Tamiya 1/35 Dragon Wagon 40t tank transporter

[Mylightweight]

Hi guys,

This is my current WIP and the story behind why it's taken so long!

I got this for my birthday in October 2009 



and started building it not longer after. It has been  a slow build mainly due to me taking a break from modelling in Nov 2010 when my eldest daughter was born, this is how it was left















I didn't really pick it up again until Dec 2012 when my twin brother came back to the UK from Australia for a 6 month visit. We often would have a modelling jam session and progress was rather swift, alas he left and my youngest daughter arrived and another break ensued. I didn't take many photos during this build period as I wasn't part of a forum so I just got on with it, this is how it ended up







More by luck I discovered a couple of people on my shift at work who were closet modellers and eventually we all came out and started showing pics of what each other was building and so the 'Wagon came back off the shelf of doom, again, and progress is in progress!

So this is pretty much where I am at the moment, it's a massive kit with lots of stages to get your head around but Tamiya quality is great so makes it enjoyable.










Me and figure painting don't get along, I hate it, but it's a necessary evil






This winch is a little kit all by itself, very nicely detailed

So that's where I am at the minute, comments, suggestions and ideas are more than welcome

For all my modelling photos check my Photobucket link in my sig

Thanks
Chris

[Nige1940]

Chris good to see your back on the "Wagon"
Looks great , its amazing how many "Closet Modellers" are out there isn't it ?
keep up the great work !
Nige.

[Coen]

This is an amazing kit Chris. I've been holding off building mine for a few years.
It's one of those uber builds that needs the proper time and a good plan to make it all come together.
Sounds like you've got the time part handled and now the plan.

[Mylightweight]

A bit progress on the cab and winch

Primer down, ready for top coat

[Mylightweight]

Well, its been a while since I posted anything on this, its still ticking along in tandem with my "Allied Treasure" build thread here http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 29&t=15176

It is a big build and very mojo sapping but I WILL finish it, maybe this year!

Last off the primer had gone down well, the interior was painted



weathered and some stowage added



I started on the diorama base, a basic french road with a wall and some fencing



Crew in, i'm not a figure painter and find it very difficult to do their faces, but these guys will do





Cab on, I used the kit supplied window armour to prevent any over spray getting in, these will be removed from the final model







More progress on the diorama base, sand over the clay roadway



I made my own US Star masks and sprayed the markings on





This is a mock up of how it may look







So that's where we are currently, theres still a long way to go but I will get there.
Positive and constructive feedback always welcome as are questions.

Cheers for looking guys
Chris

[Kevthemodeller]

looking good, an interesting subject too, must have been how they collected all that captured armour.

[InitialProduction1]

Awesome build Chris, Tamiya really went all out when they came out with the Dragon wagon and famo, I've always wanted to build the Dragon wagon, but I've still need to build my famo, can't come up with a good idea, like yours, looking forward to your next update.

[Naedrux]

Looks spot on, mate! I'll be followin' this build. Would love to do that kit myself, but I'm a bit short of space for one.

[Mylightweight]

A bit more of a long awaited update

The winch is on, the tyres were a real nightmare for me, I tried spraying in black primer but it flaked off so in the end I left them, these photos were taken while the tyres were soaking to remove the primer




I added some Celluclay to the base which will later be covered in grass and some fence posts




and added some tree armatures



Ignore the jeep

Painting in progress on the wall section


Decals applied to the tractor unit using Microset and Microsol in some waterbrushes (idea stolen from Mr Bretland)
















The trailer




The unit and trailer together


more base work came next, I used long cooks matches for fence posts and fuse wire for the wire


and then started flocking the grass areas




How the base will look, it's just about finished now I think, just need to do some pigments on the road I think and get around to putting some foliage on the tree armatures










now I need to do the weathering on both the Jagdpanther and Dragon Wagon along with some placement weathering on all three to tie them together.

I want to do some serious mud on both vehicles which has dried as though the transporter and tank have come from somewhere else and are just travelling through.

I hope you guys like it, it's becoming a real drain at the minute to even think about working on this, it's such a massive piece.

Constructive criticism and questions always welcome

Thanks
Chris