JS-7 DONE!

Post by **Tomi** » Mon May 23, 2016 4:44 pm

My next project is JS-7 from Trumpeter

This will be built as battle veteran although these tanks never saw service, it's more interesting that way than just plain green prototype. As extras I have Aber weapon set and Voyager etch bits, probably some scratch building is also in order. I took a quick start and assembled turret and hull already, after that things will get more interesting.

Post by **Linushg** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:04 pm

Nice kit, will get one myself when i finish up some projects. Looking forward to see how it turns out!

Post by **OneSmallStep1966** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:23 pm

A nice kit indeed, I particularly like the pointed front and I think I'll be adding one of those to my stash too

Post by **Panzerwolf** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:35 pm

It is a great kit indeed. I built one maybe a year ago now, but sadly I never got around finishing the tracks let alone tools/fuel drums. Can't even really remember, but I think I ruined the tracks somehow and since there's not really an AM option I gave up... Well, still a pic here:

Really looking forward to your build.

Post by **Tomi** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:06 pm

That looks pretty cool. I was looking for Friul tracks also but sadly there is none, so I guess I'll have to be careful with kit tracks. I'm thinking two options with paint job, green with winter camo or two tone with green and brown. Weathering will be on the heavy side with this one.

Post by **OneSmallStep1966** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:52 pm

Panzerwolf wrote:It is a great kit indeed. I built one maybe a year ago now, but sadly I never got around finishing the tracks let alone tools/fuel drums. Can't even really remember, but I think I ruined the tracks somehow and since there's not really an AM option I gave up... Well, still a pic here:

Really looking forward to your build.

That's got "use me as a wreck in a diorama" written all over it

Post by **Tomi** » Tue May 24, 2016 8:00 pm

Panzerwolf wrote:Can't even really remember, but I think I ruined the tracks somehow and since there's not really an AM option I gave up...

I can imagine... I just assembled one run and man those things are just evil

Almost made me want to bin whole thing, and there's still other one to do. Still, better make them at this point, if I ruin them then there's no point to go on with rest of the project.

Post by **Tomi** » Wed May 25, 2016 8:23 am

Second run done and curing, this was bit easier than first one. This project is probably safe now

Post by **Panzerwolf** » Wed May 25, 2016 11:49 am

Well, congratulations for getting over that hurdle. Looking good.

Post by **Tomi** » Fri May 27, 2016 12:22 pm

Ok, as I'm building this as battle veteran I thought that it would be a nice idea to go bit what iffy and go for "production model" mods. Meaning that I removed ridiculous rear shooting machine guns from turret and replace gun shield with equally ridiculous up-armored version

Also added some texture with Mr Surfacer 500 and foundry number, which is sprue part number originally. If you look really hard you might notice some rolled steel texturing on hull, this is done by bouncing dremel tool on the surface.

It's also quite noticeable in these pictures that I haven't cleaned seams from suspension arms. I'm bit lazy that way as they are going to covered with mud anyway, it really doesn't matter if they aren't so neat.

Post by **ForTheWatch** » Fri May 27, 2016 7:18 pm

what a beast!

Post by **Tomi** » Sat May 28, 2016 8:50 am

Couple more things about turret. I needed to glue counter weights inside to the rear of turret as Aber barrel is long and heavy, for this reason I also glued gun shield solid. You can see blurry white block wedged between gun shield and turret, it keeps barrel from drooping downwards.

I also managed to find couple of walkarounds, this particular is very good: http://www.armorjournal.com/index-tanks-IS-7.php Although I'm not planning any real rivet counting, something bothered me with turret vision ports. Trumpeter has marked the installing spots for supplied ethc frames for vision ports and they seem to be all over the place, particularly one facing forward. This picture shows how it should be: http://www.armorjournal.com/Walkarounds ... _1237.jpeg So I fixed that and there's now also some welds added.

Post by **Tomi** » Sun May 29, 2016 2:28 pm

Although I'm not great fan of photo etch stuff, I still managed to pull off this box at rear of the turret. Couple of small dents finish the look. There were these small hoops for leather straps, but those exceeded my skills so I just soldered their holes shut.

Post by **Tomi** » Sun May 29, 2016 8:22 pm

And final update about turret, weapons on.

As for taking pictures showing whole vehicle, this is one of "those"... Barrel is just ridiculously long

Post by **Madmattmodels89** » Sun May 29, 2016 9:06 pm

Wow superb work with the pe and all the details! I wish I was that good

Post by **Tomi** » Mon May 30, 2016 4:27 am

Madmattmodels89 wrote:Wow superb work with the pe and all the details! I wish I was that good

Practise and lot of cursing, that's how I do it

Post by **chalkyw** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:59 am

Great job so far Tomi.

My small experiance with PE just ends up in a gluey mess........has anyone here at ISM thought of starting a swear box as my language takes a nose dive when I'm modelling

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:29 am

That's freaken awesome Tomi, your really going all out on this build, I think photo etch and metal barrels really make kits pop. Again great build.

Post by **Tomi** » Mon May 30, 2016 11:46 am

Thanks guys. I think that real challenge with this build are those stowage boxes on sides, I'm planning on replacing them with scratch build items so that they can be damaged in realistic manner. We'll see how that goes, still keeping those original parts in safe place...just in case...

Post by **Tomi** » Tue May 31, 2016 2:07 pm

Here's some more PE work, rear fuel tanks. Side stowage covers are also fitted, they are not quite done so I just taped them in to place for this pic. Covers are scratch build items, I used thin brass sheet for this job. As a piece of interesting trivia, rearmost compartment has folding canvas(?) bag inside that is actually spare fuel tank. It would make interesting weathering detail to include couple of bullet holes on that cover and as a result there's leaked diesel fuel everywhere.

Here's interesting Youtube video about JS-7: Fuel tank detail is explained around 4 minute mark

Post by **Tomi** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 6:51 am

A little mock up to see if I'm going in the right direction with this one, yes I am

Post by **spock1701** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:49 pm

Nice build so far. Can't wait to see that thing with paint on.

Post by **Bissyboat** » Sat Jun 04, 2016 9:34 pm

Nice details. Like the dents on the rear oil drums.

Post by **Tomi** » Sun Jun 05, 2016 1:56 pm

Not much progress this weekend, almost all is visible in this one pic:

Made new locking mechanism on gun pedestal. Idea is that when commander presses pedal on right, latch opens (and remains open via spring) and pedestal can be lowered to stowed position. When pedestal is erected, latch locks automatically. This set up is faster to operate than original idea with locking pin. Also new handles from brass wire, and ventilator on top of the pic is opened up.

Post by **ForTheWatch** » Sun Jun 05, 2016 5:36 pm

sick build and attention to detail, love it!

Post by **HIghAltitudeScale** » Sun Jun 05, 2016 9:42 pm

I like the cast texture you've done on that build.

Post by **Tomi** » Mon Jun 06, 2016 3:30 pm

Thanks gents

This build is starting to be bit more detailed than I initially planned but still manageable, still few bits and bobs missing.

Post by **Tomi** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:42 pm

Some progress

Post by **Tomi** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 1:12 pm

I would say that this is now 98% ready for primer. I'm waiting few bits from Voyager to arrive, their set for this kit contains insufficient number of certain parts but I contacted their customer service and matter is taken care of

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:03 pm

You really going all out on this kit Tomi, just amazing.

Post by **spock1701** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:34 pm

This kit really looks great.

Post by **Tomi** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:56 pm

Let's just hope that painting goes ok

Post by **nemisous** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:45 pm

This thing looks amazing, PE and battle damage really makes this thing stand out, well done!

Post by **wavelet** » Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:06 am

Great build. I like this beast!

Post by **Nige1940** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:39 pm

Tomi , That mantlet is just SUPERB ! I love these Wif subjects because you can do just that sort of thing .
Masterfully done etch too ,you made me really want this kit now . Bravo Sir .

Post by **Tomi** » Fri Jul 01, 2016 7:24 pm

Thanks guys. Well, I haven't heard from Voyager since I last posted about that subject so I guess that I'll just scratch build missing items so this build can move on. At this point turret, tracks and wheels are primed.

Post by **creator** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 8:25 pm

Look forward to seeing more of this beast - enjoy what I've seen so far

Post by **Tomi** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 8:50 am

Finally, beast in black

Got tired of waiting for parts to arrive so I made them myself

I use Citadel's chaos black spray primer almost exclusively on my builds, in case if anyone wonders

Post by **Tomi** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:10 pm

Finally some color. Green is 3:1 mix of tamiya nato green/sky, brown is tamiya wooden deck tan neat. Turned out quite nice

Post by **Tomi** » Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:20 am

Quick follow-up on yesterday's update. During chipping I managed to remove too much paint on certain areas and wasn't too happy about it, instead of repainting I decided to go with paint patches. Idea is that in some point maintenance crew had taken time to fix some blemishes, but later on things are just left the way they are. Those darker green squares look bit offending now, but they will evetually blend in during weathering.

Post by **privatepete** » Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:47 am

Hi Tomi nice idea the paint patches

saved a bit of work repainting I think you've done a better job than the maintenance crew would have done excellent build well done.

Post by **Tomi** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 12:35 pm

Some pics of weathering, still loads to do. Big tank, big surface area

Post by **Madmattmodels89** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:33 pm

What a beast!!!! I'm in love with this build! Ii want a kit like that now! Your weathering technique is always top notch!

Post by **Tomi** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 2:07 pm

Thanks guys for kind words

Here's little something, when JS-7 gets two rounds to rearmost side compartment this happens... Diesel everywhere. Crusted mud done with MIG pigments mixture, rust effects are done with art shop iron paint & corroder.

Post by **Thomas2542** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:21 pm

Looks almost like a sifi tank with the huge gun and pointed nose. Can't wait to see it finished.

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Sun Jul 17, 2016 12:29 pm

That Looks amazing. You've really went all out on this kit. Are you going to add this to a dio?. Again great build.

Post by **Tomi** » Mon Jul 18, 2016 4:33 pm

InitialProduction1 wrote:Are you going to add this to a dio?

No, I'm not much of a diorama builder, these stand alone projects seem to take already so much time and I'm also bit slow builder (although T-62 came out pretty fast). That being said, I do actually have one quite large dio in mind including FAMO with trailer... But that's miles away, I have at least two or three tank projects in mind before that so we'll see.

Post by **Tomi** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:48 am

Slowly adding details

Post by **Madmattmodels89** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 9:12 pm

Wow crazy I thought those where pics of the real tank!!! Speechless!!! Amazing work

Post by **Tomi** » Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:50 pm

Thanks mate

Moving on to dreaded tracks, although initially they weren't too bad this final installation was quite painful experience. Managed to broke them couple of times, also managed to broke one of the positioning lights off (luckily I found it). There's also plenty of superglue stains than need bit of concealing but now it's done

All this beast needs now is bit of detail painting and final weathering effects.