Demag D7 - UPDATE

Well, here is the latest update.  Spent some time working on the 2cm gun.  This model is VERY OOTB and being it is old, there are some details that lack modern detail standards!  Just some left over brass and an aluminum gun barrel.   BUT, it is a cool model non the less.  Here we are so far...

War Thunder Photos

Here are some more photos from War Thunder.  This game really is well done.  I know we can find problems with it, just like in everything, BUT over all it's fun, well made and still only in BETA.  So the room for improvement is great. 

So I started fooling around with the skin editor within War Thunder.  The guys at Gaijin have removed a number of the national markings from the Ground Forces portion, for SOME ODD REASON!  So I can not mark up my tanks accordingly.

 Below is a camo partner for the Soviet T-34 1941.  It's actually a cool tool, cause you can tweak the amount and the pattern combinations.  You can do all sorts of cool combinations to the available patterns.  The photo below is a photo I snapped from within the game.

 

Since they took away my national marks, I decided to fool around and start plastering the US Flag on my vehicles.  Just messing around, this wont be permanent. 

StuG F

 

Panzer III L

 

Must look funny from the sky as plans are flying around looking for a target, "Oh look, Old Glory, BOMB IT!"  Not nice! ;-)

 

So I play on a squadron.  Our name is HAFA (Hellenic Air Force Athens).  I figured I'd remove my large 8 that I had on my wing and replace it with a National Greek Flag in honor of my Squadron's home country. The eagle face is on ALL my aircraft   :-)

DeMAG D7 with Flak 38 - update

So I made some progress on the DeMag.  Worked on the rear flatbed where the Flak 38 20mm gun goes and also on the gun itself.  Should be done soon. 

I then decided that the kit link and length tracks SUCK!  So I decided to upgrade.  I did not want to spend any more money on this kit.  It is old, I have had it for 10 years and really just wanted it built, but I would like it to look nice.  So I grabbed the kit tracks from the older Dragon 250/1 Alt.  They are individual link.  I did however want something workable, which these are not.  BUT, I figured out a way to make then workable!  Here are some photos.

I set up some Tamiya tape and started lining tracks links up.  then, I started CAREFULLY applying a DOT of glue with the Tamiya Extra Thin cement to the center hole that the track pad fits in.  Once the cement is applied, I place the pad.  After a few minutes its all set to go and its 100% workable!

 

Then, I started going through my old parts stash.  I found an old 250/9 Tamiya etched brass set.  I will be taking off items I can use.  Here is the first piece that will help spruce this model up a bit. 

 

War Thunder and and WT Ground Forces - More Goodness

War Thunder is a great game.  The air combat version is in Open Beta currently.  There are some things that need fixing, but hey, they are in Beta still.  Their ground war/combined arms game is in CLOSED Beta.  This is moving alone quite nicely.  I was in a game yesterday that had a Soviet Su-2 bomber drop bombs on my location and destroy my PZ III E.  Tough break for me even with AA cover.  Then, the day prior, I was flying a P40 Lend Lease WarHawk and was able to strafe a German AA and kill it, drop my bomb payload (x2 100 lbs bombs and 1 500lbs bomb) on multiple targets but got killed when I went after another AA flak 38 who got me before I got him.  Instant Fireball. 

Anyway, here are some more photos and vids.  Nothing major on the vids, just something to understand how things look.  Ill post some better vids later.

Lend Lease B-25 Mitchell Soviet Service in realistic Battle

 

The instant I take YET ANOTHER hit from a Soviet 45mm gun.   

 

The smile was a result of hits from the Soviets.  I was immobilized with a transmission or engine hit awaiting my crew to repair.  I was out in open for 1:30, I was lucky to repair the issue and pull back.  Over all, with the smile marks, I counted 20 hits!  After all that, I was killed off by a Soviet plane. 

 

My Soviet KV-1 Zis 

 

My newly Unlocked T-50 

 

Newly unlocked Su-122 

 

Newly unlocked SU-76.  Tough vehicle to aim, as its tough to depress the gun on this one.   

A Premium Flak wagon.  I do not own it, it was just a test as  you can take these thing for a test drive.  See the interior?  Nice....

 

Here is me flying my British P-51 MKIIa.  After quickly dispatching 2 planes, I too am dispatched by a Corsair with the same cannon config as me.  4 20mm cannons!  DEADLY.  See how fast I catch on fire?  I only knew I was being fired upon after catching fire from the pilot's initial burst. 

War Thunder and War Thunder Ground Forces

Well, I am totally addicted to this game. I have added a link here for you to use to join.  If you do, you get some bonus gold to use to buy items and you will help me too.  I have been flying for months now (pics and vids of planes later).

The game is currently a plane game full of fighters, fighter bombers and all sorts of bomber that start out in 1930s and go to the Korean war era.  EXCELLENT game.  Also they are conducting a closed BETA that I am a part of, that have tank warfare from the same time period.  The game is WAY better than World of Tanks and WORLDS better than World of Warplanes.  Here are some pics for you to look at. 

http://warthunder.com/en/registration?r=userinvite_13008118

Stug

BT7

T28

KV1

Some AT 57mm Zis SP type tractor

Panzer III E

Panzer III F

 

The tanks are all good.  Even though they are early type tanks.  Nothing is over powered or underpowered.  There is NO hit points to grind down before you kill a tank.  It's all about the shot and where it hits. 

 

The art work is of my doing.  I like to keep the art work the same to keep consistent so people start to know it's me on the virtual battlefield. 

 

Below some pics of other available tanks and TDs. 

 

 

Here is the view I had in my KV-1 while I was up on a hill behind a low rock formation looking down at these two panzers.  I put 3 rounds into that Panzer III M.  1st round busted the track and it could not move, you can actually see the tack dangling and the skirtzen piece is missing from a previous hit.  The 2nd round jammed the turret as I aimed for the turret ring.  The 3'd round set it on fire (engine area) and the fire exploded the tank.. KILL.  The Panther knew he was ambushed and drove off. 

 

And here is some video footage from the game.  I am in a Panzer III E.  The tank I killed on the fly was Soviet BT-7.  One shot killed the crew or incapacitated them enough to get me the kill.  The tank just rolled to a stop!  Other times, it explodes or if you set off the magazine, it goes off like a roman candle. 

 

 

Oldie but a Goodie (TBT) - T-55 in Bosnian-Serb service

So around 2003, an old friend sold me an Esci kit for $5.  I figured, hey, what the hell.  As soon as I bought it, a few years later, Tamiya puts out a new T-55.  But for $5, you cant go wrong.  But being we are SICK in the head in this hobby, I had to buy the Etched brass.  Not only for the Esci kit, but for the Trumpeter kit as well CAUSE I had purchased it by mistake.  Add a new barrel for the T-54/55 and new workable plastic tracks and now I'm in for quite a bit. 

So, I started building this sucker and get hung up on the fuel lines.  The model then takes its place on the shelf of unfinished models.  Fast fwd 10+ years later, It finds its way back to my workstation.  This time I am armed with the FAQ2 book and a few good forums.  I attempt to try a few new techniques I learned.  I figure what a better way to learn, try on an old model. 

So I finished the fuel lines using CAT5 strands, #12 electrical wire for bars around turret, finished the rest of the model and the tracks and started painting and weathering.  I didn't really do a good job on the paint job, so I put most of my attention into weathering.  I decided on a Bosnian-Serb tank because I was not interested in making a Soviet tank, and not in the mood for an Afghan tank either.  I wanted this one to have something different about it.  So, I decided on the Bosnian-Serb tank as I had a friend that is Serbian, I had seen photos of Serb tanks that were "irregular" and had M2 .50 cals on them and cool looking battle slogans.  This was the end result.

Photo taken sometime in 2003 or 2004.

Never added satin in the paint, and turned out I could not do my weathering, so I had to spray it with Krylon Satin....went on a bit heavy. 

Adding the battle slogans and Serbian insignias to differentiate the Christian Serbs from the Islamic Bosnians.  The tank was originally in Bosnian service, so that is why the new owners have all sorts of slogans and symbols.  They are part of an irregular militia, NOT Yugoslavian forces.

Sheen from satin removed.

Old pattern wheel taken from other kit.

First time painting wooden crates.  Methods learned from Mig's FAQ2 book.

DONE!

 

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Thanks!

Panzer Bill