First model for many years. Italeri JS 2. NOW FINISHED

A trick I learned in Tankette a few years ago was to have a length of wire bent to the appropriate shape and glued underneath the top run of the track, hidden behind the teeth. That should give you the track sag, which in the KVs was quite prominent.

Za, that would work with flexable tracks but these are the Italeri length and link ones.
Dunno if it'll work with these, just tried pushing it down with me thumb so it might do.

 

On the way to work I was thinking about boiling the kettle and heating up a spoon,to push down on the track but too late I'd already painted them. Thanks for the tip anyway.
Maybe a Matilda next where tracks are hidden.

 

Boo to Italeri for not moulding the sag in. Bend 'em and you'll probably get nightmare gaps...

 

SVSM Photo Gallery :: Kubinka Armor Museum, Russia, by Vladimir Yakubov :: IMGP1269

SVSM Photo Gallery :: Kubinka Armor Museum, Russia, by Vladimir Yakubov :: IMGP2209
Good stuff.
I'm finding it reassuring how more and more decent pictures of Kubinka are finding their way onto the web. There also seems to be a lot of external restoration going on with the vehicles. Don't think I've ever seen external shots of anything other than the ones on plinths either. Seems to be that a last survivor of the Iron curtain is starting to wobble. Someone there must be beginning to think properly of the tourism potential.

 

Update on the model, it's actually going well.
Paint drying matt, bits going together well.
Will try and sort out some track sag soon.
Got some more tweezers from Tesco's for £1.99 to replace the ones I threw away 13 or so years ago.

 

Construction is finished.
Used the photos that Adam posted link to for accurate placement of fuel tanks,turret grap rails and towing hooks, the instructions in kit aren't very good on that respect.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/95910-post19.html

Here it is ready to paint.Running gear already painted, pleased with result after not modelling for 12 or more years.

 

Next time get a Trumpeter or Dragon kit if you want to stick to 1/72nd.
I hadn't noticed Trumpeter did 1/72nd. Just looked 'em up and it looks like there's loads more coming up... if they're as good as their 1/35th stuff I'll have to give one a go. Cheers Paul. (and I'm with you on Vallejo 100%,)

 

The JS-2 is going so well that I went back to Hobbycraft today and bought the Italeri 1/72nd Matilda II and Valentine I.
Also Humbrol sand (Matt 63).
I'll stick with them until I'm sure this isn't just a passing phase.
The base coat on the JS-2 has dried lovely and matt. A good base for shading,dry-brushing and weathering.
Cheers Kev for "making" me get the Matilda.
No worries Paul at laughing at me, I'm an attention seeker.
Hallujah! I'm a Born-again Model maker.

 

.........dunno about that Paul.
Even though I've bought sand coloured paint, I'm so tempted to do the Matilda & Valentine up as Soviet vehicles.
Alex has some good references for Matilda on his site.
Mk II Matilda. Images

Nothing for the Valentine though.I see Alex's site states they didn't use Valentine I.
I see he has a colour scheme for a Churchill III, which Italeri make a kit of.

 

Kept it simple, slight weathering.
No markings, just an anonymous example of a JS-2
Yes, Za (before you pick me up on it), I know the join lines still show on the external fuel tanks, thought I'd fixed that.
Gimme a break, it's me first one.

 

Took a top view in the full sun and one in the shade.
Colours look totally different.