward, and pieces fit well. One issue was the pieces that mount the magazines to the 20mm cannons(F11) were not on the sprue, not in the bag, and not in the box. Upon examining the sprue, it looks like an issue with the molding process. I just scratch build(carved) a couple more, and moved on. Photo etched seat belts were bent and glued into place with CA. Cockpit was airbrushed with a dark grey, then weather with a silver pencil crayon, black was, and dry brushing with lighter shades of grey.

Fitting the cockpit into the fuselage was a little tricky, fit not perfect. I would suggest to glue the sides of the cockpit walls on just before you mount in fuselage, so there is a little play in the glue to get a good fit.

The forward gun bays went together very well, no issue. As the included engines. It should be note that they do give you two engines, but they are from the same molds, thus the piping and all are on the same side for both engines, this becomes an issue when mating up to the firewalls, one fits good, the other is backwards. Since I only plan at showing off on engine, it was not a problem for me.

One to right wing. The instructions for the engine nacelle lists the wrong pieces, so be careful and dry fit as you go. Also, there is a major issue with mounting the nacelle, wheel well; the upper half of the wing was a little warped and there was some fit issues. A few clamps and tape and I will let you know how it went next update, as it is drying as I type this.

Build Log 3 - Humber Scout Car Mk. I

Here is the latest update on my Humber build. The interior has been completed, weathered and some aftermarket stowage added. Fitting the roof was a little tricky as the fit is a little bit off, a little putty and sanding will be needed before primer. I have added some of the PE detail to include the racks for the gas cans and the hatch stop. When mounting the front lights, I noticed the plastic mounting brackets(C42) did not match the images I had. After examining the photo etched parts, I notice that the proper brackets(P32) were there, but they are not mentioned in the instructions. And after reviewing the instructions and looking at the PE parts, I notice there are a lot of PE parts not mentioned in the instructions, and some of the parts are a mystery. So I used the PE brackets and added a little fine jewelry wire for detail.

Next up is to complete the exterior detail and prime.

Here is the link to the rest of the build pictures

Memory Lane....

Thought I would take a little walk down memory lane, of my modelling. My earliest memory of modelling was that of sitting at my Aunt's kitchen table with small plastic model of a bi-plane(make escapes me at the moment), a couple of bottles of paint, and a tube of glue. That was the start of my modelling career.

As I got older, it was trip to downtown, to visit the "bigger" hobby stores on a Saturday. I could spend hours browsing the shelves, dreaming of building that kit, or another. With my paper delivery route, I would save to buy a new kit, now and then. After which retire to the basement to the table my father set up for me to start building. Mostly aircraft, the odd tank. Mostly Matchbox kits, I loved the kits. Molded in two colors, paint schemes on the back of the box (usually the reason for buying that kit), and they went together well enough and were quick to build. My skills were very basic, simple brushed painted schemes, most seams still visible, and the odd glue spot. But I had fun.

Then I remember discovering Tamiya 1/35 kits, and Historex 55mm soldiers. I beleive mostly because of the colorful Tamiya catalogs. I remember I could hardly wait till the following year, to see what amazing Francis Verlinden diorama's would be in the catalogs. It was then I decided I wanted to be a better modeller. The only information available to us back then, was one or two magazines, Military Modeller being my main. And also hanging out in the hobby stores talking to other modellers. And when I was about 15, I had the opportunity to work in a local hobby store. I remember starting to take more time, and more care, building my models. I saved up and bought a very simple Badger 150 airbrush, and used an old tire, that I pumped up with a foot pump, as my air source. Kits I can remember building were a M1 Abram, M3 Halftrack, 75mm German AT, M113 APC(with interior), M60 Patton, M42 Duster, and a German Opel with 20mm AA. I would spend hours at my desk, enjoying my time.

I guess then I became an older teen, found girls, socializing, etc. Well the rest is history, but now I am back, and finding the same enjoyment.

Build Log - Humber Scout Car Mk. I

I have started work on my Bronco 1/35 Humber Scout Car Mk. I. I have to say it is a real nice kit, with some minor flaws I have discovered so far. The kits is full of detail, to include interior. The molding is crisp, with very little flash, and include PE parts. One minor issue I have discovered so far is the ejection mark, especially on the interior, where they will be seen if leaving open, which I am planning to do. There will need to be filled.

So construction has begun on the interior, with filling ejection marks and adding some of the details. I have decided to add some of the wiring, missing from the kit using jewelry beading wire. The wire is fine, and I find easy to work with. Once most of the details, I will prime with Tamiya fine primer and paint, using Tamiya acrylics and Vallejo.

One issue I see, and wondering how I will deal with it, will be the exterior painting, with the hatches open, but it will be a problem I will tackle then.

Welcome back to modelling?

Well after years away from the hobby, I am back to building models. I never realized what I was missing. At times I feel like a kid again, spending hours in hobby stores admiring the models on the shelves, dreaming of building one, and adding to my collection. And then the time sitting at my model desk, the smell of the glue, the small pieces flying onto the floor, and the crawl to find them.

The biggest think I have noticed on my return to modelling, is the vast amount of resource information available today, mostly on on the internet. I am finding the internet adding another enjoyable aspect to building models. I look up the history of the vehicle or aircraft I am building, read review of kits I thinking about buying, and read other peoples tips for building/painting a specific kit I may be working on.

I think with age, I have become more patient, and I believe it has improved my model building skill from when I was younger. All I know is I am enjoying my time building models again. I plan to use this blog to document my experiences in my model building quest. Sharing my experiences, hoping they will help other modellers.

Thanks for reading my blog, and stay tuned for more posts.