Stikpusher's GAABSA Builds -2nd Completed

[speedgraflex]

x 2

[speedgraflex]

Good evening, Carlos! I hope all goes well. We had some rain today, so that complicated things a bit for everyone in Southern California, but man it was a beautiful afternoon/evening after the clouds cleared! All the best.

[Stikpusher]

Yeah it was an interesting evening... rain then sun, then rain again... but yes, a clear chilly night sky afterwards. And a fairly busy shift at work. But better than being stuck inside...

[Stikpusher]

Lots of progress in the past couple of days on my Quad .50. Yesterday I airbrushed on a top coat of Humbrol Satin as I wanted the OD to have a slight sheen, but I was not happy with the result. It ended up a bit too shiny/reflective.



So today I airbrushed on a coat of Humbrol Flat





Much better now...





Then I did more some painting- the tires and a metallic background for the reflectors and tail lights



And then I glued the .50s onto the turret







Now all I have left is to add the ammo cans and paint the reflectors & tail lights...

[speedgraflex]

Your work is coming together beautifully, Carlos... All of the details are spot on and the color change really adjusted the feel of the finish in a better direction. The choice was crucial to moving forward. What are your plans for display?

[Stikpusher]

Thank you Bruce. I was originally planning to have it behind a M35 truck being towed. But I've come across info that it appears they were hauled around in the bed of the truck. So I'll be doing that. Another project to build...

[mustang1989]

Good looking piece of weaponry there Carlos. Military vehicles is one of my weaknesses. One of these days I hope to try my hand at it.

[Stikpusher]

Thank you sir... I'm just the opposite as far as vehicles go, the civilian stuff is my weak area. Once it gets warpaint, no problem...

[Stikpusher]

... and we are in the home stretch now heading in to the finish line...

first up, if I was to fault any part of the kit instructions, which Dragon is notorious for, it would be right here, where the gun and ammo can assembly is shown....



but there are couple things they do not mention... first, the little nubs that are on the end are also attached to the mounting stub for the ammo cans, but look like a natural cut off point for the excess plastic nubs (whatever those things are called). I cut off two and filed the support ends flat before I realized the fit into the slots on the ammo can.

the other thing that needs caution is the little part between the guns and the ammo cans that have the rounds molded onto them. it seems only natural to push them in as far as they will go to match the widened end right up against the ammo can.



But that is a no no. Do that and you will have a gap between that part and the guns as I found out.



That part is best painted and left loose until you mount the guns and cans on their support arms. Live and learn... so I ended up scratching up some extensions to the ammo feed trays



trimmed to fit



last night I painted up the gunner's sight, and today I glued that in place





and then I painted the tail lights and reflectors



and as this is typed, the ammo cans are drying after I glued them in place a little while ago...
the build is now complete!

[Stikpusher]

All done!!!