Mark Deliduka

Sweet! I may just have a few models I cam post here. I have to commend you on your choices of themes; you've been picking some excellent and inspiring subjects.

Sorry for the late reply, I just saw this. Thanks for that link; I would love getting that book too. I do have two other Squadron-type books on armored trains that were a big help with this model. At least picture-wise that is; one of them was written in Polish and I don't read or understand it. I have two more Russian armored trains to do; hopefully I can get them done soon.

Very nice! That is one huge beast! Looking forward to seeing more done.

Thanks Kevin! Fortunately this was all in two kits, yet the price darn near killed me! This beastie is over six feet long, so I can imagine what a 1/35th scale one would look like! I've also done a Russian Armored Train as well. I have two more in the lineup. Thanks again for the great reply.

Welcome Kevin! I can see you have already dove right in with all the posts you have already done. You will fit right in here. Congrats on thew awards you've won. I too have the same philosophy when it comes to contests. Place my work on the tables and let the chips fall where they may. Welcome once again and now I'll go check out the rest of your posts.

You're welcome Ron! Glad to help.

Excellent work! I like it!

Ron, welcome to my world! As I recall though, UM only makes models in 1/72 scale. I have two Shermans of theirs I have started, but one has the wrong parts inside the kit, making it impossible to build. Still considering options to get around that though. You did an outstanding job on this model. Way to go.

Two more brilliant masterpieces taking shape. This is gonna be fun to watch.

I think I can. It looks like a part I used in a model kit that I've built some time ago; the part definitely looks familiar. It'll take some time for my foggy memory to clear up though.

Thanks guys! Yeah, this box has really made my trips to Hobby Day far more fun and productive!

For about five or six years now, I've been taking model kits and tools down to St. Crispin's Irregulars Hobby Day that is held in a local Knights of Columbus Hall down in Anaheim. While there, I get to spend the day working on my models for as long as I want. At one time, we were opening up once a week which really helped my productivity tremendously. Dora's assembly was a lot faster because of those Hobby Days. I do still go to Hobby Days, but we only have them twice a month now. It's the only place I can work on Dora, given the size of this thing! One of the issues I kept having was that I couldn't find a toolbox that was able to carry everything I needed to do what I wanted to do. I'd tried different boxes from Hardware toolboxes from Home Depot; to arts & crafts toolboxes from Michael's or Aaron Brothers Art Marts. Nothing worked to my satisfaction. Finally, after stopping in to a Sports Chalet just before my birthday to pick up something for my physical therapy, I decided to check out the fishing dept. for tackle boxes. I found the perfect one for $59.95. A bit pricey, yes, but it works out perfectly! Here it is; in this pic the front is open showing the three drawers holding a number of my tools, including channel locks for opening up stubborn paint jars: The top has compartments holding all my most-used tools: Underneath the top is the compartments holding my paints and other supplies. Most importantly, the left side is a deep section that holds all the taller bottles that never could fit satisfactorily in all the other boxes that I tried out: Now I can fit everything I need and then some; and it all stays organized! Man, I love this! Going to Hobby Days are far more enjoyable now. That's all I got from myself. A number of models were given to me by some good friends at Hobby Day as well: Yeah, it was a good birthday!

Hey all, Another week and another small update on my latest progress. I'll start with my armor models I've been working on. I finally camouflaged the Tiger I from Zvezda and painted all the detail parts too. This one is ready for clearcoat and decals: I also camouflaged the Tilly from ACE. The paint is still wet on this model in these pics. She's also ready now for clearcoat and decals: Next up, I was going through my stash in my Hobby Room and found that I had a second OT-62 model: I opened the box to see if it had the correct sprue for this model and found that it had: You can see how much cleanup I gotta do on this. The tracks are worse! Needless to say, I got started on it right away and managed to get all the torsion bars installed; the turret completed, and most of the major detail parts added: Finally, I managed to get more done on the Dora. I started with the ammo carts that are used to move the shells: Next I started working on the ram that pushes the shells into the breech block. I had to add nine of those small rods you see at the bottom of this before moving on: Next, I built the final major assembly that was needed for this model. The two lifting rigs that bring the ammo up to the loading deck were installed on this model: Now all the major assembly on Dora is completed. All that is left are the railings and the detail parts that I was afraid to install due to the delicate nature of most of them. Once they are done; I'll be able to paint this massive beastie. Here are the obligatory shots of the fully assembled model: That's all I was able to complete on my armor. Now on to my aircraft... Now, with all that going on, I didn't get too much done on my aircraft, but I did manage to get the windscreen on the Cessna sealed at the top. Now I have to seal the bottom of the windscreen and then I can mask this for the white basecoat: My IPMS Orange County chapter is doing a Group Build of 1/72 scale Mustangs for the IPMS Nationals in Colorado. I have four Mustangs so I decided to start one of them. This is the Italeri Mustang that I'd gotten from the Distressed Kit Auction. It was started already, so I enhanced a little more of the work that was done and then built this up to this stage: Well, that's all I had to show for this weekend. Thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Thanks Christopher!

Thanks guys for the great comments! This is a small fraction of my OOP kits. I may be able to get more posted later. I agree, I love those old Aurora civilian planes. What a score those were! I also have the USS Macon to go with the Akron. I should post a pic of the two of them. Thanks Chris! I actually put a full interior inside that Monty's Caravan. It took awhile, but I love it! Oh, and my factory is in my hobby room. I have no backyard; I wish I did! I still have more to post if I can get to them. Thanks Gil! There are some issues with the fire engine, but I agree, it looks fantastic. It was also the first model to scare the bejeezus out of me when I opened the box! Fun story about that fire engine: Our IPMS club was putting on a display in a local library showing various kits as such to promote our club and open up the public's eyes to the hobby. I brought that fire engine in as part of the collection of models I contributed and set it on display with all the others. When the local paper came to cover the new display, they took a picture of my fire engine and put it on the front page of their "local" section. One guy came because (and I quote) "he thought the fire engine was a full sized one." He was stunned to see that it was a model. Thanks again guys for the great replies. I'll see if I have more OOP models to post soon.

Hey all! For awhile there my PC was not working so I had no access to post any photos on here. So, while waiting for the thing to get fixed, I got quite a bit done on several projects. Now that I have the PC back; I'm going to get all these posted today, hopefully before my flu meds kick in. Let's start with my aircraft. First off, I found a two-bladed prop to replace the lost one on my Cessna 172 floatpane so I went ahead and installed the windows for this plane before assembling the prop to the nose: Here it is with the propeller on the nose ready to install: You can see there's loads of gaps around that windscreen that need to be dealt with. I'd already added some Mr. Surfacer 500 to start. While that was drying, I painted the camouflage pattern on the A-109 KM helicopter that I'm doing for a Helicopter Group Build: After setting that aside to dry, I decided to start another aircraft. This is the Testor's Ju-52; a later version. This one has waist guns, unlike the earlier one I built. I started this because the box is shot and I'm afraid of losing parts. Here is the interior all assembled: I later got all that painted but didn't take a pic. I'll remember to get one before I close everything up. Okay, that's all I have for my aircraft for this week. Now on to my armor. First off, I painted a camouflage pattern on my Nutrocker hovertank. It's pretty basic as you can see here. If anyone has any ideas for spicing that up, let me know: Next up, I added the windows to my Tilly and closed up the cabin: After all that dried, I finished up the assembly and basic painting: Earlier in the week, I finished the assembly on the Iraqi M-3 APC; all except the final detail parts: Then I painted on a Dark Tan basecoat: Now I can see better where I still need to adjust seams and such. I'll get those done before I move along on this. Next, for something different, I pulled out my two WC-360 engines and completed painting the interior. I had to guess on a lot of the details since Trumpeter doesn't give any color call outs for the interior. I'm pretty pleased with the final result: After finishing that up, I closed up the cabins and finished the assembly of the engines. Here they are, fully built and ready for paint: In between all these different projects, I was also working on my Russian TOS-1 Buratino. I decided that I wanted the launcher box to articulate, so I started by drilling holes in the two tabs underneath the box: Then I drilled a hole in the end of the lifting rod: I then put these together with a small section of copper wire that I later cut to size and super glued in: I was careful to keep the CA glue from the lifting rod and so I was successful in making this elevate as seen in the following three pics: Later on, I painted the lower hull, than added the roadwheels: Here's a shot of it with the upper hull and turret dry-fit to the top of the lower hull: And finally, I started to paint the roadwheels: And that's this week's update for now. I hope you enjoyed the factory tour. Thanks for stopping in, comments are welcome.

I have a few here: In Aircraft I have these: Revell 1/72 scale Delta Dart: Revell 1/72 scale F-16XL Cranked Arrow: Revell 1/72 scale DH-2: MPC 1/72 scale O-2 Kingfisher: MPC 1/72 scale Ju-52 Transport: Airfix 1/72 scale Bo-105 helicopter: Matchbox 1/72 scale Supermarine Stranraer: AMT 1/200 scale USS Akron: Revell Box Scale Goodyear Blimp: Eidai 1/72 scale Cessna Skymaster: Aurora 1/72 scale Piper Cherokee: Aurora 1/72 scale Piper Aztec: In Armor I have the following: PST 1/72 scale 30N6E-1MF Radar Vehicle: ACE 1/72 scale SA-9 Gaskin: Matchbox 1/76 scale Monty's Caravan: ACE 1/72 scale Iraqi T-55 Enigma: PST 1/72 scale Australian GMC CCKW Tractor Trailer: PST 1/72 scale Ford G8TA Tractor Trailer: ESCI 1/72 scale Israeli T-62 tank: In ships, I have the following: Revell Box Scale Nautilus: Airfix 1/600 scale HMS Victorious: Glencoe Models 1/550 scale NS Savannah: And finally, in Automotive, I have: AMT 1/12th scale 1911 Christie Fire Truck: That's all I have available to post now. I'm certain I have dozens more OOP models to post. Maybe I will before the month is up. Meanwhile, thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Awesome Bill. Let me get my reply back from my Old Man. I'll let you know.

Oh man, you didn't get pics? Say it ain't so! I would have loved to see that.

An -A model would work. I just looked at my model on the ceiling and it is a -A model My father's tail code was AT -600 though if I recall correctly. I need to do some research to be sure. I'll let you know.

Welcome Shannon to these boards and to IPMS Nationals. In addition, I thank you and your wife for your service. That is so great that you and your boys are sop into this. As for building models; yes, definitely do it for fun. I'd also say that; even though you feel you could never build well enough to compete; feel free to take your models into a contest anyway. You don't even have to enter; most contests have display tables. It is one way to quickly gain even more tips and suggestions along with whatever you get here. Personally, I don't see myself as even being in the same league as these masters here, but I still take my stuff to contests since that is the best way to learn. If I actually do place, well that is just icing on the cake. Bottom line Shannon, have fun with your models and savor all the building time you share with your sons. That time with them is the most precious and well worth spending.

Thanks Gil! The pics don't show all the flaws, but I'm hoping it'll look sweeter with decals on it!

Well, here it is a week later and I have been able to get a lot of time on the bench. This has been a pretty productive week, considering on about half of these it's been two steps forward, one step back! Let's start with all my newest progress on my armor. First off, I got a basecoat on my Nutrocker hover tank. Not much else done here, but I was doing a lot of airbrushing and he's one of the first models that got one: Now, since I'd had so many armor models finished last week, I decided to start a few more. These next four kits are ACE kits and I'm having a blast doing all these. I'll start with two models I started for a Group Build on the Missing Lynx Braille Scale Forums; it's about the Middle East wars. This first model is an Iraqi M-3 armoured personnel carrier: It's a pretty straightforward little kit and went together pretty well so far: Next I also decided to start this OT-62 APC for my Egyptians: I got the main hull together first: I found I was missing a part that was not on the sprues, so I scratched a replacement from sheet styrene. You can see it here behind the raised superstructure: Now that missing part tipped me to something being wrong. I looked at the instruction sheet and found that I was supposed to have one of these sprues in the kit: Instead, I have this sprue: Note the absence of torsion bars in particular that are shown in the instruction sheet. Plus you can see the outline of the missing piece I had to scratch. Unless I can find a way to replicate all those torsion bars; I'm unable to finish this model. This seems to be happening to me a lot lately. Oh well, onward and upward. This next model is one I found while cleaning out the hobby room and got a big hankering to start, so I did. This is the Russian TOS-1 Buratino MLRS. Here you can see the tracks I have to clean up. I already cleaned the one side and took this pic so you can see just how much cleanup I need to do on this model's tracks: Next I assembled the lower hull and the rocket box: After some seam filling and sanding, I assembled the parts to the upper hull. I then built the turret and the launch box arms. Here you can see the top hull and the turret all dry-fit on the lower hull: Next, I decided to do something simple and fun. This next model is my British truck "Tilly" that I built up: Later I put a basecoat on it, but apparently the paint was a bit thin. That's cool, it'll look good in another coat: Finally, this last armor model is one that I started two decades ago. This is a DUKW in 1/72 scale that I think is an Airfix or Matchbox model. It's been so long that I don't know! I don't have the instruction sheet anymore to tell me. Anyway, I had put this aside because I'd lost the decals to it and put it away since I couldn't finish it. So, while cleaning my Hobby Room last week, I stumbled upon the original decals for this model. I promptly coated them all with decal film and the next day I pulled out the old model and put them on. Here it is now with decals on; they are still a bit rough and I'll need to hit them with some Solvaset to make them sit right, but at least I can move on with this model: Okay, now on to my aircraft. As mentioned before, I was getting some airbrushing done, mostly on my aircraft models. First off is my DC-6. I sprayed another final touch-up coat of Alclad on this model; once again trying to fix a couple blemishes that I just can't seem to eradicate! It seems every time I'm ready to put on the decals; some other "zit" pops up! So, I fixed what I could and sprayed a final coat and that is it! The decals are going on this next, regardless of what else I find. I'm sick of re-spraying this stinking model! It's getting WAY too expensive buying all this Alclad! Also, you'll notice that I painted the grey on the wings that was applied to make the exhaust stains easier to clean off: Moving along, I also basecoated my South African helicopter for a Helicopter Group Build going on elsewhere: While all that was drying I made some more progress on my Secret Santa gift from another Forums; the Ju-88 S-1. I painted the cockpit and then installed it inside the fuselage: Next, I assembled the fuselage, added the tail surfaces and the wings; then closed it all up by adding all the clear parts. Well, almost all the clear parts; one decided to disappear; it is supposed to go in the round hole on top of the fuselage behind the cockpit: I don't know what I'm going to do about that. It is a textured piece of clear and I have no way of replicating it so all I can do is try to finish this and hope that someday the stupid part re-appears! Finally, I painted a gloss white on the underside of my Vickers Valiant bomber, then masked it off to apply the basecoat of green on the top. Obviously, the paint was too old and nasty. Now I'll have to strip this and try again when I can buy new paint. Man, I just cannot catch a break! Okay, that is about all I have for this week. I may get more done this weekend; hopefully I'll finally have the decals on the DC-6! Thanks all for looking in; comments are always welcome!

Wow, thanks Bill. I appreciate it.

That looks awesome! I might even try picking up another Academy Ground vehicle set that includes this GPA. Way to go!