Mark Deliduka

Awesome! Thanks guys for the comments and thanks Clare for the pic. It would be great to get a C-46, but we'll see. Is the Williams Brother's kit injection molded plastic? I've never really heard of that company before. Thanks for letting me know about them and this kit. Hmmm... I'd love to get a set of extra decals to 'spice up' my C-75 like those decals do for the Commando. Maybe it's time to sift through my decal stash...

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome once again to the Maddog Manufacturing plant where we will be rolling out four new tanks for my Army. I'll start with the finished tank from the Year of the Tiger Group Build on the LEM. This is Dragon's Tiger I "Gruppe Fehrmann" hybrid in 1/72 scale: Next up is a little something different. This is my Trumpeter Swedish Strv 103B 'S' tank in 1/72 scale: And a shot a little over the top: Last in the lineup are my two Russian T-55 tanks by Trumpeter. Here is the first T-55 with the BTU-55 dozer blade: And now for a shot of the dozer blade itself. I'm pretty proud of that: This last T-55 is the one with the KMT-5 Mineroller: That's all I got done so far. I'll keep you all posted on further developments. Meanwhile, thank you all for coming to another Maddog Manufacturing Open House to see the latest from the Duke's works. All comments are welcome.

Wow, thanks guys. What great comments! Yes Clare, BLUE! That was the color call out that I saw and so that's what I used. LOL! I like it. Makes for a different appearance. I agree about the C-75 too. Now if I can only get a C-46 in 1/72 scale.... Thanks for the compliments. Thanks Gil! Glad you like them. The ball is still in motion; I have five more tanks almost finished. Hopefully in the next day or three Thanks Lee for the compliments. I agree, it's great that I can replicate the stolen plane. As for what happened at the '07 Nats, I took quite a number of models, among them were a 1/72 scale Aurora Pier Cherokee, a 1/72 scale Aurora Piper Aztec, and a 1/72 scale Eidai Beechcraft Bonanza identical to the one above. While I was packing up to go home at the end of the show, someone ripped the three aforementioned planes out of my boxes and took them home. I hope by now they are broken beyond repair. Fortunately, I have located replacements for the two Pipers at a reasonable and reachable price and as soon as I can pay for them I will get them built. As a side note Lee, I set a record for the most models ever entered at a Nationals convention, although nobody mentions it. I think it'll stand for awhile...

Cool. If they show up, I'd be interested in purchasing them if the price is right. That is if you are selling.

Thanks guys! Mike, you may be able to stay up with me, I have been slowing down lately. I have a break from work this past weekend and today so I'll be marathoning on the workbench to see what I can get done before the next dry spell. That's your chance to catch up. Mark thanks! The blue is from the old Testor's 15-cent square bottle (or rather, the one thast used to cost 15 cents!LOL!) It was glossy going on, but the dullcoat flattened it well. I'm glad it's finally done. Now to finish the Viggen.... Stay tuned guys. More armor to come.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I please draw your attention to the nearby hanger doors as we prepare to roll out the latest aircraft completed at Maddog Manufacturing. We'll start with one of the older models I started, and one of the two Swedish aircraft I'd been working on. This is the Heller 1/72 scale Saab Draken finally finished and first out on the tarmac: Next up out of the hanger is the biggest and most difficult of the three aircraft I'd been working on. This is the 1/72 scale Maquette C-75 Stratoliner completed in USAAF colors and markings. It ain't perfect, but it is far better than a Maquette kit deserves to be! Here she is: And finally, the first replacement aircraft for one of the three models stolen from the 2007 Nationals. This is the old Eidai 1/72 scale Beechcraft Bonanza V-35 civilian plane. I finished her up to look as much like the previous one as I could, wile trying to improve a little on the paint job. Still, it was tough given the issues with the decals. I'm proud of this one and very happy to have it back in my collection: Well, that completes this latest unveiling of the newest aircraft to enter the Duke's Air Force. Thank you all for checking them out. Comments are very welcome.

Well, as I mentioned in my previous post, I went to St. Crispin's Hobby Day with five models and magaged to make excellent progress on all five models. Here's my progress showing my work from Hobby Day and today. The previous Hobby Day I started this Italeri 1/72 scale Italian gun truck. Two days ago, I slapped some paint on it. Not much, and not too well, but it's been started: Now for the things I started at yesterday's Hobby Day. First thing is Trumpeter's 1/72 scale M-26A1 Pershing that I'm making for my US Marine Corps. Here's the lower hull and roadwheels done: Next, I started three Trumpeter T-55 tank variants, all in 1/72 scale. I assembled all the lower and upper hull parts and then assembled the turrets. I didn't add any of the detail parts on the turrets yet though. Here they are. First the T-55 with the Dozer blade: Next is the T-55 with the Mine roller: And finally, the last T-55 variant, the Chinese-made Type 59. I'll be making this an Iraqi tank: And the last tank that I worked on at Hobby Day on Saturday was my Swedish 'S' tank, the Stridsvagen 103B. I got all the detail parts on it except for the cupola machine gun. That will go on last with the tools. I had also started to paint then roadwheels as well that day: That's all that happened Saturday. Today, I finished three aircraft (feel free to check them out in the Aircraft Forums) and I also shot paint onto all the above tanks. Here they are: Swedish 'S' tank: ...and the T-55's: I didn't paint the turrets on the T-55's because I still haven't added the detail parts. I'll get them done tomorrow and maybe even get some more paint shot on them then. I noticed that I didn't paint the Iraqi Type 59 the right color. Oh well, that gives me a reason to try the hairspray technique on it for a little extra weathering. I also noticed that I didn't shoot a pic of the Pershing lower hull in it's coat of green paint. Oh well. I'll shoot a pic of that later when I get more done on it. Oh, don't forget to check out my finished aircraft in the Aircraft Forum. Meanwhile, thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Well this is a short update. I managed to get some time on the bench today so I decided to go back and work on some models that I hadn't done in awhile. First off I got the decals on the C-75 finally! Despite having three coats of decal film, they still broke up, but not as bad as if they'd not been coated. If you look closely, you'll see some of the missing pieces. They also started peeling up, so I brushed another coat of Future over them to hold them down. The next pics you see of this will be the completed pics: Next, I decided to decal the little Beechcraft Bonanza. Again, despite three coats of decal film, they also broke apart. Fortunately I was able to get them put on relatively evenly. After this is the installation of the landing gear and the other detail bits and she's finished. The next pics you see of this will be completed pics: Thirdly, I also finally decaled the Saab Draken J-35. Same story.... old model... three coats of decal film... broken up... Blah, blah, blah etc. etc. etc. This will be in the finished Forum next time you see it too: And finally, I managed to get some progress done on one armor model. While waiting for some of those old aircraft decals to soften up enough, I took some time to camo my Fehrmann Tiger for the Year of the Tiger Group Build on the LEM. Here it is done up in the three-tone camo pattern: Next is the clearcoat, decals and final detail parts and then I can weather this and call it done. Well, tomorrow is St. Crispin's Hobby Day and so I'll be headed out there to spend the day working on more models. I think I'll bring my 'S' tank to build on and three T-55's to start since I'll have the whole day to work on them. Meanwhile, thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

You are welcome for the invitation. I didn't realize you were that far away. I usually come down for the June show at Gillespie field, maybe we can meet up there this year.

That is great John! Awesome job. I am also building this tank as well in 1/72 scale. So far I haven't had the fit issues that Ron mentioned; mine has been coming together quite well. Congrats once again on a superb model.

Sounds good Phil. I may have to stop in and see what's happening. It'll be awhile before I start the carrier. I still have to find the kits I was going to bash to make it.

Have you any of the old Heller 1/72 armor models in that collection? I've been looking for their early anti-aircraft vehicle and the AMX 13 min 1/72 scale. They've been out of production forever, but if I can get them. I'd be real happy.

Dave I'll add your Amens for the 1/72 scale aircraft and raise you one more for the 1/72 scale armor he mentioned. To that I'd add a 1/72 scale M-109, M47, Gepard, and maybe even a Sgt York. Oh, and I have gotten one of my Holy Grails already: The SAM 2 on the truck transporter. I have also been contacted by a rare kit collector who has arranged to get me the two replacements for my stolen aircraft from the 2007 Nats: the Piper Aztec and the Piper Cherokee in 1/72 scale. All I need to do is come up with the $140.00 to pay for them both and I've got them all. Fortunately I have several jobs lined up and will have the cash before too long.

Thanks Lee.

That's great Mark! I can't wait to see it in paint. I'm hoping to have my Tiger I camo'd this weekend, and maybe have the S'S' tank assembled and ready for paint also. I clearcoated two aircraft: the C-75 and the Saab Draken in prep for decals so hopefully they'll have them on by next week.

Beautiful job! that is one of my favorite tanks, and you did this one proud.

This is cool. I don't know that I'd enter the contest but I do have an interesting Whiffie to do: I want to modify the Graf Zeppelin to look like an '80's era Soviet carrier. I thought I had all the kits for this, but don't know where they are....

Thanks for the great comments guys! Lee, not sure what markings the -106 will get. I have to decide from the kit decals once I get to that point. The Swedish tank will be an overall green color. I did the -103C in splinter camo and once was enough! Thanks Phil! On the LEM, we decided to make it anything named for a tiger whether it be aircraft, armor, car or ship. It's been a great Group Build so far. Mark, I saw your latest! That was a simply fantastic build. I'm glad I'm able to help your productivity as well. Can't wait to see more from you.

Way to go Dave, I like it. I also need to clean up my bench...

Well, I finally managed to get some time to build on my workbench. I got a few more things done and moved ahead on a couple of Group Builds (One on the LEM and one on HLI) I was hoping to get farther along on other kits but I guess I'm good with what I got done so far. In the Year of the Tiger Group Build on the LEM, I finally got enough progress done to justify pics. Here is my Dragon Tiger I hybrid with the basecoat on. Gonna camo this one next: That's all I have on this one so far. Hopefully things pick up and I can finish this one fast. Meanwhile, on the Helicopter Group Build on HLI, I got some more progress done on several models I'm building for that. I also started a new helicopter that I picked up for 5 bucks at St. Crispin's Hobby Day. Here are the models I've had going for the Helicopter Group Build. The first is the old MPC Mi-24 Hind in 1/72 scale.What a trip this one is, not to mention the trip down Memory Lane! I got the whole Fuselage together and have been sanding the seams as best I can. I will get this almost fully assembled but won't be able to finish it until I find the Nigerian decals I was going to put on this one. Here it is so far: Next I also assembled the fuselage on the 1/72 scale Japanese Sea Knight that I'm building: And finally, here is the start of the 1/72 scale Nighthawk. This is the cockpit and interior of the cabin: Next up are pics from the 1/48th scale F-106 I'm building for a friend. I got the landing gear and weapons bay assembly done. All that's left is touching up the paint and then I can move on. Here are pics of the underside: Now for a couple more models I started at St. Crispin's Hobby Day. These were started at the same time as the Nighthawk. This first one is a 1/72 scale Italeri snap together/quick build model of an Italian truck with the 90mm AA gun mounted on it. I got everything assembled except the cab so I can paint the interior. These parts are a hard soft plastic that hold themselves together well. Not like the soft plastic of the gun itself. Here it is so far: Last but not least, here is a Trumpeter 1/72 scale model of the Swedish Strv 103B tank I also started on Hobby Day. I had already assembled the 'C' model 'S' tank, so I figured, why not do a 'B' model next? Here it is mostly assembled: Well, that's all I've been able to get done so far. Thanks all for looking and comments are welcome.

Welcome Pete! I know what it feels like to have models stolen. I'd like to invite you to join us at IPMS Orange County and show off your great work there too. Anyway, welcome once again, and here's to seeing you around town.

Welcome Scott!

welcome Chris! Enjoy the Forums.

Awesome! More car guys! Thanks for joining.

Wow, I should print that up too. Many of my tanks' tracks look exactly liker those! Thanks Rob!