Softscience Labs 2.5

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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Thank you, sir :)
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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

....and finished the Hellcat. That's #11 for this year.

Image

more pics here


Not really sure what to work on next.

Things I'm considering include

-that 1/32 Revell FW-190 from earlier in the year

-A Tamiya M4A3E8 that I already started improving some details on

-Takom M3 Lee

-Airfix 1/48 P-40

-Hobbyboss 1/48 TBF-1C

-Hobbyboss 1/48 P-61

maybe something in 1/72...

i don't know.
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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

We'll see if I stick to these (probably won't), but for now at least, I decided to close out 2017 modeling with the Hobby Boss P-61 and Tamiya Easy-8.

The P-61 is a surprisingly simple kit. It has no open hatches or canopies, and a lot of the interior details are simplified. It's nevertheless good enough for me. Especially since I got the kit for about half it's asking price.

Shockingly work starts on the cockpit/nosewheel well. In what I think is a pretty cool move, HB provides you with shaped weights to weight down the kit nose.

Image

The e-8 Sherman is one of tamiya's more recent shermans. It's better than what they had before, but still annoyingly short on some details. For one thing, periscopes are molded down. That's fine for a parked tank, but you really got to open these up if you're modeling a machine in motion.


I used a combo of spare box parts for the hull scopes, and did the same for the loader's scope on the turret.

I also replaced the grab handles, which were molded as solid rectangles of plastic, with some wire.

Come on Tamiya! It's 2017, cut it out with the solid tabs as grab handles!

On the plus side, they do supply us with some very nicely moulded periscope brush guards.

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The hvss bogies are very simple (only 8 parts each), but look pretty good.


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That's all for now. Back to real life for a bit.
ShaunW
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by ShaunW »

Nice work with the Hellcat, Ralph, it really has turned out very well indeed. The Easy 8 is my favourite type of Sherman, so it's good to see one being built. You are so right about the solid grab rails. We shouldn't have to be breaking out the wire with a modern armour kit :evil:
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.

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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Forgive the digest format, but I got lazy about posting, so Im presenting the WIP all at once.

The kit is the 1/72 P.7a by Arma Hobby. This is the Junior version - which comes with a reduced PE sheet and less decal options. Good enough for me, though.

The kit is nicely detailed, but should be considered a short-run kit. Sprue gates are thick and some of the surface details are a bit soft and needed rescribing.

Here we go. The cockpit. Simple but very effective. The PE set includes a nice set of harnesses.

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The fuselage needed some putty work.
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Tail on. The small gap at the base vertical tail is prototypical. The horizontal tail looks like it won't fit, but the plastic is soft and with a healthy amount of cement, it can be smooshed in.

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And engine bits. These are very nice. The PE struts are great and easy to install.

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And assembled.

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Black based for painting.

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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Also on the go is on of my Finemolds 1/72 BF-109 kits.

I was really expecting the world when I got these. They're so hyped up on the web. They're nice enough, but not as detailed as I thought they would be.

So far I just got the cockpit, which is VERY spartan. I put in the simian-faced pilot to add interest.

Image
ShaunW
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by ShaunW »

That P.7 looks nice, Ralph and I see what you mean about the spartan cockpit on that Finemolds '109. I think that a lot of the stuff that gets hyped on the web (or for that matter in magazines), for whatever reason, can be a tad disappointing in "real" modelling life. All that stuff about "shake and bake" kits and "no filler required" that I've read in reviews over the years - none of it turned out to be quite true in my experience, but maybe that's down to me and my slightly hamfisted approach!
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iggie
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by iggie »

I like the look of that P7 kit, I may have to see if it is available on this side of the pond
Best wishes

Jim
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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

iggie wrote:I like the look of that P7 kit, I may have to see if it is available on this side of the pond
I would hope so. Arma Hobby is from Poland. I ordered mine from the most excellent Jadar Hobby website.
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skypirate
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by skypirate »

Now that's a varied selection.
All very interesting, Ralph.

Cheers,

David
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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Thanks, David.

Paint is now on.


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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Nearly finished, now. Very hard to make the khaki finish interesting. All color variation seems to drown in it. Ho hum!

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gnomemeansgnome
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by gnomemeansgnome »

Terrific work as always. The P.7 looks great.
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by ShaunW »

Very nice, that P.7 is really shaping up into a great looking model.
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.

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Softscience
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Re: Softscience Labs 2.5

Post by Softscience »

Finished the P.7a today. That is model #12 for this year. And I feel I can sneak in one or two more in December.

I think I only finished 5 or 6 in 2016, so I'm surging back to my 2011-2013 numbers.

Pics are here
http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=16376
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