Miniart 1/35 T-55A Mod 1965 finished

After building the model for The Modelling News a year or so ago I've finally got around to finishing it today so here you go;

I still think this is one of the best T-55's available. It's not without a couple of issues which I covered in my build review for The Modelling News ;

The Modelling News. T-55 build review (pt1)

But the detail for an injection moulded kit is very impressive and it certainly outclasses the Tamiya kit (and that was a good kit). Price-wise the Tamiya kit is maybe a bit cheaper but by the time you get all the aftermarket to bring it up to standard, you may as well buy the Miniart one. 

Life Miniatures German King Tiger commander finished.

After nearly three years I decided to get this one done so here it is;

I can't say I'm that happy with it but I did learn a few things along the way and at least it's finished. Apart from the basecoat of Games Workshop Chaos Black the bust was painted entirely with Vallejo acrylics. The winter side of the reversible parka was painted with a medium grey with washes of a thin off-white over the top, with hindsight I should have used a lighter grey for the basecoat but you live and learn.

Old school modelling; Hasegawa 1/48 F-14A

I was going to put this kit up for sale a few months ago but my girlfriend took it out of the pile and asked if I could build it for her.
I've made a start on it with the intention of building it straight from the box, however looking at the nav lights supplied in the kit I thought I would use an 'old-school' technique to improve them.
Using red and green transparent toothbrushes I cut a small block off each and glued these in their relevant positions using superglue. When set they were sanded to shape then using a ladies nail buffer they were polished up. As you can see it's a huge improvement as kit supplied nav lights rarely fit well.
It's not my idea but I felt it worth passing on, just remember to check references as to whether the aircraft you are building has coloured nav light covers.

ICM 1/35 Fordson WOT6 truck

Recently one of my modelling friends posted a link on Facebook to MacOne models in Spain who had just released a set of resin wheels  (MAC35607) for the ICM kit.
As I dislike vinyl tyres (and tracks) in kits I ordered some to see what they are like and within days they arrived. First impressions are pretty good;

The tyres are 'sagged' at the bottom but it is not overdone, more importantly MacOne have included the lettering on the sidewall of each tyre.
Removal from the casting block was done with a razor saw and clean up was minimal, all I had to do was dig out the tread pattern with a craft knife where the casting block attached.
Comparing them side by side the resin parts are slightly wider and the tread pattern better defined;

All you have to do is add the centre hubs from the kit to the resin wheels, drill out the rear wheels for the axle (or just remove the axle altogether and glue directly to the brake discs) and fix them in place.
I was concerned that the resin wheels may have been copied from the kit but with the difference in width and tread pattern then I'm happy with them.
These look far better than the kit items so I would not hesitate to recommend them.
Go to their website for more info;

www.maconemodels.com

ICM 1/35 Fordson WOT6 truck

I actually built this kit a couple of months ago but forgot to put a link to the build review I did for The Modelling News so here it is;

The Modelling News

In the review I couldn't understand why ICM had the starting handle attached to the front of the chassis plus it was too short. I extended it with 1mm dia. polystyrene rod, glued it into place and forgot all about until I visited the Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire here in the UK a couple of weeks ago.
The collection has a Fordson WOT and while looking at it I noticed that the starting handle was attached to the front of the chassis so ICM had it right. The handle has a spring on the shaft so obviously you push the handle in, crank the engine and when it starts the handle disengages via the spring.
Obviously this needed attention on the model so I removed the handle, made a new shaft then using fine fuse wire (the 5 amp stuff) I wrapped it around the shaft then glued it all into place.
Not a big deal I know but it was bugging me that I made this error. Anyway here's the before and after pics

Just goes to show you learn something every day.

It's been awhile....

Owing to a major change in my life I've been away from the model bench since December when the last post I made was about the Poste Militaire hussar.
In a nut shell I separated from my wife and moved into a new home along with my new partner so the model making had taken a back seat, however I was recently asked to do a build review for The Modelling News of the new ICM 1/35 British Fordson WOT 6 truck hence this post.
You'll be able to read more when I finish the build but so far it has been quite enjoyable with only a couple of minor issues to deal with.
This is where I am at so far;

This will be built straight out of the box to show what you get for your money