Finished! Revell 1/72 Leopard II and T-80B

  Well I have finished these two fantastic little kits.  Took me bloody long enough that is for sure.  I had a right nightmare with the Leopard's decals, well that is not correct entirely... I have lost them.  I looked everywhere for them in the man-cave but fount nowt.  Buggered if I know where they are!  So I was stuck, then while looking around at the big H (Hannants) for... well stuff.  I found the newer Leopard II A6 (I think) on sale, which had markings for the Dutch version and the Germany army!  Result!  So I ordered it and used the German decals for this model and going to do the other one in the dutch colour's that will go well with my Swedish one!  The T-80, now that is another story, I painted it all up, I loved the green colour I used on it, but I wanted a camouflaged version (maybe next time).  So I had to paint it, that is when my airbrush decided to pack up for good.  I am lucky to get any air out of it.  I've placed the error down to the nozzle and the needle looked knackered (I have had it nearly two years now!).  In a feat of incredible British "Can Do" ingenuity I took bits off the other airbrush I have and used it on the main one.  Well the idea was good in principle, that is about all, it failed horribly.  I've now since ordered a brand new airbrush and finished off the little T-80 with it.  I haven't weathered it yet as I am unsure what to do, but I had a go at the Leopard.  I can always go back and dirty it up a little bit I guess.  Sorry for the picture quality, it was taken on my phone.

  To be fair there isn't really that many decals to on this one.  Maybe 6 at most, still they make a lot of difference.  I have learned a little bit from this model and plan to apply it to the other ones.  I will get pictures of this outside in natural light so you can see it in all it's horror!

Looking at it like this, you really wouldn't guess that I have used two different browns on her would you?  Those shovels/spades where a right bugger to paint!

The T-80B, not sure if the brown is the right shade or not, but I am happy with her, it is something different eh?  Think I will add some weathering to this one at a later date.

I can honestly imagine that if a T-80 commander ever got himself caught like this next to a Leopard (espically during the Cold War) he would probably have his head between his legs kissing his arse "goodbye".  I did cock up the spraying of the brown as it has gone over the wheels.  But I think I can use that as some kind of weathering as say it's mud, or give me a good base to work from.  We will see when I get some better pictures of it.

PEACE!

Dazz

WiP - 1/72 Revell Leopard II

  Well I have not been spending as much time in the man shed as I would of liked.  My father and I are still wiring it up with lights and modern comforts, like heating!!  I got a little work done on my Leopard, but really it isn't much.

   You can see the bits that I have added, those... hand rails (?) where a right bugger to add, there is pratically no-where for them to stick onto!  Well thats the last of the parts to be added, just to paint them, do the little detail painting and then onto what I really want to do... weathering!! :)

  PEACE!

  Dazz

WiP - 1/72 Revell Leopard II and T-80B

  So here we have my two long term armor project.  Since I have been playing World of Tanks a lot, I have wanted to make an armoured model of some description.  I know neither the Leopard or the T-80B are actually in WoT, but they where on sale at ModelZone.  On to the pictures!

  Both of the models together, I just can't get over the size of the Leopards turret compared to the T-80's.  Both of these tanks had different school of thoughts.  IIRC, the NATO countries where going to rely on taking out the WARSAW Pact tanks from range (camping anyone?!) at and over 1km.  Where as the WARSAW countries where going to rely on their numbers and basically Zerg rush everyone.  Know which one I would rather do...

  I have started to do the detail painting on the Leopard, and yes I have used two different shades of brown on it... I'm hoping it wont show as badly when I start to weather it and dirty it up a bit.  Need to find an easier way of doing the tracks, they where a complete pain and almost sent me boss-eyed... need to work on my 3 tone camo-skills.  I know what I have done wrong here and know how to correct it.  But this model is going to be a test bed for the new Humbrol weathering powders, looking forward to using them and seeing what kind of muck I can make with them! :) 

  Random shot of the T-80, I can't get over the size of that barrel!!  I decided that the turret looked really bare and after looking at different colours of this tank I noticed that there is a lot of wires missing from the hull and the turret.  So I used some 0.2mm thick wire attached with superglue, I think I went a little OTT with the superglue.  Least it wont move now eh?! :P  Will be painting this one dark green and white.

  Closer shot of that turret and wire bits.  I know the wire isn't straight, then again I have never seen any wires of any kind straight at all, well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it! :P  Hopefully I will be painting this one very soon (next week or so...).

  Thats it for the tanks :)

  PEACE!

  Dazz

The List Part 2

  Here is the second part of the stuff I have still yet to make.  This part will be the ones I have started.

  This is my little Rafale, painted in the colours of Espada 2 from Ace Combat Zero : The Belkan War.  I dont have any decals for this one yet.  I got an idea tho, I love the way this plane looks.  I've gotta admit it is a really good looking plane.  I know the Typhoon lost to this plane in India this year, not really sure on that tho.

  Who doesn't know this plane?  The F/A-18E Super Hornet, I bought this wondering if there was any way I could turn this into a Growler (the "Wild Weasel" version of the F-18, an aircraft designed purely to attack enemy radars/anti-air assets), but alas I dont think I can. I might use the CAG colours or if I can find some low-vis markings from another kit (update : I have in the F-19 kit). I might buy the Dragon Growler kit at a later date.

  This is a little kit that I picked up on special offer also, I know it's a cargo/light utility plane.  But it's a unique looking plane, so it wins in my eyes.  Altho I found out that the Do-28D2 Skyservant is no longer in service with the German Army anymore, however it is with the Luftwaffe and German Navy.  I'm not too sure if those colours on the rudder are for a Tigermeet or not. Oh well...

  I got lazy at this point, I was meant to photo the Sherman Firefly and A-34 Comet on their own, but wanted to get the Harrier AV-8B and Tomcat in it.  The two tanks are built awaiting painting... actually they are painted I just need to find the decals for them.  The Tomcat is a lovely little plane, I've always liked them and respected what it could do.  The long range of it's radar and the AIM-54 Phoenix was phenomenal.  I also found it amazing that if the Tomcat had it's maximum load of 6 Phoenix's on, it had to drop 4 of them before it could land because it was over-weight even with no fuel onboard. Also the Tomcat was the inspiration for the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross.  Now the Harrier, one plane that is a piece of British Engineering genius (Yes I know the AV-8B is American, but the Harrier is a British plane no questions).  However I am a bit annoyed with Revell for this kit, the Harrier always is and always will be a CAS (Close Air Support) plane.  So why have they only shipped it with two fuel tanks, 2 Sidewinders and cannon?  Not very CAS to me... I might be able to steal some unused weapons from other kits.  Speaking of stealing, this kit has 2 decal options, one for the USMC VMA-231 Ace of Spades squadron or for the Spanish Navy Air Arm - Armada Española Arma Aérea, now I am thinking that I could probably nick the Spanish ones and put them on the Rafale as Espada 2 is supposed to be Spanish... it could either work or fail totally.  One way to find out.

  Now Tanks aren't really my area of specialty, but I love the lines of the Leopard 2 A5, it looks so mean.  This kit is a cool and quick kit to make.  Just waiting to finish it with paints and decals.  The Camo looks cool too, there is also a turret in the kit to make the A4 I believe, but I didn't look too much into it as it was too square for my liking.

  I said earlier that Tanks/Armour isn't my specialty, so I am not too sure why I bought this.  I guess the Half-track was cool, the huge arse 40mm Rocket propelled grenades are an added bonus. :)  But alas I dont know much about the Sd.Kfz. 251 (what a long winded name).

  Like tanks and Armour, I know next to nothing about marine vessels.  This Gepard-Klasse 143A was on offer and looked cool to me.  I've gotten as far as you can see in the photo.  I need to start painting the hull tho.  I had problems with the deck when I was making it as I had glued the hull too close together so the deck wouldn't fit correctly.  But elaccy-bands sorted that one out and brute strength. ;)  Updates as and when I get them done.

  Peace!

  Dazz