Fórum Finescale Modeler Forum

Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Samphoto: I’m already committed to going to the IPMS Nationals next year, so I’m not sure I can justify two major model-show trips in the same year. Scott, I used to do multiple shows as a vendor, but now I focus on WonderFest and local shows. With that being said, I do plan on attending WF and Nats next year even though it involves two 20+ hour drives within 2 months…

Thank you for your lengthy reply. I agree, I believe it is an A or B model and I think scanning it might help. I can get you scans, but as I mentioned in the post they have been further damaged.I think some information might be gained.

"Hello everyone! I’m starting a build log of my second model (the first was the Ki-61 Hien). This time I decided to document the whole process somewhere, and along the way, “advertise” our wonderful hobby a bit. I’m simultaneously filming the entire build as video (YouTube). The adventure will be quite interesting, because not only am I still learning “cardboard” (card modeling) — and here’s a heartfelt request for tips, not just criticism — but I’m also still learning how to take decent photos of what I glue together, not to mention filming. So there will be blurry shots, weird sounds, and gluing mistakes – there’s no avoiding it ! Come check it out → https://youtu.be/uCdAWo9F64Q?si=OCRE_aAfG5v3tjSM Facebook → Redirecting... I’m starting the build with the cockpit, or rather its frame. There won’t be photos from this stage, since they’re of tragic quality (I promise to improve in the future) – but I’ll show what I’ve got."

With the news regarding the imminent closure of Andrea Miniatures, I figured it would be fitting to change the title of this a bit. I hope you don’t mind. Anyhow, there has been some progress on this project, as well as a few setbacks. The scenery elements which I had mentioned were sitting in a locked mail box were retrieved last Saturday, but the company shipped the wrong product. Working with their customer service on the matter now The base has received a bit of work this week. The stacked plywood took more putty and sanding than I would have liked, but that’s how it goes when you have to stay on budget. I wound up using a pre-glued veneer to hide the edges of the plywood. It went on easily enough with a clothes iron, but it required it lot of test fitting the glass dome and sanding, then more puttying and sanding, and so forth and so on. I conditioned and started the wood, but I wasn’t happy with the color on those spots where I had used the Gorilla filler. So, I opted for plan B instead. The Signum had broken during clean up, so I went ahead and broke things down. I’m using 3/64" brass rod to replace the shaft. I found a modest length of tubing to slide over it and cut it into equal lengths to replace the details I had to remove from the backs of the discs which decorate the Signum. The spear tip is currently clamped white epoxying it to the new shaft, so repairs will be moving along relatively quickly from here The scutum has received a bit of work. Not looking forward

Welcome to the forum, @Alpharezzer !

Thanks Tony ( @Tojo72 ) and Scott ( @Samphoto ). Scott, I believe the metal gun barrel is an aftermarket piece, but it came with the kit I found on Ebay. Samphoto: You can apparently build almost the entire model and then paint it. With aircraft, it seems like we’re constantly painting something, assembling something, masking something, painting again… Yeah, that’s part of why I’ve never built aircraft. Samphoto: And then there are the decals. Oh God, the decals. You guys seem to get about five. We get what feels like 500. I’ve never been great with decals in any case, so even five is a lot for me. Samphoto: I have exactly one tank in my stash, and it’s a Sherman Easy Eight, so I’ll be following your paint and weathering pretty carefully. I may need some pointers when I finally get around to mine. Feel free to ask. I actually have one airplane in my stash, so…

Always love your diorama, and this one is no exception! Really great work. Figures look good and the weathering on the Merkava is nice.

Beautifully done- you have really captured the dirt well as it gets into all the nooks and crannies! The antenna’s are fantastic too as are the figures staged around it- they add a nice bit of interest to the whole thing while also ensuring you can appreciate just how big the MK 4 is, especially with the mine roller on it.

Well these have arrived before I got the basecoats on my Zero, but better not to be finding myself waiting on the Royal Mail… I’m open to suggestions as to where to begin when I’m going for a uniform Pearly White / Buff sort of scheme. I feel like the black wash will be a bit too harsh

Don’t get too close to the water’s edge. You might find the rocks to be slippery…

Well, you’re certainly not helping me resist this idea. I’m already committed to going to the IPMS Nationals next year, so I’m not sure I can justify two major model-show trips in the same year. And yet here I am seriously considering WonderFest too. What’s especially funny is that six months ago this probably wouldn’t even have been on my radar. I’ve always been a big sci-fi fan, but I’ve never really been a sci-fi modeler. Lately I’m finding myself more and more interested in that whole side of the hobby. So I’m not crossing the Rubicon with you just yet… but apparently I’ve wandered down to the river to have a look.