Mark Deliduka

That is very impressive and very clean! Way to go!

Despite the issues, you are doing a tremendous job on this MiniAaaargh kit! Nice work on the tracks and the engine almost looks good enough to drop some fuel in it and fire it up. Keep it going, it looks like you've got this now.

Another brilliant masterpiece from you Gil! I love for logging in here to see your latest models! They are always such amazing works of art!

Good advice. You got this man!

Excellent news. I do hope someone with more experience with MiniArt kits comes on to help you.

Charles while I haven't built this or any other Miniart kit, I understand your frustration. I've watched many a modeler on other Forums tackle Miniart kits and they are challenging. One guy even refers to the company as "MiniAaaargh" because of it. One peroson dealth with that issue by only adding the cleats to track links that could be seen. The ones under side skirts and running under the roadwheels he left off. I know it's not much but I hope this helps in some small way.

Thanks to a few days of productivity, I managed to get a few models done for my armor collection. Unfortunately, some of these pics didn't turn out the best: my new camera lost the auto-focus function so I have to make do the best I can in getting things into focus. First is the Vespid Models German KF-51 Panther, the newest tank in the German Army. And now one of my newest tanks as well: Next is the Italeri Italian Ab-40 Autoblinda modified for railroad use: Next up, my Meng M2A3 Bradley with the BUSK III upgrade: Next is an ICM Russian ZiL 131 truck with a DShK machine gun mounted in the bed: Again apologies for the bad pic. This was the best of the ten or so attempts I made, yet this shot is better for some reason: Another ten or so attempts later and this is the best one of the bunch: Finally there is the ICM trailer that was described as being used for a mobile office, ambulance trailer, portable workshop, command trailer etc: Yes it looks like the roof is loose. It is. This is why the roof is loose, so I could show off this. I chose to make this a portable workshop by adding some resin factory equipment inide: And now we can show the truck and trailer together, even though they weren't necessarily paired like this. Still, it looks good! ' That's all for now. Maybe I'll get some other armor done this month but we'll see. For now, my apologies again for the pic quality; comments are welcome! Thanks for looking in!

Today marks the culmination of another week of solid building, thus there's enough here for a new tour. So without further ado, anyone wishing to join this latest tour, feel free to board the trams and get ready for another exciting tour of the facilities. I must apologize for the quality of some of these pics; the auto-focus went out on my new camera and so I've been having to do things manually with not so successful results. I am using the best photos I was able to take. As always, we start in the Hangar. Work has picked up a bit in here. In the first bay here we have a new kit I recently acquired from Brookhurst Hobby's collections tables at the back of the store. This is a little Australian Navy helicopter they've dubbed the "Squirrel". It's from Mach 2 so it's a very crude and difficult model to do. After some fighting, we got to this stage: Naturally right after this, the tail rotor and one of the tail stabilizers went walkabout, making this impossible to finish unless and until these parts are found or suitable replacements installed Later, despite the missing parts and to try to make it look better, it got it's base coat of grey. : Moving on to the next bay we have the Iraqi Eurocopter finally assembled: Later it got a base coat of paint but that will be shown later. In the next bay is a kit I got from the Distressed Kit Auction that was mostly started. So, I assembled the main fuselage and painted it, later adding things like the canopy, engines and other detail parts. Then I built up the main rotor to get this: Later the rest of the helicopter was painted: In the next bay, the F-86 that had been languishing was finally painted in a camouflage pattern I chose because I hadn't ever built an Italian Sabre. Here it is all painted up: Later this got landing gear and I'm planning on giving this one sidewinders too. In the next bay, we have the C-46 that I'd gotten from a friend who'd purchased it painted and mostly unassembled from a thrift store. After some finagling and interior painting, this was finally assembled. Putty was then applied in places where gaps, steps and seams appeared. Given this is a Williams Brother's kit, there were a few... In the next bay, my British Horsa glider got it's full paint work done: Now to get decals and landing gear on this and some more detail painting done and it'll be finished, Speaking of gliders, we have the US Army Waco glider also sporting it's complete paint work. This one will also just need landing gear and decals for completion: That completes the tour of the Hangar, now on to the Shipyards.... In the Shipyards, only one model got attention, the USS Enterprise which had been languishing for three years while I searched for the assembled missing island to no avail. It had been sitting like this for all that time: Finally I got fed up with the fruitless search and purchased a new kit of the same model: Using that I was able to finally build and complete a full replacement for the island that is still missing: Finally I can move forward on this model. Detail parts and some touchup painting are all that's needed besides the air wing (all of which I'm also taking from the new model) and this beastie will finally be done: Moving on to the Motor Pool, things have been active here. In the first bay is the German KF-51 Panther that got the camouflage pattern on it: Yes I went with the standard Bundeswehr pattern, it fits my German army more perfectly, and I hate the look of that digital camouflage so this was my choice. All that's needed are decals and weathering and it'll be done. In the next bay, the US Army Buffalo got the full basecoat on it, although additional detail parts are needed on it: They went on later. In the next bay, the M2A3 Bradley got the interior finished: Later I'll add some Value Gear inside, once I find the container that has all of it. This then got all the basecoat on it, ready for final completion: Next I worked on a couple simple models I got from Brookhurst during our SoCal AMPS Build Night. The first one in this bay is the ICM Russian gun truck. It was so fast and easy, I got all the way to this point before I finally took some pics: The other fast and easy ICM kit was the cabin trailer that the instructions said could be an ambulance, repair shop or command post: I decided to go with a repair shop since I didn't have any of those, so I added some factory furniture I got a decade ago: Later that got painted. This also means I won't be cementing down the roof so this detail can be seen. And that concludes this tour of Maddog Manufacturing, thank you all who stopped in to tour and comment. Comments are always welcome.

Oh that's beautiful Gil! Way to go!

Thank you JeanMarc. LOL! I don't need to start a C-47; I have one hanging on my ceiling already waiting for them. Stay tuned, another tour coming soon.

After a few productive days, my Shipyards were able to launch ten new ships for my navies. The first four are from a box set of four ships in one kit from Airfix, all in 1/600 scale. These are crude by today's standards but I did the best I could with them. After all, the three British destroyers were the only ones of those type that were available back then. First up is the HMS Cossack, the largest of the three British destroyers. I had lost one of the anchors so I left them off until I can find some suitable replacements: The second ship is the HMS Hotspur, one I knew very little about until I looked it up, Yes, the B turret gun is broken here, I saw it too late, but fixed it afterward: The last British destroyer is the HMS Cambletown, one I had never expected to have in my Navy since no one had ever kitted one in either 1/700 or 1/600, but here it is. This is another 'Holy Grail" kit I've wanted for many years, even one as crude as this one: This last Airfix ship is the German Narvik-class destroyer. The instructions claim it is the Z-28, but based on the next four German destroyers I built; it is more of a hybrid with features from different makes of Z-class destroyers Here it is built anyway: Now for some actual versions of German Z-class destroyers, these are in 1/700 scale. Three are form Trumpeter, the fourth is Dragon. First is the German Z-7, one of the earlier makes of this ship: Next is the German Z-28; the actual Z-28: Followed by the German Z-31. This one is the Dragon kit: The last one is the German Z-43, one of the latest marks of this ship: Finally we get to the USS Springfield, a light missile cruiser by Revell in 1/500 scale: The final ship we launched is a Japanese assault carrier I got in a Distressed kit Auction. It had no box; everything was in ziplock bags so I decided to build it before major pieces got lost. This is the 1/700 scale JMSDF Assault carrier Shimokita: And that completes this news bulletin from the shipyards, thanks all for watching the parade of ships heading out to their shakedown cruises. Comments are always welcome. By the way, completing these ten ships allowed me to break another milestone: I now have reached the grand total number of 1905 completed models of all genres and categories. Not that anyone's counting that is.......

Oh that fits perfectly! Way to go Gil!

I know it's only been a short time and not too many people have taken the last tour, but I managed to get so much more done, I'm ready to start another one. All who wish to join me, please board the trams and get ready for another busy tour. Starting once again in the Hangar, we have the Italian CH-47 Chinook getting the canopy on and some additional touch up on the paint in this first bay: In these next bays, we have a few freshly started projects going, starting with this Iraqi Eurocopter in this next bay. I finished the interior, but the pic didn't turn out, but these shots of the tail and the main rotor did: In the next bay, we started a US Army Waco glider, starting with the fuselage with some interior. I didn't do much in the interior because it will barely be seen through the tiny windows: Later the cockpit was done so I also decided to dry-fit the canopy to see how well it will fit. Pretty good so far: Later the cockpit was painted up and the canopy glued in place: Finally, everything was assembled except landing gear to make it ready for paint: In the last bay here, I started a British Horsa Glider as well since if I have a Waco, I should have a Horsa too. With these last two completed, I'll have gliders from all four major combatants in Europe during WWII. First of course was the cockpit: Picture's not the best, but you get the idea. Later that was painted and the canopy installed: Before that, I had also assembled the wings and tail sections too: Finally, everything was put together to prepare for paint: That concludes the Hangar portion of our tour, now on to the Shipyards... Here in the Shipyards, this first slip had more progress done on the USS Springfield, getting paint and final detail parts on: Of course, some additional painting will be needed, but she's getting close to launch In the next few slips, we have all our German destroyers under construction. I found another one I didn't know I had, the German Z-7 so I laid the keel for that and started building it up: Later came paint, more detail parts and even some photo-etch: That photo etch was a ridiculous exercise in frustration! It's far to thin and delicate to keep straight and I barely even got it to stay on the model! Nevertheless, I added some more, and touched up some additional parts and got this closer to being done: The next slip has the German Z-28 which got more paint and some details: Antenna masts and final details went on next, all that's left is additional touch up paint: The next slip has the German Z-31, getting it's first coat of paint before additional parts go on: Later all her weaponry, detail parts and masts went on and got painted for the most part: Finally in this next slip is the German Z-43 getting it;s first coat of paint before details were added: Later the details were added and some additional painting done. Like the others, this one is getting close: Now we move onto the next slips that have my British destroyers in progress. First up, the HMS Cambletown getting painted and details added: Followed by the HMS Hotspur in the next slip getting the same: And in the next slip, the HMS Cossack got the same treatment: These Airfix kits are pretty basic but they were the only opportunity to get these ships back in the day. I'm loving this getting them finished! Finally in this last slip, I started this tiny Japanese MSDF ship that I found in the stash. I found it interesting in that the box art has the LST 4151 in the background that I'd previously finished! It went together very fast: That concludes the tour of the Shipyards, now on to the Motor Pool. Here in the Motor Pool things have picked up a bit, with a few new projects started while working on previously started models. In the first bay here we have the German KF-51 Panther getting it's roadwheels installed: The turret was then assembled and later added to the hull to see how it looks so far: The open holes were where some 3-D printed parts were supposed to go but I'd lost them, until I opened another kit and found them inside there where I thought they belonged since it had 3-D printed parts too. They got installed next: Next the tracks went on and base paint started: This will be in the standard German three-tone green-brown-black pattern. No way am I doing that digital pattern! I don't even like how it looks! Moving on to the next bay, we got started on a US Army Bradley with BUSK armor on it. This is an amazing kit that went together very well. It even has an interior: Since the rear hatch can be dropped, I'll be painting that up. Until then, I got to work on the upper hull, adding all the detail parts. It's just dry-fit on the lower hull right now: The turret came next; my apologies for the poor photo. Still working out the kinks on my new camera: Everything is looking great so far. Once the interior is painted, this is going to finish up fast: I found an old Italeri kit that I didn't know I had, it's an Italian AB-40 that was converted to ride the rails. Basic assembly went fast: Later all the detail parts were added. This beastie is ready for paint: Last but not least, we have the US Army Buffalo A1 MPCV that I started. This was where the 3-D printed parts were for the Panther, since this also has 3-D printed parts. I had to question the kit makers; some of the printed parts were not necessary to print they could just as easily have been molded. I was also frustrated by the fact that they did not mold backup parts for the 3-D printed ones. You lose or break one beyond repair and you have to do without. Anyway, on to the progress, I got the basic interior, chassis and wheels done: I then started painting the interior: It looks a bit crude here, I'll be touching it up but not much will be seen though the windows anyway as you can see here with the top dry-fit into place: Additional detail parts and some more painting were done next: It's sure looking pretty interesting. I'm hoping to get more done soon. Meanwhile, in the back area, were the buildings are all worked on, we have a new one I started since the box was all torn up. It's a bombed out house that's currently ready for paint: I hope you enjoyed the tour, I appreciate all those who stop in to see everything. Thank you all and remember comments are always welcome!

Thank you Gil! I'm hoping to get a few more aircraft over the finish line, but this month might be a red-letter month for ships as I have quite a few that are nearing the finish line themselves. We'll see how things go.

Unbelievably incredible masterpiece! This is way beyond my abilities; I bow in the presence of greatness here!

I did manage to finish another armor model before June, and here it is: Aoshima 1/72 scale Japanese Type 89 tracked APC: Things might pick up again in June, we'll see. Meanwhile, thanks for looking in, comments are welcome.

After all this time, I did manage to get a few aircraft done. The first one is the old Italeri An-2 Colt in 1/72 scale...naturally: This next one is an RS Models 1/72 scale DFS 230 German Glider of Ebon Emael fame: Finally this last one the Special Hobby 1/72 scale Israeli Vatour fighter bomber: That's all in aircraft for now, thank you for looking in, comments are welcome.

Well, it's June and wow, where does the time go? Time for another tour again so let's all board the trams and get ready for a long but hopefully interesting tour. I know these long tours can be trying, but I do have so much to show. First stop is the Hangar, where we have a few interesting things happening. In the first bay we started a German Glider of Eben Emael fame: This thing had a bunch of photo etch and resin parts for the interior but since so very little could be seen of it, I left it out. This later got painted. In the next bay, I started a kit I'd wanted in my collection for a very long time, and Israeli Vatour fighter bomber. This was a tough kit to work on, but I kept going because I wanted this plane. First all the fuselage and wings were assembled, sanded, filled, sanded and sanded: Later, paint was applied, I chose the scheme for the one that shot down an Iraqi Hunter: Decals were applied and the landing gear finally installed. This bird is practically done: Moving on to the next bay, I finally got started on my "secret Santa" build, the Italian CH-47 Chinook. Got it built, assembled and started painting before I realized I hadn't documented anything before. Oh well, here it is sporting it's camouflage pattern: In the next bay I found another started kit of a special Forces Chinook that I'd gotten in a Distressed Kit Auction, so I decided to move on with that one, adding the engines and other details: Later this got a base coat of paint, a Testor's Model Master color called Helo Drab that I found in my paint stash: These two are moving along well so far. That concludes this tour of the Hangar, now on to the Motor Pool.... In the Motor Pool here, there's not much actually happening, all that got done so far was the start of the new German KF-51 Panther tank they started recently. The basic hull and suspension with tracks are all finished so far: So, since there's nothing else to see, let's move on to the Shipyards where things have been real busy. There were a number of empty slips so we started laying keels down for a good number of destroyers and a light cruiser. This first slip has the German Z-28 destroyer who's keel went down first: Later all the details and weapons were added, bringing this to the paint stage: Paint went on and this is ready for the final touch-up and details: The next slip here has another German destroyer, the Z-31. Keel was laid and the superstructure then started: Final superstructure was completed, along with a few detail parts and paint was applied: Just a few more details and touch-ups to go on this. Thee next slip has another German destroyer, the Z-43, whose keel went down fast: The superstructure went up pretty well on this: Finally paint and a few other details added before moving on to other ships: While clearing out the Hobby Room and re-organizing the stash, I found an Airfix box labeled Famous Destroyers of WWII. It contained four complete kits of famous destroyers: The HMS Cambletown, HMS Cossack, HMS Hotspur, and a German Narvik-class destroyer, all in 1/600 scale. Well, I just had to start that set, so all four keels were laid down in the next four slips, starting with the HMS Cambletown, which I've wanted in my collection forever: Later she got a base coat of paint on her decks, superstructure and hull: While that was drying, the HMS Cossack went down in the next slip: This too got the base coat on decks, superstructure and hull: The next slip saw the HMS Hotspur go down: Which also got the same base painting: Finally in the last slip, the German Narvik destroyer went down: Once again, base painting was done: Finally in this last slip, the keel was laid down on another old kit I'd been wanting to build, the USS Springfield guided missile cruiser. This is an old Renwal re-popped by Revel and I couldn't wait to get started: I kept the superstructure parts, the deck and the hull separate for painting and I'm happy with the results so far: Finally in this last slip, the Japanese Shimokita Assault carrier was started, as it is a Distressed kit that had no box: Later the island was done: This was then installed on the carrier and additional details were added: This is another fast model so it should be done fairly soon. Well that concludes this tour, although I feel I'm forgetting some projects. I guess we'll see them in a later tour. Until then, thanks for all who stop in, comments are welcome always.

Thanks Phil! Yeah, it's gonna take up even more room than my An-124 I built earlier. Still, I'm so looking forward to having this in my collection.

This is spectacular Ron! I have this in my stash and was going to start it soon too; thank you for showing this so I have something to aspire to. Beautiful job!

Some time back at a game convention, I picked up these: Then I was contacted by a friend who needed help. So after getting paid for a job, I took up his offer to sell me this: This is gonna be interesting.

This is my most recent completed armor model, Meng's Israeli Merkava IV M with the Trophy System. I tried to have it done last month, but things got a bit hectic so I was able to finish this off recently: My apologies for the pics. My old camera broke, so I got a new one and I'm still trying to figure out how to use it best. Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome.

I was hoping for more, but these are the ones I was able to complete. Maybe the rest will be able to launch in June. First is the USS Albany, the original kit was the USS Chicago in 1/500 scale; I got aftermarket decals to make her the Albany: Yes, there are a few pieces missing; it is a Distressed Kit, so that is expected. I do hope to find and/or replace what's missing later, but for now this is done. Next up is Trumpeter's 1/700 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth, their newest fleet carrier, and now my newest fleet carrier: And that's all we have for now. Stay tuned for more ships about to come down the slipways. Thank you to all who stop in to comment, they are always welcome.

Thank you Kevin!

That is great information Tom! Thank you. I'll definitely look into the UV glue.