WW2 F15A Ford w/Breda in Italian service 2025-03

[BarleyBop]

little rascal

Aptly named! Thanks for the encouragement... just like with rascally toddlers, the 'difficult' moments can be trying, but the effort pays dividends!

 

[BarleyBop]

A little pushback on the British numbers, likely scrubbed a bit before Italian colours...

 

[BarleyBop]

At this stage, starting to think about accessories, so went through my stash. A benefit of having rather specific interest in WW2 North Africa, is grabbing items over the years just in case)

Italian fuel cans, some I'd already painted up
Balsa cut down to 2x8s
A Breda spare gun barrel in crate
Breda ammo trays
British sand channels with racks
An F15 detail set (some of which I already scratch built for this one)



I'll have to build the undercarriage racks for the fuel cans, but I have some good references.

 

[Jakko]

TBH, if you're not going to show the sides of the jerrycans, using Italian ones specifically is a bit of a waste of an expensive set, IMHO. If you can't see the markings embossed in the side, German, Italian and British jerrycans (as well as most modern, non-American ones) all look exactly the same, and German ones are cheap and plentiful in plastic. (You can also get Italian and British ones in plastic, BTW: Asuka has both, Bronco has British. Though British cans would be anachronistic on North Africa model.)

 

[BarleyBop]

jerrycans

Oh ya, we got cans. Thanks for looking out for the old expense account
I'm probably going to build these... I have at least another set in reserve by a different maker, and, I may only use a few. Back in the day, detail sets like these made good 'stocking stuffers' when bringing up an order total for free shipping. Don't see much of that anymore since COVID.

 

[BarleyBop]

Slow but sure, since I 'found' the stuff, I may has well use it! Normally it would've gone on before paint...
I guess I'm like the squirrels around here who keep burying stuff in my flower beds, and promptly forgetting!
Wheel wells inside and in the cab, treadplate and brakes for frames over the box. Also some hinges, but I figured out my own improvement earlier.

 

[BarleyBop]

Before priming, I'll use some burnishing liquid on the sand channels




The channels are off for a base coat. I've tried lightly sanding before, this is quick, and works well on larger surfaces.


... in the meantime, assembled more Italian RE fuel cans.
Dunno why, I suppose all modelers have an activity they just love, but I could make fuel cans till the cows come home!

The resin Breda barrel crate had cast rope handles that were broken, so removed them, drilled out the end boards and inserted lead wire.

Next up, the fuel can racks, one for 4, another for 2.

 

[BarleyBop]

To make the racks, want to use PE versus styrene so I can bend it. Would be a shame to wa$te aftermarket PE straps, then I noticed the long lengths of PE sprue... with one section that could be cut into three strips!


The bendier ones I can reserve for short pieces, the straighter ones for long.

 

[BarleyBop]

... so close! One of the 'pins' broke off... I won't sweat it!

 

[BarleyBop]

Some finessing of the big one (side of truck), and the small one (rear) complete.

 

[Jakko]

That is very nice and intricate work Also, it's the hard way of doing this — much easier would have been to glue plastic strip to the jerrycans

 

[GCB]

Before priming, I'll use some burnishing liquid on the sand channels

View attachment 147168
View attachment 147169

The channels are off for a base coat. I've tried lightly sanding before, this is quick, and works well on larger surfaces.

View attachment 147170
... in the meantime, assembled more Italian RE fuel cans.
Dunno why, I suppose all modelers have an activity they just love, but I could make fuel cans till the cows come home!

The resin Breda barrel crate had cast rope handles that were broken, so removed them, drilled out the end boards and inserted lead wire.

Next up, the fuel can racks, one for 4, another fo

 

[GCB]

Can you still paint after burnishing?

 

[BarleyBop]

Can you still paint after burnishing?

Dunno what the official take is, I wiped off any 'dusty' residue and rattle can'd a coat. Seems okay, and the channels will be more weathered than the truck, a bit of an experiment. Normally a weathering effect all on its own.
I wanted to see if it would provide more 'tooth' than the smooth PE OOB for the paint.

hard way

Translation in Barleybop-ese: 'fun' !

Though a bit more fun to glue... I used CA gel for the first point (provides a small window for placement adjustment), then the old thin CA with parts sitting on GLAD freezer bag for support that is easily removed.

 

[Jakko]

If you want to make this the "fun" way, why not solder them?

 

[BarleyBop]

the "fun" way, why not solder them?

You laugh... I actually considered it!

So far, I've only been able to solder larger pieces of PE with simple joins like a box corner, but I need more practice before attempting tiny ones
Here's my setup... that was for the Morris CS8 in Palestine interwar period...


Like everything else, its all about practice.

To get anywhere close to good at it, I think I'll have to take the same approach as with my figure painting Italian mob, and just do lots with old PE sprues!

 

[Jakko]

I would have considered soldering something like this if I had been building it myself, at least if I needed the thinness of brass. But I doubt I would have done it very well, as my soldering skills aren't great.

 

[GCB]

One of the issues I have with PE, on top of bending and gluing, is painting.
For example, on the grid protecting the exhaust, I brushed some primer and then painted, however, when manipulating it, even with caution, paint goes off. Obviously will do some touch up, but how to prevent this..??

 

[Barrio Dog]

I have only used it once but to good effect: Mr.Hobby B504 Metal Primer Spray (100ml) Modeling
It actually dries with a sticky finish.
Regardless I would do all the bending necessary before priming and painting.

 

[BarleyBop]

A very light sanding (like 1000grit) to give a bit of tooth for the primer, or paint to adhere. PE often seems to have film to prevent discoloration...
I try to touch as little as possible with fingers as that leaves grease that repels paint.