Aur0ra145's Pig Models 76.2mm HVAP-T UBR-354P

[aur0ra145]

Howdy folks!

This is a Pig Models 76.2mm HVAP-T UBR-354P in 1/1 scale. As for validity of this being late war, this very kit is modeled after a shell in @RangerNeil's T-34/76 of this same GB. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I've built one of these before that was modeled after a Tiger I shell. That thread can be found here. http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.p ... efce2e3c63

Lessons learned from the last kit:
1. This isn't polystyrene. So Stuff like Tamiya cement probably won't work.
2. The gloss finish is super glossy and does not take to masking at all.
3. The shell nose ejector canyons (really, they're enormous, IDK how the mold was like that) and can be filled with carefully building up CA glue over several sessions.
4. Even though the entire model is 4 pieces, it can take much longer than a Bandai kit to make.
5. Masking is a no go. Stencils are provided and you need to attack them via not sticking any tape to the model. For the Tiger I shell, I used a piece of scrap paper to attach the stencils to.
6. Be very careful with how much sanding takes place. Low grit (rough) sandpaper really gets the ridges and problems out; but, can take an even longer time to smooth out.

Going with my "build stuff you already own using paint you already have" theme, I thankfully in the past bought too much AK Xtreme Metals Brass for the original Tiger I shell. So I'm good there. All other stuff I have in stock.

I'm a fan of the packaging and the instructions seem to have improved since their first offering. This is actually the third in their 1/1 scale tank shells. The second being a King Tiger shell. It's enormous.



Not a toy!









Happy kitty helping out manufacturing ammunition to kill tanks.





The ejector marks on the nose of the projectile are attrocious.





Seem line is apparent on the shell body.



Size compared to a Tiger I shell.

[aur0ra145]

Started sanding quite a bit. Also, using CA+ Medium to fill the lines on the nose of the shell.

[BigWall]

These are so cool and you do a great job with them!

[aur0ra145]

Update:

WOW! What a week. So today my wife and I were involved in a fender bender, a person rear ended us at a red light. We're both okay, and only cosmetic damage; but, still an annoyance.

Then, I needed to mow our lawn. It's been raining a lot, so I've been putting it off. It got a bit egregious and I mowed today. We own an electric lawn mower and the battery ran out about half way through. Due to the shape of my yard, the unmowed section looked like the fundamental male appendage... yeah. I ended up using a weed eater to 'mow' the rest of it.

As for modelling. I've put the Tigerkitty aside for a hot minute. The nacelles and the color blending of the dark blue and matte black primer are a bit disheartening. Instead, I've been messing around with this 76.2mm shell. The CA+ Medium worked out really well. I'm very happy with it.

I'm not going crazy with making all of it perfect. I just figure one side of the projectile and the shell case need to look good enough and it'll work out. From my experience with the Tiger I shell, people are just wowed with the size and the representation, there are very few rivet counters in the real world. It's usually been, "how did you get a real tank shell?!"

[aur0ra145]

Ready for primer!

First layer will be a gray, mainly so I can see the gloss black primer.

[aur0ra145]

Got the gray primer on all parts earlier today. Came by for a second coat this evening with gloss black and went ahead and painted the projectile XF-24 Dark Gray. Next will be AK Xtreme Metal Brass.

[Hawkmoon]

All looking good and nice work

[aur0ra145]

I guess bad things come in threes. My computer monitor died. I even heard the capacitor blow; however, my power supply surgery has yielded no success. So, it's time to look for a new one.

Painted up the shell body today. I used AK Interactive Xtreme Metal Brass over Ultimate Gloss Black primer.

I'm a little curious to see if I can polish it at all once it's cured.

[BigWall]

Very cool. I'd like to add some of these to my stash some day.

[aur0ra145]

Howdy folks!

I let this stuff cure for a week before using the stencils. The shell casing went flawlessly. I got a bit risqué and tried to use tape to mask a very small portion of the projectile... and it flaked off.

I was a bit angry with myself, as I knew this was an issue with this manufacturer. But PURE GENIUS (if I do say so myself) struck. I took another piece of masking tape, wrapped it around my finger and 'weathered' the shell. I also rubbed my hands all over it and scratched some of the high points. Now it looks like it's been riding around in a take for a bit.



The Mistake



The fix!

[BigWall]

Very cool!

[aur0ra145]

Spent some time with the better half today and we went to an antiques mall. It's basically a lot of bays with trinkets and grandma's weird glass knick knacks. Anyways, I found a booth with militaria in it and they had a Bofors 40mm spent shell casing for only $18. Well, I had to buy it.

Pictured are the 88mm from the Tiger I, the 76.2mm from the T34/76 and the 40mm Bofors.

[Tomcat64]

Nice work - especially with all the challenges being thrown your way at the moment.

The masking tape weathering worked really well - great save

[Kevthemodeller]

Very nice

It shows just how far ahead the Germans were with the 88

[Stokesy44]

Nice work on the seams. Makes the whole thing look nice and solid, especially the projectile itself.

Good save on the paint lifting too.