Gamera, those barrels were only in the $6 range from Sprue Brothers… you cant be THAT cheap 
(have you been possesed by VonHammer?). I figured with all the work inside that I am doing, I can add that bit of external work to help her shine.
Six whole friggin bucks- gee whiz - back in my time we used to carve our own gun barrels out of TOOTHPICKS! And I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A KNIFE- I USED A SHARP ROCK!!!
Seriously six bucks sounds pretty reasonable, I wondered if they’d cost more than the kit itself! Heck I gave my waitress a five dollar tip last night since I didn’t have any ones…
Didn’t have any ones… too funny!
Oh no she wasn’t that bad!!! I meant I was going to leave her a three dollar tip but I didn’t have any ones so I l left her a five. A five dollar tip on a fourteen dollar meal is a little excessive but I doubt she’s going to complain.
Minus the tools and final pigment dusting we’re calling the Cromwell done. Certainly have learned a lot about weathering - details later. Looking for a tank that’s in good shape but has been getting a work out like this Cromwell outside Caen around July 1:
Which I interpret something like this:
Concerning any potential Panther problem I’ll spending the remainder of the build creating matting and making the tank look like a bush like this one before Goodwood:
New territory for yours truly. Wish me luck.
Eric
All masked off and ready for the MM Metelizer Aluminum. 
Loving the Cromwell tank. Now ya got me eyeing a couple tank kits for future builds.
Really nice there Eric, I wouldn’t mind adding a bit of camo to my Panther as well, keep those pesky fly boys off my back, so I willl be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Lots of masking there 68, looking forward to seeing it un rapped.
Go on Blacksheep, you know you want to.
Finally got a chance to get the LCVP assembled, minus the .30s which are on their way here from Korea.
After doing a bit of research, I found a way to busy up the other side of the engine where the battery box and bilge pump were located. Both parts came of my spares stash, I think the battery box is a part leftover from an Italeri Panzer IV, and the bilge pump is a part of a landing gear off of an X-Wing.
Ed, Bob- those all look great!
Eric: Fantastic work there, the weathering looks just like the real thing.
Nice LVCP!
The mustang is bright and needs to be toned down but I like it. 
I always like those OD over NMF Mustangs! That looks good! And now for the stripes!
Eric, Ed and SB> That is some great work you three have going on. That Matilda weathering is spot on, and I really like that Mustang with the OD wings. Pretty!
I like the look of that 68, really nice.
Thanks,
Now the Academy kit comes with invasion stripe decals but I’m not sure if I should use the or paint the stripes. What do you guys think?
I’m in the same boat with my Mustang, Ed. I’ve been staring at it for a couple weeks trying to decide paint or decal…
Don’t tempt me Bish… ROFL!!! Yeah I do want it.
In the past, I’ve done tank model kits - my first was being Monogram’s Patton Tank. Yes I actually did do a diorama as shown on the box. It was a lot of fun to do. Wish I still had that diorama though…
Others I’ve done were the Abrahams tank by Tamiya, German Tiger and I believe a Monogram Half Track kit.
I have not yet done invasion stripes. But given the discussion here a number of pages back, I think decals would be to neat and tidy. In general they seem to have been hastily applied to many aircraft.
Blacksheep, try a Dragon kit, you’ll love it. [whstl]
Mike,
I built their A-37 and A10 not too long ago and I remember not really liking the decals for some reason. I think it was that MicroSol didn’t work all that great on them and they were hard to soften.
I think I will give painting them a shot. This build is intended to be my refresher course back into the hobby, so the more things I try the better. And, like Bish alluded to, painting them on would look more authentic.