SPA Modeler

speedgraflex wrote:Good luck with the missing can o’ pea too! I was thinking it would be fun to just scratch build the canopy but perhaps a more sensible option is to visit the Squadron store to see if any vacuum formed version exists? As I am starting some 1/72 projects I find your construction stages incredibly informative! Thanks!

You could use Evergreen strip to create the window/windscreen frames and fill in the glass with glue-n-glaze?

Oh man, you’re doing the Grumman Duck! I haven’t seen those in years. I wouldn’t mind getting one in 1/48 scale.

Wow, thanks for the awesome replies guys! This is so thrilling and motivating for me.

Stuart, yes, the Grumman Duck is the ancient Airfix kit, complete with a crumbling box! LOL! I have never built a Duck so I figured it was time. It does fit together quite well so far! The Big Bird I referenced is the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Shinmeiwa flying boat. It's gonna be quite large when done!

Carlos, thanks for the compliments. As for that turret, I'd have to research that one. They are advertising it as a turret from the Bismarck, but the Bismarck went down with all her turrets. I don't know that they had any turrets like that left to add to the Atlantic Wall.

Bruce, thanks! The seam on the turret base that you see now is my first effort to hide it. It was a full blown seam so I added Mr. Surfacer 500 to the seam and as it dried, I tried stippling it with a coarse, stiff brush to try and replicate the texture around it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like I'd hoped. I will try again though. As for as I know, the concrete wasn't that smooth; these were roughly done, just pouring the concrete in place for these massive turrets. I just need to try and match the texture, just like I would after patching drywall. As for the Widgeon canopy, I believe it was a curved wrap-around canopy glass, no frames anywhere. If they do have frames, I might just try that idea Stuart posted. I haven't really paid too much attention to it right now. Otherwise, your idea for looking at Squadron is perfect. Finally, I'm glad my work and posts are able to help you out. Someday you'll have to come to a Hobby Day so you can work beside me and get some more tips and ideas firsthand.

Blacksheep, thanks! I had been stumbling over 1/48 scale models of Grumman Ducks every time I tried looking for a Duck in 1/72 scale. Finally, Rare Plane Detective had it in my preferred scale! Now to get it finished! It would be cool to finish the Duck and Widgeon at the same time!

Duke Maddog wrote:The Grumman Duck is the ancient Airfix kit, complete with a crumbling box! LOL!

I thought so - it's not one I've ever built either but it's supposed to be a nice little kit.

Duke Maddog wrote:The Big Bird I referenced is the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Shinmeiwa flying boat.

COOL!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Stuart!

Well, here it is more than a month later and I finally had time to actually work on something; thanks to Hobby Day Weekend. Here's my latest.

I tried getting further along on several models, starting with the Russian glider. I managed to get it sanded down now, eliminating a lot of seams and issues:



I got the wings and wheels on this bird now:



Later I added more Mr. Surfacer to the wing roots and sanded it down. This bird is ready for paint now.

After that, I decided to get caught up on some armor. The MAN Pershing tractor-trailer was advanced a bit when I got the missile cradle done on the trailer:



The missile is removable for painting. I also completed all the assembly on the tractor. This is now ready for paint:



This is looking good so far:



Now I wanted to advance my BMP-3 Early a little more. I finished up the wheels, sprockets and tracks as well as the interior:




Then I completed most of the upper hull and snapped it down on top, then added the turret to see how it looks:



Almost there...

After this, I decided the M-1114 Humvee languished long enough. I pushed ahead on this one, finishing the main body and part of the roof:



After dry fitting the roof, I saw where other issues were going to happen:



Yeah, that's back on the box for now...

Moving on, I got the wheels and sprockets on the Nagmachon in preparation for the tracks:





Afterward, I added the doghouse after installing the armored glass to it. I also 'primered' the wheels in preparation for the vinyl tracks as recommended so the vinyl doesn't melt the wheels:





After this is gonna be a bunch of photo-etch and then some paint, some weathering, and then more photo-etch screens all over this. Fun times ahead!


For a little break, I decided to work more on my 1/24 scale Coke truck. First, I had some ejector pin marks to fill:



I don't know how much of that will be able to be seen, but I still want it looking good enough. Later I added the fenders to the main floor of this truck. The hood piece is only dry-fit to this:



Time to wait on that again....

After this, I wanted something simple, easy and fun. So, remember that Bobcat kit of the airfield support vehicles I got? I pulled that out and got the vehicles all built. They are snap together so I can disassemble them as needed to paint details. For now though, I just played!

Here's the Fire Truck:



Later I realized that the hose nozzle was not attached to the roof so I drilled the hole and added it.

Here's the Fuel truck:



Yes, there is glass for the windows; I just left it off for painting purposes.

Here are the two together, you can see the nozzle on the roof of the fire truck now:



After that was the baggage handling tractor and trailer with the generator trailer:



Here's the full set all together:



BTW, there's figures with this set too....

After all this, I decided it was time to move on and get my church built. Remember the cross I bought for this? Well, I decided to cement it directly to the original tiny cross so I could use the support for the new cross:



Now this will fit well on the church:



And it does look good! I like this very much:



Later on I painted all the white trim around the windows, doors and ledges:



Later I'll get the cornerstones and then try to figure out how to do the stone walls and roof.


Well, that completes this small update. Maybe I'll be able to get more done later, but I'm thinking it might be another month! Regardless, enjoy the tour and thanks for looking in!

...and what did you do after the mid-morning coffee break?

I heard this was done before he had his Wheaties

no modelling time for a month? I hear you Mark. I've not touched anything in two weeks, and I'm on a walking holiday for the next three - so I'll be right there with you!

Great progress all around - I do like that MAN missile launcher, that'll look great under some paint.

I remember those Bobcat kits - where they the ones Heller/Humbrol/Aifix sold? (some under the Cliclac label?) I made a lot of those. This was always my favourite... (although I didn't have that boxing)

Thanks for the awesome comments guys! I love them!

Lyle, I went to work! LOL!

LOL! Johnny! Not quite; I still have a bit to do.

Stuart, these were the first Bobcat snap together kit I'd ever seen. That Phantom kit looks awesome! I never knew that existed. You're a lucky man to have been able to build that. Thanks for the compliment on my MAN truck; I have it all ready for paint now, I just need to find some time and space to paint it.

To everyone: I apologize for not responding sooner. I've been working almost non-stop for a month and a half; then I went down to represent the HMGS/PSW (Historical Miniatures Gaming Society/Pacific South West) and lead the team in demonstrating games at the San Diego Comicon. After returning, I barely had any time to work on anything since I went right back to work for another few days. This is the first day I've been able to check in. I still need to go through and find all the Threads that were started that I missed.

I have a few more days before I disappear again for another month: I'm driving to Chattanooga for the IPMS Nationals with my entire 1/72 scale armor model collection to display on the display tables. I will also be entering a number of other models: some aircraft, armor and maybe a car. I still have to decide what I want to bring. After the Nationals, I'm driving up to Columbus to watch my nephew get married and offer my condolences. After that I will drive home again.

If I get anything done in the the next couple days, I'll try to post it here before I leave. I may not be able to reply to any posts afterward until I get back.