More Works In Progress

Zvezda's 1:144 Ilyushin Il-2 Stormovik. I built it today, then it got it's base colors via airbrush. The lower part was masked with tape, the camouflage pattern was created with liquid masking solution. When I removed the tape, some parts of the color kept sticking on it, so I had to repaint some parts with a brush.

The next steps will be to paint the details followed by a coat of gloss coat to prepare it for decaling. The decals of both of the Zvezda planes are generic ´numbers and nationalsigns, not too bad and usable.

Zvezda's 1:144 Messerschmitt BF 109 F/2. This was built today too, but at the moment it got only primed and the lower hull was painted grey. I am still unclear how to paint the upper hull.

Two Plastic Soldier Company SD.Kfz. 251/D in 15mm scale. Both got nightfighting equipment. The left model got upgraded to the Sd.Kfz. 251/20 UHU with the Heer46 conversion parts. Since I did not like the driver's night vision piece I changed it with a matching piece from the Heer46 Panther night vision conversion pack. I also added a clear lense to the searchlight which is not on the pictures.

On the other halftrack I changed the closed doors to scratchbuilt open ones. 

I forgot to make pictures of Olli's stuff but I think soon he will upload some pictures in his own blog. Another successful building session for the Montagsmaler even when it is Wednesday.

Revell 1:144 Ju 87b Stuka Todays W.I.P.

Two pictures of Revell's 1:144 Micro Wings Stuka kit. Revell's Micro Wings range offered 16 world war 2 planes in 1:144 scale made from moulds from the early seventies. My mate Olli made pictures of another two Revell Micro Wings fighters which he will publish in his blog soon (update: this post).

Due to the age of the kits' moulds there was a lot of flash and some parts did not went together without putty and some mild violence. I painted it with the brush, using masking tape for the camouflage pattern. While I am not 100 percent satisfied with the results, it will be a decent game piece.

The (still unfinished) diorama base was made with a picture frame and some cartonage.

Today my mate Olli joined me for another Montagmaler session. Our roguish goals for today are to build two Zwezda "Art of Tactics" 1:144 planes, I will try to build a Sd.Kfz. 215/20 "UHU" from the PSC Sd.Kfz.251/D kit and the Heer46 UHU conversion kit. Olli wants to remove its paint before he starts to repaint one of his Tigers. Maybe we will build and paint some more stuff, but the clock is ticking.

 

Later in the evening I will post some pictures of today's progress.

Rügen'46: Achtung, Spione!

A group of allied commando forces accompanied by their trusty drone. In my Rügen'46 background settings, the allied commands decided after devastating losses of men and material to withdraw all their troops from the continent while the plague is spreading

Allied specialists can join any faction as so-called military advisors, but since the plague spread over the oceans, their armies are needed to defend the homeland.

Two minis from the Warm Acres boardgame "Hour of Glory". Due to the game mechanics you get the same character in a sneaking and in a fighting pose.
I replaced the left miniature's knife with a bad looking pistol which will be replaced when I get a new one. The other figure got not only a pretty weird view but also a cigarette.

Again two miniatures from "Hour of Glory" and again the same character in a sneaking and in a fighting pose. I did not do any changes to the figures but if I get a nice looking revolver the actual revolver of the left mini will be replaced.
The overall quality of these "Hour of Glory" figures could be a lot better.

Today I finished this Mr. Gutsy inspired robot figure made by Brother Vinni. Made from very soft resin, the 8 parts went together very well. It was the first time I used UHU Hart glue for resin and like the actual result. For the paintjob I used the same colors that I use for my 15mm US tanks.

A specialist armed with a revolver and a sharpened wooden peg by East Riding Miniatures. The other mini came in a blister with the vampire miniature from this post.

These miniatures were mainly painted with Revell Aquacolor Khakibraun and an unlabeled olive green. The main wash I used was thinned down GW Agrax Earthshade. For the bases I used the materials which can be seen in the background of the first picture.

Revell 1:100 Bell AH-1G Cobra

 

A closer look at a kit which I got from the local toy store. I am trying to buy at least one modelkit from there each month and get most of the colors I use from there. I remember, almost 30 years ago when I made my very first modelling steps, this store had a very big assortment of so many model kits which impressed me much.

Now it is (literally) a small corner.

Their model railway department, my only local source for basing materials, closed two years ago. And my stocks are starting to run out. If they would discontinue their modelling sales, I would not get any Revell Aquacolors (which I prefer to use) locally, I would have to look for online sources or modelshops in other towns.

That is why I try to keep their modelling section "alive". Support your local modelstores.

I could not find pictures of this kit in its unbuilt stage on a quick Google search that's the reason for me making some pictures of it. First of all, this is no review but the pictures may help other modellers

These two sprues belong to Revell's AH-1G Cobra modelkit. As I an absolutely no expert in helicopters I can not say anything about its accuracy, but the sprues almost have no flash but some hidden but viewable ejector marks. On the body where you attach the skids are minor sinkhole effects, as on the weapon wings.

The clear part for the cockpit is at least one millimeter thick and distorts the view. Since there is no crew I decided to paint it from the inside with some kind of blue when I will build it.

The decals, printed in the usual high quality of Revell, offer only one option, the helicopter from the box top, a Cobra located in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam in 1967.

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At the moment I am enjoying  the first day of my (home) vacation, and I just finished a miniature which I will show with it's companions later this evening

15 mm British Sherman Platoon For TANKS

Finally I finished my British Sherman platoon for future TANKS games. These models were included in the old Flames of War starter kit "Open Fire". After some struggles with the decals from Battlefield Miniatures, I found out how to work with them.

The tanks belong to the A squadron of the 2nd Armoured batallion Grenadier Guards of the Guards Armoured Division. The markings may not be 100% accurate, but at least they add a little more color.

MENG 1:48 King Tiger

Pictures of the Meng 1/48 King Tiger I finished today. This tank was modelled after the King Tiger from the playstation 4 game "World War Toons".

I instantly fell in love with this chunky design, and when the kit arrived, I was impressed by it's quality, even when it is a fastbuild kit designed to be build without glue, this kit is very detailed.

The build made a lot of fun and went pretty straight forward, yesterday I needed about 2 hours for constuction, the paintjob was done today via airbrush. Then I used a little drybrushing and added some wash on selected part of the model.

The numerical decals I used were included in the kit, the German crosses were taken from the sparebook.

The only annoying point are the rubbertracks which could be better. I had to remove the inner trackguding line for a better connection between track, glue and roadwheels.

A pair of hardplastic tracks would be perfect for this kit but it seems it is depicted more as a toy and not as as model kit.

I used a figure from the set "Ilsa and the She-Wolves" made by Pulp Figures as tank commander which fits very well with the scale of the tank.

The final picture shows the size comparison of a regular King Tiger and the toon version. Both kits are in 1:48 scale, but as you see, the Meng King Tiger may be smaller but appears very bulky.

In my opinion this tank could easily fit in 28mm weird world war 2 games, armies or scenarios. Use a bigger gun and let it travel to the 41st millenium.
My tank will cruise through the remnants of Rügen to find the origin of the so-called "Rügen Incident" and get valuable artifacts from this place.
 

28mm Mariya Oktyabrskaya By Stoessis Heroes

 

A closer look at the 28mm Mariya Oktyabrskaya miniature(s) produced by Stoessis Heroes. I bought this blister directly from him at the Hamburg Tactica this year. (If you read this, please make a Rodger Young miniature)

It contains 2 metal miniatures, one standing and one sitting pose. Also included is a small text on the back of the insert about the historical person on which the minis are based.

As you can see on the picture above one hand of the figure on the left side needs to be glued to the body, for the picture below I used whiteglue for a temporal connection.

The quality of the models and the casting are very good, like all other miniatures from Stoessi. If you want some nice additions for your 28mm ww2 armies, I recommend his shop.

The last pictures shows that the miniatures are true 28mm. At the moment I do not have any suitable miniatures for comparison, but in my opinion their measurements would make them fit in any Soviet Bolt Action army. And the left model seems to be ready to smash some heads.

I am waiting for a box of Warlord Games plastic Soviet figures, when they arrived I will make some comparison pictures with some other miniatures.

If you want to know more about Mariya Oktyabrskaya you can read the Wikipedia article about her. The English translated Russian entry contains not only more informations than the English one, it even has a picture of one of her "Боевая подруга" (Fighting Girlfriend) T34 tanks.

You can see Mariya Oktyabrskaya on the right side of the picture, looking into the camera. To build this tank it seems I need both Rubicon T34 kits to to get the matching hull and tower.

I always wanted to keep any advertising out of this blog but sometimes there are some shops worth to be mentioned. I do not receive any bonus for this.