Blog – Page 11

Entering contests: my own journey

I've been back in the hobby for a couple years now, but am only recently starting to turn out enough final model product to be able to enter in contests. I'd gotten stuck in an unhealthy mindset about whether I'd participate. Largely, I suffered from two issues: "I'm not good enough" - My work, while improving, is still not award winning. I was really worried that people would wonder "Why is he bringing this crap?" "Why bother?" - I've too focused on the end prize of 1st place. If I don't have a real chance of winning, what's the point of entering? When I was a kid in high school building models, I took them to shows at least 3 or 4 times a year. I was blessed living in Southern California - a few hours drive in any particular direction would get you to a new contest. You didn't have to [...]

By Jake|2016-10-29T19:09:34-05:00May 14th, 2014|Modeling thoughts|0 Comments

IPMS Judging rules guide non-contest construction

I am going to be doing an Out of the Box (OOB) build for a local contest coming up in October. The rules for this particular category say that they will go by the IPMS judging rules... which I needed to look up. In doing so, I came across the IPMS Competition Handbook. It's a collection of helpful information to understand how judges at model events will be looking at your competition models. I thought it was worth sharing. Even if you don't plan on entering contests, it's a good checklist of things to watch during your build process. Basic Construction Flash, sink marks, mold marks, ejector-pin marks, provisions for motorization eliminated. Seams filled where applicable, especially on cylindrical parts such as gun barrels, wheels, and auxiliary equipment. Contour errors corrected. Gaps between upper and lower hulls blanked off to prevent a "see-through" effect. Gap/overlap at point where track ends join [...]

By Jake|2016-10-29T19:09:34-05:00May 13th, 2014|Random thoughts|0 Comments

SCU: While you were out

I've been delinquent in Sprue Cutter's Union posts, but this one was easy since I've already written about it! Here's the latest prompt: How do you stay in the hobby when you're away from the bench? This is a great question for me. I travel a lot for work, and the weekend time is in terribly low supply between my family time, chores, errands, and sleeping in. I have two categories of non-workbench focused modeling to occupy me. 1. Hands on modeling If I want to take actual modeling work on the road with me, I focus on figuring painting. I wrote about my mobile painting setup recently, but since I hate checking bags with a fiery passion, I avoid anything with sharp edges. That means no knives, and therefore no construction. That said, when we were out of our house for 2.5 weeks recently, I setup a mobile workbench in [...]

By Jake|2016-10-29T19:09:34-05:00May 13th, 2014|Random thoughts|1 Comment

Book review: Soldat

I love stories from "the other side"... stories you don't often hear. We've seen Band of Brothers and The Pacific, great works of art that show the US solider's experience through WWII. But the German side, at least for American audiences, goes largely untapped. To truly understand a conflict like WWII, it's crucial to understand, even if you don't support, all sides involved. I recently read (although devoured is probably the better word), a book called Soldat: Reflections of a German Soldier, 1936-1949. This book followed a German soldier through his graduation from high school, enlistment in the military, service throughout the war, defense of Berlin, capture, and eventual placement in and release from a Soviet prison camp. This book is an amazing read. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

By Jake|2014-05-11T13:15:55-05:00May 11th, 2014|Random thoughts, Reviews|0 Comments

Amazing diorama: Truck Fabrication Shop

Check out this 1/35 Truck Fabrication shop diorama. This is a great build! Great photography too... really makes you pause and wonder if this is real or not! (Image is owned by Armorama user Stickframe)

By Jake|2014-04-28T14:24:24-05:00April 28th, 2014|Fun Finds|0 Comments

Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles

I was digging through some old materials I had and came across the Web site of the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles in Lexington, Nebraska. I was on a road trip with my buddy, Joey a few years back and happened upon this museum. We stopped in for a few hours, and it wasn't *nearly* enough time. This museum was a fantastic collection of fully restored vehicles. They also have a much more liberal policy on getting close to the vehicles. If you ever find yourself passing through (or even slightly close to) Lexington, Nebraska, make sure to stop in. It's worth the detour! UPDATE: Found a gallery of a few photos I snapped when I visited back in 2009. Check them out!

By Jake|2022-10-26T10:43:11-05:00April 27th, 2014|Travel|0 Comments

Learning to paint German Oak Leaf camo

I've been working on a Waffen SS Steyr 1500 Radio Car conversion for quite a while. I'm getting close to the end and started working on the figures. I'm not a great figure painter, but I really wanted to use some figures who happen to be wearing the Waffen SS reversible smocks. These smocks are patterned with the Oak Leaf camo pattern. (For more information, check this page out) Since I have only painted a couple figures, so of course the natural next step is to attempt a pattern that is super hard to do.... yeah. Not sure what I was thinking, but here we go. I thought I'd share a few thoughts about how my progress went. I googled high and low to find tutorials, and I found some good stuff. But not easily. The best tutorial I found: Painting Oak Leaf How to Paint Realistic Waffen SS Camouflage Uniforms German SS [...]

By Jake|2016-10-29T19:09:34-05:00April 18th, 2014|Build Logs|0 Comments

Painting German Oak Leaf Camo

I've been struggling to figure out the process of painting the German WWII Oak Leaf camo pattern on some figures. If you are too, check out this great tutorial. (Note: The image above isn't mine... it's from the author of the tutorial. Impressive, eh??)

By Jake|2016-10-29T19:09:34-05:00April 14th, 2014|How to|0 Comments

Hotel workbench

A few months back, my wife and I returned home from a great out of the country vacation to discover water sitting on our hardwood floors. Never a good things. And if you've been through this, you know that fixing such damage is never easy. In fact, our one story, all hardwood floored house had to get a complete floor replacement. You can't patch it! My family moved out last week, our stuff packed up in pods on the driveway so that the floors can be replaced. Oh, and we decided to get the house repainted and a few small renovation projects done at the same time. After all, we were moved out so what's the harm in a few extra days? Packing up my workbench was an opportunity to rethink my workbench layout. When we move back in, I'll be considering everything I put back on the workbench and shelving [...]

By Jake|2014-04-14T04:15:11-05:00April 14th, 2014|Random thoughts|0 Comments

Build log: M8 Greyhound research

Given that the M8 detail project is utilizing so many pricey add-ons, I'm really wanting to get my research right the first time. Here's a few of the links I've discovered as I've dug around the Web. Build logs from other modeler's projects http://ampscv.org/greyhound1.html (Great storytelling and detailed info on activities) Great build log on Armorama... with the pictures now located on Facebook Another great build log on Armorama Build log for a winterized model Nice video (amongst a collection of other videos from this same user) on some of the interior detailing Build/Paint tutorial from Shane Smyth Books Verlinden Military Vehicles Vol. II Vehicle Information http://www.warwheels.net/m8greyhoundINDEX.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZxO6KAsVU (this is the one I got to ride in!) Walkarounds http://svsm.org/gallery/M8_Greyhound http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/m8.htm http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/cesar_ferreira/m8_greyhound/ http://www.cybermodeler.com/armor/m8/m8_walk.shtml https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lix8iOjIam4 Armorama walkaround Engine Details Amorama thread Historical Photos WW2DB Jake's photos http://buildworld.wpengine.com/m8-greyhound-walkaround-photos/

By Jake|2022-10-17T15:56:46-05:00April 14th, 2014|Build Logs|0 Comments