DocRob

That's why there are so many new 1/16 kits out there, the usual suspects doesn't get younger . Dragon has a 1/6 scale Sherman in their portfolio, if I'm right. Your turret work looks fine and don't get too irritated about the tiny bits and pieces. Armor building is a different breed and I'm sure you'll like it for a change. Cheers Rob

That looks so cool and ........... frightening. Cheers Rob

Your progress does look good Kent. While I was browsing through the box and manual of mine, I had a similar idea, like you had regarding the engine cowlings. Until now, I can't say much more about the kit, than it looks great on the sprue, well detailed and I like solutions like the carton rig for the wheel struts and the inclusion of cockpit masks. The manual appears to be well made with a bit of Wingnut Wings style or even better like Copper state ones. Cheers Rob

Thank you for sharing your feelings about the Mt. St. Helens eruption. I remember it quite well, as I was only a few years older than you and read a lot about it by the time. Luckily the La Palma volcano doesn't have such an explosive potential, but the sheer amount of gas, ash and lava emitted by the volcano is frightening. Some houses close to the eruption area are completely buried into the ash, with only the chimneys peaking out. For Friday, there is a heavy rain forecast, which will make the situation even worse. I have no idea, how all that will be cleaned up. Like your experiences tell, the ash is very fine and settles everywhere. Due to constant winds, we got mostly spared on the neighbor island. We had only one day with lots of ashes in these two month and some everyday, which I can evaluate due to my white Jeepometer . The worst for the people of La Palma beside the loss of homes and goods, is the psychological stress caused by permanent earthquakes, fire, roaring eruption noises and gas pollution. Even on my island, there seems to be an untypical high stress level over the last few weeks and we are on the lucky side of the eruption. Cheers Rob

Very nice progress, it must be fun to build such a beast in 1/16 scale, even the tracks doesn't look too scary, except from the necessary cleanup. Cheers Rob

What a pity Carl, is there no way to get rid of the stuff with shaking the fuselage and let gravity work for you? That gap is not too small, hope you can fill it and make it unseen. Cheers Rob

The pre shading should be sufficient Phil, I found, that it does not count for that much, how thin or equally done the pre shading is (with the exception of WWI wing strut / canvas simulation shading, which should be fine and equal). If you really want to improve it, you can do it multi tone, selecting different colors, like brown and blue, depending the surface color. this way, you can accentuate panels also, which makes a monochrome paintjob more interesting. It's not much more work, bud does improve the result a lot. Cheers Rob

I like the setting a lot, you made them look 'heavy', especially the T-34. The burn effects do look very good. I would place more dust on the tank, maybe a bit more on the T-34. Cheers Rob

It is terrible Peter and there is no end in sight. One man lost his life in an accident so far. The roof, he was freeing of the ashes collapsed under him. A fear which is growing now, with a rain forecast for the next days. On Saturday night, I took out my camera, tele lens and tripod and made some pics with the very clear weather, we had then. You can see traces of the lava stream, most of them hidden by mountains from our angle. Cheers Rob

You put a lot of work into the Henschel with all that riveting. The result looks great though. I bought the same kit not the least, because of yours and Gazza's build here, but I don't know, if I will go your way, or easier camouflage missing surface detail with a pre war splinter scheme. Cheers Rob

Nice, I like the mud residues. Seeing your figures, I had the spontaneous idea, why not simulating wear on knees and elbows with a lighter chalky tone. will try this in one of my next figure related projects. The framework looks decent, but those plastic thingies . Cheers Rob

After a week with a slight reduction in volcanic activity, everything is back to full go since two days. Because there are only a few new lava streams, there is not so much new damage to houses or plantations. Several lava streams have arrived the Atlantic Ocean and form a new peninsula. By doing so there it develops a huge amount of sulfur dioxide. I read last weak, that the SD emission up to now equals the amount of the same gas produced by all European countries in 2019. What the people of La Palma fear most in the moment is rain, which would soak the sometimes meter thick ash on the roofs and will lead to collapsing buildings. The other fear is concerned to seismic activities. Up to now, the strongest earthquakes were about 5,0 and you could feel these on my island too. Cheers Rob

The volcano hasn't lost a beat over two months of eruptive activity. Yesterday was the first time, we could see the sky glow red from the lava. This was caused by very clear weather conditions and a very untypical light wind from the west. The picture was taken during black nighttime, but the phone cameras automatic up leveled the lighting. Maybe today, I try a shot with a decent camera and a tripod. Cheers Rob

Good to have you back here Jeroen. I missed your stylish approach to modelling. Nice house by the way. Nothing better than to live, where you really feel at home. Cheers Rob

You guys are magnificent tacticians. You pick a slow developing build to satisfy your uncontrolled popcorn consume and then blame the thread starter about the calories . Bring the Tornado on Kai, I can't stand that much Martinis . Cheers Rob

Not the nicest of all Mustangs, but interesting, never heard about that one before. Looks a bit like a Frankenstang with the nose of a FW-190 D and you definitely need to drill out the enormous exhaust . BTW: Have I ever mentioned, that I like subject off the trotten pathes. Cheers Rob

Thanks a lot, until now, the tracks seem to be pretty robust, but due to the suspension, there is some tension on them. I do not trust the rubber material, but hope for the best. Cheers Rob

Your Steppe develops nicely, Gaz. I like the layout of the base and like the others said, it will look good with the figures on. Cheers Rob

In the moment there is little time for modelling, therefore I shelved the Arado momentarily, which I wanted to build with full concentration and continued with the Chinese Tankette, which is a much simpler affair. The primed parts where accentuated and modulated with Nato black. Then a transparent coat of olive green, which was used pronouncing the darker areas. Then a lighter mix with some drops of yellow green, followed by an even lighter mix with IJN cockpit green, sprayed on the lighter pars of the mini tank and from above. I than added the running gear and made a mock up with the prepared tracks, only to see if the vinyl stuff fits. It does and has a really spongy working suspension. Cheers Rob

Yours look like a wooden deck with some abrasion, Harv. Is it really wood with the Wessex?

This super huge beast looks mighty good. I take the heavy duty plastic as a good sign, given the size of the tank. A sagging deck wouldn't look too realistic . Cheers Rob

Very nice, as Martin said, looks extremely well, especially considering the tiny scale. Cheers Rob

I have the Do-17 boxing called 'Kampfstift' in 48 scale. The decals and separate stencils are dated 2021, so they should qualify. Cheers Rob

I like your very subtle layering weathering technique a lot. It leads to a very realistic looking and well blended paint- and weathering job. Almost perfect, I'd say, but I don't like the fuel stains. When there is spill fuel, it would be more prominent in the lower middle of the cap, by gravity means and then maybe dragged a bit with the airflow. BTW: which was the color of the fuel? I'm nitpicking here, I know, but that's the way it happens when 99,9 percent look absolutely gorgeous . Cheers Rob

Thank you Peter, for going through all the hazzle, to keep us in the loop. Your way of methodical working through the process and document it for us is precious. I will benefit from your results, as I have an Eduard kit with new decals in stash, which I plan to build soon. I hope all the gained expertise will transform to a show stopping P-51 in the end. Cheers Rob