Working on a tow bar for the Haunebu IIb. Just rough for now. 
[EDIT] Two additional images.
”You don’t expect “me” to pull this ridiculous contraption… do you?” 
Added a gusset and some grab-handles.
—mike …
6 Likes
3 Likes
The Red March continues comrades!
I’ve been pondering the markings for this build for a while. The ones in the box are not bad at all.
But it wasn’t until I had the camo on that I realised white bort markings would not be much use- they’d be pretty hard to see! Now I could have used the yellow ones from the sheet but part of the fun of this kit was having no fixed idea of how it needs to look. No marking scheme in the instructions, vague ideas from the actual game and obviously no photos of any real ones!
So, since I’ve been at the red paint I thought why not do the markings in red? At least they’d be nice and obvious!
To the People’s Cricut!
This little device and it’s software is very easy to use to make masks and designs of various kinds. Through trial and error you can easily get the hang of it. Cutting things this small I would recommend Scotch Blue ‘Sharp Lines Multi Surface’ tape.
The next bits I went at like a Stakhanovite shock worker- toiling at a coal face of sub-assemblies, detail parts and even more red bits! (Apocalypse Tank- now with 30% more red bits!) I’ve also used a couple of the in box decals and two spare Guards decals.
In the above photo you can see the rear mounted spade tool- I had to re mount this as the kit fixing meant it was covering part of my marking in the upper right corner.
Below are a few of the sub-assemblies.
You can see on the front dozer blade the colors I have gone for. This is roughly in line with how the blades are coloured on the M1150 Breacher.
I was also looking at Mike Rinaldi’s tank art book- seeing how he had tackled modern exhausts- when I saw the AMX-30 exhausts which are nearly identical in design to this kit.
My thoughts have also turned to how to display this kit. I’ve used insignia, badges and flag lapel pins for displays in the past. The odd time back in the days when you bought an actual physical game CD you would sometimes get key rings or other merchandise- particularly if you pre-ordered.
I found pretty much nothing online but my search resulted in one of Bob Ross’ ‘happy little accidents’ wherein I came across these on Etsy.
From right these are the insignia of the ‘Allies’, ‘Soviet’s’, and ‘Yuri’s Forces’ from the sequel- ‘Red Alert 2: Yuri’s Revenge’. Now I just need Border Model to do the kits…! I hope to use the Soviet insignia somewhere in the display of the kit but I’m still thinking about a base etc.
In recent days I’ve managed to get a satin varnish all sorted and am just starting a pin-wash. More updates soon.
Thank you for reading.
8 Likes
Love the red accents. Really makes this model pop!
2 Likes
The shades of gray camouflage look amazing. You did a fantastic job on the airbrushing. 
Wow, after all these years, a company made a Command and Conquer MBT model kit. 
1 Like
Thank you Peter-I’m stoked you like the camo. You have a nice deal of freedom to choose with a ‘what if’ kit like this- all part of the fun! I have to agree with you that it’s just awesome a kit was finally made of one of the game vehicles. Fingers crossed we get some more 
!
1 Like
Great build, David! VERY eye catching!
Beautiful camouflage, Karl. The markings really adds some nice contrast.
Looking forward to see more 
3 Likes
Thanks Jesper- it was nice to be able to create markings with such a bold, bright color rather than the usual white on a Russian tank.
2 Likes
Indeed, Karl. That is one of my favorite aspects of “What-If” subjects: one can go wild with camouflage and markings.
3 Likes
Scratch-built some mounts for the radar whiskers and did a little more work on the tow bar. 
Hull mounting plates are dry-fit for now. … Any excuse to use Dee’s Nuts! 
Hopefully, I’ll get some primer on several sub-assemblies soon. 
—mike …
8 Likes
Radar antenna look neat, they from the kit or AM bits ? … and of course, I love your MENG nuts lol
3 Likes
Thank’s John!
The radar is ‘Master Models’ aftermarket. I purchased this set from ‘Squadron Hobbies.’
—mike 
2 Likes
Speaking of the radar whiskers…
It almost escaped me… the Haunebu IIb is kind of a lowrider. Before proceeding, better do another landing gear dry-fit session to check radar antenna to ground clearance… also forward arm lean for hull rim clearance. Good thing, as I needed to clip approx. 5mm off the bottom arms to prevent the ship from becoming an “antenna dragger.” 
Antenna at approx. 45° angle which is how I’ll position them.
Vertical angle check: The curved upper hull and flat bottom hull surfaces made this assembly extremely finicky. BTW: I’ve been using Microscale LiquidTape (MI 10) for dry-fitting the plates to the hull… much better than Blu-Tak for this purpose. 
“Now can someone be a sport and adjust these TV antennas to 45°?” … “Danke.” 
“Tower to Luftwaffe HB2B.”
“There’s an idiot on the runway… out.” 
“Luftwaffe HB2B to tower.”
“Experiencing extreme forward Anti-Gravity control box interference.🫨 Please advise… out.”
“Tower to Luftwaffe HB2B.”
“Many landing wheels missing! … No. 2 and No. 4 radar antennas not deployed!”
“WAVE OFF! … WAVE OFF!!!”
—mike
6 Likes
I keep hearing that C&C-tune…
2 Likes
You mean this absolute belter of a tune?
1 Like
Have to confess that C&C is a game I have never actually played. Always skipped it for other titles. Think I was massively into Homeworld and Half-Life around that time. I did play a lot of Dune 2000 back then which used the same game engine.
Might have to see if it’s on GOG.
1 Like
Nice save on the antennas
2 Likes
Pretty sure you can get all the games in a bundle for a reasonable price now. But I reckon you should try the recent re-master of the original CnC and the first Red Alert- the 4K graphics are a welcome upgrade but you can also use the original graphics too at the touch of a key. A nice bit of nostalgia that plays well on modern screens.
2 Likes
Thanks, I’ll have a look on GOG. Getting the lot would be great as I don’t really know the series as well as I should.
Silly question, but did it ever appear on the Amiga? Thinking about it the early ones must’ve come out around the mid 90’s in the final years of the Amiga’s life. I know Westwood released the Dune RTS for the Amiga. A little clunkier than PC version but still an enjoyable game. Have gone back to playing around on those and the new A500Mini so would be cool to play it on that. I was still an Amiga user up until 2000 when we finally got a PC (and boy am I glad I kept them!). Completely skipped the PS1 in those years.
1 Like
I don’t think it ever came out on the Amiga. I do remember playing Dune though- it was great game too.
2 Likes