The Model Box

I found this small easy-build model at the grocery where we do our weekend market for around a dollar. I was curious and picked it up, along with some other helicopters. All the boxes seem to have Korean writing. Inside, there's a small pamphlet and parts from 3 sprues -- one in grey carrying the rotors, another in green carrying mostly the fuselage and another in colored transparent plastic which includes the cockpit and the weapons. This is the first one I've built and the model is very simple and required no glue. The box says its in 1:115 but I'm not too sure. I'll see what I could do to amp up the model's accuracy and overall looks soon.

Vintage tank kits I just scored. The Jagdpanther is in the white box with the track violator released in 1987 while the King Tiger is the in the full color box released in 1986 I think. The Russian T-34/76 1942 model and the T-34/76 1943 model in the full color boxes released in the late 70's.

A series of fast-build tanks that scale better to 15mm rather than the onbox advertised 1:72. The M1 Abrams. Main gun is too short and the tank hull a bit too wide. Turret details are also missing or altogether wrong. More of the models available for less than a dollar each. A T-55, a JSU-152 and a Chinese Type 98 tank. All the models share just one chassis, as well as turret hatches and machineguns. These are more toys then accurate scale models. I'll probable build them though as hardware for my HO army men.

The Korean "4D Tank Model 1:72" Abrams. Two IMPORTANT things to keep in mind: 1. It is NOT 1/72 2. It is NOT scale model accurate. All the models share just one chassis, as well as turret hatches and machineguns 3. More a toy then an accurate scale model The product lineup poster with the World of Tanks ripoff logo. The models I could find. There's another set out there with mostly German WW2 armor.

May your knives be ever so sharp May your liquid glues never run May your airbrushes never clog And may your builds be ever fun! From a fellow scale model maker to you, a happy new year to everyone!

My first few attempts at squash casting using melted down sprue plastic. I'm not too happy with them yet, having attached them temporarily and compared with the original part. I'll be attempting some more castings and will hopefully come up with suitable replacements. BTW, having a motor tool is a must imho. Squashing the melted blob of plastic creates a thick backend that is a b#tch to sand off.

 Work on the 1:35 SU-122 continues as I try to replace some missing parts thru squash casting. Squash casting is a technique to reproduce simple parts using a one-part mold. Here's a link to where I first learned about it. For the 1:35 Tamiya SU-122 project, I realized that I had lost 2 viewport hatches for the tank destroyer's superstructure. Luckily though, I found one of the three hatches and decided to try squash casting replacement parts.For this attempt, I'll be using an A/B epoxy putty for both the mold and the replacement part. Depending on how it looks, I might try a different material later on such as glue-softened sprue plastic. Anyway, I mix a batch of the putty together by kneading vigorously the resin and the hardener components and roll them into a cushion-like ball. After the colors had evened out to a neutral color, I split the blob into two and use the plastic hatch part I have left to create an impression on one side of the balled-up putty. ...