Shock and Awe

I actually built and nearly completed a model this month - shocking to all involved. This is the new DML 105mm Howitzer M2A1. This is a very detailed kit - very strong detail, crisp molding with good definition. I do recommend the kit with the forewarning that is it quite fragile and requires s good amount of skill to assemble correctly.

• Be wary of the gun cradle - it can cant and the attachment points are not very solid. Also the cradle has a seam that I filled with a thin styrene strip.
• Metal barrel not true 90deg - needed some easy filing to sit flush
  
• Wheels, always wary of wheels to make sure they are straight in all axises
• Elevation will be fixed, early in assembly as will towed/firing position.
  
• No markings supplied, not sure what there could be... oh Archer....

The kit was finished with Vallejo Model Air series olive drab mixed with dark yellow and 25% white. A 30-40% white mix was used for highlights. Chipped with black grey and sponge. Washes with Winton oils in mineral spirits over Testors gloss, flat coat. Pigments by Mig airbrushed in 80:20 EtOH and distilled water. Mig pigment fixer and final flat coat. Minimal dry brushing with yellow and olive oils for highlights. I do need to finish painting the sights and their details. Otherwise - DONE! I would like to think about putting this one in a North Africa setting hence the chipped paint - not a normal part of my models.


































Update: marines pending final face paints and flat coating and satin finishes.

Updates

The Tarawa Marines are almost done! ALMOST. I have completed final assembly. The helmet covers have to be camo'd and faces finished. I am completing them with oils over Vallejo acrylic flesh tones.

I have a set of Archer transfers to apply to the figures where markings are visible. These figures originally had recessed engravings on the pockets for the USMC and Globe/anchor which I filled - it was quite oversized and deep. Tarawa saw use of the helmet insignia so I will apply the insignia to the helmets. I apply these transfers as to the Archer-supplied decal paper and try to trim as much as possible and apply to the figures. I flat-coat the figures anyway, never have the silvered on me. The surface is prepared with some brushed on gloss - it is not worth glossing the whole figure in my opinion.

Dragon 1:35 Tarawa US Marines

These figures have been hanging around my workbench for a long time, I have many projects I would like in their place and am trying to expedite their departure. This set of Marines is rather well done as I've discussed at meetings. The two piece heads are still not my favorite, but I just won't justify the expense of replacing them all with Hornet or Ultracast.

At this point, I am finalizing the uniforms' highlights and shadows, colors too. I am very satisfied with the color and tone for all of the Marine OD colors, except for the flamethrower trooper. I painted his shirt a deeper green and I think it is a little too green for even normal "variation." I have not decided on washing it with subdued tones or just repainting it, something I would like to avoid with that harness. Oh, and the plastic hose for the flamethrower, neither of the supplied ones came within 1cm of where I have the flamethrower pack or gun so... see copper wire proves its versatility again. The plastic had no texture to it anyway.

The camouflaged uniforms are turning out well for my first crack at this pattern. I toned down the Thompson-wielding figure with some washes and will do the same for the laying rifleman once I finish his pattern. I have done only some shadow with Vallejo British Uniform over the base mixed color. Camo will receive color-specific highlights on the big creases and where easily visible.

See closeups, I have started to do some highlighting and outlining with Vallejo black-gray.


Faces and hands are base coated in oil - unfortunately!
They are taking about a day to dry with my fast-drying medium so its not that bad. These faces are turning out ok, I wish they were based in acrylic and then finished with oil like I prefer to do. AND they should have been sealed with clear before blending happened. Oh well...too late now...until I take a chunk out of the oil at least...
















The photo-etched Garand and Thompson slings are together, annealing is critical to the successful use of these parts from Dragon. I just use a tea candle and about 4 seconds sufficed. One strap almost ripped. The Mission Models multitool makes the curves pretty easy. I have to justify that $30 stick somehow!

Introduction

This blog is dedicated to AFV Modeling. The "Abroad Surgeon" title is a reference to me being away from my IPMS group, the IPMS West Des Moines Plastic Surgeons. An excellent group of modelers I sorely miss.

My intentions for this blog are to:

1. Review new kits of my interest for the benefit of the IPMS WDSM Surgeons and other AFV enthusiasts.
2. Include "build" articles which chronicle my glacially slow building of AFVs and miniatures
   
3. General commentary RE: AFV kits, models and prototypes
   
4. Link to information concerning professional reviewers, articles or prototype informational pages
   
5. Welcome comments about my work