Way behind with updates but I'm back :)

Title says it all.... I got more and more behind with my blog updates, partially because family matters and partially due to more duties at work. Hopefully will be able to post more models and some other good stuff here.
Just started 2015 hobby show season by attending Old Dominion Open hosted as always by crazy crew from IPMS Richmond. This time the did come ahead of schedule.... Great job guys!
I managed to grab 2 awards from (displayed my builds in 3 categories).... not a bad start....

1/72 SKOT 1 (OT-64) APC - ARMO Jadar - Workbench Part 2

Time for an update - let's see what can be fixed on SKOT model. Since there is no photo etched set for this kit, all upgrades have to be done from scratch.
Let's start from hatches. The kits has all the hatches in closed position.

1/72 SKOT 1 - Armo - closed hatches

I decided to open crew's hatches, since I planned to add figures of driver & commander. I gently cut off existing hatches, using razor saw, and drilled out corresponding holes.

1/72 SKOT 1 - Armo - opened hatches

1/72 SKOT 1 (OT-64) APC - ARMO Jadar - Workbench Part 1

Time for less known and seen vehicle... The OT-64 SKOT is an amphibious armored personnel carrier (8x8), developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia. The first prototype was built in 1959. OT-64 SKOT entered service with Polish and Czechoslovak armies in 1963. It was produced until early 1970s.
SKOT was also exported to Algeria, Cambodia, India, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Uganda and Uruguay. The total number of vehicles produced in different variants came up to 4,500. List of all variants can be found HERE

SKOT-1 model kit from ARMO Jadar (72006) represents earliest, unarmed variant made for Polish Army.  It had crew of two (driver & commander) and could transport up to sixteen soldiers.

1/72 SKOT  1 - Armo - box

Model kit is made exclusively from resin, without any photo etched parts. Instructions sheet is very simplified, so I just skipped it here.  

1/72 SKOT  1 - Armo - parts

Necromancer 28mm Maow Miniatures

It has been a while since I posted any figure here, so it's time to fix it.
Nicely sculpted limited edition figure from Maow Miniatures - 28mm Necromancer.

Necromancer 28mm Maow Miniatures

I added base from fine sand, some loose bits and piece of bark. Painted with Vallejo acrylics and Games Workshop washes.

Necromancer 28mm Maow Miniatures

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G - T-3 (75mm) Polish Army - Revell - Completed

Finally, I finished Stug in Polish Army markings, and in time for Northern Virginia IPMS Model Classic 2013. I was also able to complete small vignette for it.
Figures were painted with Vallejo & Citadel paints. Stug was weathered with AK Interactive wash and pigments.

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G - T-3 (75mm) Polish Army - Revell - Workbench Part 2

After another quite pause, mainly thanks to  Junior, eventually I was able to push this build forward. That how it goes when little man starts to discover the world.

Stug received coat of grey primer.

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G Revell - Grey Primer

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G Revell - Grey Primer

1/72 StuG 40 Ausf.G - T-3 (75mm) Polish Army - Revell - Workbench Part 1

After being quiet for a while, I took on StuG 40 Ausf.G from Revell, which under designation T-3 (75mm) was used in Polish Army in 1945, by 5th Self-propelled Artillery Unit, 6th Infantry Division. This unit was using captured vehicles, since it never received planned SU-76. 5th Self-propelled Artillery Unit was using 3 such Stugs.

To start, I pulled out from my stash well known Revell's kit and metal barrel by JB/RB Models.

1/72 S-300 PMU Gramble 30N6E1 Radar Vehicle PST IN-BOX

Recently, digging through my stash, I pulled out quite big box with with 30N6E1 radar vehicle from S-300 PMU (SA-10 GRUMBLE) rocket system. Model is made by Belarusian company PST. It contains 197 parts and measures 20,46 cm when assembled.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Gallery

Here's my completed 1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) tank from Trumpeter, as one of two such tanks tested in Polish Army, to replace aging T-34s. However, Poland decided to skip JS-3 tank, and chose T-54/55 over them.
The whole build you can check in previous posts, here's just quick summary. Painted with Model Master and Tamiya acrylics. Stock gun barrel replaced with aluminum one by JB Models. Cut-out turret hatches (unfortunately Trumpeter molded them shut) and scratch built inner side details. Drilled out headlights and added lenses from MV Lenses. Added fuel lines from wire.  Figures came from Preiser's "Soviet Tank Crew" set. Resin cobblestone base. Weathering with pastel and oils.
Here it is:

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Trumpeter - Polish Army (LWP)

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Trumpeter - Polish Army (LWP)

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Trumpeter - Polish Army (LWP)

Click READ MORE to see all the pictures.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Completed

Finally I found some time to do long time due update on JS-3. Tank itself is completely assembled and received some weathering using pastels and artistic oils.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Trumpeter - weathering

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Trumpeter - weathering

Click READ MORE to see all the pictures.

PENNCON 2012 Central Pensylvania IPMS Show - Awards

As I wrote in previous post, on September 15th I attended Penncon 2012 Show, organized by folks from Central Pensylvania IPMS. This year I placed on the tables 6 of my models, and I brought home some awards :) In fact, each one of my models received the medal :) It was quite successful day...
Thank you guys!

Penncon 2012 - Awards

Click "READ MORE" to see awarded models.

PENNCON 2012 Central Pensylvania IPMS Show - Pictures

On September 15th I had the pleasure to attend Penncon 2012 Show, organized by folks from Central Pensylvania IPMS. This year, show was held in new location, at US Army Heritage & Education Center in Carlisle, PA.

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Penncon 2012 US Army Heritage & Education Center

Click "READ MORE" to see pictures of some models presented on the show.

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 7

Time for the update of JS-3 build. The tracks were assembled and mounted on the wheels.

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Tracks right side

1/72 JS-3 Trumpeter - Tracks left side

NCMSS 51st Annual Washington Show 2012

On September 8th I attended 51st Annual Washington Show, organized by The National Capital Model Soldier Society. Like every year, it was really nice and cozy meet, even it's one of the smaller shows.
They mainly focus on figures painting, with growing number of wargaming miniatures, but they also welcome all the ordnance models and dioramas.
As usual, I spent a great time talking with some old and new friends, and of course burning some cash in vendor's area :) Even the power outage toward the end of the show, caused by massive storm (and tornado warning!), did not ruin this great day.
Many thanks to folks from NCMSS for this nice event!

This year my figures and models were noticed by the judges (in previous years as well :)) and I brought home some awards.

NCMSS 2012 Awards

32mm Agent Nina received Bronze Medal

32mm Agent Nina - NCMSS Bronze Medal

You can see her gallery here: 32mm Agent Nina Gallery

28mm Mordor Stormtrooper received also Bronze Medal

28mm Mordor Stormtrooper - NCMSS Bronze Medal

 You can see his gallery here: 28mm Mordor Stormtrooper Gallery

And finally my ordnance display with "Cat & Mouse" was awarded Silver Medal

"Cat & Mouse" gallery is here: 1/72 "Cat & Mouse" Gallery

While browsing vendors' area, surprisingly I found the figure kit I wasn't aware of... :)

Stay tuned...

1/72 "Cat & Mouse" MAUS Dragon - Gallery

More pictures from my completed "Cat & Mouse" project. I used model of Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Dragon), resin building walls (Tiger Dioramics), resin cobblestone street (own production), crew figures - mix of resin & plastic figures, infantry from WWII German Army with Camouflage Cape set (Ceasar Miniatures).

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Completed

Finally Cat & Maus project is finished and I found some time to get the pictures. Everyone knows why Maus (Mouse), but where is cat? Now, you'll know 
Everything assembled and mounted on the base. Here's the result (probably could be better...).

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

1/72 Maus Dragon Diorama

2012 IPMS USA National Convention

2012 IPMS USA National Convention belong to history. Unfortunately, I could not attend it in person, but my friend took my models down to Orlando and entered them to the show.
Many, many thanks Tim!!!
He even brought me back some goodies :)))

Oh yes! One of my models got appreciated by judges and received the award. Happy day!

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Workbench part 8

Again, a little step forward... I did a little bit more work on city scene. I added mixes of various pigments to get more dusty, full of debris look, followed by weathering with artistic oils. The street lamp received its top and some shattered glass inside.
I also decided to add two German posters from the period (printed on laser printer). Results are below:

1/72 JS-3 (IS-3) Polish Army - Trumpeter - Workbench Part 6

After having assembly and priming done, I could go forward with painting. First I applied pre-shading using Tamiya Black XF-1.

Next, I airbrushed Model Master 4807 Russian Armor Green, lightened up with Tamiya White X-2.

1/72 MAUS Dragon - Workbench part 7

At last I got to the step where more colors start to show up. All the elements received number of acrylic colors, followed by some oil washed (here and there...). Below are the results.