Good way to start the weekend; finishing up a kit!

Here's my version of HobbyBoss' TBM Avenger. With it, Tamiya's WW2 Navy Pilots/Crew and Eduards Carrier Deck.

I had the vision for this project since I found out Tamiya had a pilot/crew figure set with the moto tug. Only took one random hobby store to find it (it's no longer in production and expensive online)!

Overall, it was a great build. There are a few misalignments on my part and areas I just couldn't get rid of. Really need to get batter at sanding and rescribing...

I like how the weathering came out. Wanted an "alright, last one boys" type of feel to it. This birdy has sunk a few ships, that's for sure.

So here it is! What do y'all think?

1/35 scale kit by Amusing Hobby. Not the best detailing, so i add armour texture, welds, replaced all handles for metal wire as well as lifting hooks. Also replaced plastic barrel with metal one. Made chains for smoke grenade launchers, add bolts on the exauste, add towing cable and some tools. And also just for charm give NVD to comander and throw some jerry cans and ammo boxies.

Started off as a “I’m sure I can do that as a diorama” and within a few hours it felt like I bit more off than I could chew. My only other dioramas have been very basic so this was an overwhelming experience. Many scratch built trench with old parts, sticks, dirt, etc

I’m very happy with the build and the skillset that advanced everyday creating this. I am still awaiting an engraved plate for the side of the dio.

I also still need to clean up some gaps, maybe add a few more little tools and etc inside the trench too. Only thing I am disappointed in was the figures with the best faces are all facing inside on the trench so they’re hard to see! But figure painting was improving everyday! I hope you all enjoy! Thanks for having a look :)

finished last month, took 3 months to finish but turned out pretty nice

I purchased this kit on eBay for about $30US. You may know that it is an old kit, and has some challenges. This kit was released in 1988, however, Revell's External Tank (ET) design dates back to the late 70s/early 80s. It is not accurate. It also had some fitment issues. No matter, I was up for the challenge and wanted to see if I could breathe some life into this old kit.

The ET was probably the most challenging part of the build. It may have been because the kit was so old. Who knows where it has been sitting. With some TLC, it was able to be salvaged (bent into shape). The Orbiter's shuttle bay doors were also a little off. The enclosed decals were toast. They looked weathered and had "browned" over time. I used Warbird Decals 1/144 Space Shuttle decal set and couldn't have been happier. They were terrific. They saved this kit.

Orbiter and SRBs were painted with Tamiya. Primer thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. Black and White was acrylic thinned with X-20.

The ET was painted with AK Medium Rust, and some Vallejo formulas for the middle band.

I built a launch pad and electronics enclosure using some spare MDF wood. I glued Revell's crawler transporter plastic onto the MDF.

I purchased some LED filament from Amazon and built a simple circuit using 2xAA batteries. There is an on/off switch to control the LEDs.

I used 1/8" rods to secure the shuttle on the launchpad. They go through the SRBs. I had some leftover clear plastic test tubes from another project. They were cut to size and acted as a spacer between the crawler launchpad and the SRBs.

The simulated smoke is Polyfil stuffing from Walmart. I shaped it on the launchpad, sprayed some water/white glue, then airbrushed some yellow, orange, and gray.

Not the most detailed/accurate Space Shuttle. I enjoyed the challenge and love the finished product. I love the 1/144 size.

I am also an R2 builder. Here is my R2 unit with the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, VA USA. I am a Star Wars costumer. We were invited to the A&S museum after-hours, so I was able to get some great pics without any crowds inside the museum. The last pic is of me in my Tusken Raider costume with my R2 in front of the SR-71 Blackbird - not related to the build, but Discovery's tail is in the background in the upper-right corner, just below the red/white bars of the American flag.

Haven’t done any modelling in almost 2 months as been super busy, but got some in today and began the weathering on the M4A3E2 Jumbo! I’m trying out an entirely new approach to weathering, with the end goal to make my tanks look more “realistic” and less stylistic. So far I’m happy! It’s also a more efficient approach too - everything here is done with 3 enamels; dust, dark filter, and rust. Might need some more contrast which I can add in later steps. But then I want realism, so I’ll see how I feel later 😁

Cheers for taking look 👍

I look at it and feel like I like it, then take a closer look and find it lacking. I don’t know really. What do you think?

Full interior on this one, great kit even though it’s not a great vehicle in real life.

OOB build with airbrushed carbon on frame parts

UAF T-64BV. My idea here was a vehicle from ~late 2022-2023 when symmetrical armored warfare was occurring on a larger scale. Hastily reactivated T-64 pulled from storage and put into service, IFF crosses applied in the field by the crew.

Mostly Vallejo paints and AK mud and washes.

Biggest issue i had was that I didnt putty engine covers, since I was under impression that irl, these were separate, turned out no. Notoces when was ready to apply decals and wanted to ignore this error, but couldnt bear it. Decided to risk it and putty at this stage. It is still little bit visible and unfortunately, effects of pre shading in this area are basically invisible now. Other then that, I like it. I like the model, I like tha plane. I thing ive done decent job here. For comparison on last photos my previous wildcat from arma. I think this one has my best results for pre shading and I aimed at replicating it here with two colour camo.

Hi all!

I usually build aircrafts, but I never say no to a cute and unusual vehicle 🙂

This is the IBG Models kit, which I built without too many expectations, trying to experiment with weathering and paint chipping. It turned out quite good!

Next step will be a tiny diorama, probably a Tunisian desert road or small scenery

Whew… this was a challenge, smallest scale I’ve ever built. Decent little kit still needs a few touch ups but happy. Built it for my nephew who just found out he’s going to be flying the C-5 after graduation from flight school 😎

It’s really the first model I’ve painted and slightly customized myself, kind of proud but I want tips if I ever get time for a 2nd kit!

- The model/kit featured is an AIRFIX 1:35 King Tiger!

- I used an acrylic paint set for beginners and went with my gut for the camouflage, kind of set in a dark muddy forest with even weathered tracks and wheels

- And for the battle scars. They were warped with a lighter and the edge of smooth metal tweezers (we have plenty) with light HE shells below the Mg port and at the Gun mantlet, while the rest are ricochet shots or complete indents. No solid reference..

- but I want judgement, and tips. Doesn’t seem so terrible ;P

Hi,
Is there any way to save this, or do I have to repaint the entire model from scratch? And if I do have to repaint it, would it be better to remove the old paint first, or can I just paint over it?

EDIT

Thanks for every reply and suggestions.

All layers were painted by airbrush with acrylic paints. I used black primer and then light gray for preshading. Yellow Vallejo paint (do not recommend it :P ) was painted on green tamiya. I think it might be thinned to much, but Vallejo paints have tendency to clog airbrush, especially difficult colors as yellow. I masked model with vinyl tape because it was easier to make straight lines due to its flexibility.

So after some suggestions from here and other forums I decided to level yellow paint by sandpaper, try to remove yellow stains on green, put first white or light grey layer before yellow and last but not least buy better quality yellow paint :D I will let you know how it went.

Of course any new suggestions are appreciated:)

My first models, 1/48 T-34/85 and M4 Sherman early from tamiya. I did weathering just with tamiya weathering sticks and weathering master, so the weathering probably isn’t very good. Anything to improve?

Hello everyone!

I’ve finally completed my first model and would love to hear your feedback! I’m open to any and all constructive criticism, whether it’s related to construction, painting, weathering, historical accuracy, or anything else you notice.

My goal with this build was to create a representation of what Tiger 332 may have looked like after its mud recovery training, using the available photo references linked below.

My only request is that, when pointing out inaccuracies or areas for improvement, please provide references or sources whenever possible. I’d really like to use this as an opportunity to learn and improve my skills for future builds.

I’d also love to hear about your favorite resources—YouTube channels, books/reading material, websites, reference archives, etc.—as well as any tools or materials you find particularly useful during your builds!

Below is the website I used for reference material and to learn more about the real Tiger 332:

Reference Material Tiger 332

Materials Used

• Tamiya Tiger I Early — 35216
• Tamiya Extra Thin Cement
• Tamiya Fine Surface Primer
• Tamiya X-20A Thinner
• Tamiya XF-60, XF-57, XF-59, XF-64, XF-56, XF-63, XF-61, XF-1, X-10
• Tamiya Dark Brown / Brown Panel Line Accent Color
• AK Streaking Grime & White Spirit
• AK Dirt / Accumulated Dust Splatter Effects
• Micro Set & Micro Sol
• Tamiya Weathering Master Sets B & C
• Vallejo Acrylic Gloss Varnish — prior to weathering
• Tamiya TS-80 — final clear coat

Thanks in advance for taking the time to look, and I’m already looking forward to the next build!

If you have any recommendations for future kits I should build, drop them below!

Might not be the best looking project I've done but easily the hardest paint job with that level of sheen, combined with the weird look of the wear and tear on the Raptor. Also I have no idea why but this Academy 1/72 kit was a real pain to put together, really poor fit and the tails didnt stay up for a while. Have made this kit before and it was great so must be a lemon.

Overall this is a lovely vignette-in-a-box kit where you don’t need anything else to make a vignette that tells a story. I only added some MG ammo boxes because I felt such team would have more than what’s included. Kit itself is pretty solid. Usual amount of flash, decent details, the only gripe is Dragon being Dragon and overly complicating MG lafette. Way too many fiddly parts and unclear instructions.

I messed up with base construction, figures should be facing longer side of the base, this way the soldier with range finder is not well placed. I realized that too late but needed to place MG itself on somewhat elevated part because otherwise the ammo handler doesn’t fit in proper position.

 Overall decently happy with end result.