Posted: 7/11/2011 11:05:37 AM EDT
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I started a thread several months ago but it's in the archives now, so I thought I would create another one since there was some interest at the time. I'm fascinated with military vehicles of all types, particularly rare and unusual designs, and not too long ago I got the urge to try to build some scale models. I found some truly amazing work being done over at Armorama.com, by guys who have been building, painting, and weathering models for years. I just finished assembling my first model last week, and I am going to attend a hobby group meet tomorrow in Jacksonville, FL. The hobby is reasonably cheap to get into, but there is of course a huge time commitment. This is my first model, an M41 Walker Bulldog. It's currently unpainted, and is a fairly simple beginner's type of model. It's pretty lame in comparison to some of the work being done by serious hobbyists, but I enjoyed assembling it and learned a lot about the process along the way. This took approximately 4-5 hours to complete. Assembly is the simplest part of the process. For serious builders there is a significant amount of research that goes into each model, then selecting the right kits and accessories from a wide variety of companies, then assembling, customizing, painting, and weathering. I'm looking forward to starting another model soon. I also plan to try my hand at airbrushing soon, as it appears much more professional than hand painting. I want to do several US Army Air Defense Artillery platforms, since I spent 12 years in a National Guard ADA unit.  If you've completed any models yourself, post them up. |
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Quoted: Are you going to post another pic when it is complete? Yes, but one of the things I realized after completing the model is that it is much better to paint some of the components before final assembly, such as the road wheels and M2 .50BMG, to get a more uniform finish. I might wind up ordering a different M41 kit with some of the available upgrades and do it the 'right' way one of these days. |
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I'm working on a 1/35 scale Tamiya Humvee with a Legend M1151 conversion. Lots of laser cut brass armor makes for a tedious build but it will look like the real thing when done. Each individual bolt head has to be cut and glued on one at a time. If you're familiar with the M1151 then you realize what a chore this will be. I've got over $120 in it so far. Heres a build thread on the same model http://news.webshots.com/photo/2741885150037572303nrRELV |
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<snip The hobby is reasonably cheap to get into <snip> Until you have to build a room to hold all your stuff. Until you just *have* to buy that Harder & Steenbeck airbrush. Until you have 800+ kits, a metric crap-ton of decals, dry transfers, reference books, paints, glue, after market stuff....... 
I have a bunch of other ones, but no pics at the moment. The Man Cave/Hobby Room circa 2005. I've tidied it up a bit since then: 
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SatelliteMan, what do you think about resin kits? I haven't seen any in person yet but why are they so much more expensive? Better made, better looking, what? They cost more $$$ due to low volume sales, the maker has to build the master patterns, make molds & cast the parts. The RTV for molds & the resin are kinda pricey. Most resin kits are of rather exotic subject matter. And most are a PITA to build. check out www.missing-lynx.com for some amazing work. Go to the constructive comments section. |
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<snip The hobby is reasonably cheap to get into <snip> Until you have to build a room to hold all your stuff. Until you just *have* to buy that Harder & Steenbeck airbrush. Until you have 800+ kits, a metric crap-ton of decals, dry transfers, reference books, paints, glue, after market stuff.......
I have a bunch of other ones, but no pics at the moment. The Man Cave/Hobby Room circa 2005. I've tidied it up a bit since then: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/100_1855.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/mykv4.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/myferd1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/M26-4.jpg Holy crap - are you my twin? That mancave shot looks EXACTLY like the south wall of my workshop - the gun safes, the piles upon piles of models (and in many cases the same kits I have out there). I have fewers stickers on my safe door, but beyond that you would feel strangely familiar/comfortable in my workshop I think. And one day I will win the lottery, quit work and have time to BUILD all those models! |
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<snip The hobby is reasonably cheap to get into <snip> Until you have to build a room to hold all your stuff. Until you just *have* to buy that Harder & Steenbeck airbrush. Until you have 800+ kits, a metric crap-ton of decals, dry transfers, reference books, paints, glue, after market stuff.......
I have a bunch of other ones, but no pics at the moment. The Man Cave/Hobby Room circa 2005. I've tidied it up a bit since then: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/100_1855.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/mykv4.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/myferd1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/M26-4.jpg Holy crap - are you my twin? That mancave shot looks EXACTLY like the south wall of my workshop - the gun safes, the piles upon piles of models (and in many cases the same kits I have out there). I have fewers stickers on my safe door, but beyond that you would feel strangely familiar/comfortable in my workshop I think. And one day I will win the lottery, quit work and have time to BUILD all those models! Cousins, maybe. My safe is on the west wall. 
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To add....
You can use a spray can(paint bomb) to pant the major compoinents while still on the sprue. Woks well for road wheels, hull and turrret. Once you clip these from the sprue, just clean up the attatchement point and surfaces to be glued with sandpaper. Once together and dry you can use a brush to touch up the bare areas. |
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Pre-shading panel lines, seams and grooves with an airbrush makes for some really nice subtle effects.
A coating of future on all clear parts makes them look 100% better and prevents superglue haze. Iridescent confetti or foil wrapping paper are great ways to simulate anti-laser coatings on optics. Unwinding wound guitar string makes perfect antennas and leaving some of the wind at the bottom looks like the springs at the bottom of most military antennas. |
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800+ kits? Can you even build that many in a lifetime? Also, post some more pics of your workroom and models. I love that stuff. At the rate I build? I would need to live for 500 years. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/hobbyroom1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/hobbyroom2.jpg Works in progress: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/HT1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/marder3.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/Firefly1.jpg Pretty much finished: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/KT1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/Satelliteman/KT2.jpg Are you retired? |
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there is a niche market to sell wargaming models like 40k and flames of war
1/2 tracks and cats are resin kits dudes are lead 1/100 scale-15mm for you dweebs out there I sold this platoon for $250 to a guy in new zeland 
these went for a bit less but a good $ for me also 15mm-make 50 bucks a tank you are doing well 
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I was out visiting my brother in MN not too long ago and we went and visited Scale Model Supplies.
Holy Toledo! I've never seen so many models in my life! Wound up getting a Tamiya King George V for my BIL and a Jagdtiger for myself. 
http://www.scalemodelsupplies.com |
I was away from the hobby for a bit over 15 years. This was my first build since then, and I have a couple more on the shelf to be built.
I was amazed at the aftermarket items you can order. For this LAV I bought resin parts, the ballistic shield as well as the stowage. It also has a brass gun barrel. I am working on the vehicle commander but painting people is definitely not my forte! |
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Quoted: 1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. |
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1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. 1:1 Means full size. CW |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: 1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. 1:1 Means full size. CW  |
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here are some I finished this year.. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/cbarzyz/Models/2ec02019.jpg We see our role as essentially defensive in nature. While our armies are advancing so fast and everyone's knocking themselves out to be heroes, we are holding ourselves in reserve in case the Krauts mount a counteroffensive which threatens Paris... or maybe even New York. Then we can move in and stop them. But for 1.6 million dollars, we could become heroes for three days. I want one of those!! Also diggin the Bradley, seem to recall pics of one in Germany painted up that way posted up here on ARFCOM before. |
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Quoted: Quoted: here are some I finished this year.. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/cbarzyz/Models/2ec02019.jpg We see our role as essentially defensive in nature. While our armies are advancing so fast and everyone's knocking themselves out to be heroes, we are holding ourselves in reserve in case the Krauts mount a counteroffensive which threatens Paris... or maybe even New York. Then we can move in and stop them. But for 1.6 million dollars, we could become heroes for three days. I want one of those!! Also diggin the Bradley, seem to recall pics of one in Germany painted up that way posted up here on ARFCOM before. Like this one hehehe  The Odd Ball conversion is located at.... http://www.mcssl.com/store/formations/catalog/product/31b382f33d144af2960098210b2fb709 |
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1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. 1:1 Means full size. CW
Hook, line and sinker.... 
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1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. Bwahhaa too funny |
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1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg That's one of my old tanks. 1/35 Armor 96-98.
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That would be the one! I got to take our LAV's out in the snow this year, had another go off the trail and both made me wish we had tracks! They tend to slide if you are turning with any sort of speed. Chains would have been nice too I suppose, they have been on order for a while through supply so I will never know. I actually went to the store and got the base for my diorama, I blame you guys for getting me back in the groove! ARFCOM costs me more money... |
| So I found out recently a company called Bronco models sells kits of my old units 1114's during OIF. I guess it comes with stickers or something so I can change the bumper number and platoon markings around to fit mine. Is Bronco a quality kit, nothign to advanced for a beginner? For someone that knows almost nothing about modeling can I get into this with a couple jars of paint, an xacto knife and super glue as long as I am not worried about weathering and more advanced techniques? |
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1:1 model I put together over the weekend. I didn't get the decals straight. I always mess those up. Also it came with a mexican driver. I thought it would be cool to put a SS officer on top but I didn't have time to paint him so I just went with "Lt. Pedro". http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/1247216984_1024x768_m1-abrams-picture.jpg I call BS. thats a real tank. Duh, no kidding. 
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