Thanks for they kind words guys. Nice build Julien.

A bit more progress this weekend, really does go together quite quickly.





a few more small details to add, the figures to build up, then it will be spraying time.

Si

Nice work, Simon! It's really inspirational for the rest of us.

--Karl

Thanks Karl, appreciated

I have ordered Mini Art's River embankment to use as a foundation for a base, cut down of course to make it more mediteranean in looks.

Si

River embankment arrived, I am pleased with it, it will need a bit of work to look like an Italian waterfront, but It should work ok



Maiale itself is now ready for spraying



fits nice on the base. Will probably loose the pavement section as that is noty mediteranean.

Si

A bit more progress on Sunday, the Prop guard was shaped. I did have to very gently anneal the prop guard to get it curve, the etch is not the easist to work with. This was done with some tripidiation as the conical grill sections are quite fine & I have wrecked bits like that before, especially as I use a burner on the gas cooker, which is rather a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. I just heated the part gently untill all of it had glowed dull red & let it cool natually and then it folded round the former provided in the kit quite nicely.



All the "uperworks removed from the sprue, and assembled as were the figures and sprayed citidal Chaos black as an undercoat.



Si

Looking good ! Rather evil machine in black paint.
cheers,
Julian

Hi Julien.

The black was an undercoat, I have found good old citidal Chaos black in a rattle can makes a great base.

The little beast now has the main colour, looking at references and other builds a greenish grey seems to be about right, so I have used Tamiya field grey.



I have also started a bit of the detail painting, the white on the instroment panel, still sans decals is to represent the "spirit level", clearly shown in the little booklet that comes with the kit.

have alos started to cut down the base, forgot to take a pic, will post later inthe week.

Si

Hi Simon,

Nice work, looking good.

Al

Truly beautiful work going on for this campaign!

--Karl

This is the base, showing the pavement & gutter sections removed. It fits the maiale better now and looks a bit more like an Italian water front than a NW European one.



The removed sections are in front, also I think the model fits the base better now.

I intend to use the two figures that came with the kit, and possibly a third. (I might nick the Officer from the Biber kit).

Si

Looks good, Simon. The details look sharp and the colour look right.

Looking forward to see more.

Thanks Jesper,

I have got a little further. The Instroment panel is finished and the "canopy" glazed.



The canopy has been fitted and I have started painting the figures, like the craft itself they were undercoated with citadel chaos black, the eye holes on the figure holding his mask have been drilled out, and base colours added to the face and suits



The Maiale itself now only needs the rudder and planes rigging, the rest of the job is down the figures and the base.

Si

Construction on the Maiale is finished.



needs a bit of light weathering.

now on with the figues and the base.

Si

Nice one Simon I,ve had an eye on that kit for a while will have to get myself one. Looking forward to seeing the dio base done.
I,was going to be making a start on the revell Gato sub soon but as usual I,am behind with builds so I,am going for some thing a bit smaller the 1/72 Revell type V/11 C U-Boat I know it,s not that much smaller but it won,t take as long for me to paint I hope and plan anyway

Thanks Keith,

Good luck with U Boat, built that myself a couple of years back, great kit, used the eduard etch & Andrea figures.



Was considering the "Atlantic" for this campaign, but I would have needed a bit of better weather as I don't have room to spray anything that big indoors.

Si

Bit more work on the base. The bit of quayside has been put together. and boxed in.

I have placed the Maiale & the figures on top to just as an Idea.



I am still toying with the idea of pinching a figure out of the Biber, for the crew to have someone to talk to.

Si

Interesting choice for this campaign, Keith. It will be an interesting build to follow.

Simon, I would also add another person to the quay and maybe some equipment or a vehicle.

Gentlemen-
Good things are happening here. I count myself lucky that I was able to resist buying a Maiale after seeing so many of them here. I looks like a good fun kit, indeed.

Well, after a detour into planes, I started my little contribution to the Big Fish campaign and I dare say that this will be the smallest big-scale subject to enter.

Obviously Mr. Schatton, provider of this kit, took some liberties interpreting the sketches of the Grundhai concept. I am going to go with his approach, even though I was temped to shave off all the hatches at the top and adjust the build to the actual sketch design.



First of all comes the clean up, of cause and filling of pinholes with putty. I thought that the running gear wasn't really looking as separate parts, so will replace them. Good thing is, that this idea is one of the famous Papiertiger: It never left the drawing board, so I have plenty of artistic leeway.



I plan to do a small diorama: I do have some nice 72nd stuff lying around. Let's see what we can do.

Cheers,
Guido

Hi Jesper,

The more I look at it, the more I think another figure, someone for the guy with his mask off to be in conversation with, otherwise his pose doesn't work.

I am not sure, due to the small size of the base I would want to add much more, otherwise it could detract from the focus. This why I was thinking of the German officer from the Biber, scenario being German officer inspecting the craft, therefore it has been placed on a clear bit of waterfront.

Hi Guido

Intersting little beast you have there, look forward to seeing it finished.

Si

Hi Simon not to be rude but Bollards and maybe a seagull sitting on it with some wound up rope next to the edge of the dockside would fill a small part up and take the eye off the blank space a bit.
Guido the forward hatch or observation dome does look a little wonky on the Wee beast does your artistic leeway alow you to maybe put a clear canopy there with a pilot bust there

Hi Keith.

You are certainly not being rude, and I appreciate the input. looking at the last pic again, the third figure is a must, and the it does need something more. What I am trying to give the feeling of is a bit of a side wharf, where small craft would tie up, ML's maybe M.A.S. Boats at the largest, so a ring bolt or two set into stone blocks would be more likely. I may have a go at sculpting a seagull, will see on that score.

Having been around working ports in my time in the Merchant Navy, Unless a vessel is underging refit / repair, storing ship, or some such work is going on quaysides tend to be fairly uncluttered, for thing such clutter can be harzerdous to those working around the jetty, and for another, with vessels coming and going, anything man portable and useful left unattended has a habit of vanishing into thin air. Having Known a number of RN guys who served coastal craft during the war, even in Naval dockyards stuff walked, so did not tend to be left lying around.

Si

Hey Guido!

That's a tiny subject all right. Too bad it's molded solid, as I think depicting a crewman trying to squeeze inside would be a perfect diorama!

--Karl

Gentlemen-
I am first across the finish line!
Well, I am building the only dwarf here, I guess!

OK here is the Grundhai in 1/72 modified from the Schatton model.

It was an honour sailing with you!

Cheers,
Guido

Bravo, Guido!

I will have to get a patrol pin out to you!

--Karl

Wow He,s out the blocks and past the line a new world record
Excellent stuff Guido and I see there was some leeway with the hatches
Well mine is out of the box and have started to drill out the drain holes on the hull will hope to have the main part done this weekend with photos to follow