Ain't too sure 'bout this but have to try...Finished 12/13

[bbd468]

Hey Mark, the plow seems a nice piece of kit...sure that came from the same box? You get those track on w/mineplow and all your additions, shes gonna be a sweet build me thinks.

Gary

[deafpanzer]

Great work on the plow! At least you can use it now while there's still snow at your end?

[reserve]

Nemo, this one's going to be sand and in a little patch of Iraq that I have yet to build. The multicolor preshade idea seems a little involved to me probably 'cause I've no idea how to go about it but I can see how that would be an effective technique on a three or four tone scheme. Since I'm just figuring out how to do a two tone I'll not be doing complex patterns for awhile.

Gary-I can only hope

Andy-After all that it's been a dry winter out here so no snow to plow go figure

Regards,
Mark

[Leon]

Mark glad to see your back at it.(round like a shot)

[wbill76]

I'm not 100% sure but I believe the plow was part of the orange box 'value' proposition as the trade-off for the outdated molded 'other' stuff! That's usually the way of it with those type of kits, you get something 'new-ish' to go with the much older moldings. For German kits it's typically a set of figures and/or modern-molded Magic tracks or similar.

[eastrock]

the plow looks great Mark, the B&W works better, if you see my robot its actually base coated with white primer presaded with black

[mz3]

A quick note, the AFV Club tracks are very good and easy to work with. They are what I used on my AIM posted here. They will make the kit look better. Construction took all of 30 minutes.

[reserve]

Thanks guys

Leon-Given enought time to feel sorry for myself I will go back to just about anything

Bill-You are right, and for this one there are two enticements-the plow and a set of four US modern figures. Guess this one's so rotten they had to sweeten the deal a bit more

ER-In keeping with the spirit of KISS (keep it simple stupid) I ended up with just a black coat. I will, however, try the black and white suggestion on another project

mz3-Thanks for the look ahead on the AFV Club tracks


So what's been happening lately. Friday the ScaleHobbyist order came in with the Tammy M1, and being curious, I found the rubber band tracks to be a perfect fit on the Dragon running gear. Now, as long as they are molded well I love RB tracks and these are very well done, so I stole them and will use the AFV indies on the Tammy. A side note-the Tammy kit does not have the non slip texture on the upper surfaces which is kind of disappointing.

So, Friday evening and on and off Saturday has resulted in this






I don't know what to think. It seems to have more depth than a simple basecoat but perhaps that's wishful thinking. In any event I am rather tickled that I've gotten this far with it, an event I was not sure was going to happen


Regards,
Mark

[deafpanzer]

Gosh you are on roll!!! Looking great! I spot figures from Verlinden in the background...

[wbill76]

Good score on the Tammy tracks Mark. Paint work is looking good as well.

[Leon]

Mark, nice turn around on a bad kit.Looking good.

[reserve]

Thank you gents

Woof woof woof this one just keeps on giving I had to laugh when I saw this





It's a great thing to have a well stocked parts box


Regards,
Mark

[Leon]

It's made to shoot around corners.

[deafpanzer]

LOL @ Leon's comment!

Good thing you have spares. I stock several RB barrels just because of this... can not trust those styrene barrels. Looking forward to your next update!

[fightnjoe]

the paint job looks pretty dang good to me. the mg barrel.............well.............gotta go with leon on this one.



joe

[bbd468]

Jeeesh Mark...the more you show the more im hesitant to go Orange! I mostly have to build OOB because lack of funds to purchase AM products. Having said that, you've made the best with what ya got and its looking sweet! What is your base color? Nice job buddy.

Gary

[reserve]

Leon-Good thing I'm building an old Dragon otherwise I'd have never known there was a Krummlauf made for Ma Deuce

Andy-Always a good thing to keep around for sure

Joe-Thanks brother

Gary-The only reason I'd suggest even thinking of this kit is the fact it has the non slip texture molded on the upper surfaces. Other than that there's not much to recommend it. I'd think of Tammy's M1 with mine plow offering for which details can be scratched even tho the rivet counters hate it. This link will take you to a place which compares M1 kits, it may help. >http://vodnik.net<

I painted it Floquil Engine Black, which is the deepest, darkest, flattest black I've ever seen. Thinned it with lacquer thinner so it'd take a good bite on the plastic, but don't sp;ray heavy coats as you will melt your model. After two days sitting I did a series of light coats using MM2136 US Army/Marines Sand 'till I figured it looked right. There are guys much better than me at this, check out Brembo's Isherman and Merkevas and you will see how good it can get. Thanks for the kind words brother

Regards,
Mark

[eastrock]

Great work on the M1, I too have to check the after market, Maybe I'll try to grab Academy US modern machine gun set, RB models is great but the shipping kills me just for the small barrel I might try to buy a brass tubing instead and try improving the kit provide 50 cal

[wbill76]

That's got to be one of them 'special' barrels Mark! Definitely not one of the 'value-add' components for sure.

[reserve]

ER-I've just been lucky enough to get kits that seem to have a goodish amount of spares. Thanks for the compliment

Bill-Well, at least it has some entertainment value

Nemo-Thanks for the kind assessment. I can't say it enough, I also think rubber band tracks are great as long as they are molded well which is more often than not anymore. Especially on a tank like the M1 where the great majority of the run can't be seen anyhow.


Well, got enough done on the woofer to warrant another update. Everything except the MG's and stowage fitted, shiny goo sealer and pin wash applied. I'd have done decals tonite but felt that impatient rush at which point I figured it was best to leave it.














I may just be able to squeeze an acceptable model out of the woofer after all.

Regards,
Mark

[bbd468]

Mark, i think you've already made a damn fine Abrams out of this Woofer. Its more like 'the cats meow' now. If i can secure a set of tracks, i think you've sold me on it. Its a kit i can afford and i can stash it back till i can get some tracks. Well done brotha!

Gary

[eastrock]

Thank your time, Mark its already looking like a beast that is about to break free

[Leon]

Mark you did a fine job on the Abrams.Congrats.

[wbill76]

You're making this dog learn some new tricks Mark! Nice job on the plow wear/tear.

[Mence]

Nowt wrong with that mate, nice to see an M1 being built.

[Deleted]

just caught up with your M1. nice clean build buddy, nice one... I like it

[reserve]

Thank you all for the nice comments, they aid in progress of this particular slog

Got some more done

True to its nature the woofer fought assembly to the last...due to poor molding it was necessary to pin the Commander's MG together





The kit supplied tow cables were wretched so





I found a use for some of the nasty track in the kit





Small surfaces and soft molding made the roadwheel tire painting extrodinarily difficult. If I were to do it again I'd definitley get some roadwheel masks. The kit supplied decals are on a minimal, very thin carrier film. While they look great when on the problem is getting them there; I lost a couple





And now with flatcoat, decals, and some stowage














Still have some rucks and stuff to hang on the rails and I need to figure out some suitable material to use for strapping since I have no stowage magnets. I always slow down to a crawl during this phase


Regards,
Mark

[Leon]

Take your time Mark,Your doing a fine job on this beast.

[reserve]

Nemo-Thanks most kindly sir, I'm more than a little flattered by your statement as well as the fact you'll be using my work for reference. Don't make my head too big, now...

Leon-Thank you also sir, this is the time that I'm most dangerous, when I can smell the end but I seem to have avoided disaster as will be evidenced


The strap trouble has been solved, and it is our own Mr. Gary whom I shamelessly stole the idea from. Wine bottle foil





Works like a champ, thanks Gary. Now I get to drink plenty of wine so I'll have a good supply of this stuff.


And now for the moment that no one's been waiting for, the end of construction and paint on the woofer

















Crew and base to follow


Regards,
Mark

[Leon]

Fine work Mark,she looks real good.Good idea on the straps.