Jim Mesko, Akron, Ohio

Heller's 35-year-old SOMUA S-35 needs lots of additions, according to Jim. He improved the 1/35 scale tank with a resin turret, photoetched metal, extra gear, a rebuilt muffler, and Friulmodel tracks. For the camouflage, he masked with Silly Putty, then added the black line with a Sharpie marker. To model a tank defending France in 1940, Jim applied washes and pastels, then placed it next to a model railroad plaster wall topped with a Tamiya rooster.