PRAVDA's Blizzard Buster "GIGANT"

[ALPHA]

Nice work on those wingnuts Alpha. They look like they may be less trouble than the lazer cut ones that come on the Aber stuff. Great idea. Thanks!

I'm not sure if they are less trouble than using photoetch... as I think the dimensions are more symmetrical with those... I can only say the advantage of doing it this way is...it was a lot of fun...as I broke into laughter when I finished the two

Hope you are having a White Christmas palepainter..I can't tell you how I would enjoy running my tanks in some snow

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Merry Christmas! Chrimbo!, Boxing Day!, Kwanzaa!, you get the idea. ;o)
The KV-2 is a brutal tank, fine looking for all the aspects of strength that it sets forth. You are doing a Bang-Up job on yours, Alpha. The Wing Nuts are brilliant. Whereas you are looking forward to being done with this one and starting a Sherman, I ,inversely, am looking forward to finishing my Sherman and starting one of these. Interesting that you mentioned it having the characteristics of a crackerbox. I am naming mine Crackerbox Palace and will write it on the sides of the turret in my best cyrillic with a white paint pen once I am done with everything else.
Happy Holidays again, Alpha. Hopefully, Sassgrunt got the box of stuff I sent you folks today, that's what I was aiming for.
Painless

Really ? crackerbox palace.... that will be so cool...I think that's the only drawback with modelling GIRLS UND PANZER...the only team that personalized their tanks was the OARAI school...the beauty of the KV2 is that it has an extra large flag that goes on the turret...the good thing is she is a good runner.... and I'm hoping once she is painted will make an impression on the collection I have

Have a good one Painless

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Hey Painless - Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. Nope, the Post Office is probably too overworked at this time of the year to get EVERY delivery there on time, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for it.

Let me know when you get one of these tanks that Alpha is doing such a great job of building. I have some of those metal toolboxes for it that - unfortunately - won't fit Tamiya fenders.

Hey Mike! Merry Christmas...I agree with you about the post office... I wouldn't expect anything on time during the season...in a way it's a good thing... as I get to focus on the KV amongst other things

Enjoy Yourself...I'll be in touch with you soon

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Hello Gentlemen... what I have for you this Christmas day is another chapter of "don't try this at home unless you have nothing better to do"

I had some down time last evening... knowing that there were things to come soon... the priority of finishing my KV...became more important
So after 13 hrs of miniature smithing ...with propane torch mini anvil by my side... hammers and files in hand.. this is the result


SHACKLES

They were interesting to make... as I haven't done it in awhile... you can recognize which was the first one because of the thinner flange ...but all in all.. they fit.. and should do the job...I usually don't put them on my tanks... as they are too easy to get snagged ..and torn off...This tank is the exception ... because in the anime... it is shown with the tow cables.... tow cables which are attached to the shackles

With that said... I would say to any KV modeller .... buy them! Welsh Dragon sells them for about 20 dollars ...though for me the order would have been impractical

and with that said.... if you are doing a German tank.... Make them! just because the shackles are easier ...due to the "U" shape

So there they are... ready to be mounted

ALPHA

[sassgrunt]

Hey Alpha - Merry Christmas to you as well. You're right that with everything closed today, there was an opportunity to work on things without too many distractions. Your build continues to progress very well, and the shackles turned out great! That's being a true artist - making something yourself, when you could have just bought it. -Mike

[PainlessWolf]

Merry Christmas, Alpha,
Mike is right, making something you need is one of the hallmarks of being a great modeler. Fun and Satisfying. I cannot wait to see this build finished!
Regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Hey Alpha - Merry Christmas to you as well. You're right that with everything closed today, there was an opportunity to work on things without too many distractions. Your build continues to progress very well, and the shackles turned out great! That's being a true artist - making something yourself, when you could have just bought it. -Mike

WHOOP! Master Mentor on deck!

I'm not sure anyone has had the benefit of viewing any of your Builds Mike...or have had the privy/pleasure to meet you....I have... and thank you for your words of encouragement

Admittedly... I think they could be better...but they mime the plastic versions pretty close ...and will provide the peace of mind when I run the tank should they snag..you've seen my test courses
Hopefully they won't be so strong that if they do get snagged... stop the tank completely

Thanks again Mike

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Merry Christmas, Alpha,
Mike is right, making something you need is one of the hallmarks of being a great modeler. Fun and Satisfying. I cannot wait to see this build finished!
Regards,
Painless

Hey Painless... I'm learning... on my last build and this one... challenging as they were... I'm learning that the "fundamental mechanics" of fabrication still live in me...I'm also learning that aspect of the machine needs some maintenance

The fabrication was thought provoking .... as you can tell from the first shackle made... there was a improvement on the methodology ...on the first one ... the flange on one side was forged first... on the rest... a more efficient technique was found...as looping the copper ... then forging the flanges after... yielded a not only stronger ..but better looking piece...making drilling the flanges the hardest part of the fab

I think there is something to the creation of these yourself... you should have seen them when they were heat blackened... the natural effect is better than any weathering I've seen... not to mention the "industrial" look

Thank you for your kind words... patience.. and support comrade

I hope you had an Outstanding Christmas day as well

ALPHA

[cannedheat]

old chap wot wot
your tanks is looking good
I am sure you have the ability to do a Sherman[m60] like you are your kv2,two things that may help does your camera have a micro setting or are you in low light ? you are to close not focused or camera shake ? wot wot .........

[ALPHA]

old chap wot wot
your tanks is looking good
I am sure you have the ability to do a Sherman[m60] like you are your kv2,two things that may help does your camera have a micro setting or are you in low light ? you are to close not focused or camera shake ? wot wot .........

Hey Canned.... as far as the Sherman will go....I'm hoping it won't be as labor intensive.... ...My camera ... In the case of the latest photos... both.. that would be low light (overhead fluorescent)...and unsteady hands ...I have a tripod...but just haven't used it ....sometimes I use a side light source... but at times it leaves unwanted shadows... that was the case with the shackles...I also took about 12 photos of the shackles ... the rest I felt were unusable so deleted them

They looked clear on the LCD screen of the camera... but when transferred to photobucket... it was apparent they were a touch on the blurry side.... so next time I'll try the tripod

Thanks for the critique... sometimes maybe all the time... I need it

Have a good one Canned...

ALPHA

PS... Where's the new Sherman ?