Nikola Topalov

Engine in place (apologies for bad photos). Exhaust stacks yet to be painted and installed.

Some work on the nacelle cowling structure...

Hi all, Some progress with the engine. Still some stuff and fine tuning to do, but this is basically it.

Some more pipework. Spark plug connections in place and magnetos connected:

Why's that?

Since the aftermarket PE parts for the engine pipework are flat and just look plain stupid at 32nd scale, I had to start scratch building them to add some more important details to the engines. Not 100% accurate, but in my opinion it adds interest to the engine. I discovered that I can make hose connectors by wrapping thin strips of masking tape around the lead wire and cover it with heavily diluted PVA glue to seal it all in place. Not yet finished, but you get the gist of it...

Little progress... The colors will not be exactly like this in the end as I will have to connect elements with similar tones, especially stones, both large and small. They were gathered from various places and in the end they have to work together tonally and be convincing. And here I have to stop more or less until I finish the tanks to a certain point. I need the tanks so I can position them properly amd press them nicely into the base while it still hasn't fully hardened, so that they have "weight" effect in the end. I can make track marks with tracks alone, like I did next to the tent, but since I'm working on the lower surface all at once, then it makes more sense to wait for the tanks. The base will then receive various paint layers,, filters, dry brushing and washes for full effect.

Testing regular tile grout filler as a potential base material:

Exploring the position of the tent and the radio operator:

Exploring the initial composition with main elements - Tiger I, Panzer IV and a tent (with two rocks which I also brought form Spain):

Hi all, For my first shot at making a diorama, I will try to depict the German Afrika Korps (DAK) units just before the battle of Sidi Bou Zid which took place in Tunisia in 1943. "In February 1943, Tunisia witnessed some of the fiercest fighting then taking place in WWII. Allied forces were advancing on the Axis troops from both east and west, while the Italians and Germans clung tenaciously on. Sidi Bou Zid was a small village in the vast expanse of the desert. Normally it was an obscure place, but it sat near the end of the Faïd pass, one of the routes through the mountains dividing Tunisia. The allies held the village. The axis wanted it back". This is also the time when I will be painting figures for the first time. Since I am currently building Tamiya's big and very complex 1/32 De Havilland Mosquito, this will be a side project which means it will take some more time. Some of the stuff I plan to use: And some yellow sand which I "borrowed" from the corrida in Ronda during my vacation in Spain. A souvenir which will be built in the diorama. Some reference photos for the terrain:

Fuselage finally buttoned up...

Well, after 79 hours at the bench so far, the central portion of the cockpit is finished. Left to do - the rest of the airplane... 😜

Partially finished IP:

Some fine tuning of the seats...