AMT '70 Nova Pro Stock - Shelf Spacer

This has been the worst kit I've had the pleasure to deal with. I didn't realize that it was an old release from the early 80's. The mold lines were bad. The fenders were badly warped.The glass wasn't fully developed, neither were the headlights. Overall I'll give this one a -5 out of 10.

This one took a little bit more time to set up. I actually bought this as a show car for the model show in Chattanooga, however, once I opened it, I knew it wasn't going to happen. 

Using some tape, I had to tape the hood to the fenders in order to help position them to the body. Then they were partially glued into place, so I could see what all had to be done. 

Using some putty, I filled in the panel lines between the fender and doors and along the top of the fenders. After letting it harden for a few days, I began sanding to make it a bit more presentable and smooth. I also rescribed the body lines to bring them back. Though I originally was going to make a drag car, I had some left over Testors Extreme lacquer in Racing Blue. So I decided that I would make the Saturday night ice cream drive build with a stance from hell.

The paint actually cured for about two weeks. Only due to real world issues. But like always, with the clear coat screwed things up. Seems the issue only happens with the Testors Extreme Wet Look clear. It bubbled the paint over the driver side fender well and above the driver side rain catch. I really need to look into decanting this. I really like the looks when it works right.

Don't have enough left, I was miserable and said oh well. I wasn't going to stript it. After all was said and done, I "kinda" got the nova I want to take to the ice cream shop on Saturday night.

Finished up the chrome work with the last of my BMF. Covered the rims in Tamiya accent liner to dull them a bit.

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The Darkside Pt 5: Mein Anführer, der Panzerwagen ist fertig

 At least it is to me. Finally calling the tank build done.  The Panzer IV Ausf. J Late, 1944 Stoumont. This has been a challenge as well as a rewarding build as I stepped outside of what I knew. I learned a few new techniques along the way, picked up a lot of supplies I didn't think i'd have. Even got into 1/35 scale figure painting. Oh the joys!

After spending some time assembling the track links that came with the kit, fighting to get them on the tank and letting them set there to let the glue really set in a few days, it was time to paint them. Keeping simple, it was black primer base with a wash coat of the red oxide I made up. Only one problem. When I went to put the track back onto the tank, the links started falling apart. Needless to say, I was at my last with it. Eric found me a set of Rye Field workable link tracks on the Squadron site, so I ordered those.

Tracks on the tank, q tips to help with sag while glue dries.

LInks just started crumbling like wet sand when I went to put them back on.

So while I wait for more supplies to arrive, and have already ran to Michaels, HL and Joanns to find paint, I mixed up the oil paints to make a wash and started weathering the tank. I know there is premade solutions out there for different things. Oil and gas spills, rust, etc. But, I might as well as learn this way. I did however, buy some dust affect and track wash from AK Interactive.

After watching multitude of videos and talking with Eric, I started the wash on things like the bolts and around hatches. Then I moved to other areas where the tank wouldn't be so clean. In the end, I think I ended up washing the entire tank with the wash, building up areas more than others, then going back with a clean brush and cleaning some up.

Tanks are dirty. Unless they just rolled off the shop line, even then, they're gonna have grease marks on them. I wanted this to look as if it's been in use for quite some time. Personally, I believe I pulled it off. 

It's been about a few weeks from the time the wash was done and the track arrived. I spent 4 hrs putting together and painting the tracks this past weekend. This has also been plenty of time for the oils to dry and fade out a bit.

OMG these were a life saver. 

99 links on the wall, 99 links...

During this time, I started a few 1/35 scale figures. Technically, they're from the Normandy campaign, but Eric was nice enough to give them to me and I wanted to something to go with this tank. Granted, I used to paint pewter figures back in the day, but somehow, this is a lot different.  I didn't spend a lot of time sanding things down. I just cut, glued and painted.

The faces on these weren't meant for a lot of detail. But I did try the best I could. Even watched a handful of videos of different techniques. I know own a few dozen bottles of Vallejo acrylic paints. I also realized, I was going to need some micro brushes, so I ordered those.

Still need to go back and fix the eyes and flush out some shading on the faces. That will come when the brushes get here.

Sooooo, after 3 months and roughly 72 hours into building this tank. Pitfalls due to poor instructions, materials i've never used before, techniques that I don't use on any of my autos, I am proud to say my tank is done. 

I went back over a few spots with the oil wash to darken them up a bit. I tried chipping a few places, didn't like the results so I stopped. Brushed on some red oxide in a few edge places where the camo paint would have rubbed off. I also took a #2 penciled and gently highlighted some areas based on the current lighting where paint and primer would have rubbed off, exposing the steel.

After getting the new Rye Field tracks on and fixing the figures what I could, I took it out for some photos. 

"Ya know Kommandant..."

Fixed the shading a bit and was able to add eyes.

Again, I think this turned out well for my first go 'round. I have a Stugg to build as well as a Panther that I will be attempting a full diorama with. 

A big thanks though to Eric for pushing me into not leaving my first model show in Jan without buying anything and his friend Tim who is a walking knowledge bank. 

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The Darkside Pt 4 - The Colors of Panzer

After weeks of waiting on supplied to arrive, I finally got around to laying down the colors for the panzer. Using some new stuff, I thinned out some of the Mr. Surfacer 1500 black primer with some Mr. Surfacer Leveling thinner. The smell is enough to make the dead turn away, but the stuff is amazing. I set the PSI to about 10-12 and set the brush to a slightly wider area. The primer laid out as smoother than anything i've had seen yet.

I bought the AK Interactive Real Colors for the German tanks. From research and talking to friends, the red/brown in the kit is too dark, so it needs to be lightened up with some red. Since the AK colors are enamel based, i added some Testors flat red to get a color closer to the red oxide. I took the Dark Yellow from the AK kit and did the wheels using a template and started on the equipment. For the equipment, I bought the Vallejo Panzer Colors Paint Set #8.

In order to get the equipment on, I had to pull the schurzen rails off. Thank the elder gods for CA glue. With the equipment painted and slightly toned, I began adding them to the kit.

Once the equipment was attached, the rails were added back. CA glue wasn't going to cut this time, so I opted for the nail glue.

Using the instructions, and a few online photos, I tried to mimic the camo scheme. Being red/green colorblind, I couldn't see where the green was going, I could just see a layer of wet paint. So doing some touch ups was a little sketchy. so far, people seem to like it. Some feel it's "too airbrushed looking." Not like it bothers me. It's my first ever tank, and a paint scheme I've never done before.

 Next up is the track building. Again, something well outside my fender wells, but it's a challenge i'm looking forward to.

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The Darkside Pt 3 - Panzer IV Ausf. J Late

 So, There have been some setbacks on the tank, but it's ready for painting, once my supplies arrive.

Testing fitting the schurzen before rebuilding the rails.

I have learned that the early Dragon kits instructions weren't the best. And not knowing what the parts are, like I do cars, it made for some interesting sessions.

So if you look at the drawings, the schurzen rail kinda matches that. So after i built one and attached it to the tank, it looked okay. I mean, i've never built one before. However, after getting both sides on, it was realized that the drawing is incorrect. 

Pulling the rails off, thank god for CA glue, i did some sanding and reattached all the hooks. That when it dawned on my, that the metal brackets were not in the correct spots.

Looking at part numbers MA2, MA3, and there is an MA4, and where they show attached to the hull is incorrect, unless you have the schurzen rails sit way behind the hull like wheelie bars. After pulling everything off, some cutting on the metal, more sanding, they were added back.

Then came time to add the lower schurzen brackets (F14). Once it was determined where they go, these were pretty simple to add. 

Having spoken with my friends (Eric) friend (Tim), who both have won nationals with their tank builds, they are pleased with my work so far, especially since this is my first tank kit. It is a different kind of monster than a car. But i also stated, "it ain't painted yet" so we'll see.

The photo etch is one of the hardest things i've had to deal with on a kit. The parts here are a bit out of alignment and over bent. Looks like they did suffer some damage at one time or another. We'll see if that adds to the build or subtracts.

Tim is a walking encyclopedia of WW2 knowledge when it comes to tanks, battles, dates, etc. He did bring over some books I could borrow for my next build for reference and i've gone ahead and ordered a few cheaper one.

The amount of resources available is amazing. I really wish cars had some of this. Especially the level of detail in the molds.

This is where it's at now. After a conversation with Tim and Eric, I am not going to put the mesh on the sides. At least I am thinking not all of it. I've been tossing the idea around of one piece on each side, but showing damage. I'll build and paint it to see how it will look prior to deciding if it stays or not. I want to damage the two front fenders below the hinges as well before paint. So we'll see how that goes.

Still have the track to build but I will wait on that until i can get the wheels primed and painted so I have a guide to get the track sag done correctly.

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