Mark Deliduka

LOL! Thanks Gil! I appreciate the compliment very much. I would have added those parts if I'd had them. I hate leaving parts off; makes me feel like I've not actually finished....

I posted mine in the armor section, but then again, it is an armored train. You could also post them in the Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles Forum since that deals with non-military transportation. Perhaps then we could get Eric A. to add "Trains" to the Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles Forum. I'd suggested this quite some time ago, but was shot down. Maybe he'll listen better to you.

Hey all! In the Armor Forum post I mentioned three completed models along with my armored train. Here is the third finished model. This is my Russian Mi-4 helicopter I finished up recently. This is missing a few parts inside, but for the most part, it looks complete. I debuted this last night at my IPMS meeting: Anyone know the NATO code name for this bird? Anyway, that is all I got done recently. Feel free to check out the Armored Forums to see my latest finished models there; including my most difficult model I ever built! Meanwhile, thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Finally! After a year and a half of grueling, frustrating and tiresome work, I have finally managed to complete my Armageddon 1/72 scale Panzerzug BP-44 Armored Train! Here are some preliminary pics from it's debut at my local IPMS meeting. There aren't the greatest quality, so I'll be trying to get some better pics later. Here is the overall shot of it sitting on the table. This train measures six and a half feet long. I placed it down the center of the eight-foot table it's sitting on. On one side you can also see my other three completed models; closeups of those will come later. I left this pic kinda big so some details could be seen. Now for some closeup shots so you can see all the detail. Here is a shot of the engine and two tenders: Next are the Geschutzwagen and Kommandowagen: And finally, the Artilleriewagen and the last two cars, the transport wagon and the Panzerjagerwagen: And that's only half the train! On the other side, we have another set of the Geschutzwagen and Kommandowagen: ...preceded by the other three cars in front: There she is in all her glory! This was one of the most difficult, time consuming and frustrating models I've ever built, but the results are well worth it! I tried to use the kit parts wherever I could, but some were just plain unusable. I freehanded the camo pattern on th3e whole train; it took me four to five days to get it to my satisfaction. Most of the delicate thin parts are brass or copper wire, while the antennas are stretched sprue. One car I actually built using ONLY kit parts, including the grab handles and steps; just to see if I could do it. Due to the extremely poor molding quality, the quad AA guns were impossible to remove from the sprues so I substituted old ESCI/Italeri quad guns. The panzer 38(t)'s came with the kit. Despite the extremely poor molding again, I was still able to assemble these little tanks well enough to use on the model. Now I can send her out on the circuit and show people that, yes; one of these models CAN actually be built! Meanwhile, as promised; there were times I needed a break from this train, so I assembled a couple other little models to clear the palette, so to speak. This one is my ICM 1/72 scale Russian Ural-43207 Command Vehicle. This one will not be taken to any contests as there are at least five 'vital' parts missing. Whether they were originally in the kit, I don't know, but I couldn't find them when it came time add them to the model. Rather than having another "shelf queen" on the bench forever; I just completed it 'as is' so I can move on: This next one was a simple joy to build. It is ACE's 1/72 scale Ford US Army Staff Car. This is a 12-hour build I did; partly for fun, and partly because I've wanted one of these in my collection for so long. Here it is: That's all I have for my armor for now. As for my third model completed; feel free to check it out in the Aircraft Forums. Thanks everyone for looking in; comments are welcome! Merry Christmas!

Beautiful! I've always loved Israeli Phantoms! You did outstanding!

Thanks Dave. I've been looking for a good inventory software for my unbuilts. I'd also love one for my 1100+ finished models. I'll have to look into trying one of these out.

Forgive me but what is Kitbase?

Thanks Gil! Now if I can finish all these by the end of the year. I need to clear the bench for Dora!

Oh man, that is SWEET!! Love the painting and everything! Spectacular!

This is definitely different and I like some aspects of this new Forum. It does take a bit of getting used to though. I'm not sure this is really an issue, or if it is a one-time thing...yet. I'm not getting any e-mail notifications when someone responds to any Threads I'm watching; despite the Forums saying "You are already watching this topic". I had two responses to my Workbench Thread I never got a heads up for. This may be a one-time thing though; I won't know till I check the topic again.

Thanks guys! Mark, another friend of mine said something similar, mentioning that the colors don't let your eyes focus on any lines or details. Ed, this is based partially on a historical pic. There are others showing a pattern like one done by a guy with a spraygun who just swirled it around as he sprayed. I didn't like that pattern so I chose to go with this one. The only other patterns offered were solid yellow or yellow with a winter whitewash. I hate doing winter subjects so that was out and I wanted one with a pattern on it. This pattern is actually similar to, if not the same as, the pattern I did on my Whittmann's Tiger I. I do have to refine this though. As I went along; I was making the stripes too close together, so I need to refine this pattern by widening them up. Hopefully it will make this look even better. Thanks again for the great comments guys. Stay tuned for more!

I remember that season. Those models were so cool. Can't say I watch CSI anymore thou, NCIS is the big it for me now. I am very good friends with the guy who supplied those Civil War figures and terrain for that episode. I even got to fight Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Shilo in a tabletop wargame using those very same troops. Still I also enjoy NCIS better too. I have all the seasons on DVD.

Wow, I've overwhelmed everyone to the point of speechlessness.... ;) :D Okay people, prepare to be overwhelmed again! This past Monday I only worked on my armored train. I spent the whole day painting camouflage on it and right now a little more than half if this train is painted. Here it is: I placed it on the tracks I'm going to use to display it. Doing this allowed me to see where I need to break off some wheels and re-set them so this sits properly on the tracks. Here are some closeup shots of parts of this train. The locomotive and two tenders: The Geschutzwagen and Kommandowagen: And the Artilleriewagen and other two cars: There's a lot of cleanup and adjustment to do to all those camo patterns to improve them, so I'll be working quite a bit on getting this done soon. Then I have to adjust all the wheels too. Stay tuned as I will post updates when I can. Well, it's a short update, but that's all I have for now. Thanks all for looking in.

That is awesome! Now I'm going to have to pick one up in my scale... Sweet job Mark, congratulations!

Welcome Chris!

Ah, the memories that box brings back, as well as that dark green plastic! That was my third model I ever built and I still have it! Looks fantastic; keep those pics coming and Happy Thanksgiving.

This has been a good, productive weekend. I did a little work on Sunday, and then took everything to Hobby Day to work on it some more. I'll start with my aircraft. At home, I worked some more on my C-130A cockpit; finishing the painting. You can see this is a much less detailed cockpit than in later molds of this aircraft: Next thing I did was to close everything up inside the fuselage. The tail section was pretty warped, and I thing I had too much weight in the nose to close it all the way, but I still got it together quite well: Later, I took it to St. Crispin's Hobby Day. I got the landing gear all assembled and installed, added the last canopy piece and built the wings and propellers. Here it is all set up with the wings dry-fit to the fuselage: This is now ready for paint after some sanding and detail cleanup. Since I'd gotten my Herc up to the painting stage, I figured I'd do the same for my An-12 Cub. I installed the landing gear and added the clear parts to the nose and tail. When I went to add the main canopy/windscreen, it was nowhere to be found. I hate that! If I'm not losing decals, I'm losing the stinkin' clear parts! Oh well, I'm going to keep building this and finishing it until there's nothing left to do but add the canopy all the while hoping I can get one from Roden. Here it is finally sitting on it's landing gear. I still need to add some weight to the nose since the nose gear is floating so maybe it's a good thing I haven't added the main canopy: Just for kicks, here's both of these planes sitting side by side. Now I have all three of my transports all ready for paint. Time to break out the airbrush.... Before I do that, I'll show you my latest progress on my armor. I got the M-50 Sherman all completely assembled and ready for paint now: I went with the far right engine deck and removed one of the exhaust pipes below and made it look plated over. It may be inaccurate, or it may not.. What ever the case, it will be finished! I'll be shooting paint on this along with my transports. And finally, I can declare that all assembly is finished on this armored train! Thanks to my friend Dave, I have acquired my last quad AA gun for my train and gotten it installed: Next, thanks to my friend Neil, I got all the parts I needed to complete another Panzer 38(t) for my second TR wagon. I got it all assembled; here it is sitting on the TR car: Now, after a little more cleanup work and adjustments, I'll be shooting another basecoat over the unpainted parts I've added, then I'll start my camouflage on this train. man, I'm so close to being done I can taste it! Last but not least, I decided to relax by starting a new model. This is the chassis of a Ural command truck I got done before it was time to head home: Well, that's about all I have to show for now. I have a few days before Thanksgiving that are completely free, so I may get even more done this week. I'll keep you posted so stay tuned.... Meanwhile, thanks for looking in, comments are always welcome!

Sweet! I think some Eastern European manufacturer makes one of these in 1/72 scale. I've been trying to get one. Keep these pics coming, this is looking great!

Mark, thanks for the info and pics. I think I can get one exhaust removed and a piece in place making it look plated over. I also think I may use the right-side engine deck. THAT BEING said, an E-mail is on it's way later today. LOL! That practice became necessary when I had a ton of leftover parts and no idea where they went! LOL! On something this big and complicated, one must sometimes fall back on old, bad habits.... Thanks for the great replies guys!

And here is the promised pics of my latest progress. Monday was a very productive day for me! It's great having a Hobby Day to go to once a week! I'll start out with my latest progress on my aircraft. This is the Mi-4. It is all assembled and I even got a partial basecoat on it: Next, I'll show you a couple pics of the interior of my An-12 Cub before I close it up: This is the cockpit: And here is the Cub all buttoned up. The fuselage is all cemented together; the wings and tail surfaces are just dry fit on: All it needs is a little sanding and then I can add the wings, tail, clear parts and undercarriage and this will then be ready for paint! Moving along to my armor, I have started a simple kit that's been sitting in my stash for a bit. This is my Sa-2 SAM missile launcher completely assembled and ready for paint: I also took some time to get more pieces on the Israeli M-50 Sherman I'm doing for the Group Build over on the LEM. This one is almost ready for paint: Since just recently my bumpers came in, I decided to get those bumpers on my armored train cars that needed them. First the Artilleriewagen one side: And on the other side: Next, I added them to the Commander's Car that needed them: Finally, I was looking at all the sprues for this train and checking out all the leftover parts. I then looked over the instruction sheets and found a whole bunch of parts I'd neglected to add to this train. So, here are the cars I added parts to. I added the extra shielding to the one turreted car. The other one is missing the front shield so if I can't find it, I'll have to scratchbuild one: And on these TR wagons, I added on the unloading ramps for the Panzer 38(t)'s: Now for another shot of paint on this train and then start some camouflage while waiting for the final parts to come in. Well, that has been my productive Monday, and I'm feeling great about the progress I've made. I can't wait to get some more done. Meanwhile, thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Oops. Mental Auto-complete kicked in. Then, according to this picture: Image of M50 rear deck on "KitMaker" It's the one on the far left. Thanks Dave. Did Grzegorz build the Late version? He doesn't say on Kitmaker, but I'm thinking it's the early version there because of the VVSS suspension. I'm doing the Late version with the HVSS suspension. I do appreciate the help. I'm also looking around for more info too, but this is one confusing dilemma. I did get more progress done on this and others that I'll be posting a bit later. Thanks again for the replies.

:lol: :lol: Gee Chris, I thought this was old news! That was the day I slowed down a bit, if it was in a cup. Usually, I'm taking it intravenously..... I guess that's why that day was so slow; I wasn't hooked up..... Great post Chris! Thanks! I needed that!

Good morning everyone! I haven't been able to do too much lately on anything, but I did manage to get enough progress done to justify pics. I'll start with the Mi-4. It has a chin compartment that holds a machinegun. The front is glass, obviously so the gunner can see. Well, I lost the clear part that goes over the front of it so I tried scratchbuilding one. here is the results: Later on, I'll try test-fitting to see where I need to shape the upper part of that clear piece to make it fit. Now on to my big projects. I'm referring to my Heller 1/72 scale Transall, my MPC /72 scale C-130A and m,y Roden 1/72 scale An-12 Cub transport aircraft. I can't wait to get these finished and get these big boxes out of my Hobby Room! I got the C-160 Transall sitting on it's wheels now. I also added some Mr. Surfacer 500 to all the seams that needed it in preparation for sanding: That was the only flat space in my hobby room where I could place that and I had to create that flat space! Next, I closed up my C-130 A to test and see if I have enough weight in the nose to keep it standing right. Here it is taped up before my test: An dafter that, I also taped up and tested my AN-12 Cub I started some time ago as well. Everything is just dry-fit together here: Moving along, I managed to finally get the rear fuselage/tail assembly completed: All that's needed are the horizontal control surfaces. Here's a shot of the underside: Well, that's all I have to show for now. Monday is Hobby Day and I should be able to get alot more progress done to show off. Meanwhile, thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome.

It's the one on the far right. The M51 "Isherman" had a diesel engine replacing the Sherman's (mostly) gasoline engines. You can google M51 and find pictures. Thanks for this info, but mine is not the M-51 Isherman. I'm building an M-50 Late model Sherman. Please let me know what deck to use for the M-50 Late.

I might have to try these, but except for Polly Scale; I've never had any good results from acrylics. Maybe these will be the other exception to the rule for me.