Global Scale Modeller

Afternoon all

Fresh back into modelling after 30 year break. So on bench is a freebie from Modelling Mag of a Airfix 1/48 Jackal. I should imagine many started off on Airfix as boys and girls (see PC correct from start). Now to explain I used to be a prolific builder of Tamiya and have a venerable old boy of a 1/35 Chieftain sat on shelves awaiting build.
I joined last night having watched many vids on You Tube of Paul building and reviewing and for myself generally salivating over Pauls set-up and kit.
Mine is basic at present, but come the end of the month (Birthday money) its going to increase with AB, Compressor and loads of other goodies (Wife is going to hit roof, but my argument is she set me back into this game for stress relief).
So, back to this Jackal.
So now I'm 48 and developed into a OCD, pedantic and with eye for detail both in life and job (I am fun though, promise).
Airfix? Where to begin...........
Kit is not bad and going together well. Not very "clunk & click" like Tamiya and lots of flash removed and putty galore added (exaggeration but bit here and there).
Because I'm a bit anal (steady!!) when doing things but in my view do it well first time and saves assing around later....
I'll show you my bits completed so far.....
Bought a set of Eduard PE sheet as well to compliment kit and this is first time using PE. Quite like it but do need the Tamiya file to remove burrs and fix tabs as I'm working with steel rule and very sharp Swann & Morton blade and paring away bits to get flush edge.
Today (Just finished 72 hours of Nights and with very limited sleep and a banging headache caused by no sleep) sat down with side plates and thought and looked at images on Net of Jackals and decided....No, the cheap plastic representation of stowage webbing had to go. Even painted and weathered this was going to look like crap (see OCD.
So with a blade and Flexi-File, I have pared the detail away on one side and its come up quite clean. I will put storage on side but will create with something else. From research and images and chats with Ex-Infantry buds most just hung Webbing and personal rucksacks over side.
I'm sorry about quality of photos as this is on Sony Cyber-Shot and can't find my SLR.
Anyway you should get gist.
I'll keep posting as I get some more work done and more kit arrives (got a delivery from Scale Model in post so should arrive tomorrow). Thanks to all the kind chaps who have responded and to the Admin chaps for letting me rabble and share.
Peace and love and God I need my bed and shut-eye.

Sorry. Not up-loaded images yet as they keep coming back as files to big, despite tuning down size. Need some sleep and to look into way of up-loading.

Sorry, like I said shattered. But just read How To from Paul and got Photo-Bucket

More completed.
Airfix build now showing true colours as the rear sections are not aligning as should and gaps appearing all over the place.


Keep smiling and keep using Milliput. Primer will hide the effect surely?

Off to a good start

Thanks Paul.
After a break away from this wonderful hobby (change hobby for passion, all consuming ethos and wife confuser lol). This little "freebie" kit is a great way to exercise the fingers back into nimble ways and ability to stare at tiny objects for long times checking and re-checking that it's straight (or even the right way up).
As it was free it does not matter if it goes for a "Burton" (although in my heart I would be gutted).
So before commencing more expensive and intense builds, this serves a purpose of getting the mind and body "back into the groove" so to speak.
It also helps to practice with new kit and solvents and fillers that were not available 30 years ago and if they were, they were beyond a young mans financial ability.
I am not in the league of some of the greats on these boards but I hope to be able to at least get some satisfaction and the best feeling in the world of being able to say "I built that and made it what it is".
Will keep posting bloody awful pictures of progress (which is starting to slow as need that H&S AB by the end of the month.
Best wishes all and have a great B/H.

Okay bit of a up-date.
Not to much work but lot of PE work and I will state this for the record like Sir Stave Redgrave's quote of never getting in a boat again "or shoot me". I will never do 1/48 PE again (first time back in modelling and I go for 1/48 scale PE...
5 days till AB arrives and then the nice bits start.
All bits are now ready for coat of primer and nearly all bits are built, just a few bits of PE on weapons to go.
Here come the pictures....

Sorry about focus but you can just make out tiny, tiny handle in PE after shaving off Airfix moulded shots.

Again the tiny PE Foot-Pedals

The Tool-Rack is not glued in as I will spray the hand-touch tools later.

Rear Smoke-Dispensers in PE.

Side with PE Door Handle up.

Voila, Door Handle down.

Front has lost the tiniest Gear-Stick to Carpet Monster. Note gap under wheel arch but that will be hid by PE mud arch covers, the fit on the other side is exact.

Internal door detail with Airfix mouldings scraped away and Eduard PE used. The size of the small butt box (heheheh) for the SA80 is so bloody small and needs four bens to make with very limited plans and pictures. My fingers and eyes are use to this size.



Well off for a lie down pre-eye test.
Any comments or criticism or help is as always greatly appreciated .
Take care all,
John

nice work John

its something different and I haven't seen many Jackals online so its great to see one here,

your going a great job mate

keep it up

Shane

cheers Shane makes gluing my finger together worth while!

I have last night ordered some up-grades for this kit....

The weapons up-grade from the following http://www.track48.com/shop/product.php ... =22&page=1

I have ordered the four wheels upgrade from the Canadian company: GASOLINE Kit Range Conversion for plastic kit: Wheels for Jackal / Coyote Airfix
Choice your model:GAS48110A 4 x wheels for Jackal

Now AB is on way, once these bits arrive from France and Canada I will post more photos and up-dates.

Thanks as always,
John

Good afternoon all

Well as the rain comes down in Burton and my fuzzy brain is buggered up with lack of sleep, the Post-Man brings little bundles of fun.
All the way from France comes the Gaso-Line Resin Jackal conversion wheels.
Absolutely beautiful detail and no flash
They will look fantastic.
What is the matter with Airfix for not supplying the correct units in the first place?
I am in the middle of dispatching a letter to the CEO of Airfix about this situation.
I don't sit quietly and allow these things to happen, working for 20 years in Customer Service, makes you very intolerant of rubbish service and is worthy of a letter to a CEO from time to time.
Surprising how many replies I get and if you sit on your hands moaning and don't do anything then expect crap service....
Anyway, rant over



Just waiting on conversion kit from Canada of Grenade Launcher and Fuel cans and stowage.
Look after yourselves,
John

I just caught up with this build John, this is going to be a hell of a thing when you're done with it bud. I love these vehicle types. They're crazy cool to look at. Like tiny stowage dioramas haha.

Coen wrote:I just caught up with this build John, this is going to be a hell of a thin when you're done with it bud. I love these vehicle types. They're crazy cool to look at. Like tiny stowage dioramas haha.

Thanks Coen much appreciated.
I have to say that the Jackal is kind of, dare I say sci-fi in looks. It's all angles and roll-bars
I'm enjoying it so much and that Sir is what it is all about is it not.
Watched a couple of vids on You Tube of Jackals
British Army JACKAL ARMOURED HMT-400 Pathfinders in Afghanistan, and it just blows my mind, I want one to drive to work.....lol plus music is really awsome.
Thanks so much for dropping by.
My AB is at work having been delivered today. God I can't wait to start having a play

Superb work mate, I really like the photo etch work that you are doing. I can recommend Deluxe Materials Perfect Plastic Putty. It is a pre-mixed filler that can be cleaned using water. My wife (MrsModeller) has used it on her He-111 build and it's come out really well.

Thank you Dasihi, good advice. Ordered on Amazon five minutes ago.

Hello fellow modellers

I was trying to work out all of the time on this and apart from a lot of breaks for work and such most of the building has been completed after finishing night-shifts.
Well, another crap sleep , so on the darkest day here in Burton due to rain and sweeping cloud (getting a bit Bronte here... ), I got up and started my first foray into PE Seat-Belts.......
Well pictures please and lets have a look dear chap......

And a bit more, the "crutch" (not sure what you call it but it's in that position, seems a bit short but that was the length.


All PE is complete now.
Still awaiting the conversion kit from Track 48 to get the Grenade Launcher and Stowage boxes, Jerry Cans.
Once here and fitted it will be full speed ahead with painting.
I'm a bit apprehensive about the painting now.........why?
Well all the hard work could be bo****ed in a pull of a Double Action
I'm off soon so Compressor on and the start will be a very light coats of MIG Surface Primer (Dark Yellow Primer). Then thinking highlights of panels with black and then Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow.
Does anyone have a differing view on colours?
I am conscious that In most pictures of the Jackal in Afghanistan the vehicles do not look yellow like a Canary. The vehicles that have been in field sometime seem to be quite pale.
I am probably not going to go with figures yet (Booo I hear.... ), but as this was just an exercise in building small and getting fingers, brain and eyes back in the groove.
Anyhooooo,
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend.
Now off to cook tea for wife (Gnocchi and a Chillie Sauce).
John

Daishi12 wrote:Superb work mate, I really like the photo etch work that you are doing. I can recommend Deluxe Materials Perfect Plastic Putty. It is a pre-mixed filler that can be cleaned using water. My wife (MrsModeller) has used it on her He-111 build and it's come out really well.

Hi Daishi

Putty just arrived this morning.
The lid was a wee bit loose on top in package.
Is it supposed to be fairly thick.....or has it started to go hard?
It moulds and seems to spread, but boy its hard to shift out of tube.

taking shape nicely mate

keep it up



Shane

longlance67 wrote:taking shape nicely mate

keep it up



Shane

Cheers Shane.
Gone a bit tits up in the Donkeywalloper family this weekend (Father-in-Law taken ill as he was due to go on holiday, so Mrs Walloper off to Hospital).
Family frst then AB work.
Have a great weekend Shane.

Great work so far John,
loving all the PE! Have one of these in the stash myself so will be following you closely on this, good job...

Thanks for posting
Martin

Unit53 wrote:Great work so far John,
loving all the PE! Have one of these in the stash myself so will be following you closely on this, good job...

Thanks for posting
Martin

Cheers Unit
Never, ever done PE in my life till now. Sorry if repeating myself, this is a test to get skills back in focus. No PE 30 years ago.
Thanks for kind words, hope yours comes out of box as well.
I absolutely love the Jackal. I would love to own one. With all of them coming back soon it makes you wonder if some may come on market
Plenty of place for shopping but it would not please Mrs Walloper's hair being open to the elements
Good luck and happy modelling mate.
John

That really is some fine works there John, it's going to take this build so far.
Once you put a primer coat on this beauti you'll see just how much.

Firstly, hope the father-in-law is doing well, like you say, family first.

Some fantastic work there John, it may have been 30 years but it looks as though all the old skills have flooded right back. As they say, just like riding a bike - or maybe that should be, building a Jackal!

And you've never done PE before - you sir have some serious skills!!

Thanks Coen, coming from you the comments and encouragement mean everything.

Alex, thank you for the kind words. Father in Law is in hospital still and it's going to be lots of help and journeys to London.
Must admit Mrs Wallopers parents are wonderful people and I do feel like they are second parents. He is ex infantry and enjoys his footie so he is a man after my own heart.

If you see a Jackal knocking around for sale let us know
John

Okay then, after a night spent watching Coen and his Panther Dio.
I had a nap, Cleaned out multiple Rabbits and cups of coffee galore, and so this afternoon set up kit for first time to do some spraying with a all of the kit bought.
I used MIG Dark Yellow Primer as first coat base.
I was nervous as anything prior, and kid you not hand was bit shaky as I got to the point of thinners first (Ultimate of course) then paint.
Did not help, as I really got merrily fecked off with losing my Tamiya Metal Stirrers, that have disappeared off face of earth..
I did not go with ratio or exacts, I went with the well worn mantra of make sure bottle is shook well to mix pigments and liquids then consistency of milk
First coat, I noticed immediately that I had runs , so wiped off and adjusted mix slightly.....possibly bit to Skimmed Milk consistency
Bang on this time.
Coverage good and the AB worked like a dream with no spatter or blockages. Evo has such a smooth action, God knows what the more expensive AB's are like.
The Jackal is a tricky model to cover, as it has a canopy at rear for Comms kit and the rear has so many recesses and boxes with highs and lows
I kept the coats this and "Ghosted".
For a first attempt in 30 years, I'm fairly happy
Thank you to Coen, Paul, Lee and Alex the Blue for encouragement and tips and guidance.
Cleaning was a doddle with the H&S Reamer / Cleaning brushes well worth the money for that bit of kit.
Going to leave the model now for a couple of days to cure.
I'm then looking at Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow with highlights of same with a touch of white Vallejo.
Anyway here come the pictures.








Thank you all for constant help and encouragement
This site is the best with the best kind of people on it.
John

nice work mate,

we are getting to the fun part now.....the weathering



Shane

Hi Shane

Actually think I may have been spraying on to high a pressure now (2 Bar).
I noticed some odd "Spatter" marks on the inside of some pieces (like the paint adhered in some bits and other less so.
I fancy I might need to come down to 1 Bar.
Thanks mate,
John

Nice work Mr Walloper

Keep the faith.

Keep the Faith to Willem
Spent so much money on modelling kit that I shall have no money to buy Foxes Season ticket for the Premiership
Modelling or Foxes?..............
Like Daddy or Chips lol
John

That looks great for coverage and the coats look fairly smooth bud. Nice work.

Just out of curiosity, not that what you did was wrong because it's not, I'm only curious.
Why did you prime with a light colour?

Wow, you are doing an outstanding job, it looks great so far

Looking gooooood!!

Nice even coat with the primer and it'll give a nice base to the sand colour. I always sprayed my Evo at between 20 to 25 psi for primer coats and thats for both AK and Vallejo primers. I think thats a smidge over 1.5 bar if I've got my conversions right.

Bet you can't wait to get the main colour down now!

Coen wrote:That looks great for coverage and the coats look fairly smooth bud. Nice work.

Just out of curiosity, not that what you did was wrong because it's not, I'm only curious.
Why did you prime with a light colour?

Good morning Coen

How are you?
Good question. Now I did ponder on this for a while.
Jackal's are brand new vehicles in the British Army.
Not been used in any other theatre of war or conflict (correct me anyone please if I have got this wrong.. ).
So would have been shipped to Afghanistan from Supacat as they are seen.
None of this Nato Green and Black normally seen, and then,
"Here you go Trooper, have a can of Desert Yellow and a brush and be getting on with this laddie". "Well yes Colour Sergeant"
The Primer, MIG Dark Yellow Primer is a lot darker that the Tamiya Desert Yellow so my idea was that would give some hues of colour required.
I was going to go with black highlighting of panels but I'm not sure if this is going to work, as the Jackal has so many panels and lines to work on and at 1/48 and my skills, this may start to just end up as a black coat and not the fine lines required
Should I have gone for black or grey Coen? Oooops have I made a boo boo.
Lovely sunny morning in Burton with a great sleep last night and the news that the Father-in-Law has had a good operation in London (no such thing as a good operation surely?, but it does look like we can get him back home to Burton soon), and sat in Back Bedroom and the light is awesome,
I have had a good look at previous nights work and it is not bad coverage (little areas in deep recesses that have not enough primer, but not going to be a problem).
The Primer does give you views of areas of attention that your eye misses prior to applying.
These two areas are where a bit of CA has oozed. I can get these with the tip of a scalpel.
I'm hoping, nay praying on bended knees, that when the Desert Yellow is applied, that the colour of the Jackal will hit the required look I'm looking for (surrounded by pictures of Jackals in Afghanistan).
Your thoughts and interest on this Coen are most welcome, and I do need advice where ever it comes from, so thank you for answering the question

Thanks Alex for info on pressure ( I need to sort myself out as a conversion chart as my head always goes with Bar and often folks work in PSI).

Well it's 04:30 in the morning, and I'm up with the most ridiculous cramp in my thigh.
Good news and in the oldest traditions of military operations (Casevac), me and Mrs Wallopers drove from Burton to London and to London Univesity College Hospital Euston to pick up In-Laws (après Father in
Law operation completed, and luggage for two week holiday that is now cancelled) and with a Coffee and a pee, about turned, and drove back straight away, through bizarre weather of beautiful spring sunshine and torrential downpours, where driving with lights on and speeds of 30mph on the M1 were completly nesacary.
I was going to get a coat of the main colour down last night, but sat down with the best Fish and Chip supper ever, and after that fell asleep.
Modelling is all consuming, but like the best things in life, be relaxed and good to go before commencing yourself.

Hi all

Well second time using AB, and this time I felt better and more confident.
I dropped PSI back to 29 and went with standard 50/50 Tamiya mix and Ultimate thinners.
Colour is XF-59 Desert Yellow on top of the MIG Dark Yellow Primer.
I'm going to highlight some of the panels with a slightly lighter mix with added white. Just for those raised areas subject to more sun.
The coat went on really well.
See what the real experts though think





Day on my own tomorrow, so shall get on with some tyre paint and work on items requiring black paint.
Laters,
John

Looks great bud, nice even coat, good looking colour too.
If I had any advise is suggest poking out those grills where the paint built up overt the holes. A really sharp cocktail stick or a sewing needle would do the job.
The rest is great stuff!

Thanks Coen.
Yup, I picked that up to. So difficult with fine PE not to get some build up eventually in fine grill.
I have got a needle ready to pick at those holes and clean out.
Hope you are well?
Next a coat of varnish (Matt), and before that work with hairy stick on areas requiring black paint i.e. mudflaps, ends of Smoke Dischargers and picking up on coloured lights, which I have some MIG Crystal paint.
Busy day tomorrow I

Lots of Man-Cave work today .
Tyres painted in Vallejo Black Grey and seats painted in Tamiya Buff.
Bit of highlighting on pain panels with a drop of white added to Desert Yellow.
Four Part Grenade Launcher from Track 48 cleaned up of mega amounts of flash and four parts assembled.
Like the TV show Catch-Phrase said,
"Say what you see",



http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b48 ... 86f568.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


Thanks chaps as always,
John

Pictures of Grenade Launcher....well did not launch

Very interesting build indeed!

Good work at this moment Well done buddy !

Cheers chaps, thanks for support.
Not far off weathering and that is gonna be the really fun part
John

Great work John, she's looking all good so far! Keep up the good work... Thanks for posting
Martin

Thanks Martin for kind words.
Missus went off to work early and instead of laying in bed, straight into man-cave for a period of touching up tyre paint and gluing in Gunners seat.
Might, might get a coat of Xtracrylix Flat Varnish today.

John

Wish I could be in my Man-Cave today, really got that Friday feeling and looking forward to getting some time on the tools over the weekend! Stuck in the office for now but come 5pm will be escaping "The Old Smoke" and heading home. Let me know how you get on with the Xtracrylic Flat Coat, I've heard it's the business but I haven't used it myself to date, will be good to see your results. Your doing great work on the kit mate but I have to admit I'm a little disappointed with Airfix for molding those tools on the body work... Mind you saying that you've made a good job of painting them so problem solved! Good luck today in the cave and will look forward to your next post...

Tally Ho..!
Martin

Thanks Martin.
I have a few different types of Varnish in kit i.e. Vallejo, Tamiya.....but no Kleer
This type was highly recommended, so we'll see how it goes on.
Wheels are now on unit.
Also been painting black coloured parts of kit this morning i.e. Smoke Discharger Caps, Mud-Flaps which includes the surrounding Mud-Flap strips around wheel arches (Part of PE not Airfix).
Also fitted this morning the gun mount on top of vehicle.
I need to order some silver paint for the glass part of mirrors, and then will be using MIG Acrylic Crystal / Crystal Glass to cover that. Never done that so it will be interesting to see how that works.
The front part of the Jackal is now at the stage where it requires decals (supplied) adding (it should be enough to send me over the top as they are teeny, tiny decals).
Sorry about quality of photos but sun is really shining through windows,




By the way it's White-tack holding doors closed not a new modification to vehicle

Not going to do much more today as it is a beautiful day in Burton and deserves some attention out there, maybe coffee, toast and papers.
Safe journey away from London Martin.
I was there on Tuesday, but spent no more time than to pick up sick Father-in-Law from Euston and back home .
Not enough time really.
Used to live and work there for 15 years so still love the place. Suppose though when you work there and home is elsewhere its different. Will be back though soon for a break.
Thanks for looking in though Martin, have a great weekend.
John

Keep up the good work John, it's looking really good! Enjoy the coffee and the papers, very jealous now... Have a good one and catch up with you later.

Thanks
Martin

Morning chaps

Have had the longest work week ever (people leaving, and filling shifts and extra hours to compensate).
I have not had a single minute to do anything this week (up at 04:45 and in bed for 21:00). I keep going in the Man-Cave each night for a look and dare I say it (say, say it.... ) a fondle of the plastic......
I said to the wife last night how much I miss an hour in silence (well music in background) to run hands over tools and plastic
But even not being able to do anything practically means planning methods of work and analysing what stages to next complete.
To be honest if the coats of primer and top coats have not cured by now .......
So Saturday morning gives me opportunity for progress.
Wife out at work and apart from Rabbits to be cleaned out, the modelling can progress.
My plan is to mask up mirrors either with Tamiya Tape or Maskol, they are small and I wonder if sausage fingers can make tape work. They need a little light touch of Vallejo Silver before I add the Mig Crystal that I have never used before to denote the glass. Not sure if it will work but worth a bash.
Then I need to get first coat of two coats Gloss varnish down (Xtracrylix).
Next some decals provided to be laid down on dashboard dials.
Work on both guns.
The Gimpy needs some more Ammo Gun Metal but I want to get the ammo storage attached first.
The 30mm Grenade Launcher from Gasoline (Resin) needs primer coat.
I have bought some very thin plastic tubing to cut and raise the 30mm bracket up higher off the cupola. As it was provided the 30mm would not sit high enough.
Once all that is done I should be able to attach the front section of Jackal on to chassis and add the Roll-Bar stanchion and complete build.
Also need to primer and paint the stowage from gasoline which is Jerry-Cans and Ammo boxes.
Also going to try some scratch-build on some light and winch covers.
The Jackal research photos all show the vehicles with cloth covers over the front lights and the winch.
Its a toss up between tissue soaked in PVA or the Cigarette Paper material I have been looking at......not sure which to go with, but the Cigarette Paper looks stiffer and easier to roll up (as in stowed position) and probably easier to spray and attach.
Bit of touch up and then let weathering begin.
I'm going for Mig Neutral wash to accentuate the Desert Yellow.
The Tamiya Buff and then thinned back for the bottom half o vehicle around tyres and underskirts.
Then a thin streaking with Abteilung Dark Mud
Next Mig Dark Wash as a pin wash around detailing.
Dry brush all the lovely PE metal plates in drivers cockpit with a silver / metallic. and a bit of a rub with a pencil around the door frames and edges.
Then an overall dry brush of Tamiya Buff mixed with white.
I am not going crazy with chipping (maybe some tiny bits around doors and side steps, but as a Ex-British Army AFV driver, chipping is not generally found unless this vehicle has really been through the mill, and my idea it is start to middle of a patrol not end apres action status.

I have three pigments from Mig of Gulf Sand, Dry Mud and European Dust and I will mix them and fix them in areas under vehicle and around recesses, wheel arches and underside.
I have a simple stand availble now which will be covered with Mr Clay and a few track marks and some sand and rocks (Nice arid look).
It won't be finished this weekend as wife needs some time with me as well as both of us have been pretty well been solid work.
I hope you all have a brilliant B/H weekend whatever your doing
John

For me Really super. You did great work mate - keep up good work

AchtungPanzer wrote:For me Really super. You did great work mate - keep up good work

Thank you Sir for your very kind words.

You have a good one mate

That's looking might fine John, you've done some great work there!!

Like the look of the what you have planned for this little beauty as well, sounds right on the money and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your progress!