What if
General Modelling Forum => General Modeling topics => Modeling Blogs => Topic started by: seadude on March 04, 2015, 06:43:01 am
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What the hell. I'll give this a try. Not sure how much I'll write or how often, but I'll give this a try. :thumbsup:
Where to start?
I first got into modeling back when I was 11 and was visiting my dad while on summer vacation. My stepmom noticed that some days I was bored around the house, so she took me to the nearest mall and I browsed the toy store looking for something to keep me occupied. I settled on two model kits: An F-105 Thunderchief, and a small ship, possibly a battleship but I don't remember. A few brushes and bottle of paints later and I was back at the house working on putting them together and painting them. In the next few days, the results were crude, but I guess I didn't care. As long as it kept me occupied and kept me from getting bored, then my stepmom was happy. That was back in 1981.
Now turn the clock forward to the mid '80's. I think that's where my modeling bug really started to take off. But everything then was pretty much straight from the box. No whifs during that time. And my gluing and painting results weren't that spectacular either. There was no model websites, blogs, or other social sites and groups to rely on back then for help. I didn't know anybody. Throughout the 80's and 90's, most of the models I built were pretty much normal OOB stuff. I had a Space Shuttle, B-1B bomber, New Jersey modern battleship, Bismarck battleship, Forest Sherman destroyer, F-4 Phantom, Ford F-150 pickup truck, SR-71 Blackbird, F-19 Stealth Fighter, and a whole bunch of other stuff. All that stuff is long gone now. Relegated to the garbage heap somewhere.
Now it is the 2000's and times have changed. More to follow in another post. :thumbsup:
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Welcome back to the model kingdom. Here different is better and you can let your imagination run wild.
So a tip of the glue pot and a 21 hobby knife salute for joining What If modeling.
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Your in the right place!
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So how did I get into model whiffing? When did it all begin? I'm not really sure. Probably started in the early 2000's I think. I remember reading and having a copy of a FineScale Modeler magazine article titled "Modeling the Air Force that never was.". This article described and showed one person's (or was it different people? ) models of aircraft that never were, but could have been. For example: A USAF F-16XL in production service, an Australian anti-ship F-16 fitted with Harpoon missiles, an X-29 FSW fighter in camouflage and used as an aggressor in Top Gun, an an A-10 Warthog in Israeli camouflage/markings fitted for anti-tank missions. This one article, plus the fact that I was getting tired of seeing the "same old, same old" models of Tiger tanks, Yamato battleships, etc. at contests and in magazines is what started my beginnings into what if's.
Granted, there's nothing wrong with building the "same old, same old" stuff from time to time. We all have our reasons for building F-16's, Tiger tanks, Spitfires, etc. straight from the box. Some people build them because friends or family served on them. Others because of the historical relevance, and still there are many more numerous reasons. But for me, I was getting bored of seeing the same thing shown and talked about time after time. An F-16 is still an F-16 no matter how you load it up with weapons or change the unit markings. For me, I needed something different. I wanted to see and build stuff that nobody had ever seen or heard of before. I wanted to use my creativity and imagination. I wanted to see and use different paint schemes, decals, weapons, etc. In other words, it's time to GET OUT OF THE BOX! so to speak. So in the early 2000's is when my whiffing began. Some samples:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/users/Eric-Mante/user-index.html
So what do I have planned for the future? Way, way too much. I have so many ideas, I'm not sure where to start. Right now, my current big project is whiffing a 1/350 Gallery Models USS Wasp LHD amphibious assault ship into a what if USS Solace humanitarian relief/hospital ship. My list is so big, I doubt I'll finish any of this in my lifetime:
1. Modern USS New Jersey battleship with more armament than you can shake a stick at. It'll be so heavily armed, it'll make the Chinese, Russians, and North Koreans shake in their boots! Grin
2. Carpet Monster
3. Whif a Cylon Basestar into a Russian orbital platform.
4. Star Trek Deep Space Nine station. Not sure what to whif it into.
5. Build a second 1/700 scale HMS Habakkuk
6. Build a 1/350 scale HMS Habakkuk. (Might take me 10 years.)
7. Convert a XB-35/YB-49 Flying Wing into a Soviet flying wing.
8. Convert a 1/350 TAMIYA Enterprise carrier into a stealth aircraft carrier.
9. Build a second 1/350 USS Montana battleship.
10. Build either the H39 or H45 or somewhere in between, one of the proposed German super battleships in 1/350 scale.
11. 1/35 scale Landkreuser P1000 Ratte German super tank.
12. Build a WWII IOWA battleship/carrier. Only one official drawing exists and it ain't much to go by. The whole project will have to be scratchbuilt.
13. Korean war B-25
14. Scratchbuild a oil rig type platform and turn it into a military seabase.
15. Space 1999 military moonbase diorama.
16. Space 1999 Eagle transporter turned into a US Marine Corps troop transport.
17. 1/350 O.H. Perry frigate OOB, but with slight weapon improvements.
18. Testor SR-75 Penetrator into a what if B-3 stealth bomber.
19. BSG Colonial Viper into either a USAF or US Navy fighter craft.
20. Stryker AFV into an RV camper.
21. Battlestar Galactica with four flight pods.
22. Build every (or as much as I can) stealth aircraft, ship, etc. in 1/700, 1/144, or smaller scales for a special stealth display.
23. Testor B-2 stealth bomber OOB
24. FA-18E/F special project. No other info. available.
25. BSG Pegasus, but with a little more gun turret armament.
26. 1/48 F-15 Eagle, but with Phoenix missiles.
27. Academy 1/48 F-22 OOB.
28. Testor 1/32 YF-22. Not sure what to whif this into.
29. 1/350 scale NCC-1701-A. Might build OOB, or might add a few more phasers and photon torpedos.
30. Maybe build a LCS littoral combat ship into a Coast Guard ship.
............and I STILL have too many more crazy ideas in my head!
But right now, the hospital ship is on hold while I try to build a few small scale stealth ships for an upcoming May contest. I want to create a small display of stealth ships to showcase stealth technology on the high seas.
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Definitely a many and varied collection of ideas !
I'd like to try an oil rig set up some day myself.
:cheers:
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I understand your desire to build "out of the box" as you say. If I opened a model mag or went online and saw one more bf 109 or FW-190ABCDEF I was going to scream. Not even people building RW stuff that was a little less well known. So, back to what I did as a kid. Take a model and start changing it. Seems to be working out.
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2 days until a model contest this weekend. I don't have anything big planned to take. I had hoped to build 8-9 small 1/700 various stealth ships for a special stealth ship display, but I guess that'll have to wait till May for a different contest. Instead, I'm just working on 1 small 1/700 ship, the USS Freedom LCS to take with me. Will paint the main hull and superstructure tonight, then paint and attach all the other parts tomorrow. Even if I don't bring much to the contest to enter, I'd rather get more enjoyment by meeting others, seeing everybody else's work,...........and buying stuff in the vendor area. :thumbsup: ;D I love contest's that have vendor areas, but my wallet doesn't love them back. :lol: :lol: LOL!
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Sounds good. Ever since Brad aka Scooterman took me to the show I Austin I've been yearning to go back. Love looking at the models, but meeting the people and hanging out are the best part. And the vendors. There were so many piles of cheap kits there you could easily stock up for a lifetime !
:drink:
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Sounds good. Ever since Brad aka Scooterman took me to the show I Austin I've been yearning to go back. Love looking at the models, but meeting the people and hanging out are the best part. And the vendors. There were so many piles of cheap kits there you could easily stock up for a lifetime !
:drink:
aha referring to scooterman are we!? brad is a great guy always fun and a good modeller too. :thumbsup:
none of your ideas are especially crazy, btw. all normal to me and others I guess. :rolleyes:
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I don't know what's wrong with me. :banghead: I confess. I didn't do anything last night like I said I was going to do in my last post. I thought I could, but I was too tired after coming home from working a long early morning shift. And now with 1 day before a model contest, I won't be ready and won't have anything to take to enter. :(
I don't know what it is, but I've been in a modeling rut the last several months. I just haven't had the drive, determination, or the energy to work on anything. October through December I can understand because those are busy holiday months and my job is really busy and I come home from work too tired to do anything else. But here it is Jan. through March, etc. and there should be plenty of time to build models. Work at my job is slow, hours are being cut back, and I should have plenty of time to work on models in the slow winter months. But I don't. And it's not like my home life is busy either. I live by myself in an apt. I don't have a wife, kids, dog, or other major chores to do and take care of. I should have plenty of free time.
Instead of building, I spend my time just thinking up and daydreaming about new projects and ideas. Or I'll spend countless hours researching stuff online for a new idea/project. Or worse yet, I spend more time buying new model kits and aftermarket accessories than I actually spend time building something. I've got tons of ideas for model projects I want to build. And I've got tons of model kits in my bedroom that need building. But sadly, nothing is getting done. I want to build. But the drive isn't there. I really like model building. It's the only hobby I seem to enjoy, have fun with, and excel at. And if I don't start making a huge dent in my model stash soon, I won't get to a lot of the ideas I mentioned further above in my list before what's left of my eyesight goes away and I'm blind for life. Is it just procrastination settling in? Or is there some affliction, disease, or something else that us modelers have that hasn't been diagnosed yet? I know there's therapy groups for alcohol abusers, drug users, and so forth. Maybe it's about time there were actually some Modeling Therapy groups. I can't be the only one going through this. I know there are other modelers who have the same issues.
So it looks like I'll just be procrastinating again tonight. :banghead: Fix dinner, watch a movie, then I don't know what else.
In other news..........
In preparation for actually building a 1/350 scale model HMS Habakkuk ice aircraft carrier, I have been digging very deep to find as much more information, specifications, blueprints, drawings, etc., etc., etc. to help me with this project. This is something I am not going to give up on. :thumbsup: Picked up the following:
"Churchill's Iceman" by Henry Hemming
"Code Name Habakkuk" by L.D. Cross
History Channel DVD episode "Weird Weapons: The Allies"
..........and also found some VERY informative info. on another website, but I'm not going to reveal that yet. ;) I have been spending the last few night researching, researching, and even more researching for this project. I have become obsessed with it. I wonder if I am going crazy much like Geoffrey Pyke was. :blink:
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Must admit I think we can all feel a bit like that at times.
I tend to pick up a good book and catch up on my reading until the mojo returns which doesn't normally take to long
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Went to a model contest on March 7th. Didn't enter anything as I procrastinated and couldn't finish anything. :banghead: I did take lots of pics though. At nearly 500! :blink: I should finish uploading them probably by the end of the week and ready for viewing. I was disappointed at the raffle and vendor areas. Really wasn't anything worth buying. Nothing that grabbed my interest at all. Which is probably good as I didn't need to spend more money and have another "hole" in my wallet. :lol:
Next contest is a 3 day event in mid May which is strictly naval/ship related. Maybe if I get my butt in gear and actually build some stuff, I can enjoy a much better contest. What I was thinking of is building 8-9 small 1/700 scale stealth ships for a special stealth display showcasing the future of naval ships and stealth technology. What I have is the following:
USS Freedom LCS
USS Independence LCS
HMS Daring destroyer
USS Arleigh Burke destroyer
Visby class corvette
USS Zumwalt destroyer
French La Fayette frigate
USS San Antonio amphibious ship
Sea Shadow stealth technology demonstrator ship
I was thinking of rounding out the group to 10 ships, but I'm not sure what the 10th should be.
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Just my $0.02 but I suggest keeping the project small. If its too big then you end up putting a lot of pressure on your self to finish. Then it becomes work instead of fun. And that will crush your creativity. A collection of small ship models can always be added on to later.
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Exercise. Physical activity. Especially if you were so busy before Christmas, and not so much now. It's a fact that an object at rest tends to stay at rest....so get up and get busy !
And maybe start with somat a wee bit smaller. Keep your Habbakuk research going, and use that as your ide bank or what have you, and get a smaller project finished in the meantime.
:cheers:
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Just my $0.02 but I suggest keeping the project small. If its too big then you end up putting a lot of pressure on your self to finish. Then it becomes work instead of fun. And that will crush your creativity. A collection of small ship models can always be added on to later.
All the ships I listed are small. At least 8 inches or less. Should be easy to knock them out in a small time frame.
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Yes, but put end to end that would be over 80 inches of ship.....which turns into quite a bit ! I'd have to say that doing a set of ten ships isn't my idea of starting small :thumbsup:
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Still not much going on lately. Just recently bought two of the following:
http://www.amazon.com/Takom-Landkreuzer-P1000-Ratte-Panzer/dp/B00SKGUPPQ
Gonna be awhile before I get it with what happened with the west coast L.A. dock shutdown and all. Expected delivery is about mid or late April. :banghead:
But..........it'll be cool to see how this assembles and what paint scheme to use. :thumbsup: I consider this to be a "precursor" to......if....and when......a 1/35 scale P1000 Ratte Landkreuser ever gets built by me.
Pics of the parts sprues can be found here:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10308781
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Very cool. I have some 'safety points' at work and can get some Amazon gift cards with them. Models might be an excuse to do so !
:cheers:
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Not much new going on. Modeling work has been very slow or non-existant. :( Been having a bit of "modeler's block". Sorta similar to the way people have writer's block. :banghead:
Got a contest coming up in 2 weeks on May 9th. Would like to build one (or both) Takom 1/144 Landkreuzer Rattes, but am not sure how far I'll get.
After that, got another contest for 3 days from May 15-17 which I have taken vacation for. This is strictly a model boat/naval contest. No cars, tanks, aircraft, etc. allowed. Since I have nothing completed for this event, I asked my best friend if I could "borrow" the Montana battleship I built for him long ago and have that back to take to a contest. So, it's now sitting in my living room getting dusted off (the case) and inspected for any necessary improvements or repairs. And besides, might as well take it to a few more contests in the future. It really has only been to two. Might borrow it a bit longer till the end of the year for a few more contests.
Bought the 1/500 scale Space Battleship Yamato 2199 model kit 2 weeks ago and finally recieved it. From what I've read and heard, there are 2-3 different 1/500 scale kits. One is from 2010 and is about 20" inches long. Another is from 2014 and is 26" inches long and is better detailed. I bought the 26" inch long version which sells for roughly $110-$120 as shown below:
(http://www.gundamplanet.com/media/catalog/box-art/1-500-space-battleship-yamato-2199-pa.jpg)
Another coup is that I bought the 1/500 scale Expansion Set to go with this kit. It is an internal hangar bay that includes 30+ fighters!
http://www.zangeki.com/pic/figure/bandai/space_battleship_yamato/500-190136/190136_2.jpg
That's it for news for now.
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Spacedude ! lol
Love it. That's going to be amazing. The additional kit looks pretty awesome as well.
:cheers:
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The 1/1000 kit has the hanger included. Does the 1/500 just have a space there or is the extra kit a more detailed replacement?
This kit is begging to be lit...
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The 1/1000 kit has the hanger included. Does the 1/500 just have a space there or is the extra kit a more detailed replacement?
This kit is begging to be lit...
The 1/500 kit just has an empty space, which can be covered up with a side hull panel if people choose not to buy and install the Expansion Set. The 1/500 hangar Expansion Set is more detailed than what the 1/1000 is.
I would hopefully like to add lighting. The 1/500 kit does take small round LED lights (Not included in the kit) which are normally used for Gundam kits. The lights look like this:
(http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1570579151/-font-b-Gundam-b-font-model-Bandai-font-b-led-b-font-font-b-lighting.jpg)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Mzc1WDUwMA==/z/7y0AAOSwxYxUzp7O/$_35.JPG)
But getting these lights is damn near impossible as a lot of places are sold out or no longer carry them. :banghead: And I refuse to go to Evilbay. Green lights can be inserted for the bridge area, and yellow lights for the rear engine area. But there is no option in the Yamato kit to install an LED light in the front for the Wave Motion Gun which really sucks. :banghead:
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Have you tried Bandai directly?
Even unlit it's going to be a very impressive finished model.
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Taking a little time out tonight to work on one of my Landkreuzer P1000 Rattes. If anybody doesn't know what that is, here's the box art:
(http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig30/10308781.jpg)
So I'm assembling the tracks and wheel assemblies for at least one tank tonight. Will work on painting it on Weds.
In other news............went to the hobby store earlier tonight to pick up paint for the 1/500 scale Space Battleship Yamato 2199 model kit. I think I have the main hull color figured out which comes close to Testors Intermediate Blue. It was either that, or using Gunship Grey. But Gunship Grey appears to be too dark. I'm sure somebody will probably say to use Vallejo or some other weird or fancy paint brand. But Testors and Tamiya paints are the only major brands that hobby stores carry in my area. Still haven't figured out the appropriate hull red color to use. :banghead:
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Dude of The Sea
What about a nice generic Rusty Red for the Hull? After washing/drybrushing it'll probably be pretty close.
Speaking of Things Rat-like, have you seen the 1/35 (yes, I said 1/35 - not a typo!) scratchbuild going on, over on the other site?
Cheers
Rick
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Dude of The Sea
What about a nice generic Rusty Red for the Hull? After washing/drybrushing it'll probably be pretty close.
Speaking of Things Rat-like, have you seen the 1/35 (yes, I said 1/35 - not a typo!) scratchbuild going on, over on the other site?
Cheers
Rick
If you look at various pics of the Space Battleship Yamato on the Net, the red color isn't dark red, nor is it a rusty red, nor any sort of bright red. It falls "somewhere" in between one of those colors. :unsure:
(http://iantan.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/yam16.jpg)
Yes, I have read about the 1/35 scale Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte over on Armorama. Quite an impressive feat. :thumbsup: I'd love to do a 1/35 scale model as well, but my plate is full with other projects for the next 5-10 years.
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If you look at various pics of the Space Battleship Yamato on the Net, the red color isn't dark red, nor is it a rusty red, nor any sort of bright red. It falls "somewhere" in between one of those colors. :unsure:
(http://iantan.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/yam16.jpg)
Yes, I have read about the 1/35 scale Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte over on Armorama. Quite an impressive feat. :thumbsup: I'd love to do a 1/35 scale model as well, but my plate is full with other projects for the next 5-10 years.
[/quote]
OK, how about a RailRoad colour? Caboose Red springs to mind.
I agree, the large Ratte is very impressive, but more work and resources than I'm willing to commit.
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I used red oxide primer on my 1/1000 Yamato. But I wasn't trying to match any specific source, just using what I had.
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Finished gluing track/wheel assemblies for one P1000 Ratte tank tonight. And also finished assembling two of the anti-aircraft gun turrets. Was hoping to paint the track/wheel assemblies today, but an afternoon nap got in the way. I'll have to do them tomorrow. Will also be going to my local Hobby Lobby store tomorrow for Tamiya primer spray to prime the larger hull pieces.
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Finished gluing track/wheel assemblies for one P1000 Ratte tank tonight. And also finished assembling two of the anti-aircraft gun turrets. Was hoping to paint the track/wheel assemblies today, but an afternoon nap got in the way. I'll have to do them tomorrow. Will also be going to my local Hobby Lobby store tomorrow for Tamiya primer spray to prime the larger hull pieces.
Also for tonight: Started assembling two Maus gun turrets for the rear of one Ratte tank, and another two regular Maus full tanks to be used for "scale comparison" on the display base next to the Rattes.
Odd thought hit me tonight. If anybody else plans to build Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte models in the future and you need a descriptive sentence or something on the display base, I thought of the following:
"When the cat's away, the Ratte's will play."
"German Tiger's, Maus, and Ratte's. Oh my!"
"My gun (or tank) is bigger than your gun (or tank). Deal with it!"
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Finished gluing track/wheel assemblies for one P1000 Ratte tank tonight. And also finished assembling two of the anti-aircraft gun turrets. Was hoping to paint the track/wheel assemblies today, but an afternoon nap got in the way. I'll have to do them tomorrow. Will also be going to my local Hobby Lobby store tomorrow for Tamiya primer spray to prime the larger hull pieces.
Also for tonight: Started assembling two Maus gun turrets for the rear of one Ratte tank, and another two regular Maus full tanks to be used for "scale comparison" on the display base next to the Rattes.
Odd thought hit me tonight. If anybody else plans to build Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte models in the future and you need a descriptive sentence or something on the display base, I thought of the following:
"When the cat's away, the Ratte's will play."
"German Tiger's, Maus, and Ratte's. Oh my!"
"My gun (or tank) is bigger than your gun (or tank). Deal with it!"
"Genetics, Peewee!"
;D
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So this is about as far as I got last night before bed:
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7738/17116772827_baf69cd436_k.jpg)
Pic with the Maus turrets and anti-aircraft gun turrets sitting on top of the Ratte. They are not glued on yet.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8746/17116773227_1e234a770c_h.jpg)
Pic showing scale comparison of 1/144 scale large Ratte tank next to two 1/144 scale Maus tank hulls.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7742/17136441358_193d77d313_h.jpg)
May be changing my build schedule this week and next week. May just assemble/glue all parts for one or both Ratte tanks this week. Then next week do all painting. Not really sure. My mind keeps changing on everything as this project progresses along. :banghead:
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Just a thought... apparently they were moving away from 20mm AA late in the war, as it was getting too small to be as effective - minimum was something like 37mm.
It's your model after all, but might want to think about changing the AA turrets for Panther Coelian units?
Cheers & keep up the good work.
Rick
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Just a thought... apparently they were moving away from 20mm AA late in the war, as it was getting too small to be as effective - minimum was something like 37mm.
It's your model after all, but might want to think about changing the AA turrets for Panther Coelian units?
Cheers & keep up the good work.
Rick
I don't have any other 1/144 scale AA turrets. Do you know where I could get some? But to be honest, it's too late to change them now. I have a contest in about a week to get these tanks ready for.
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No worries; maybe for a 'refit' down the line? :smiley:
TBH, in that scale you could probably carve a turret and cast it, then add whatever is your favourite method for the barrels.
Or thinking again, you could modify the turrets you have, as the front ends were different from a normal Panther's anyway...
simply file them to shape and add new barrels.
Rick
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Progress made last night. Painting of everything might be started tomorrow if I have time.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/16710982093_8b095748b4_b.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8856/16710982373_1d4ba83ef7_b.jpg)
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Great watching all this come together
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Great watching all this come together
What amazes me about doing this project is the shear audacity of the Germans to even have considered having a tank this size. :blink: It just boggles the mind. When you put the Ratte next to the smaller tanks for size comparison, you really have to wonder what crazy nutcases came up with such absurd vehicles. Thank God Albert Speer had enough sense to cancel these things! Hooray for him.
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Great watching all this come together
What amazes me about doing this project is the shear audacity of the Germans to even have considered having a tank this size. :blink: It just boggles the mind. When you put the Ratte next to the smaller tanks for size comparison, you really have to wonder what crazy nutcases came up with such absurd vehicles. Thank God Albert Speer had enough sense to cancel these things! Hooray for him.
But on the flip side, thank goodness they diverted time, effort & materials into things like these, instead of more Panzer 4s, Panthers, Me-262s, etc - anything that could have prolonged the war.
Cheers
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I'm picturing an amphibious version crossing the channel en-masse and driving up the beaches...
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I'm picturing an amphibious version crossing the channel en-masse and driving up the beaches...
You mean something like this? With a long snorkel on the back.
(https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LkiFOy9It8g/hqdefault.jpg)
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I was actually thinking of one which floats. The defenders would think it was a gunboat until it started climbing up the beach.
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I'm picturing an amphibious version crossing the channel en-masse and driving up the beaches...
You mean something like this? With a long snorkel on the back.
(https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LkiFOy9It8g/hqdefault.jpg)
Well to cross the channel between Dover and Calais you'd need a snorkel of about 50meters
Minus of course how ever tall a Ratte is? Average channel depth between Dover and Calais is 45m.
There is actually a shallower bit, average depth 26m. So with a bit of imagination.....
And a big tank with submarine engines, the world (or channel) in this case could have been your
Oyster ;D (other shellfish are available) :lol:
Regards
Keith :cheers:
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I can picture the diorama;
A Ratte surfacing amongst a surprised RN costal flotilla. Giant kelp draped across it's guns and a surprised whale shark stranded atop it's turret...
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I can picture the diorama;
A Ratte surfacing amongst a surprised RN costal flotilla. Giant kelp draped across it's guns and a surprised whale shark stranded atop it's turret...
Or a giant shark's mouth painted on the tank. ;D
Anyway.........one week to go before a contest. Will I make it? Spray painting two model tanks today, as well as painting smaller parts. I am really looking forward to the awards being offered at this contest:
Best of Show trophy, plus 5 lbs. of italian sausage. :)
Veterans Best of Show trophy, plus 5 lbs. of italian sausage. :)
(Buns, ketchup, onions, and green peppers not included. Darn! ) :banghead:
The contest is held at a VA center, so the Veterans get to nominate/vote a model for Veterans Best of Show, while the regular Best of Show is voted upon by the regular model contest judges.
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The contest is held at a VA center, so the Veterans get to nominate/vote a model for Veterans Best of Show, while the regular Best of Show is voted upon by the regular model contest judges.
Good idea :thumbsup:
Love the idea of an edible prize ;D
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Still spray painting and brush painting everything. Trying to get as much work done as I can every night after coming home from work. In case I forgot to mention it, here's the colors I'm using. Mind you, I'm not painting the P1000 Ratte tanks any sort of camouflage pattern. Kind of pointless anyway when an actual real Ratte could probably have been spotted miles away. No camo paint or netting would have been able to hide it. Damn tank is as big as a 2 story house! :blink:
Ratte # 1
Tamiya Spray TS-46 Light Sand & Testor Model Master Acryl #4813 British Gulf Armor Light
Ratte # 2
Tamiya Spray TS-4 German Grey & Tamiya XF-63 German Grey
Both Rattes, plus other smaller tanks (Tiger 1, Kingtiger, Maus, and a Sherman) for scale comparison to be on a wood plaque.
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Amphibious ! I love that idea !
:cheers:
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I'm picturing an amphibious version crossing the channel en-masse and driving up the beaches...
You mean something like this? With a long snorkel on the back.
(https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LkiFOy9It8g/hqdefault.jpg)
Well to cross the channel between Dover and Calais you'd need a snorkel of about 50meters
Minus of course how ever tall a Ratte is? Average channel depth between Dover and Calais is 45m.
There is actually a shallower bit, average depth 26m. So with a bit of imagination.....
And a big tank with submarine engines, the world (or channel) in this case could have been your
Oyster ;D (other shellfish are available) :lol:
Regards
Keith :cheers:
Depends how much mud and silt is on the bottom. Driving that thing on dry land would be hard enough!
Depth charges away!
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Good point about the camo. You're never going to hide it so why not do the opposite. Paint it like a hospital or a church.
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Depth charges away!
Depth charges??? You can sort it in much more inventive (and cheaper) ways. A demolition charge dropped down the tube, or even a stack of bricks! Or what about a large cork hammered into the top (an old mattress stuffed in the hole would possibly work just as well)? I assume that underwater escape gear was not a standard fitment
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Paint it like a hospital or a church.
Or a complete town, it's almost big enough! ;D
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Depth charges away!
Depth charges??? You can sort it in much more inventive (and cheaper) ways. A demolition charge dropped down the tube, or even a stack of bricks! Or what about a large cork hammered into the top (an old mattress stuffed in the hole would possibly work just as well)? I assume that underwater escape gear was not a standard fitment
I had an immediate vision of Bugs (or Daffy), with an Impossibly Large Cork, and an even larger Mallet! :rolleyes: ;D ;D
Rick
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Depth charges away!
Depth charges??? You can sort it in much more inventive (and cheaper) ways. A demolition charge dropped down the tube, or even a stack of bricks! Or what about a large cork hammered into the top (an old mattress stuffed in the hole would possibly work just as well)? I assume that underwater escape gear was not a standard fitment
I had an immediate vision of Bugs (or Daffy), with an Impossibly Large Cork, and an even larger Mallet! :rolleyes: ;D ;D
Rick
That, sir, is EXACTLY what I had in mind!!
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FINALLY! The Space Battleship Yamato Expansion Set I ordered has finally arrived in the U.S.
http://www.zangeki.com/pic/figure/bandai/space_battleship_yamato/500-190136/190136_2.jpg
It's in New Jersey right now, and I'm hoping I'll have it maybe next week. I ordered the thing back around April 11th. I'll assume that instead of it taking the shorter route which is Japan to Hawaii to the U.S., it instead went the longer route in the opposite direction from Japan to China to India to Turkey to Europe to etc., etc., etc. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Well, at least I know it's finally in the U.S. and on the last legs of it's journey. :)
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Land ho !
:thumbsup:
Crazy how far this stuff travels eh ? :cheers:
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Finally arrived! :cheers: :drink: :thumbsup: The Space Battleship Yamato Expansion Set got picked up at the post office today. Looks awesome! Might have pics of the parts sprues later tonight if I have time. Got to say this'll be a lot of work just for this small hangar expansion set, particuarly all the fighter craft! The fighter craft (34 of them) are going to need a lot of delicate and detailed painting plus lots of decals. :banghead: Nice thing about this expansion set is that all the parts sprues are molded in color. Now all I need is to order a lighting kit for the Yamato model, something preferably that I don't have to solder. And there's one other special accessory I need to buy for the Yamato, but that's classified Top Secret. I can't tell you. ;D
Both Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte tanks are doing ok. Should hopefully have them done by tomorrow night. Won't have pics ready till tomorrow or Saturday.
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Correction: The German Grey Ratte I'm building is having issues. :banghead:
Otherwise...........
This Ratte is done. Well........almost. Just have to add the German cross decals either late tonight or tomorrow. Wow! Look at how big it is! :blink: ;D
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7761/17412022241_4cf2913476_b.jpg)
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I can picture the diorama;
A Ratte surfacing amongst a surprised RN costal flotilla. Giant kelp draped across it's guns and a surprised whale shark stranded atop it's turret...
That reminded me of the pictures of Ogre sci-fi vehicles crossing rivers or coming out of the sea, but I can't find one online to save my life.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre_%28game%29
Actually, the Ratte bears a fair resemblence to an Ogre:
(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.warehouse23.com%2Fimg%2Ffull%2FSJG10-0106.jpg&f=1)
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I can picture the diorama;
A Ratte surfacing amongst a surprised RN costal flotilla. Giant kelp draped across it's guns and a surprised whale shark stranded atop it's turret...
That reminded me of the pictures of Ogre sci-fi vehicles crossing rivers or coming out of the sea, but I can't find one online to save my life.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre_%28game%29
Actually, the Ratte bears a fair resemblence to an Ogre:
(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.warehouse23.com%2Fimg%2Ffull%2FSJG10-0106.jpg&f=1)
Now THAT bears a fair resemblance to one of the tanks in the Johnny Alpha stories...
Just thinking...
Cheers
-
Strontium Dog? Is that still going? I can see the resemblance. It does look like something Carlos Ezquerra would draw.
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Well, in about an hour or so, I'll be off to a local model contest with both of my P1000 Ratte tanks. I finished both last night, attached them to a base, packed everything up, and am ready to go. I should have pics later tonight.
And now the bad news. :banghead: I showed my best friend the pic of my finished desert tan Ratte model tank and now he's telling me he wants one too and he wants me to build it for him. :blink: :blink: :banghead: Damn! And here I was about ready to start my next project which is the Space Battleship Yamato kit I have, and now I have to sideline that. :banghead:
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Just give him yours, and then do the space ship. You can always revisit the Ratte at a later date :thumbsup:
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Just give him yours,
Oh, hell no! :angry: Besides, both my Rattes are already glued to a display base.
Anyway, went to a model contest at a VA Center today. Kinda disappointing really as the turnout of modelers and models was quite small. :( But I pretty much blame the organisers of the event for that as I feel they need to get the word out more and do better advertising of the event to attract more people. But suffice to say, I got a Third Place certificate in the Advanced Military catagory. If you look at the pics below, you'll see two different colors for each tank. Two different greys and two different desert tans. Reason for this is because I spray paint large model kit pieces with rattle cans, and hand brush smaller pieces with smaller bottles of paint. Sometimes, the spray can color doesn't quite match the littler bottles used for brush painting and vice versa. But I do try to match colors as best I can whenever possible. Please don't tell me to use an airbrush. My eyesight isn't good enough for that.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8719/17471608775_6968a573a4_b.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8882/17469633372_e4763bf09b_h.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5326/17471445801_6fcd770d59_b.jpg)
Now to start planning my next project............the Space Battleship Yamato! :drink:
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Wow!
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Super modelling there, and I'm not sure anyone would notice the difference in colour shades really.
I can't help but wonder whatever they were thinking about planning something THAT big though. :o
It would have flattened anything in its path, and that includes any of their own infrastructure, roads, rails etc. and it would have been SO big and so slow that it would have made a great target for a Tallboy bomb!
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As practical as an AT-AT...
...and with similar psychological impact.
Imagine being in a foxhole with one slowly coming over the skyline.
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A great thrill for the idiotic younger version of myself and friends was to jump down onto the tube lines and put coins on the (non-power) rails to get super-flattened discs. I can see adults doing the same sort of 'chicken' games but with cars....super-flattened Volkswagens ;D
Amazing models though :thumbsup:.
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Nice display you've got set up there...I wouldn't want to pry them off either !
:cheers:
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Well done on the third place :thumbsup: I like that display it looks rather like what a museum would do or the manufacturers when they are trying to sell the idea
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Totally missed that part...congrats on your third place ! Excellent
:cheers:
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Congrats on the result: you've made a really nice job of that display.
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As practical as an AT-AT...
...and with similar psychological impact.
Imagine being in a foxhole with one slowly coming over the skyline.
You have enough time to upgrade the foxhole to a steel and concrete shelter including the drying time for the concrete.... ;)
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Ratte Commander vs Quartermaster:
"Go on, issue me a freakin' camouflage net: I dare you....."
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Ratte Commander vs Quartermaster:
"Go on, issue me a freakin' camouflage net: I dare you....."
;D
They'd an entire staffel of Me323s to deliver it! :o
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The base was bought at Hobby Lobby. It was originally plain wood, but I bought some cherry colored stain and stained the wood which made it look nicer. I even like that the edges of the base have tree bark on them. Kinda makes it look like the base was cut directly from a tree. What really stands out on the base is the little Sherman tank. :thumbsup: I thought that was a really good add on to show the comparitive sizes between German armor and Allied armor. I got a lot of comments about that little Sherman tank. Everybody loved it! ;D
Sherman gunner: "Uh, Commander. I think we're gonna need a bigger gun."
Sherman commander: "Geez, you think?!"
;D ;D ;D
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Seadude - regarding the differences in spray vs brush painting; I find the exact same thing myself, even when the paint came from the same bottle.
Seems the Airbrush puts a different 'spin' on the paint for some reason... :unsure:
Still, a good dirtying down mostly solves the problem...
Cheers
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Exactly, if you were really worried ( and you are obviously not, and neither were the judges ! ) you could always dirty it up. But I think it looks good as is.
:cheers:
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In a little over 24 hours from now, I'll be off to another model contest up north. This time, I'm taking this with me:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/bb-67/350-em/em-index.html
My Montana battleship hasn't really gotten much viewing/publicity and has only been to 2 contests. So I "borrowed" it back from my best friend (It was a gift for him) and I want to show/take it to a few more contests this year. I'll be back late Sunday night to let everybody know what the results were.
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You`ll have to fix the link when you get back as well....not working ( for me, at least )
Good luck at the contest !
:cheers:
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Continuing from Post # 78.........
Went up to the Manitowoc Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, WI for the 39th Annual Model Contest. It was a three day event. Sadly, me and another friend got up there late on Friday. :banghead: Competition was tough. The humility factor is pretty high. Lots and lots of sailing vessels were entered in the contest. My Montana though took 3rd Place in the Novice Category. *sigh* I seem to be getting more and more 3rd Place finishes in the last 2 years lately. I guess my modeling skills must be slipping. :blink: Next year is the 40th Anniversary of the Manitowoc Model Contest. It's expected, and hoped, to be quite a big turnout. I'm hoping I can finish the following for next year:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,35600.0.html
Not much else going on. Ordered some LED light kits and also another 1/500 scale Space Battleship Yamato to light up my current Yamato as well as put some extra guns on it. Will hopefully start work on my Yamato battleship tonight or on Memorial Day weekend.
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3rd place is pretty good ! Nothing wrong with that. As long as it doesn't discourage you from all these lovely seagoing ideas !
:cheers:
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Singing the Space Battleship Yamato/Starblazers theme.......
"I'm off to the kitchen table.
To build the Space Battleship Yamato.
If I don't finish in one year,
No modeling award will ever appear."
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL!
In other news........Been thinking of changing the Yamato's color scheme. Instead of the classic Intermediate Blue top and structures, and red hull bottom, I'm giving consideration to a Haze Grey top hull and structures, and blue bottom hull. Similar to what the US Navy did here as an experiment:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1173/04017331.jpg
I haven't fully decided yet. :unsure:
P.S. - The second Yamato I ordered plus 2 lighting kits have arrived at the post office early this morning. I'll be going to pick those up. :thumbsup:
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That's a pretty good tune for motivation ! Just don't drop any fragile bits whilst you're on the march.... :thumbsup:
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Got the second Space Battleship Yamato kit yesterday:
http://freetimehobbies.com/1-500-bandai-starblazers-space-cruiser-yamato/
.........as well as 2 lighting kits:
http://freetimehobbies.com/madman-lighting-deluxe-24-led-fiber-optic-lighting-kit-led-lights-for-model-kits/
The Yamato was cheap at only $49. And now I know why it was so cheap. What a piece of crap! :angry: Trust me, you don't want to buy this model. Thank God I'm only using it to rob parts from such as the small laser gun turrets which I want to put a few extra on the other Bandai Yamato I have. The lighting kits.........Hmmmm. Nice, and will be good if I knew what I was doing. But electrical work is not my cup of tea so to speak. Might have to have a friend build these for me and install them. Otherwise, it's been a bad week and weekend to start on the Yamato. My work schedule is interfereing with home life. :banghead: Might have a better chance to start this kit next week on Thursday.
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Memorial Day holiday here in the U.S. Got today off from work. One half of my mind is telling me to sit at the kitchen table and build the Yamato. The other half is telling me to relax, be lazy, and catch up on sleep. And if that weren't bad enough, I'm thinking of skipping on installing and adding the lighting. I'm not good with electrical stuff and have never worked with it before. Why add it when I plan to show the Yamato in a drydock type scene similar to this:
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/313/9/3/space_battleship_yamato_wip01_by_celsoryuji-d4fo8aq.jpg
Been thinking of opening some of the bow and aft torpedo missile hatches too. You know, the ones below the bow anchor. I found some tiny 1/100 or 1/144 scale missiles that are the perfect size. :thumbsup:
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Oh that will be cool !
:cheers:
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Space Battleship Yamato 2199 is continued here:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,40647.0.html
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Not much new going on. Still working on my SBY kit as mentioned in the post above. Doubt I'll get to do much work on it tomorrow and Tuesday nights. Work at my job is......... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: ..........and may not leave me with much time to relax after I get home. So don't expect to see any more updates till maybe Weds. or Thurs.
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Almost finished building and painting the bridge superstructure for my 1/500 SBY kit. Also working on painting the 3 main shock cannon gun turrets right now.
Also ordered and recieved 2 pkges. of hazard warning stripes/signs decals to add to the Mechanical Chain Bases I'll be using for my SBY display. And speaking of MCB's, I just ordered 5 more, in addition to the 3 I already have. :blink: Yep. I need a total of 8 of them for my SBY dockyard diorama. At least 4 long x 2 wide.
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5 more ? Wow ! That's gonna be huge !
:cheers:
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I'm in a depressed/pissed off mood right now. Posts 47 and 48 here will explain. :banghead:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,40647.45.html
In other news..........I got my model club meeting to go to this Saturday. It'll be our annual model club auction. I hope there'll be some good stuff to bid on. :thumbsup: I always look forward to any ships, sci-fi, or modern aircraft, but the stuff people bring in to be auctioned off doesn't really fit those categories. So I never bid on or go home with much. :( I hope that changes this time. But still, I hope to have a good time. I always look forward to seeing what people bring in to be auctioned off and listen to how high (and ridiculous) the bidding can get. ;D
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Sick with a cold right now. :( Not working on anything for the next few or several days.
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Get well soon my friend ! :party:
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Went to my model club's annual auction yesterday (Sat.). About 25-30 people attended. Can't really say there was anything good for me to bid on. :( About the only decent thing that piqued my interest was a 1/350 scale Los Angeles class SSN. For a long time, I've always had this dream/fantasy of turning a submarine into a sub sandwich. ;D I know it's been done and seen before by other modelers over the years, but I want to create my own to have for myself. Maybe I'll have toothpicks being fired out of the torpedo tubes. ;D Maybe paint the hull to look like french bread.
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Will be away from this site for awhile. My comp hard drive crashed yet again and it will be some time before I can get my comp fixed. Will only be able to visit this site maybe 1-2x a week from the local library computer.
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Ouch ! Hope your computer gets well soon now !
:blink:
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Nothing new to report. Haven't done any work on my 1/500 Space Battleship Yamato recently. Still waiting for 2 more MCB's (Mechanical Chain Bases) to be delivered before I proceed any further on anything.
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Nothing new to report. Haven't done any work on my 1/500 Space Battleship Yamato recently. Still waiting for 2 more MCB's (Mechanical Chain Bases) to be delivered before I proceed any further on anything.
Still nothing new to report. Only major downside is that the 2 final MCB's I ordered back in June never arrived and I had to file claims with Amazon and get refunds. I'm pissed. :banghead: As far as other modeling stuff goes, not much new is happening. Things are kinda blah at home. Computer won't get fixed till maybe next week, so I'll be using the library computer a lot.
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Again, not much new to report. Been on vacation from work for 2 weeks which means spending some quality modeling time. :thumbsup: Been building 3 small 1/144 scale Anigrand Craftswork resin models of the Lockheed "Hopeless Diamond", Northrop XST, and the Lockheed "Have Blue" aircrafts. When I add a 1/144 F-117A to the group (Which I already have), then my collection of aircraft will be ready to be put on a special display mat which I recently ordered from Amazon. I should have all this done by the end of September and ready for 2 upcoming contests. I'm calling/naming the display "DARPA XST Competition" and it will showcase and tell the early history of the XST stealth fighter program.
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How time flies ! It`s been almost 2 months since progress or I`ve replied to your thread....I guess it`s not hard to see how we become mired in modelling ! Looking forward to seeing some updates.
:cheers:
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As mentioned in Post # 99 further above, I'm creating a stealth display showing and explaining the history of the early XST (Experimental Survivable Testbed) competition that led to the development of the F-117 stealth fighter. I bought a special radar screen mat decal that I will adhere to a display stand that still needs building, then put the four 1/144 scale models on the mat. Included with the display will be a small written one page sheet that explains the history of the XST competition. Nice thing about the radar screen mat decal is that it can be removed and re-applied on any surface. Plus, I can use it for other future stealth model subjects.........which I have plenty of. ;D And the mats come in different sizes too. The one I bought is 18" inches in diameter. There are also ones in 24" and 36" diameters if I'm not too mistaken. The 1/144 scale models I have on the mat may be too small. I could have built 1/72 scale instead, but when you're at a model contest, table space is at a premium so to speak. I am still waiting for some display stands I ordered to help prop the models up.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5730/21148809688_e04f343418_b.jpg)
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That's a very interesting way to display them
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That sure is, and will definitely draw attention you your builds ! Neat stuff.
:cheers:
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That's a very interesting way to display them
That sure is, and will definitely draw attention you your builds ! Neat stuff.
:cheers:
Best thing I ever found on Amazon. :thumbsup: And what I recently found tonight on Amazon will make the radar mat decal even 10x better and even more jaw dropping awesome! But I can't say what it is. It's a secret. Top Secret. Classified. ;D ;D ;D
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....so of course now you're going to tell us
:thumbsup:
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....so of course now you're going to tell us
:thumbsup:
Absolutely not! :wacko: In other news..........My main computer at home is fried. :( Had to order a new computer days ago, and it won't arrive for at least another week. So don't expect me to be on this site much or posting modeling pics. Won't be able to "get back to normal" posting for at least another two weeks yet. Otherwise, I've been spending lots of quiet time at home building plenty of model kits for future contests. I'm now currently working on 3 different versions of the fictional Aurora hypersonic secret aircraft for a future diorama display.
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Cool ! Not the part about your comp crapping out, the other part
:thumbsup:
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Finally got a new computer (With Windows 10) and have been hooking everything up, testing it, etc., etc. With a bit of luck, I should be able to post some photos soon here in a day or two of my current model builds. :thumbsup:
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Chilly tonight (and tomorrow) with temps dipping into the low 30's. Frost warning too. :blink: So it'll be a good evening tonight and also Saturday to stay home, keep warm, and work on some model kits. And I've got plenty too! Got 2 model contests to prepare for on Oct. 31st and Nov. 7th, then have my monthly model club meeting on Nov. 14th. I'm gonna be busy, busy, busy the next 3-4 weeks. :blink:
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Done with this:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,41250.0.html
Almost finished with this:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,41251.0.html
So what's next on my "To Do" list? MiG's, of course. Lots of small 1/144 scale MiGs for another "special project". ;D Well, except for the MiG-17 which will be 1/72 scale cause I can't find one in 1/144. :banghead:
I've got:
MiG-15
MiG-17
MiG-21
MiG-23
MiG-25
MiG-29
Su-22
Su-27
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Mig-17's in 1/144 ? Take your pick
https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=all_aircraft_kits&scale_id=957&keyword_search=Mig+17&setPerPage=25¤cy_id= (https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=all_aircraft_kits&scale_id=957&keyword_search=Mig+17&setPerPage=25¤cy_id=)
The Mark 1 one is the most recent release as far as I know and their kits get good reviews
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :drink: :drink: :drink: :party: :party: :party:
Small contest, big rewards. ;D Went to a local model contest today. A bit small (75-100 models entered) like it usually is every year, but still enjoyable. So what did I win?
USS MONTANA
1. 3rd Place Bronze award
2. Best Scratchbuilt/Kitbashed award (Trophy)
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/bb-67/350-em/bb67-01.jpg
P1000 RATTE LANDKREUZER
1. 3rd Place Bronze Award
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8719/17471608775_6968a573a4_b.jpg
SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199
1. 2nd Place Silver Award
(Older pic. I don't have a newer one available yet.)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/320/19619229535_4847b6b8fb_b.jpg
DARPA XST COMPETITION
1. 3rd Place Bronze Award
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/722/21305728753_3ec14b35e9_c.jpg
AURORA HYPERSONIC AIRCRAFT
1. 2nd Place Silver Award
2. Best Hand Painted Aircraft award
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/606/22340406910_a251ae44a8_b.jpg
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SCORE!
Good for you, well done. :thumbsup:
:cheers:
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Well done indeed matey :thumbsup:
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well done sir! well done indeed :thumbsup:
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Right on ! Nice to see we're not the only ones who appreciate your creativity !
:cheers:
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That's an excellent outcome, well done! :thumbsup:
:cheers:
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Thanks, guys! :thumbsup: All the displays are going to another contest in about 6 days from now. Wonder if I'll score again? Competition will be tougher though.
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Congratulations.
And luck for the next one.
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Not much going on today. Just packing up to go to a model contest tomorrow. Taking the same stuff as listed in Post # 112 further above. I'll be heading here:
http://www.butchoharemodelers.com/33rd-annual-contest.html
Competition will be tougher though. Even if I get anything, I expect it will be mostly 3rd Place Bronze awards.
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Isn't it more about the taking part?
Have a good time.
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Just got back home from a model contest in Chicago. Got the following:
USS MONTANA
1. 1st Place Gold award
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/bb-67/350-em/em-index.html
P1000 RATTE LANDKREUZER:
Nothing :(
SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199
1. 2nd Place Silver Award
(Older pic. I don't have a newer one available yet.)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/320/19619229535_4847b6b8fb_b.jpg
DARPA XST COMPETITION:
Nothing :(
AURORA HYPERSONIC AIRCRAFT
1. 3rd Place Bronze Award
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/606/22340406910_a251ae44a8_b.jpg
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Well done.
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Well done, that 'Dude!
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Nothing new going on. Holidays are here, which means little time for modeling. But hopefully, I plan to get back to work on the following project in December, or January of next year.
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,35600.0.html
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I'm bugging out. Good luck on fixing this website forum. Hopefully, I'll be back when things get eventually fixed. C'ya.
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Just had the following posted on MW yesterday. Not one of my better creations nor is it a whif. Just something quick and easy to do for a contest that was in May until I can get my 1/350 scale hospital ship done.
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/dio/usn/USWarships-700-em/index.htm
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May not be 100% whif but it's still pretty whiffy ! Love it. I'd like to see more pics, and I'd like to build them all ! Love those modern angled boats. Can't wait to see you do them in 350 scale !
:cheers:
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I do have plans to do all of them in 1/350 sometime in the future and all as whifs. But the one which hasn't been made in 1/350 by a kit manufacturer is the USS Zumwalt. :(
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I was at my LHS the other day looking at ship kits....hmmm.... :thumbsup:
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Long time, no post. :blink: Not much new happening. Decided to take a quick break from my hospital ship project and work on something hopefully "quick and easy". So I pulled out of my stash the 1/700 CyberHobby USS Long Beach CGN-9. I don't know what made me buy it. I guess I got tired of hoping and praying that somebody would make a 1/350 scale Long Beach, so I picked up the 1/700 scale version to satisfy my need.
I'm making some whif changes to this vessel. Two of which you can plainly see such as the modern 5" guns, and the fore and amidships VLS clusters.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8030/29541379531_9a032479bc_c.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8453/29511808272_b87e360c01_c.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8035/29541312931_46fea51ef2_c.jpg)
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That's looking really nice. Where do you get the new parts?
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Looks great ! The Long Beach is such a cool looking ship...can't wait to see where you go with it !
:thumbsup:
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That's looking really nice. Where do you get the new parts?
The parts aren't new. I just rob parts from other model kits I have at home. :wacko: The 5" guns and VLS clusters are from spare Ticonderoga cruiser kits.
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What the hell. I'll give this a try. Not sure how much I'll write or how often, but I'll give this a try. :thumbsup:
Where to start?
I first got into modeling back when I was 11 and was visiting my dad while on summer vacation. My stepmom noticed that some days I was bored around the house, so she took me to the nearest mall and I browsed the toy store looking for something to keep me occupied. I settled on two model kits: An F-105 Thunderchief, and a small ship, possibly a battleship but I don't remember. A few brushes and bottle of paints later and I was back at the house working on putting them together and painting them. In the next few days, the results were crude, but I guess I didn't care. As long as it kept me occupied and kept me from getting bored, then my stepmom was happy. That was back in 1981.
Now turn the clock forward to the mid '80's. I think that's where my modeling bug really started to take off. But everything then was pretty much straight from the box. No whifs during that time. And my gluing and painting results weren't that spectacular either. There was no model websites, blogs, or other social sites and groups to rely on back then for help. I didn't know anybody. Throughout the 80's and 90's, most of the models I built were pretty much normal OOB stuff. I had a Space Shuttle, B-1B bomber, New Jersey modern battleship, Bismarck battleship, Forest Sherman destroyer, F-4 Phantom, Ford F-150 pickup truck, SR-71 Blackbird, F-19 Stealth Fighter, and a whole bunch of other stuff. All that stuff is long gone now. Relegated to the garbage heap somewhere.
Now it is the 2000's and times have changed. More to follow in another post. :thumbsup:
Hi, Seadude! Our stories are a lot alike. And once neat coincidence, you got started modeling in '81, I was "released" in '81. (They broke the mold and I was imited production run of one unit)
When I was a kid I built a bunch of models. B-25s, B-17s, a bunch of Star Trek stuff...even had a similar pick up truck to yours but If I remember right it was an F-250 or 350 with four doors!! Early 90's or late 80's model. It was so cool! Anyway...it all got thrown away...year later in my teens I did some more and kept those but I keep thinking about all the ones I trashed and regret it now. Do you ever look back and think, "Man, I wish I had kept all that..... " ?
I'm just on the first page here of your Shenanigans so far but am looking forward to reading through and looking at your projects. I'm trying to get to EVERYONE's stuff eventually. ;D :ph34r: :laugh: Looks like yours is on deck for today. I haven't been here long so the tons of backlogs to look through is awesome. Here lately I just sit around modeling and reading... modeling and reading.. I've been off work for over a week now. Not fun to be broke, but the silver lining is I get to look through your Shenanigans today. ;D
See you 'round the boards,
Brad
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WIN! :drink: Got back home from a small local model contest (non-IPMS) a few hours ago. Didn't do too bad. ;)
3rd Place for the following:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/dio/usn/USWarships-700-em/index.htm
And got the following for my USS Solace Hospital Ship:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5836/30378341682_642c44ff26_b.jpg
a) 1st Place Gold Award
b) Best Scratchbuilt/Kitbashed Model trophy
c) Best in Show Award! ;D
And........this was a contest that offers food as prizes. Best In Show also wins a 10-15lb. smoked ham, perfect for Christmas dinner! ;D
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Very well done and very well deserved :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Well done mate.
Congratulations.
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And........this was a contest that offers food as prizes. Best In Show also wins a 10-15lb. smoked ham, perfect for Christmas dinner! ;D
Now that's what I CALL a good deal! Well done. :thumbsup:
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Nicely done, 'dude!! :mellow: :lol:
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congrats on the glorious victory, :thumbsup:
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Thanks, guys. :thumbsup: The win of Best of Show totally surprised me.
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Should we suggest that they give food awards at Telford in future? ;D ;)
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Might get alot more entries!
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What food would be indigenous to the Telford area?
Given the vicinity of Burton on Trent, maybe Marmite on hot buttered toast...
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What food would be indigenous to the Telford area?
Given the vicinity of Burton on Trent, maybe Marmite on hot buttered toast...
Well Shrewsbury's just down the road, so Shrewsbury Cakes would be the thing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewsbury_cake
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Well, if any contest were to offer haggis as a food prize, then count me out. It doesn't sound very appealing to me. :P
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What food would be indigenous to the Telford area?
Given the vicinity of Burton on Trent, maybe Marmite on hot buttered toast...
Well Ironbridge and the site of the birth of the "modern" UK iron and steel industry is just down the road so Black Pudding would seem a good choice.
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Anyway...........getting back on topic. ;D You probably won't see much, if anything, from me in the next several months. No whiffery at all. :( I have to take a break from building my own projects and instead concentrate on finishing up a TAMIYA 1/350 Enterprise aircraft carrier for my best friend. And No, his carrier won't be a Whif. It'll be built mostly straight from the box.
What will come after my friend's carrier is done? I don't know yet.
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Stuff that for a game of soldiers ;D
Real World isn't banned on here, we'd love to see your progress on it. :thumbsup: Don't get enough ships on here as it is, and yes I know I really, really should build one. I'll have a good look for something at Telford
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Nothing new going on much lately. Been sick with a cold/cough the last two weeks. :( So I haven't done much, if any, progress on my best friend's Enterprise aircraft carrier. The cold is pretty much gone right now except for the cough which is subsiding enough that I should be able to go to my local modeling club's Christmas meeting and gift exchange tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the meeting because another member said he was bringing me a what if model project that he had started long ago, but is now giving it to me because he is currently clearing out some of his model stash. I can't say what it is, but if I get to pick it up tomorrow, I'll take pics and share when I get home. ;)
In other news, I created the following tonight because of my Habakkuk "obsession". ;D
https://www.facebook.com/History-Research-of-Project-Habakkuk-215046165570785/
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As usual, not much going on lately. Got a model contest coming up soon in about 2 weeks on March 4th. I'll be taking my USS Solace LHD Hospital Ship. :thumbsup:
I've also been toying around with the idea of building another quick kit of the following shown below. I won one in a raffle at a local model club meeting a few months ago last year. I just now sat down tonight and started to build and paint it. If possible, I'm hoping to have this done and taken to the same contest. I'll be painting mine however in an olive drab green scheme similar to other Gamillas ships in the SBY series. But here's the catch: My model won't be from the SBY series. I'm building it instead as a future Cold War Soviet battleship carrier. ;D I could have built this for the Soviet group build here:
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/board,179.0.html
.........but I don't feel like being constrained to build a model in a set amount of weeks or months for a group build. I like to build at my own pace.
(http://static.hlj.com/images/ban/ban983654_0.jpg)
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.........but I don't feel like being constrained to build a model in a set amount of weeks or months for a group build. I like to build at my own pace.
Nothing wrong with that sir. I model as the mood takes :thumbsup:
Best of luck with the contest. If you don't win I'd demand a recount ;) :thumbsup:
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Good luck and I can only imagine the amount of interest your ship will bring !
:thumbsup:
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In the picture of the Gamillas battlecarrier in Post 152 further above, does anybody who has seen the SBY2199 series have any idea what the bright yellow cone shaped areas on the left and right sides of the ship are? Are they some sort of large cannon, or a sensor system, or something else? There are yellow decals from the model kit to put in these areas, but I seem to have lost the decal sheet. :banghead:
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I'm taking suggestions for a name for my Soviet battlecarrier that I mentioned I was building further above in Post 152. Anybody got any good names? Need a ship's name, plus the CLASS name of the vessel.
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Tsar Vladimir...
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Leon Trotsky.
Icepick Class.
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How about Vladimir Drokof & Dropshortsky Class ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Dan
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Leon Trotsky.
Icepick Class.
Oh very droll.... ;D
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Trotsky and the Icepick class....Ho..........., Ho....................., Ho.
There's always the Romanov class. Nikolai, Alexander, Peter, Michael, Catherine, Anna, Feodor and Ivan. That's just Tsars, if you take princes and princesses you can have a fairly large class!
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Been a very busy year so far for model building. Usually, I only average 1 kit per year. But this year has been the exception. :o
Soviet Space Battlecarrier
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43422.0.html
Space Battleship Yamato Cosmo Falcon Fighter
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43430.0.html
ASF-X Shinden II Warwolf Squadron
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43504.0.html
Chinese J-35 FSW Prototype Fighter
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44219.0.html
MiG-37B Ferret-E Blood Wolves Squadron
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44237.0.html
So what's next on my to-do list? Glad you asked. ;) The following to be whiffed into a French Air Force stealth fighter.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4376/37061745606_d88093bedc_b.jpg)
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Lots of nice stuff, C-Dude.
Man... look at this one... get to buildin'!!! This kit is so neat.. I've been trying to find one myself; no joy....
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Monogram also released an F-19 in 1/48 scale too. I used to have one long, long ago. Wished I had another, but no such luck. :(
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Started work on the F-19. Decided to paint it Testor Acryl Gunship Grey. Still need to paint black leading edges though. Hope to be finished this coming weekend except for the French decals which I don't have yet. Don't know when I'll be able to get those. :( Don't expect too much detail on this model. It's only a "desktop" model and is pretty simple/cheap with only about 8 or so parts. What I really like about this model/whif is that I think this is an interesting aircraft configuration for a French stealth aircraft. I love the lines and curves of the airframe. There's a lot of "curves" in French architecture, writing, etc. and I think this aircraft would be perfect in French service. :thumbsup:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4344/37192606611_c814c9f8f7_c.jpg)
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Yuuup.... I agree! Will look good that way!
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It's a gorgeous shape. Very organic.
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It's not much to look at, but it's at least 90% done until I can save some money and buy some French decal markings. I'm not going to detail the s**t out of this model. It's only one of those "cheap and simple" desktop models with about 8 parts, so it'll stay a cheap and simple what if model. If I wanted to get more detailed, I'd be doing a better job on a 1/48 scale version instead, but I don't have one of those. So........
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4403/36959632510_cd517be85b_z.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4372/37184352352_9eddfaafe0_z.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4387/37184398592_eb21825798_z.jpg)
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I just had an idea. ;) And I want to thank the members of this website forum for inspiring me. Thank You. :thumbsup: I've read and seen the pics at model shows where members have set up What If SIG tables at model contests. With all the models I've been building this year (Post # 162 on Page 11) as well as currently, I'm going to do a small What If display of my own for a contest coming up this October and November. The pic below gives a slight idea of what I have in mind. The green foam is not the display base. That's just what I am using for cushioning material to help pack up my models when I transport them. But the foam is the same dimensions (3' x 2') as a piece of thick rigid sheet plastic I have which will be used as a display base. I still have to finish my Japanese Horten 229 flying wing fighter which will be added to the display. Then I'm hoping I can maybe start on a small ship to add to the display as well, though I'm not sure what type of ship to add yet.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4503/36595706833_f55e32b474_c.jpg)
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That will look really good mate, well done :thumbsup:
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:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Nice!!!! Have fun with that!!! Good to see that this stuff will get out into the public and inspire (and confuse ;D ;D ;D ;D) others!
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Updating my "DONE" list. ;)
Been a very busy year so far for model building. Usually, I only average 1 kit per year. But this year has been the exception. :o
1. Soviet Space Battlecarrier
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43422.0.html
2. Space Battleship Yamato Cosmo Falcon Fighter
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43430.0.html
3. ASF-X Shinden II Warwolf Squadron
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43504.0.html
4. Chinese J-35 FSW Prototype Fighter
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44219.0.html
5. MiG-37B Ferret-E Blood Wolves Squadron
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44237.0.html
6. French Steal Fighter (Still needs decals, but will be finished before end of year.)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4403/36959632510_cd517be85b_z.jpg
7. Japanese Horten 229
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44285.0.html
8. North Korean Ka-58 attack helicopter (Currently in progress.)
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44317.0.html
9. Arado Ar 555 (Possible next project? )
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44298.0.html
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Continuing from Post # 169.........
Here are all the models I've built since the beginning of January........with the exception of the Arado Ar 555 which will be started next week sometime. But as you can see, I plan to showcase a special "What If" model display at two contests this Fall for competition. Though I am uncertain how many models to put on the display? I suppose it looks a bit crowded right now. I can take the sign holder off and set it to the side of the display in order to make more room for the models. I was also thinking of not having the ASF-X Shinden (Upper left corner) as part of the display and instead entering that aircraft as a separate model entry. What are people's thoughts? Too much? Not enough? Anything else I should change? The black display base may end up getting changed to white.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4476/23631770918_463c42fd56_b.jpg)
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I don't think that looks crowded at all. Looks just right to me :thumbsup:
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Agreed.
Not only that... the "tight spaces" will help make people think twice about reaching off in there to grab one. . . . . :mellow:
The smiley guy emoticon is my favorite touch! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Not only that... the "tight spaces" will help make people think twice about reaching off in there to grab one. . . . .
Gee, I don't know about that. You'd be surprised what a little kids' hands can do. If they want to reach and touch something, then they darn well are going to do it. :o Maybe I should stick mouse traps next to all my models? ;D ;D ;D
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Disguise/describe them as "1/72 Catapults." :o ;D
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Not only that... the "tight spaces" will help make people think twice about reaching off in there to grab one. . . . .
Gee, I don't know about that. You'd be surprised what a little kids' hands can do. If they want to reach and touch something, then they darn well are going to do it. :o Maybe I should stick mouse traps next to all my models? ;D ;D ;D
When I'm showing my American model railroad layout I have a yard length of 1/2" dowel with a wire coat hanger bent into the shape of a hand with one finger pointing taped to the end. Over that is a white cotton glove with a white cardboard jacket cuff, with a gold cufflink naturally. It comes in VERY handy for dissuading the kiddie-winkies from prodding and poking the layout!
We call it 'The Hand of God' ;D
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Not only that... the "tight spaces" will help make people think twice about reaching off in there to grab one. . . . .
Gee, I don't know about that. You'd be surprised what a little kids' hands can do. If they want to reach and touch something, then they darn well are going to do it. :o Maybe I should stick mouse traps next to all my models? ;D ;D ;D
When I'm showing my American model railroad layout I have a yard length of 1/2" dowel with a wire coat hanger bent into the shape of a hand with one finger pointing taped to the end. Over that is a white cotton glove with a white cardboard jacket cuff, with a gold cufflink naturally. It comes in VERY handy for dissuading the kiddie-winkies from prodding and poking the layout!
We call it 'The Hand of God' ;D
Cool idea! :thumbsup:
Myself, I favour the plain ol' Pikestaff, but I obviously have less patience than you... among other problems... :o ;D
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I'll be off to a 3 day model show in Chicago starting tomorrow. :) Yay!
http://www.military-miniature-society-of-illinois.com/
http://www.military-miniature-society-of-illinois.com/2017-chicago-show/
I'll be taking the following. Other than these two, I'm not sure what else. Depends on how much vehicle space my friend has in his car. :unsure:
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,43504.0.html
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,35600.0.html
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Enjoy, and good luck.
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Display base or no base?
This past weekend, I took a bunch of my what if models and entered them in a contest as ONE large collection entry. It kinda felt funny just seeing them sitting there on a table. I almost felt like they all should have been displayed on some sort of base.
I do have a large 3' x 2' black acrylic sheet (See second picture below.) that I could use as a base and decorate somehow for displaying large collections of models. I've done it before in the past with my previous Aurora Spyplanes display. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/606/22340406910_a251ae44a8_c.jpg
So........what do you think? Display base for the whif models or just leave them on the table as is?
Without display base:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4453/24199442958_e1ae0095b3_c.jpg)
Proposed with a display base:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4476/23631770918_463c42fd56_b.jpg)
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The black base looks good, it draws my eyes to the each of the models individually, whereas I only seem to focus on the overall view with the white, unless I concentrate on moving my eyes.
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I must concur wit' me esteemed Wombat. :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
:thumbsup:
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Do you think I should decorate the black base like I did previously for the Aurora spyplanes base? Or should I leave the black acrylic base blank?
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The Aurora Spy Plane set up for the base is damn cool, but, you have many more subjects now and I think anything else would likely wind up being visual clutter, distracting from the glorious models. I think, in this instance, the simple black is the way to go. It really does look fantastic! Has the right amount of "shine," too, ya know?
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The Aurora Spy Plane set up for the base is damn cool, but, you have many more subjects now and I think anything else would likely wind up being visual clutter, distracting from the glorious models. I think, in this instance, the simple black is the way to go. It really does look fantastic! Has the right amount of "shine," too, ya know?
+1 :thumbsup:
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Ok. Thanks, guys. :thumbsup:
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The Aurora Spy Plane set up for the base is damn cool, but, you have many more subjects now and I think anything else would likely wind up being visual clutter, distracting from the glorious models. I think, in this instance, the simple black is the way to go. It really does look fantastic! Has the right amount of "shine," too, ya know?
+1 :thumbsup:
+ Another 1 :thumbsup:
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Long time, no see, folks. How's it going?
Sorry I haven't been around much. And sorry for not posting on the forums much, if at all. It's not that I've stopped model building, it's just that I've been on Facebook a lot and have found a larger audience to show my works there and FB has a lot more model groups to share model interests on.
But this really isn't any sort of "Goodbye" post. I'll still pop in here on the forums from time to time to see what's new.
But I think the biggest thing that has led me to "walk away" so to speak from regular website forums such as this (and others) is that in order to show/share pics of model subjects, I'd have to host them on a photo hosting site like Photobucket, Flickr, or somewhere else and then link to it here. But over the past several years, PB and Flickr have pissed me off with their policy and pricing changes. :banghead: So much so in fact, that I just decided to give up, delete the accounts, and stop visiting regular website forums and instead move to Facebook. At least on FB, there's no "fees" and picture limits.
As for model projects I am currently working on, I am slowly plugging away on the Very Fire 1/350th scale USS Montana battleship model kit. It won't be a what if. I'll be building it pretty much straight from the box.
And maybe next year, there is the "slight" possibility that I may start construction on a 1/350th scale HMS Habakkuk aircraft carrier. Some members will probably remember from long ago when I built a 1/700 scale Habakkuk carrier. The thread for that is probably still around somewhere on the forums, but the pics are most likely broken due to PB and Flickr past issues. But anyway, a 1/350th scale Habakkuk carrier will be approximately 6 feet long x approx. 1 foot wide. It will probably take me 5 or more years to build.
Anyway, that's my story. Just thought I'd update everyone on what I've been up to.
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Well best of luck to you, stick your head in every now and again :thumbsup:
I do understand re the posting of pics, but to my cynical old mind it will all end up the same or at the least similar eventually. All down to dosh :-\
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Sorry to see you go dude. Like Chris says, don't be a stranger.