Mark Deliduka

I missed that this was a 1/72 scale tank. I had a Dragon 1/72 scale tank that had twisted DS tracks. I laid them flat and they eventually flattened out for the most part. Any remaining kink was removed when I glued the tracks to the road wheels. I also made sure the twisted part was beneath one of the road wheels, allowing the weight of the model (such as it is) help to keep it flat. Let us know how this worked out for you. I want to see more.

Excellent! At least yours didn't have the massive wing root gaps that mine did! I had gaps that were literally a quarter-inch wide. I also had stripped and repainted this model at least nine times before I finally gave up. I'll be watching this with interest to see how it is supposed to look! Keep posting man!

I want to see that Lex!

I think it looks great! Way to go!

That is spectacular! The weathering makes this so realistic looking. I wish I could get that effect! Way to go! Did you bring this to Colorado? I saw one of these on the tables; just wondering if it was yours.

Welcome Jim! It feels good to be able to build again doesn't it? Feel free to post pics; I'm looking forward to seeing your work.

Hairspray would work, especially if you are using a Q-tip to remove it from the waterline. The trick would be using a thin enough tip and working gently to achieve the effect you are looking for. Either way, I'll be watching this with interest.

I've been slowly doing just that as funds allow. I just need more info. Thanks! I hope someday to have that SAM site with all the trimmings!

Well aside from it climbing the waves in one pic and sliding down the other side in another, I see no issues. Glad she's able to handle those rough seas. Great job Chris; another masterpiece from you. Way to go!

So it's the P-12 radar that goes with the Fan Song? They have two Fan Songs, one is Fan Song and the other; Fan Song "F". Does the P-18 go with the "F" Fan Song, because that is what I have. I also have the Ural 43203 command truck which I believe was the control van for the SAM site. Man, I need to get this cleared up.

I would never have guessed you painted those diamonds! That is some seriously pristine work! I bow to the Master!

Bob, your boy has some serious talent and some mad skills! Hopefully he stays with it. Eugene, I'd love to see some of your grandson's work!

No wonder I missed it. I almost never go to Facebook, much less the IPMS USA Facebook page. it's tough enough getting off of it when I'm just trying to keep up with my family! It sucks so much of my time away. Chris G, I agree; I love seeing trophy hunters humbled. Mike B, I agree there too. I never give any of my aircraft a wash. It may make the model look better in most people's eyes, but I never see anything like that on the real thing.

Chris, I cannot comment on the rest of the build since it is far better than anything I could do. However, the wash I am most successful with is a mix of Windsor-Newton Burnt Umber Oils with Mona Lisa Thinner. Mona Lisa Thinner is the most inert thinner you can get; it goes on smooth and even while never ever attacking the undercoat. Some details would look good drybrushed as well, but with this wash; you usually don't have to do an overall drybrush to bring the color back to it's original appearance. Mona Lisa Thinner can be gotten at any Michael's or Aaron Brothers Art Marts

Welcome David! This is a great Forums for learning things and improving your skills. Looking forward to seeing your work.

Thanks Chris! Yeah, she is my best to date; my Magnum Opus. I don't knwo that I will ever be able to match this quality again. I still keep looking at her and thinking, "Did I really do that?" She didn't place Chris; she was 'pulled out' of the OOB category that I had entered her in and judged instead in the non-OOB Artillery category so there was no chance for me to place after that happened. At least now I can enter her in all the local contests in this area to see how she places at all of them. Then she'll do a return engagement to Columbus, Ohio in 2015. My brother and his eight kids live there; I can't wait to show him this! Thanks Bob! I must have passed you a dozen times at the Nationals and wanted to stop and chat, but there was always something else to see or someplace to be. I do appreciate the compliments.

Thanks guys! Yes Chris, she made it home intact with no issues. My friend Harmon came through with the big wooden box she came in and so she is still in prime shape. Jim thanks. I appreciate the compliments very much. She was only 1/72 scale, but that is the only scale I build armor in. I've seen a 1/35th scale one built; that model is over six feet long! Thanks again for the great replies guys!

I missed this one. What happened here? One of my pet peeves is huge sprue gates that are so big you end up breaking the part before cutting it free.. Or sprue gates that straddle a part that is supposed to be 'stepped' with an edge and you have to carve the sprue gate off the edge (such as on the edge of landing gear doors.) Then there is when they attach a sprue gate to the inside of a delicate curve, making it nearly impossible to cut the part off. If I think of more, I'll post them.

I also had a blast at this year's Nationals. It was great to finally meet in person so many people who I've only seen as posts on this Forum. Rubbing elbows with so many legends of IPMS was a tremendous experience. My only let down was being forced to compete in a regular category when I entered an OOB category. Entering OOB was my only chance to actually place and it was taken away from me with no recourse on my part to challenge the decision. Oh well, that's what I get for being a T-ball league baseball player on a Major League Baseball field at the World Series of Modeling.

Thanks Will! Once I find a place to unpack her and put her up, I will. For now, all I have are the pics from just after I painted her. You can see them in the Maddog Manufacturing thread in On the Workbench. It would show the same thing.

I was at another booth in the vendor room where they had on display some 1/700 scale cage masts in metal. They were done with the characteristic curve of the real ones. I took pics but have no internet access to upload them until I get home.

Phil, I've been looking all over for you. Been wanting to meet you. I'll be in my white Orange County shirt that says "Why yes! I have done some modeling!" I have the Braille Scale meeting on Saturday at 2 PM. Hopefully I'll see you sometime before.

Thanks guys! Dora is generating quite a buzz here at the Nationals, so I'm told. I've also entered another 103 models besides the Dora. Yes Chris, I got this awesome pine box with handles to hold her.

Thanks Mark! I know after all the work I did put into this, it truly is a "great work"! Thanks for the compliment!

I'm right there with you! I have two SA-2's built, a couple more in the stash and the Spoon Rest radar truck. I need the Fan Song myself. I heard that some of them used the Ural 357 command trucks as the command van, but I haven't been able to confirm that. If they did, I already have the command truck built. One step closer.....