Here Come the Marines!

[Rick Lowe]

They always seem to, don't they... 

[Old Wombat]

The .50 cal machine guns have presented me with an unexpected problem ... they're too wide to fit behind/in the gun shields. 

This means pulling out a different pair of kits (with 50-round ammo cans instead of 100-round cans) & starting from the beginning. 

I may not get even this build finished by the end of the GB at this rate! 

[Old Wombat]

Proof of Progress:





[Click on images for larger view]

Slow going!

Had to find an alternative to the wire I wanted to use for the ramp hawsers (ended up being some very nice mercered cotton thread I have in the stash (usually used for sewing leather goods)
Had to make 2 sets of .50 cal  machine guns (the 100-round ammo cans on the first set were too big, so I had to go with 50-round cans) - all beautiful little kits in their own right
Got AMS on the fire extinguisher & re-built the entire top & tube to match period photos
Rebuilt the cockpit/wheelhouse cover attachments 3 times to get the removable top high enough to not hit the skipper's hat & strong enough not to break with (minimal) handling
Agonised over decals, trying to find suitable decals in the stash, revising my initial idea a couple more times & finally settled on what you see here (there is a logic to them)

Hopefully I'll get the weathering done in time - I know I won't get the crew finished.

[buzzbomb]

Oh.. that is gorgeous 

Terrific work

[kerick]

Looks pretty done to me! And looks awesome!

[Old Wombat]

Thanks, gentlemen!   

[Rick Lowe]

Looks pretty done to me! And looks awesome!

+1 

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

  

[Old Wombat]

Thanks all!     

[Old Wombat]

Gloss coat on in preparation for the weathering. 

[buzzbomb]

Gloss coat on in preparation for the weathering. 

Where is the chewing nails emoji when you need it 

[Old Wombat]

Tell me about it! 

Weathering was going to start today because the weather is ... well ... crap & makes outside house work impossible, but I've been called in for an extra shift this afternoon & one can't say "no" to double pay. 

OK, I could say "no" but;
   I put my name down for the callback;
   it's Day 1 of a 4-days-off block, so losing one won't hurt (too) much; &
   I could use the money (mostly to cover the excess spent on modelling kits & supplies recently)

[Old Wombat]

OK, I'm calling her "done for now"!

As usual I went overboard on the weathering.     

I have to replace the charging handle on one of the .50 cal's, then I'll take photo's ... Later. After I've had a sleep. It's 0415hrs here.

[Rick Lowe]

As usual I went overboard on the weathering.     

I feel your pain... it's so easy to do, and so difficult to fix.