Some people will buy Italeri M24s after Tamiya M24s arrive. I will not be one of them. 
On the other hand, I buy Italeri LAV-3s even though Trumpeter LAV-3s are the same price, sometimes less. 
Humans are weird. I vote to destroy their planet and build the bypass.
Finished: Takom Panzer III Ausf. N
Recap: This model was purchased in 2024 to serve as a cheap practice project. Work started on November 30, 2024. Construction finished about a week later. Airbrush work was completed sometime in January, 2025. It sat for 6 months. Oil painting was finished around June, 2025. I hated it and started over. Oil painting was finished around Augist, 2025. I hated it and started over. Work resumed in May, 2026. The model served its purpose and is now complete. Time to move on.
According to experts, this model has serious accuracy issues in the lower hull shape and road wheel spacing. That aside, it is an easy, fast, and fun build. The link and length tracks are fantastic.
One of my horror show projects is finally done. Yay.
Finished: Dragon Sherman IC Firefly
Recap: This project was started sometime in the dark years between 2011 and 2022 when I would rarely dabble in model building. The project was restarted for really real on March 31, 2024. It was ready for paint about two weeks later. Primary painting was completed sometime in 2024. The model suffered significant damage when fitting a set of Bronco tracks that shattered into dozens of pieces. I put it the model in the trash. Matt told me to pull the model out of the trash. I pulled the model out of the trash, bought a set of Gecko tracks, built them, painted them, attempted to install them, and they shattered into a dozen pieces. Even worse, they no longer fit. The model sat in limbo for a while. The suspension was repaired, much paint scraped away, the Gecko tracks intentionally broken into more pieces, and the tracks glued to the suspension. Oh, whoa. That worked. One link was added to each run to compensate for the shrinkage. About a year passed. Work began again in April, 2026. All bare plastic was primed by hand. Oil paint was used to blend colors and hide damage. It is done.
A few days before completion, I found the turret machine gun and painted it up. It may end up on the model at some point. Dunno.
Another horror show project done. Yay.
No matter where you go, there you are.
They never turn out as planned but there is hope. At the beginning of the year I resolved to concentrate on old projects and practice painting. Mission accomplished.
In the past, I would now start a half dozen new models. Nope. Not doing it. Not yet. I already picked out two old projects and continue to practice painting.
Doug I think both of those models look great. The finish on both is excellent and I particularly like the grime on the lower hull of the Panzer III. The dry brushing really brings out the details nicely. Not sure why you’re being so hard on yourself.
I agree. I stopped and checked out the PZ III. I really like the finish on it.
Lighten up Doug. NO kit becomes complete without at least one disaster, even in the hands of a Master. It happens to everybody. You have done the noble thing and persevered. These completions are victories. Both models look excellent.
Yes good on you for pushing through. Now you can start fresh on a new project.
@metalhead85 Thank you.
From my perspective, every model is a canvas for painting practice. If I execute the desired painting techniques correctly, great. If not, I attempt to figure out what went wrong and make corrections. I did not achieve the desired result with either model but things were learned.
@Petro Thank you.
@SSGToms Thank you. Both models served their primary purpose, to further my skill development. I am happy they are done. I would prefer a less bumpy ride.
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Onward…
As previously promised, my next practice project is a very old Italeri M24 for Unfinished Business 2026. After a few days of repair work, it is ready for paint. Please note the crude cardboard painting jigs for the tracks. These are designed to keep the tracks from shattering.
I can definitely relate to how you feel, sometimes my vision for a model just doesn’t come out the way I planned. Thankfully it’s not often at all.
M24 is now in paint. Decided to restart two more old projects.
Recap: Back in 2008 or 2009, I purchased an AFV Club M41 for parts to upgrade the Italeri M24 above. Since I did not need the AFV Club M41 hull, I chopped it up to build a Chevy Silverado half track. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Fast forward to 2023. Purchased a Tamiya M41 for Ron’s Summer Nostalgia campaign. Proceeded to make it into a much more difficult project than necessary. Purchased AFV Club M41 suspension. Purchased AFV Club M41 single link tracks. Purchased Trumpeter M41 single link tracks. Decided to restore the old AFV Club M41 hull, making the project even more difficult. Shelved both models.
Fast forward to 2026. Reverting the Italeri M24 to stock configuration freed up all the AFV Club M41 parts. Decided to finally finish both M41s and use them for more painting practice.
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Tamiya M41
Fast forward to now. All old putty work was covered with Bondo Red putty, sanded back, and then primed with Mr. Surfacer. Soft plastic bearings inside drive sprockets, idlers, and road wheels were replaced with hard plastic bearings. One idler wheel was repaired with putty. The barrel seam needed filling due to my error back in 2023.
The only remaining hurdle is to fill 4 wedge shaped holes on the join between lower and upper hull.
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AFV Club M41G
Fast forward to now. All seams were filled with Bondo Red Putty, sanded out, then coated with Mr. Surfacer. Soft plastis bearings in the drive sprockets, idler wheels, and road wheels were replaced with hard plastic bearings. It was necessary to saw the drive sprockets in half to correct a mistake made in 2023.
The lower hull, pieced together in 2023, was mated to the upper hull. This was a great success. The only remaining hurdle is to build mounting bosses for the idler wheels, front return rollers, and two front road wheels.
Tamiya M41
Filling in the fenders and getting a nice join between the upper and lower hull parts took significant effort. Replacing the kit provided soft plastic tracks with Trumpeter individual link tracks is also very time consuming. After three years, construction is finally approaching completion. Big yay for that.
Tamiya M41
Warning: Trumpeter M41 tracks are hard mode. I offer some advice.
First, drill out the holes on every single track link. Before drilling, I lost about 30% of all track pins. After drilling, failure rate was very close to zero.
Second, do not lock the track ends together into a continuous run until you are absolutely sure you have the correct number of links. If you connect the track ends, get it wrong, and need to add or remove a link, difficulty jumps to 10.
Third, use Tamiya Extra Thin to weld the tracks together, but only after they are in place and correctly set. My usual method of using Testors Liquid Cement to slow dry and wrap the tracks did not work. The plastic of these tracks is unusual and the links snap that bond with ease.
The little tool rack on the right front fender is the worst thing about this model. I may stick a rolled tarp on top of it. I may rebuild it. Dunno. The fender tool box handles are another potential upgrade. The gas cans for the turret storage box are also rough.
Oh! One more funny one. In my excitement to seal up the hull, I forgot to add the missing periscopes to the lower hull. Whoops. Much harder to add them now.
The M41 is a really good looking tank. I kinda want Takom or Tamiya to release a new M41. I am not fond of AFV Club.
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As an aside, I have not abandoned my other two current projects (like usual). They are both far along in the painting process. There is no point posting any more pictures until they are done.
Tamiya M41
Plugs for the hull periscopes were stuffed in through the driver’s hatch. Most of the hull parts are in place. After hitting the tracks with lots of Tamiya Extra Thin they are mostly rigid.
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Thinkin about building a Tamiya M8 for Because It’s There or Out of the Box.
Bought it used about 20 years ago. Missing the figure but otherwise looks complete. Want to gain some experience painting interiors. May purchase decals for a Congo intervention vehicle.
The M41 is coming along well. You may want to add the stiffening ribs/X on the sides of the tool boxes as well.
Thank you for reminding me of that feature, Gino. I will do that.
