Nice! I have a couple in the stash; have you decided on a paint scheme/campaign?
Group build: Cargo trucks, backbone of the army!
I'm leaning towards box art, Eastern Front.
... lots of weathering possibilities! From dusty wheat fields to rain, snow, sleet and mud!
I like it. Pantherman
Airborne01!
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2025
- Messages
- 205
I'm going to build the Tamiya 1/35 example for the Cargo Trucks GB, hope it looks as neat as your example TG
Steve
Steve
Trick from Night Shift, heat PE to help with bending. Worked great.
Kit came with form for the bend!
Worked great.
BONUS: we now have the perfect tool for Crème brûlée, and flaming Sambuca!
Kit came with form for the bend!
Worked great.
BONUS: we now have the perfect tool for Crème brûlée, and flaming Sambuca!
![Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Clinically Proven, Fragrance Free, Unscented, Water Based, Hypoallergenic, Multi-Use, Hand Wipes 336 Wipes Total (6X Flip-Top Packs) [Packaging May Vary]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KLBHu9CAL._SL500_.jpg)
Nice. And removing nose hair....... Pantherman
After seeing your sticky matt, I had to order one.Sticky mat to the rescue!
..in the past, I'd only chance removing extra small parts one assembly at a time... it was just too easy to accidently brush one with my sleeve, or sneeze, etc... especially with my magnifying cheaters on, almost like blinders!
I was so excited when I saw this contraption on another thread, I didn't bother bookmarking the post, just went straight to Amazoony and ordered it!
So THANK YOU, @KINGSLUG !
View attachment 170363
I can leave the bench, turn off the light, and know that all those teeny parts will be there in the morning.
Nice, hang on to the protective sheets, with tiny parts, you can just lay it back on top if you are going to step away for awhile!
Some progress, inspection, all the hubs touching the mat... 
Have to say I'm impressed how well parts are fitting, and the PE interlocks with the plastic!
Done up to/including step 11, as well as 16.
Have to say I'm impressed how well parts are fitting, and the PE interlocks with the plastic!
Done up to/including step 11, as well as 16.
So did I. Love it. Pantherman
Jakko
Well-Known Member
That's been a well-known technique for very much longer than this Night Shift guy has been making a name for himself
It's called annealing: heating metal so the atoms that make up the material align to the crystal grid again. This makes it more ductile, so you can bend it more easily. However, I would recommend doing this only with parts that actually need to be bent into difficult curves, not as a matter of course. Exactly because the material becomes more ductile, you will very easily deform parts that should be straight.I normally use a cigarette lighter held under the part until it changes colour. With copper and its alloys (like brass), you can then plunge the part into water to cool it to room temperature again — though for most etched parts that's hardly necessary, as they're so small they will cool quickly on their own anyway. However, if you need to anneal steel, like the etched parts you get in Tamiya kits, you need to let them cool naturally. Trying to speed-cool them will harden the material rather than make it more pliable.
This is where I'm at with this build. Slow going due to holiday.
Last edited:
《disclaimer: we have all faced this situation》
So, at what point do little parts, teeny tiny parts, make a lot more sense if they were molded onto a bigger part, rather then make me:
a) remove it from the sprue
b) not lose it
c) clean it up
d) not lose it
e) pick it up
f) not lose it
g) glue it in a dab of glue actually smaller than the part
h) not lose it
i) prep it for paint
j) not knock it off and lose it
k) paint it
and
l) not lose it,
except now we're talking about my sanity!
That little nut is going to be glued in the slight depression over the square hole on the bracket. #11 blade tip for reference.
...And there's more than one!
All's well, so far!
CA gel saves the day again. One little speck applied, doesn't run, stays like a good little boy, then grabs the nut which was holding on to a film of saliva at the end of fine tipped tweezers.
CA gel saves the day again. One little speck applied, doesn't run, stays like a good little boy, then grabs the nut which was holding on to a film of saliva at the end of fine tipped tweezers.
It's gotta be done. If not every time you look at that model you're brain will scream SHOULD HAVE FITTED THAT NUT.
《disclaimer: we have all faced this situation》
So, at what point do little parts, teeny tiny parts, make a lot more sense if they were molded onto a bigger part, rather then make me:
a) remove it from the sprue
b) not lose it
c) clean it up
d) not lose it
e) pick it up
f) not lose it
g) glue it in a dab of glue actually smaller than the part
h) not lose it
i) prep it for paint
j) not knock it off and lose it
k) paint it
and
l) not lose it,
except now we're talking about my sanity!
That little nut is going to be glued in the slight depression over the square hole on the bracket. #11 blade tip for reference.
View attachment 170823
...And there's more than one!
View attachment 170825
Just saying..... Pantherman
Engine not complete, just placed for fit.
Starting to feel like it just might be a truck!
...yes, that is some brass rod in the drive shaft: it was less than 1mm too short, but too short is too short, so cut it out, drilled it out and fit brass rod that can slide to fit.
My wife's birthday weekend, so see you guys on the other side!
Starting to feel like it just might be a truck!
...yes, that is some brass rod in the drive shaft: it was less than 1mm too short, but too short is too short, so cut it out, drilled it out and fit brass rod that can slide to fit.
My wife's birthday weekend, so see you guys on the other side!
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
- Messages
- 1,580
I'm in. First time building an ICM kit. I'm looking forward to it. You can only build so many planes and then you got to take a break.
KowboyKaleb
Well-Known Member
Wonderful work everyone, now that the holiday has passed maybe I can finally get down to the bench and get started haha!
Also got a new TV for the build area so have some background noise
Also got a new TV for the build area so have some background noise
Well I have had a very productive weekend so I'm done. Pantherman
Looks great!
Thanks Barley, not so happy with the underside but not seen. Might do a bit more to it at a later date. Pantherman
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
- Messages
- 1,580
I like it. Especially the mud on the windshield because it gave me an idea. I might make mine look like I tried to use the windshield wipers to clear the mud
I have been thinking about that. Thought I would make a template and then wash off the area's carefully with a small bud.
The splash effect was created by putting water in a small fine spray bottle and adding a tiny drop of dark sand vallejo paint, give it a good mix and spray from a distance only once. Let it dry, then repeat it if needed.
Pantherman
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
- Messages
- 1,580
That's a good idea I was going to flick it with a brush but I don't think none of my brushes would do that
Jakko
Well-Known Member
Idea for a figure: squeegee kid!
