Plastic Model Kit Thread.

Ever continuously bouncing around across various projects. Current one is a Meng 1/35 Merkava Mk 3. It's for a group build with some friends; we're each building different Merkava variants, so this one will be pushed through to completion.

I've added anti-slip to the upper surfaces, metal track, and a few other small details. Replaced the kit decals with aftermarket (no pic) and painted the barrel markings. Almost ready for weathering.

 

How did you do the anti-slip surface?

 

120 grit sandblasting medium held by Vallejo primer. Brush paint the primer onto a small area, sprinkle on the medium, shake off excess, tamp down any uneven spots, rinse/repeat.

Grit size seems pretty scale accurate and it was much simpler than trying to mask/spray around all of the surface detail. Did the whole model in about four hours.

 

Yes. I got it from Mega Hobby... Glossy pages too which are great...

 

I'll have to check it out for sure, probably Amazon/ebay it since we have no good hobby shops in my area.

About to start my next model now that the USS Yorktown is done and drying. Waiting for a case for it and my other secret project is still waiting on finishing touches.

1/35 Tamiya M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle #35-132
Decided against trying to do photoetched parts for this one since it has a full interior already. We shall see how this goes...

 

Secretly have been building this guy for the last two months on/off. I had to get the color matched paint and proper clearcoat combo to match the truck but here she is:
1/64th Scale Matchbox Tacoma
Custom/Scratch built:
- Pelfreybilt Hybrid Front Bumper
- SOS Concept Sliders
- SOS Concepts Dual Swingout rear bumper (couldn't get the upper brace on the bedside protection to stay glued)
- SCS F5's in 16" 3D Printed (Tires are equivalent to 35's which I have 33's but I couldn't find a proper smaller set)
- Diode Dynamics LED Bar w/ amber fogs
- Front Runner CabRack
- Prinsu CapRack
- Tepui Tent
- Accessories
- Depo headlights to match the set I JUST put in today.

 

Finished the Merkava Mk. 3. Overall very pleased with how this one turned out, and it was quite the enjoyable build. Threw some aftermarket stuff at it (metal tracks, cables, and a few other things), did a bit of minor scratch work, and added anti-slip.


Trying to figure out what to work on next. Might paint the Gepard, but I'm still not certain.

 

Calling this one done
Tamiya 1/35th scale M2 Bradley.

 

Looks good! What did you do for the paint chipping?

 

Painted the Gepard, time for weathering.

 

Some progress on the Tamiya 1/35th scale M1A1 with Eduard Photoetch kit... first time doing PE... it's been a nightmare but worth it...

Did a black/white preshading coat followed the top coat to show for fading. I haven't cleared it yet so it'll get darker with the clear coat. Going to use Tamiya Gloss Clear, wash/pin wash it then hit it with the Alclad II Flat Clear followed by pigment weathering...

Currently assembling plastic workable tracks.... three words come to my mind - fuck my life...... [See last photo - one sheet did only about 6 inches of track. I have 6 more to go]

 

Nice work so far!

I have a love/hate relationship with PE. Yes, it adds detail, but generally I don't want to bother with much more than a few basics and engine screens. Looks great when properly done, though.

Are those Bronco track? I have a few sets, only used a couple. Good detail and not too bad once you find a groove. The track on my Gepard were similarly tedious.

 

I think next time around I'm going to be less critical on using all of the PE items. Sometimes there is just too much and the weathering would hide stuff anyways.

As for the tracks yes they are bronco plastic tracks, overall they seem sturdy.once glued properly but getting to that point is quite the headache...

 

That, and some of the PE detail they include is simply too flat compared to plastic or resin.

There are two kits where I tried to use as much PE/aftermarket as possible, and surprisingly neither have been finished. Really should try to plow through and finish at least one of them sometime soon.

Yeah, overall I like Bronco track; detail is decent and they're a good budget option compared to metal track. But you're right, they can be a bit trying.

 

Calling it done. Didn't do any streaking style weathering, just a dust coat with pigments... I do need to darken around the turret a little but otherwise just waiting for a display case to come in that she fits in.

 

Couple ‘Yota pickups I built years ago, could use a cleaning and some paint

 

Latest finished build, a bit of sci-fi this time. Edelweiss tank from Zokei Mura in 1/35. This one has a full interior, though you can't really see it after completion. Heading to IPMS Nationals in Chattanooga later this week.

 

That thing is sweet!

 

Thanks!