Post by bbrowniii on Mar 30, 2024 15:17:52 GMT -5
Hey all,
I know it has been a minute. In my defense, I've been here a fair amount, I just am usually dashing in, doing a quick look around, then rushing off to something. I am in that typical, spring, struggle between build time, or forum time.
Anyways....
I have been doing "stuff". I have a couple projects in the works (M20 for the Operation Overlord SIG at Nats is still on schedule). A couple weeks ago I got a little diverted because the Modelers Officer's Mess was hosting their "48 in 48 GB"* to support Models for Heroes. I happened to have a relatively light weekend, so I jumped on board with a trusty Tamiya 1/48th kit - the T55A.
I have to admit, I LOVE Tamiya 48th kits and this one did NOT disappoint. Pretty easy build, no major issues:
As you can see, I did manage to launch one of the grab rails into the upper atmosphere, so had to replace it with wire, but other than that, I got the kit built in about a day (with intermittent breaks).
Then things slowed down because, realizing the T55 has been just about EVERYWHERE in the past half-century, I decided to get some aftermarket decals. I got the "T55A at War #3" from Star Decals. AWESOME set: 10 different sets of markings:
I opted for an Ethiopian scheme for two reasons: one, the paint scheme is cool. Two, there are only two decals required....
BUT, then I ran into a problem - I had built mine OOB and I realized the Ethiopian one didn't have the tubey thing on the right side of the turret (is that for cleaning rods or something??). I didn't realize that (attention to detail much, Boyd??) until I had already painted the camo on the turret, because... of course. So, some minor surgery and painting was required:
Fortunately, it was pretty minor surgery - I got away with a local anesthetic and the patient was awake the whole time:
Last night I added decals, then put some oil paints on the tow cables to grime them up a little before I add some acrylic rust to them, and this is where she currently stands:
I do have to repaint the yellow squiggles on the front of the hull - my first effort of that was... suboptimal... and there are a couple wheel rims that the paint rubbed off as I was handling the kit for painting and other stuff. But, overall... I like it.
I liked it so much I bought another kit - it was about $27.00 on Amazon (curse you Jeff Bezos) to do the AU in Somalia variant (and the Northern Alliance one next to it is pretty cool too...)
PLEASE NOTE: This decal sheet has 10 schemes. I'm going to use 2, maybe 3 of them. If any of you have the kit and want one of the sets of markings in this decal set, please let me know. I'll send them to you lickety-split.
*As a side note - for anyone interested - they no longer "require" participants to build a 48th scale kit, and they don't expect you to finish in the 48-hour window, so... win-win)
I know it has been a minute. In my defense, I've been here a fair amount, I just am usually dashing in, doing a quick look around, then rushing off to something. I am in that typical, spring, struggle between build time, or forum time.
Anyways....
I have been doing "stuff". I have a couple projects in the works (M20 for the Operation Overlord SIG at Nats is still on schedule). A couple weeks ago I got a little diverted because the Modelers Officer's Mess was hosting their "48 in 48 GB"* to support Models for Heroes. I happened to have a relatively light weekend, so I jumped on board with a trusty Tamiya 1/48th kit - the T55A.
I have to admit, I LOVE Tamiya 48th kits and this one did NOT disappoint. Pretty easy build, no major issues:
As you can see, I did manage to launch one of the grab rails into the upper atmosphere, so had to replace it with wire, but other than that, I got the kit built in about a day (with intermittent breaks).
Then things slowed down because, realizing the T55 has been just about EVERYWHERE in the past half-century, I decided to get some aftermarket decals. I got the "T55A at War #3" from Star Decals. AWESOME set: 10 different sets of markings:
I opted for an Ethiopian scheme for two reasons: one, the paint scheme is cool. Two, there are only two decals required....
BUT, then I ran into a problem - I had built mine OOB and I realized the Ethiopian one didn't have the tubey thing on the right side of the turret (is that for cleaning rods or something??). I didn't realize that (attention to detail much, Boyd??) until I had already painted the camo on the turret, because... of course. So, some minor surgery and painting was required:
Fortunately, it was pretty minor surgery - I got away with a local anesthetic and the patient was awake the whole time:
Last night I added decals, then put some oil paints on the tow cables to grime them up a little before I add some acrylic rust to them, and this is where she currently stands:
I do have to repaint the yellow squiggles on the front of the hull - my first effort of that was... suboptimal... and there are a couple wheel rims that the paint rubbed off as I was handling the kit for painting and other stuff. But, overall... I like it.
I liked it so much I bought another kit - it was about $27.00 on Amazon (curse you Jeff Bezos) to do the AU in Somalia variant (and the Northern Alliance one next to it is pretty cool too...)
PLEASE NOTE: This decal sheet has 10 schemes. I'm going to use 2, maybe 3 of them. If any of you have the kit and want one of the sets of markings in this decal set, please let me know. I'll send them to you lickety-split.
*As a side note - for anyone interested - they no longer "require" participants to build a 48th scale kit, and they don't expect you to finish in the 48-hour window, so... win-win)
