Hobbyboss 1/35 Panhard EBR FL-10

Yes, this is one of the last few models I finished before I had to leave the UK and return to this god forsaken country called Burma which I am still stuck even until now as I am figuring out my next move as in where to go and how to go so ( go as in migrate ).

This is a kit that I bought on impulse. I was buying some supplies and paints from Creative Models (UK) and they have this fantastic deals plus a free delivery for 30 quids and over so .. yeah.. :P 

I cannot remember the exact shade of green but I'm very sure I used Nato Green as a base and work on it for the darker and lighter tones. Yes, I did the highlights and shadows ( no, not full modulation as I don't really like it that much) but the nicely contrasted colours were buried under my dust effects.

The dusts effects were two fold, the first step was oil-wash, dust colour ( napels yellow ) all around the nook and cranies and on top it, pigments were simply scattered, pushed into place with a soft brush and fixed with white spirit. Using white spirit is perfect if you don't want the pigments to be dissolved. Then the dust pigments were brushed on the other parts of the vehicles. I choose to leave the bag over the turret gap off. Hate that look.

The kit itself is a very nice kit and the build was fun. The photo-etch fret is well done, with clean, crisp parts and small attachment points to the sprues. The tires have well made tread pattern and nicely raised Michelin markings on the side(which you can see on the photos). The inner "auxiliary" wheels have a non centered seam that may be diffiuclt to deal with. The decals look nice, with colors being registered well. The instructions are clearly drawn and laid out in an easily followed, non-crowded manner. A one page markings and painting guide is included, with paint / markings shown for a single olive green French vehicle.

This model went together like a dream, smoothly and without any major issues. I genuinely enjoyed building this kit, and doing a little research on it, as I had exactly zero prior knowledge regarding it.

This is one of the few kits that I am absolutely happy with what I did. I did have to nitpick about some boo-boos but the enjoyment and seeing it finished far weight the boo-boos

It's time for the photos - 
(Just click on the smaller ones and they will pop out )

The running gears -

Some random close ups -

And as usual, my show case photos from various angles -

And as usual from me -

I couldn't keep building if not for my supporting friends and comrades. Thank you guys for always supporting me. Thank you dear readers for your patronage as well.

Until Next time.

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MENG 1/35 GCT 155mm Auf1 '' During the IFOR mission ''

Good day to you guys. Hope you all having a nice sunny, summer days. Weather here in London is crap though.

Anyway,I just finished another Kit. It's the GCT 155mm AUF1 from MENG. I'm not going to put in here how is the kit as a lot of review has already covered that when it came out. However, if you are building this, glue the infernal suspension (unless you want to put this on a diorama) and invest in another track set ( either metal tracks or other plastic offering).

The kit was built mostly out of box apart from the Metal Barrel from RB Models, a scratch build wooden box and a tarp made from putty. 

For colour, I bought some AMMO paint to test it out. The paint has a similar smell to the Das Modelling Clay so I presumed it is made from Cellulose ( hopefully not fibres). The paints are good but I don't think it is for me. I can't seem to paint fine line with it and I just can't get the consistency right. It's already pre-thinned and kinda hard to control. It gives a very smooth and nice finish though, a very lovely finish. It's the spraying and control that I had trouble with. 

The interior is painted using Tamiya light blue and Vallejo ModelColour White. Tamiya light blue has a very strong blue tone ModelColour white was use to bring it down. The chipping inside and outside are done with AMMO chipping colour. The AMMO Chipping, however, was a delight to use. I think it's much better than what we have always used; Vallejo Model Colour Panzer Series German Cam. Black Brown. 

Since I knew this was going to be a hard edge, I bought the pre made masks from J's model works. They are not perfect as the pattern are somewhat wrong but they do the job pretty well. Since I am not a rivet counter, I am happy with them. 

Wanting to show a used up vehicle, I opted to use the IFOR decals from the kit and put on the '' Mont Igman 1995 '' decals to depict a vehicle used in the IFOR mission. As such, I decided to go heavy on the chippings, mud and dusts and throw some busy stowage on the little rack at the back. 

Well, that's about as much I can sum up about the build. 

I'm actually not that  satisfied with what I did but I ran out of fuel while weathering this and I just wanted to call it done. I'm glad that it is at least a little bit presentable.

It's time for the photos - 

(If you think some are small, just click on them ) 

The running gears -

The scopes - 

The interior - 

The exhaust -

The on board tools -

The Stowage on board -

The machine gun -

The fuel stains on the engine deck -

And as usual, my show case photos from various angles -

And as usual from me, the Gary Wintin Shot  -

Well, that's all I can say about this. As you all know, my patience is my bane so the usual hiccups are met but nothing I can complain. I as much the kit is nice, the plastic are really soft. Most of the smaller pieces are very fragile. The most annoying thing was the track. That was such a let down. The track alone made me so angry with the kit that it messed up my good vibe and I forgot to put on rear lights. Too many a time the tracks came off and pisses me off to no end which resulted in a very sloppy job on the Machine gun ( too pissed off to do a good job on the MG) and insufficient weathering on the tracks it self. I am so not happy about that.

I couldn't keep building if not for my supporting friends and comrades. Thank you guys for always supporting me. Thank you dear readers for your patronage as well.

Until Next time.

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