Eric, CMK,
Thank you both for the great tips and information. I think that I have really messed up in the whole way of execution of things. I will have to order more PE next month and get a new kit to work with. That is my fault for not getting the information I needed before I started this project.
It is a great learning experience for me and believe me I have learned my lesson. It is no big deal for me at all. I just have to wait till next month to do it.
Doug
Thanks for the advice on the tracks. what i found is that using a liquid glue from testors I can position them easily shortly after application of the glue. I also found you can just glue sections together and bend them after they dry. I may have overdone the slack in the tracks a bit, but I like it. I’m happy with the magic tracks at this point. They were not that hard to put together and they look better than the vinyl ones. They will also hold paint better I’m sure.
I’m pretty much done with the build and have put the base coat of dark yellow on the model. This is my first Tamiya kit and the detail is much higher than I’m used to from the trumpeter kits I’ve built. I’ve not built many 1/35 scale armor kits though I own them :). https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/116382083351056887723/albums/6092370096302045249/
You’re welcome, Doug. It’s been a pleasure participating in the GB with you. I look forward to seeing your progress on Mighty Mo. Hope to see you in '45!
Finally got some time to start the Yak-3 (I must be the definition of ‘late’).
Cockpit was assembled, some small details added (junction boxes, some levers, some minimal wiring).
Then some painting and addition of (most) of the PE parts that Eduard provides.
Result is not so great I think but time is pressing so I am making this fast track.
I will try to amend the quality of the build in the exterior assembly and camo painting.
Overall this is a very nice kit.
PS
I got so bewildered and confused while searching for the correct interior color of that plane and period, that I eventually mixed some colors and painted it in a blue-green-gray shade in order to get on. Lets assume a factory in Krasnoyarsk run out of the official VVS specified color and used whatever they had in the warehouse in order to meet the deadlines for deliveries [whstl]
Your pit looks great Zvezda…I’m sure your colour choice didn’t hurt the War Effort!! [Y] Looks Great!
Very nice work on your cockpit Zvez. Your added detail really spifs it up.
Nice work Zvezda, nice to see this under way.
Great detail, Zvezda. A lot of attention and skill went into that.
That cockpit looks really nice! A lot of detail in there!
Can anybody tell what I’m doing wrong with posting pictures? It’s coming in as a link and not displaying the picture. Thanks!
Are you using the ‘Use Rich formatting’ link next to the reply button.
Better late than never Zvezda 
And very nice work on that cockpit! Comrade Stalin will be pleased that you did not delay production of this vitally needed war machine on account of color…
Awesome work Zvezda. The cockpit looks great.
Doug
Yes. Then use the button for insert image and paste the url for the picture in. When I post or preview the message it leaves the last part of the file name as a hyperlink. Maybe it’s because I’m using my google site and the name is long? Where do some of you upload your pictures to?
I use photo bucket. There are some other sites, but most seem to use that.
Thanks for your comments folks.
Stikpusher: Unless he hates that color, then I am off to some rock-breaking holidays in Siberia.
With a wash and some dirt/wear it will look better.
Yesterday fuselage and engine cowling were assembled. They need some slight filling and sanding (mainly due to my carelessness), otherwise the fit seems perfect until now.
Its finally that time again. This should be the last update before this is done. There was not to much left to do to the vehicle itself. After adding the tracks and wheels and fitting the last few external bits, it was time for a mud bath. I was trying to get a fresh mud look using a method I picked up online. I mixed some MiG pigments with plaster and some gloss varnish, in this case future. But it has not come out looking fresh but dried.
Most of this week has been spent on the base, figures and other bits of kit to go in and on the vehicle. I wanted a wet mud look to the base as well so added some future to the Celluclay mix, but again it has not worked.
I then added the vehicle before the celluclay was fully dried. I still have some pieces to add but these can be done while on the base. I also fitted the gate and a few other items to the ground work.
And the figures are starting to come along. The skin is done and I just need to ad some detail to the faces such as the eyes. SS camo is one of the areas I need to work on.
The two figures on the left, Meyer and one of his Officers, will be in Summer oak leaf, a pattern I find pretty hard to replicate. The next guy will be in Pz Black, the one after him Reed Green and finally Dot pattern.
All comments are welcome and any suggestion on how to get a fresh wet mud look to both the terrain and the vehicle would be appreciated. I tried painting the Celluclay with future after it dried but it left a whiteish colour so I has to go over that.
Looks real good Bish! Add another coat of Future to the mud ig you want a wet mud appearance. Let it dry and if it is not as wet as you like, repeat the process…
Outstanding, Bish! Very realistic.
That halftrack is just getting more awesomer and awesomer. Really fantastic work Bish. I am also very impressed with your base/dio. That there is incredibly well done. I’m especially impressed with paint work you’ve done on the wall stones.