Here are a few pictures of my Panther D turrets. I put the decals on these a few days ago. This part is tricky because unlike the Panther A and G which have nice flat turret sides, the D has a couple of protrusions which I believe are pistol ports plus a small hatch on the left side as well. Putting the decals on the left side was really no issue for me but the right side posed more of a problem with the location of the pistol port on the upper right side.
My first turret that I applied the decals to was #431. I put the decals on and on the right side there was some distortion of the 1 as it got pulled over toward the 3 because of the protrusion. I solved the basic problem on the other turrets by carefully separating the 2nd from the 3rd number on the right side. This allowed the 3rd number to be in much better position to the other 2 numbers on the side.
Shown are both sides of #431 and #421. I think 421 turned out pretty good overall but I will live with the fact that 431 is just a wee bit off.
#431 Left Side
#431 Right Side
#421 Left Side
#421 Right Side
#424 Right Side
On the workbench
#201
Posted 06 May 2023 - 09:26 AM
- Kenny Noe likes this
#202
Posted 07 May 2023 - 07:40 AM
Those look very sharp, Peter, especially given the 1/285-scale. It can be difficult to get decals to set on some protruding detail, for sure, and no amount of MicroSol can make it work (sometimes it will just dissolve the decal if too much is applied). On larger scales, one can cut the decal into bits and apply it in pieces, but that's nearly impossible at 1/285-1/300 (at least for me).
The positioning of tank numbers was a bit of an inexact art-form, especially for the Germans during the later years/months of the war, so I think you can take some liberties in choosing where to put them. I've seen some photos where the only number applied was on the rear of the turret, with no markings on the sides.
#203
Posted 15 May 2023 - 08:42 PM
Thank you very much, Healey! There are numerous examples of numbers that are hastily applied as well as those that are more precise.
#204
Posted 09 June 2023 - 10:57 AM
KMS Graf Spee (Viking Forge) and SS Actor (Panzerschiffe) in 1/2400:
#205
Posted 14 June 2023 - 02:47 PM
Very nice, Healey! It is interesting to see some of these old castings. I have lots of unpainted GHQ ships from both WWI and WWII to paint.
#206
Posted 19 June 2023 - 02:06 PM
Today, a bit of the mundane. I spent a few hours scanning, printing, mounting, and cutting/trimming a new marker set for HBL. The sheet(s) that come with the game are a bit big (3/4-inch square); my preference is 1/2-inch, so I made a set that size:
After mounting the scans on matt board, I gave the sheets an overspray of clear satin lacquer to protect them a bit, then cut them using a guillotine paper cutter. Last step, clipping the corners, took about 90 minutes.
- Kenny Noe likes this
#207
Posted 22 June 2023 - 12:20 AM
Those look very good, Healey!
#208
Posted 22 June 2023 - 05:13 AM
Nice work!! BTW - Look for the American Civil War Databook for Historical Batlielines soon!! Cover is almost done and final edits are in.... well edit. <grin>
#209
Posted 27 June 2023 - 06:15 PM
Nice work!! BTW - Look for the American Civil War Databook for Historical Batlielines soon!! Cover is almost done and final edits are in.... well edit. <grin>
I’m looking forward to it. I played GDW’s “Johnny Reb” rules for years, but am looking forward to giving HBL a spin.
#210
Posted 02 July 2023 - 08:46 PM
Slava-class Soviet cruiser Varyag in 1/3000, a 3D print from a Shapeways vendor:
- Kenny Noe likes this
#211
Posted 05 July 2023 - 03:37 PM
I reached out to 3D Rapid Prototyping to see if I could get some of WTJ's files printed (five Cressy-class cruisers). 3DRP is listed on WTJ's website as one of the print shops they've worked with in the past. When you buy a WTJ print-file, you get two versions; one is 1/1280 and one is 1/1800. I of course wanted 1/2400, so, working with Paul C. at 3DRP, we figured out we could "simply" reduce the 1/1200 file by roughly 50% (the WTJ conversion table states 52%). He sent me the expected dimensions, and they ring up to those of the one WTJ Cressy-class I already have in the fleet cabinet. I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out. I asked if they could remove the annoying gun tube-supports and he said yes, so fingers crossed.
#212
Posted 07 July 2023 - 12:18 AM
The Varyag looks very nice, Healey. The only modern ships I have painted are for the GHQ catalog. The closest example I have done to your model is the Taizhou of the Chinese Navy.
#213
Posted 07 July 2023 - 05:29 AM
When is the modern era update for GQ-III due out?
Need to ask Lonnie!!!!
#214
Posted 09 July 2023 - 11:56 AM
Creeping towards a few plays of HBL, so I headed up to the attic to dig out whatever minis I might still have. As it turns out, quite a few. Here's the first set I ever painted, some MIniFigs 15mm (can't remember if the pack came with command figures or if I added them from elsewhere, Stone Mountain perhaps):
#215
Posted 10 July 2023 - 01:23 PM
Those Civil War troops look really good, Healey! Even though they are 30 years old they still are very well done. I have a lot of the GHQ 10mm Civil War troops which have a very similar look by the way in terms of the poses that you show.
Here are some Tiger Is that I currently have on my workbench. These are going to be part of 2nd Company, 503rd Schwere Abteilung as they appeared around the time of Kursk. I have 10 of them altogether which will give me 2 platoons plus the HQ element. I have finished the basic camo pattern but now need to go back and add another layer or two. The last picture is one of my reference photos.
- Kenny Noe likes this
#216
Posted 10 July 2023 - 01:38 PM
Thanks, Peter. Looking through old 15mm ACW has been fun; brought back a lot of memories.
Tiger I is, hands down, the fave German vehicle here. Always loved the big squared-off look about them. Who needs sloped armor? The perfect combination of thick armor and a deadly main gun. Torsion-bar suspension, over-lapping road wheels...what's not to love? I'm looking forward to seeing how these turn out. You're going to need a bunch of JS-II's or Firefly's for a fair fight.
#217
Posted 10 July 2023 - 01:48 PM
Fair fight with Tigers?!? Nah, give me Typhoon's with RP-3 rockets!!! bwahahahahah
#218
Posted 11 July 2023 - 06:58 AM
And that would be fair, how? A rocket down through a cooling fan never has a good outcome.
Now this guy, maybe even up:
Battlefront 15mm IS-2 (ModelMaster medium green, Vallejo off-white/medium gray/dark gray/Russian tan, burnt umber acrylic craft paint, various Vallejo washes, decals by I-94)
But just maybe...
- Kenny Noe likes this
#219
Posted 11 July 2023 - 07:33 AM
How about this??
- healey36 likes this
#220
Posted 11 July 2023 - 10:28 AM
Even up!
What scale are those? They look lovely.
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