Ben's Builds for 2010 (now in display cabinet, see post #11)

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi guys,

I see a few people have recorded all of their builds onto one post so, as a relative newbie to armour modelling (I bought my first kit in May 2009) I thought I’d post mine too!

I’m hoping that this will help me as I’ll be able to see which areas of my work really need improvement and I’m hoping to see a slight improvement from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2010.

Please feel free to comment and suggest on - anything!

Before I show you my builds here’s my newly constructed cabinet that arrived yesterday with all my builds within - no more dust or cling film! yippeeee! [:P]

Unless otherwise stated these are all 1/35 builds and run from the beginning of 2010 right up to now - the final Hetzer at the bottom being just completed:

Dragon Wittman StuG III Ausf A c/w Armorscale Resin Mantlet and Aluminium Barrel:

My first ever Friuls!

Dragon Panzer I Ausf B (figures aren’t my strong point yet):

My first base - Tamiya’s 1/48 251 Halftrack (please ignore the ‘shiny helmets’, they were added as an afterthought and I hadn’t put any dull coat on them when this photo was taken):

Dragons Panther G with Friuls - one of my favourites:

Tamiya’s Late Version Jagdpanther with RB Barrel & DS tracks nicked from the Dragon Panther kit (another personal favourite):

Dragons Panzer I Ausf A c/w interior (with my first attempt at Magic Tracks) I love these teeny tiny Panzers:

Tamiya’s Mid-Production Hetzer with an ‘attempt’ at a ‘Light & Shadow’ Ambush Scheme:

Thanks for looking guys, it’s been a great year and I’ve learnt a hell of a lot during it!

Everyone has given me sooo much help - there are far too many names to list and I’m not going to try incase I forget someone but you all know who you are!

Wbill get’s a special mention as his website and general advice has really got me out of some messy situations! Karl, Lasse and Tony have also been utter gold too!

Plans for 2011: No more rattlecan gloss, I’m experimenting with that i.e. using water based Acrylic Klear instead and I’m limiting the all-over washes to pin washes and ‘shadow’ washes. I need to learn how to ‘use’ my pigments and I need to spend more time on my road wheels, chipping and figure painting too! I also want to start scratch building some pieces and modelling stowage as well.

As you’ve probably noticed every build during 2010 was German so this year I’m going Russian and Allied - it’s time to open the Green paints! The first build will be my 152 below followed by the Dragon Hybrid Sherman IC Firefly. I do have the Dragon Marder III Ausf M Command Vehicle in the stash but God only knows when I’ll get round to building that!

My first build (to be) of 2011:

Here’s to a great 2011!

ATVB

Ben [t$t]

2

very nice! I am enjoying these 2010 review threads!

3

Wow! Hey Ben, great looking models! [Y]

Sorry, haven’t been around the armour forum much lately so I’ve been going though some of the end of the year builds. Thanks for posting them! Great models and I think you got more done this year than I’ve done in several years.

Looking forward to seeing some Allied stuff, my personal faves!!!

Dang I need to get some AFVs done, I’m turning into one of those evil aircraft guys… [6]

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Definitely a year to be proud of Ben! You can clearly see the progression in your skills and use of techniques. May your 2011 year be equally productive and enjoyable! [B]

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Ben - Great progression of skills, you can see your growth within these builds. I am sure 2011 will be even a better year for you. The key to always remember is patience…it will allow you to do anything!

Rounds Complete!!

6

Very productive year. Fine builds all around. You should be proud.

I look forward to that beast: the JSU-152. So ugly, yet, so beautiful.

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Good year Ben,my favorite also the Panther G

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Ben, I am so glad you posted this. [Y] It is amazing to see how much your skills have improved from that StuG III to rthe most recent Hetzer. This shows us that you are on the right track. It is always an enjoyable experience following your WIPs. I would have to say that Panzer I is my personal favorite because we had fun building it together for Norway GB. Now where the heck is Husky? [:P]

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Nice line up Ben with great improvement over the year. The '11 should be real killer.

10

Excellent progression Ben!

Tanks for posting your year in review, I too enjoy these posts and with a little time I may get 1 more finished before 2011.

The next kit will be fun for you, Soviet armor of WWII is known for large sloppy welds and none standardized dark green color. Perhaps a winter whitewash for good measure? One photograph I have in a reference book shows a column of knocked out JSU-152’s with all the road wheels stolen by local farmers. Apparently the farmers were using the wheels for carts into the 80’s!

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Thank you very much guys [Y]

I first have to agree with Andy in saying that the little Panzer I was my favourite build. It turned out beatifully and was my first attempt at an interior too. It was good to building the same tank with someone too. The StuG was a great build too but the Panzer I Ausf B was a nightmare and didn’t make the cabinet!

I can see that all over washes that I’m using at least are too strong and are either really darkening or in some cases (see the Panther) ‘reddening’ the builds so this year I’ll be trying some serious alternative methods i.e. no all over washes and only pin washes for a start along with more focus on light and shadow areas.

As Suppression has said I need to do another whitewash build (there’s the Marder but it’s not a ‘proper’ whitewash, that was a fluke that looked good! The JSU may yet get a whitewash!

To top it all off my parents unveiled a Christmas present yesterday that they had on order for me and didn’t arrive until yesterday - only a big glass display cabinet with 10 shelves! Talk about speechless! No more rubbish pine shelf with a length of cling film covering my models to protect them from the dust whilst I wait to save up enough £££’s for a cabinet!

I built it in about 2 hours last night and it looks superb! All of my builds are on there except my first ever 1/48 Tiger I that I built and that awful Panzer I Ausf B that caused me some major headaches this year - it was a bit of a mess. The longer builds like the Panther, JP & Pershing will have to go lengthways as it has a shelf depth of 250mm but the Marder sits at a comfortable 45 degrees and the smaller stuff will sit straight on when I eventually need them to as I fill it up bit by bit! It’s got a nice thin flourescent striplight at the top but I need to wire that up and basically is perfect for my needs - until it’s full! That shouldn’t be for a good couple of years yet as I can really squash the shelves up - it has 10 shelves in total and I’m only using 6 at present and they can be positioned anywhere you want and at any height and it’s a 2 minute job to alter the height of the shelves of add an additional one. It’s very nice to be be able to see your own work!

By the time it’s full (at the very least) I’ll hopefully have my own place so I can have a room full of cabinets!

Sorry it’s a rubbish photo but my room is pretty dark today due to the weather and these awful low output bulbs don’t help but you get the idea! I’ve obviously got everything spread out at the minute and will condense as needs arise.

Thanks again folks,

ATVB

Ben [t$t]

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Nice collection of builds! I wish my completion rate was even close to you guys.

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Hi Hercmech,

I completed 7 builds this year (plus two half builds that went in the bin).

Now that I’m taking my time on my builds and really concentrating I reckon I’ll be lucky to do 4 this year. Two are Dragon ‘Super Kits’ that will take God knows how long seeing as I only build at weekends or on holidays!

ATVB

Ben [t$t]

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Ben,

A nice collection for the year. You’re making progress and learning things along the way. That alone is reason to be proud!

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Nice job Ben! I am partial to the jagdpanther. They all look great though. Keep up the good work.