Work in Progress

Airfix 1/76 AEC Matador and 5.5 inch Medium Gun

Posted by Bluefalchion on 20 Mar 2019, 03:55

I love watching the step-by-step. Tell me, would it be easier or harder to just build the entire gun from scratch?
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Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
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Posted by Wiking on 20 Mar 2019, 05:10

Your gun remind me to an MAC short run gun that I build several years back.
Fare more scratch huge parts are needed as original parts are used.

The same look like your gun.
And it is a huge improvement to the OOB kit.
:thumbup:
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Wiking  Germany
 
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Posted by MABO on 20 Mar 2019, 11:34

Unbelievable what you create from the scratch. Therefore I really like the question from Bluefalchion. :yeah:
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MABO  Europe
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Posted by Peter on 20 Mar 2019, 16:56

Bluefalchion wrote:I love watching the step-by-step. Tell me, would it be easier or harder to just build the entire gun from scratch?

I think harder because he uses the original kit as a base for the conversions. But I do believe he can do it from scratch. ;-)

Nice work on the gun Huib! :thumbup:
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Peter  Belgium

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Posted by huib on 22 Mar 2019, 15:57

Thank you very much guys, for all your very kind comments!

Bluefalchion wrote:Tell me, would it be easier or harder to just build the entire gun from scratch?


Well, for me it is easier as it provides a starting point. And some parts are really difficult to scratch, such as wheels and tapered barrels (although I've done that too several times with mixed results).
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 26 Mar 2019, 22:24

Paintjob

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All subassemblies together, ready for paint.

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All subassemblies brushed with Humbrol 159, my choice for SCC 15, the British equivalent of US Olive Drab.

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Next step was to paint a so-called Mickey Mouse camo pattern on the cab and truck-bed, using Revell 9 antracit.

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Then painting lots of details: on the gun and carriage.....

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....on the cab....

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....on the chassis and the truckbed....

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....on the roof.....

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....and the miniscule gunrack.

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And, o yes, blackened the tyres with Panzer Grey (Revell 78)

And now for the decals.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Wiking on 27 Mar 2019, 05:17

Very nice. Clean work.
And not a single fine brush line with Revell 78 into a wheel!
:yeah:
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Wiking  Germany
 
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Posted by MABO on 27 Mar 2019, 19:03

Amazing!!
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MABO  Europe
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Posted by huib on 30 Mar 2019, 15:25

Thank you, guys!

Decals

After some layers of gloss varnish I applied the decals.

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I nicked a new set of decals from a recent edition of this kit. These are nice neat and sharp decals.

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These are the original onces from this kit. Very shapeless printing and not well registered, as far as you can see it white on white.

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A nice and colourful cab front.

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A vehicle number and white star on the sides.

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And some unit signs on the back.

Now to continue with some weathering.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 31 Mar 2019, 21:02

Aerial recognition star

During and after the Normandy invasion many allied vehicles wore a white star in a white circle on the roof for easy identification by friendly aircraft.

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Also the Matador gun tractors were often equipped with such a star, as this picture from Caen, Normandy, summer of '44 shows.
As such an aeriel recognition star is not included in the kit decals I decided to try and make one myself.

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Made two masks from 2cm modelling tape, one for the circle and one for the star.

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Circle painted.

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Star painted.

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Hm, not too bad. The only thing is that the star is not exactly in the middle of the circle, although I did my best for that.

And now to continue with some weathering.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by MABO on 31 Mar 2019, 22:06

It is also called the "Invasion Star" :yeah:
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MABO  Europe
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Posted by huib on 05 Apr 2019, 17:29

Wash

Progress is very slow these days due to limited time and long paint drying times.

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A dark brown wash was applied on the vehicle. As a result the planking of the truckbed nicely shows up.

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The wash has a great effect on the stars on the side planking. Happy with that.

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The wash is nicely emphasizing the details on the gun too.

Now for some drybrushing and mud.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 06 Apr 2019, 16:57

Weathering

I did some drybrushing and applied mud on suitable places, followed by a matt varnish.

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The wheels. No mud on the sparewheel.

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The gun.

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Some truck parts.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 07 Apr 2019, 12:29

Figures and assesoiries

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The kit includes a drivers figure, which is not only very bad, but also has a US or parachute style of helmet, instead of the typical British rimmed helmet. As the figure will be largely hidden in the cab, I decided to use it, but make some adaptions.

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Apart from the driver I selected three British Infantry men from Hät to ride in the truckbed. I realise they are fully equiped infantry men, and not artillerymen, but they are the best I have. The Airfix British stretcherbearer will provide a new head for the driver.

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The driver got a new head, and new hands from green stuff. All figures got special medieval style torture, to prepare them for painting. (Those modellers are a pain in the ***)

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Figures after painting.

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Then I prepared some assesoiries: a pile of ammunition boxes covered by a tarp, a rolled rope, two towing cables, and a winch cable with a hook.

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The same objects after painting and weathering.

Now let's continue with some stages of final assembly.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by huib on 07 Apr 2019, 12:29

Figures and assesoiries

Image
The kit includes a drivers figure, which is not only very bad, but also has a US or parachute style of helmet, instead of the typical British rimmed helmet. As the figure will be largely hidden in the cab, I decided to use it, but make some adaptions.

Image
Apart from the driver I selected three British Infantry men from Hät to ride in the truckbed. I realise they are fully equiped infantry men, and not artillerymen, but they are the best I have. The Airfix British stretcherbearer will provide a new head for the driver.

Image
The driver got a new head, and new hands from green stuff. All figures got special medieval style torture, to prepare them for painting. (Those modellers are a pain in the ***)

Image
Figures after painting.

Image
Then I prepared some assesoiries: a pile of ammunition boxes covered by a tarp, a rolled rope, two towing cables, and a winch cable with a hook.

Image
The same objects after painting and weathering.

Now let's continue with some stages of final assembly.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Wiking on 07 Apr 2019, 13:18

Nice combination for the ex US air born drive.
Good that these yellow egg plastic get some color.
I run into similar trouble for figures right now as you. :occasion:
No perfect match for artillery (If you had not write it I did not perceive it) to you. :joker:
No Norwegian soldier available for me. :mad:

Impaling becomes more and more popular nowadays ?
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Wiking  Germany
 
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Posted by Hellboy on 07 Apr 2019, 19:01

I am absolutely speechless! :shock: A fantastic project. Great conversions! Super paint! ... really cool!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow ... :yeah: I'm curious how it goes on !!!!
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Hellboy  Germany
 
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Posted by huib on 08 Apr 2019, 15:36

Thank you, guys!

Gun finished!

The first step in the completion process of this build:

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Glued the wheels to the gun carriage, and added the wound up rope to one of the legs.

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Ready to be hooked behind a Matador tractor!
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huib  Netherlands
 
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Posted by Beano Boy on 09 Apr 2019, 10:56

A real fine hobby job. :thumbup:

Plus, magical memories again. BB
Beano Boy  England
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Posted by huib on 09 Apr 2019, 20:38

Thanks, BB!

Finishing the chassis

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Glued the wheels to the chassis. The front wheels in a slight steering position to add visual interest to the model.

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Added a track rod to the front wheels. I also looked on the web for information on the steering mechanism. Their should be a steering house and a steering arm, but I couldn't find anything. So I decided to leave it for what it is on that respect.

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Fed the winch cable through the roller system and fixed it with some CA glue.

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Test-fit with the gun hooked on.

Now for the truckbed.
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huib  Netherlands
 
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