1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G - T-3 (75mm) Polish Army - Revell - Completed

Finally, I finished Stug in Polish Army markings, and in time for Northern Virginia IPMS Model Classic 2013. I was also able to complete small vignette for it.
Figures were painted with Vallejo & Citadel paints. Stug was weathered with AK Interactive wash and pigments.

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G - T-3 (75mm) Polish Army - Revell - Workbench Part 2

After another quite pause, mainly thanks to  Junior, eventually I was able to push this build forward. That how it goes when little man starts to discover the world.

Stug received coat of grey primer.

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G Revell - Grey Primer

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G Revell - Grey Primer

PENNCON 2012 Central Pensylvania IPMS Show - Pictures

On September 15th I had the pleasure to attend Penncon 2012 Show, organized by folks from Central Pensylvania IPMS. This year, show was held in new location, at US Army Heritage & Education Center in Carlisle, PA.

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Click "READ MORE" to see pictures of some models presented on the show.

1/72 "Cat & Mouse" MAUS Dragon - Gallery

More pictures from my completed "Cat & Mouse" project. I used model of Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Dragon), resin building walls (Tiger Dioramics), resin cobblestone street (own production), crew figures - mix of resin & plastic figures, infantry from WWII German Army with Camouflage Cape set (Ceasar Miniatures).

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Completed

Finally Cat & Maus project is finished and I found some time to get the pictures. Everyone knows why Maus (Mouse), but where is cat? Now, you'll know 
Everything assembled and mounted on the base. Here's the result (probably could be better...).

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Workbench part 8

Again, a little step forward... I did a little bit more work on city scene. I added mixes of various pigments to get more dusty, full of debris look, followed by weathering with artistic oils. The street lamp received its top and some shattered glass inside.
I also decided to add two German posters from the period (printed on laser printer). Results are below:

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 6

After having assembly and priming done, I could go forward with painting. First I applied pre-shading using Tamiya Black XF-1.

Next, I airbrushed Model Master 4807 Russian Armor Green, lightened up with Tamiya White X-2.

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Workbench part 7

At last I got to the step where more colors start to show up. All the elements received number of acrylic colors, followed by some oil washed (here and there...). Below are the results.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 5

Finally I finished the assembly. The hatch is on the place, and I added blockade for it made from copper wire.

1/72 JS-3 - Assembled turret top

1/72 JS-3 - Assembled turret front

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Workbench part 6

Long time passed by since I did any work on this project... but eventually Little Boss allowed for some activity.
I've added some rubble and debris on the base.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 4

Some work done on JS-3. Gun barrel fixed in place and muzzle brake added.

Gaps on the turret had been filled as well.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 3

Work on JS-3 continues. After quite a struggle I managed to install metal gun barrel into the mantlet (I had to widen the opening). Having this done, I assembled the turret. Fitting is quite away from snug.

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Turret's bottom

Assembled turret revealed rather serious gaps on both sides of the gun mount...

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Gun mount

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 2

I started work on JS-3 by assembling suspension parts.

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Suspension

One of disadvantages of this kit are hatches, which Trumpeter molded in shut position. Since I prefer to include figures with my builds, I decided to cut them out.

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Opened turret hatches

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 1

Among other modeling subjects, I definitely have a soft spot for Polish armor. While ago, when reading one of the books of that matter, I found the information about two JS-3 (IS-3) tanks delivered for testing to Polish Army (1946/1947). Eventually, Polish Army went straight for T-54/55, skipping JS-3. Both JS-3s are preserved in museums in Poznan and Warsaw.
Having this said, let's focus on the model kit. Trumpeter makes two versions of this heavy tank, JS-3 (which is going to be my victim here) and JS-3m (later version).

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter

1/72 Sherman Firefly Vc Dragon - Completed

Finally Firefly Vc is completed. Crew was mounted in their hatches (placing the driver was really tricky :)). Terrain was made with mixture of pigments, white glue and matt varnish. Vegetation was done with different products from Silflor and Polak companies. Decals came from 1st Polish Armoured Division Part 1 set by Armo (72408). This Firefly received markings of 1st Squadron, 2nd Regiment, 1st polish Armoured Division, in England, during Spring 1944.

1/72 Sherman Firefly Vc Dragon - Workbench Part 5

Some family matters prevented me from more often posting, but hopefully everything will get back to normal. However, in meantime I was able to spend a bot of time modeling.
I managed to assemble the crew for Firefly. Parts for them came from Milicast British Tankers, Preiser RAF mechanics, and Airfix donated parts for driver. Here are three musketeers:

Before painting them, I checked if the fit into the hatches

Magazine miniReplika #73 feat. 1/72 Hetzer in Polish Army

I'm happy to announce Mini Replika magazine issue 73 is released. It features my build article about 1/72nd Hetzer used by Polish Army in 1945.

Build is based on Italeri's Hetzer model kit (re-issued ESCI kit), with some necessary modifications.
Featured model, brought me gold medal at AMPS International Show 2011. Here it is:

32mm Agent Nina vel Blanca DeLuxe

It appears that nothing is happening on my workbench... but it's not quite truth. Currently I'm working on Imperial Tie Interceptor, which I build for competition on GalaxyKits.com, and for that reason I do not show it here (for now).
Usually I prefer to have few different models on the workbench, which prevents me from getting bored.
In addition, I just started working on really neat figure, which bought from Cool Minis or Not. They list her as Blanca DeLuxe, but here she gets different name - Agent Nina.
I removed some flash, and smoothed down the mold lines. Drilled out guns barrels, added mounting pins to the legs and put the figure together.

Old Dominion Open - IPMS Richmond

On February 25th I attended Old Dominion Open Hobby Show, hosted by IPMS Richmond.
It was good show, a lot of good models on the tables, and quite impressive vendors' area.
As always it was great occasion to meet some old friends, and make some new ones.
The only unhappy  thing was how armor categories were divided :( My beloved braille scale armor was joined with 1/48th scale in Tracked Armor Vehicles, and to make it worse in Armored Cars, Softskin and Artillery categories it was placed together with 1/35th. Very unfortunate decision, which may keep away braille scale modelers from this show.
However I was quite lucky, and 3 of my models received awards in other categories.

28mm Demolition Team

1/72 Fighting For Vodka!

1/35 M4 Early Sherman, Italy, 1944 

It was good start of 2012 season, and I hope it will get better along the way.

28mm Mordor Stormtrooper

While ago I received from a friend bag full of 1/72 figures (Thanks Micha!). For my surprise, among them, I found metal figure from Games Workshop's Lord of the Rings series. Figure looked incomplete, and for some time I had no clue what to do with it. One day, while browsing through some remnants from 1/35 scale figures, I found some weapons, bags and pouches, and I got an idea. How about modernizing the guy to Stormtrooper?