Matthew Long
@dr-robonator.bsky.social
Historian: armored warfare, Fin de siécle technology and culture. Mostly talk about tanks in pop. culture and scale models.
Trans rights are human rights. Don’t ban books.
Trans rights are human rights. Don’t ban books.
Pinned
Matthew Long
@dr-robonator.bsky.social
· May 30
The kiddo and I had a blast at the NAACC open house. Thread post to come soon!
Ran out of steam to paint the camo pattern on the second figure's jacket because I spent SO LONG getting the base to look like Syrian sand and dirt. Still not sure I achieved it, but no matter. It's done. Thanks for following, #histscalemodels
December 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Ran out of steam to paint the camo pattern on the second figure's jacket because I spent SO LONG getting the base to look like Syrian sand and dirt. Still not sure I achieved it, but no matter. It's done. Thanks for following, #histscalemodels
Once again I am amazed by the level of fidelity Meng has crammed into their 1/72 scale kits. I'd written the scale off for armor because the few Trumpeter 72nd stuff is built in the past came out much too like those badly proportioned diecast models sold in the toy aisle. #histscalemodels
December 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Once again I am amazed by the level of fidelity Meng has crammed into their 1/72 scale kits. I'd written the scale off for armor because the few Trumpeter 72nd stuff is built in the past came out much too like those badly proportioned diecast models sold in the toy aisle. #histscalemodels
Got the ZPU-2 base coated and chipped. Successive tones of AK Real Color 4BO lightened with buff did the trick. Moved onto painting the sighting mechanism which makes me wonder if I should have done this in sub assemblies! 😵 #histscalemodels
November 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Got the ZPU-2 base coated and chipped. Successive tones of AK Real Color 4BO lightened with buff did the trick. Moved onto painting the sighting mechanism which makes me wonder if I should have done this in sub assemblies! 😵 #histscalemodels
#histscalemodels, here is where we sit. I didn't notice that McBeard's hand wouldn't grasp his rifle without serious surgery and I was too far along to start cutting. The second bloke needs a bit more work on his face and I've yet to paint the camo on his jacket. Not even attempting his keffiyah. 😅
November 29, 2025 at 12:23 AM
#histscalemodels, here is where we sit. I didn't notice that McBeard's hand wouldn't grasp his rifle without serious surgery and I was too far along to start cutting. The second bloke needs a bit more work on his face and I've yet to paint the camo on his jacket. Not even attempting his keffiyah. 😅
Figure #1 is done minus his rifle. The mount for the AA gun is also done, as is the bit of stowage and final details. Last photo is how it sits on the primed base. #histscalemodels.
November 27, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Figure #1 is done minus his rifle. The mount for the AA gun is also done, as is the bit of stowage and final details. Last photo is how it sits on the primed base. #histscalemodels.
The Unimog is 97% complete. The AA gun, stowage, and figures is next. Then I can finish up the base and call it done. #histscalemodels.
November 27, 2025 at 5:25 AM
The Unimog is 97% complete. The AA gun, stowage, and figures is next. Then I can finish up the base and call it done. #histscalemodels.
The current stash. Not as impressive as some, but still more than I could build in any given year. I'm thinking the Croat T-55 will be my last project of the year... Or maybe I'll have the guts to start an airplane? #histscalemodels.
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The current stash. Not as impressive as some, but still more than I could build in any given year. I'm thinking the Croat T-55 will be my last project of the year... Or maybe I'll have the guts to start an airplane? #histscalemodels.
#histscalemodels, I am done with the initial paints and chipping. How'd I do?
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
#histscalemodels, I am done with the initial paints and chipping. How'd I do?
So, Andy's sent me this 1/72 T-72 from Meng instead of what I actually ordered. They made it right in the end but I had this non-standard scale kit lying around... It was a joy to build; a suberbly engineered little gem. Looking forward to painting and setting it in a vignette. #histscalemodels
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
So, Andy's sent me this 1/72 T-72 from Meng instead of what I actually ordered. They made it right in the end but I had this non-standard scale kit lying around... It was a joy to build; a suberbly engineered little gem. Looking forward to painting and setting it in a vignette. #histscalemodels
Just fyi, I will mute any post that mentions Fury.
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Just fyi, I will mute any post that mentions Fury.
Be careful dating ancient buildings, folks. They'll love you and leave you.
Nearly time for the first of the winter online talks. Happening this coming Tuesday...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dating-anc...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dating-anc...
November 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Be careful dating ancient buildings, folks. They'll love you and leave you.
All of this thread, but tanks.
The fact that we use the word “drone” to describe such insanely different objects has been driving me batshit since 2015 (and I need to redo this piece I wrote about this issue back in 2019):
faineg.medium.com/the-ascent-o...
faineg.medium.com/the-ascent-o...
November 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
All of this thread, but tanks.
New project, #histscalemodels. I'm having a WHEELY good time with all these wheeled vehicles. (Not really, the AK, née ICM Unimog was a slog to assemble!) But nevertheless we're ready for paint! These Free Syrian Army blokes are filming a bit of the ol' viral video.
November 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM
New project, #histscalemodels. I'm having a WHEELY good time with all these wheeled vehicles. (Not really, the AK, née ICM Unimog was a slog to assemble!) But nevertheless we're ready for paint! These Free Syrian Army blokes are filming a bit of the ol' viral video.
Hey #histscalemodels friends. Quick question regarding airplane bits: what's the difference between an A-1J Skyraider and an A-1J Skyraider TFace? Eduardo sells both but for the life of me I cannot figure out the difference.
November 18, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Hey #histscalemodels friends. Quick question regarding airplane bits: what's the difference between an A-1J Skyraider and an A-1J Skyraider TFace? Eduardo sells both but for the life of me I cannot figure out the difference.
This was a fun build, #histscalemodels. Thanks for following along.
November 15, 2025 at 6:51 AM
This was a fun build, #histscalemodels. Thanks for following along.
Since most of this will be covered by the jeep, I wanted to show it off. Going to place the remaining pieces and then I'll be right back with the glamor shots.
#histscalemodels
#histscalemodels
November 15, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Since most of this will be covered by the jeep, I wanted to show it off. Going to place the remaining pieces and then I'll be right back with the glamor shots.
#histscalemodels
#histscalemodels
Glamor shots of the jeep; figure below. Just finishing up the base and this little scene will be all done. 👍
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Glamor shots of the jeep; figure below. Just finishing up the base and this little scene will be all done. 👍
Okay, #histscalemodels. Who's down for a kitbash?
An Afghani man poses with his custom-made bus by combining a Mil Mi-8 helicopter fuselage and a KamAZ truck.
(Afghanistan, late 1980s)
#archaeohistories
(Afghanistan, late 1980s)
#archaeohistories
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Okay, #histscalemodels. Who's down for a kitbash?
Groundwork started, figure sitting at about 50%, #histscalemodels. You can't see them, but I added the dreaded washboards known on poorly graded dirt roads. 😎
November 11, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Groundwork started, figure sitting at about 50%, #histscalemodels. You can't see them, but I added the dreaded washboards known on poorly graded dirt roads. 😎
Jeep is nearly done. Highly recommend it as a quickie pallette cleanse build. I filched a couple 3D decals from my ICM M1097, figuring the dash panel was pretty similar and since it's a civilian jeep, I added some seatbelts. Weathering has just begun, think dusty Colorado trail!
November 9, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Jeep is nearly done. Highly recommend it as a quickie pallette cleanse build. I filched a couple 3D decals from my ICM M1097, figuring the dash panel was pretty similar and since it's a civilian jeep, I added some seatbelts. Weathering has just begun, think dusty Colorado trail!
Yeah yeah I should be working on the S35 scene .. but this little jeep is such a little pleasure. #histscalemodels
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Yeah yeah I should be working on the S35 scene .. but this little jeep is such a little pleasure. #histscalemodels
I was always confused why people thought Jedi wasn't a good movie. My eight year old heart was in full fight or flight during the entire second act of the film. In short, it's the ultimate in thrilling tension and even if you know how it ends you get caught up in the stales.
It is fundamentally perfect and makes me want to run through a wall youtu.be/xPZigWFyK2o?...
November 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I was always confused why people thought Jedi wasn't a good movie. My eight year old heart was in full fight or flight during the entire second act of the film. In short, it's the ultimate in thrilling tension and even if you know how it ends you get caught up in the stales.
Not much to report, #histscalemodels. Haven't been able to get to the workbench lately so I've been occupying myself with a couple of wheeled softskins for use in later projects: a UAZ-469 and an M38A1, which will be built up as a civilian CJ-5.
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Not much to report, #histscalemodels. Haven't been able to get to the workbench lately so I've been occupying myself with a couple of wheeled softskins for use in later projects: a UAZ-469 and an M38A1, which will be built up as a civilian CJ-5.
I spent an hour waiting on my VA provider to log on to a telehealth appointment and 44 minutes waiting on hold for patient advocacy. The solution I was offered was that they'd send an instant message to the doctor to call me back "sometime today" . This is shameful. @democrats-veterans.house.gov
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I spent an hour waiting on my VA provider to log on to a telehealth appointment and 44 minutes waiting on hold for patient advocacy. The solution I was offered was that they'd send an instant message to the doctor to call me back "sometime today" . This is shameful. @democrats-veterans.house.gov