MiniArt 1/35 T54-2 1949 with interior

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:45 pm

if I thought I was mad doing the Wespe with a load of add-on PE and tracks, I am now starting this.... full interior T54-2 1949... I hope to be able to do it justice, some of the other interior builds I have seen is what are driving me on....

so far I have just opened the box and panicked... need to label all the sprues I guess before starting

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:51 pm

Here we go!

Post by **BigWall** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:26 am

Definitely looks like there's a few sprues there! This is going to be a nice build to watch!

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:25 am

Kits that arrive as plastic bricks.....daunting to say the least.
Best of luck with this. I think my mojo would take a hammering if I started one of these interiors.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:27 am

Pulling up a chair

Post by **robwuk** » Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:31 pm

thanks all... looking forward to starting... all marked up ready to go (apart from the 10 sprues of tracks, 8 of wheels and 6 of shells).... noted the interior paint colours and ordered the few I was missing

Post by **DRUMS01** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 8:50 pm

Looking at your last photo of all the sprue I would've panicked too.

Time to pull up a chair........

Ben

Post by **robwuk** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:19 pm

broke it out tonight and started with the engine.... first page done (21 left)

Post by **digger303** » Fri Jul 02, 2021 12:50 am

Engine is beautifully molded as good as any formula 1

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jul 03, 2021 5:28 pm

the modular nature is taking shape. I am adding parts with same colour to main bits, then will paint other parts on the sprue before attaching... so need to work out how to pay 8,345 shells (or however many)....

the air pump(?) pipes broke in to multiple parts but are attached and hopefully wont be too visible

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 1:05 am

Interesting and liking the updates.

Post by **DRUMS01** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:34 am

Thats a whole lot of shells for one tank

Great detail so far... nice kit.

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:53 pm

progress...all still dry fitted. So far so good, just a couple of breaks but they are OK once in situ.... really need to start painting - going to prime all grey, airbursh the large parts (sides/bulkheads/engine/floor) an dthen brush paint the detail...

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:39 am

Sounds like a very sound plan. Any chipping to be done ?

Post by **BigWall** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:53 am

Very cool man!

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:07 am

digger303 wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:39 am Sounds like a very sound plan. Any chipping to be done ?

Oh yes, will be a weathered interior

Post by **robwuk** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 12:04 pm

I officially hate bronze paint.... sitcky, doesn't cover well... hate it I tell you....

need to touch up & weather this - all major parts just placed for fit testing....

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:16 pm

Coming along very nicely

Post by **BigWall** » Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:01 pm

Well that stinks. What brand paint are you using?

Post by **Josebagasteiz** » Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:42 pm

A huge job ahead!!

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:38 am

Thanks all - the brass was Ammo by MiG... have ordered some Mr Metal Color (think that is what it is) after a recommendation elsewhere... Can try touching up the shells in situ then use that on the shells in the turret...

started weathering the fighting compartment. just the usual chipping to start...

Post by **Garion77** » Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:38 pm

This is really looking great... not being an armor modeler, this may seem like a stupid question... but how to you show the interior once it's finish ? you remove the turret ? Have to try my hand at armor but I found it intimidating ; and I have T34 I think from miniart in my stash with the interior too.
Great work ! Can wait to see your next post !

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:28 pm

Garion77 wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:38 pm This is really looking great... not being an armor modeler, this may seem like a stupid question... but how to you show the interior once it's finish ? you remove the turret ? Have to try my hand at armor but I found it intimidating ; and I have T34 I think from miniart in my stash with the interior too.
Great work ! Can wait to see your next post !

not a stupid question - and one I have been wondering about (I have another 2 full interior kits in the stash).. Some people just remove the turret, or leave top of hull and turret loose... some use clear plastic rod to hold hull roof up, then turret up then turret roof up (so 4 layers sot of)....

me, I dont know - probably just take the turret off with this one...

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Sep 11, 2021 11:23 pm

lower hull progressing... just subtle weathering this time... and used Mr Metal Color brass to touch up the shells - really nice paint

Post by **digger303** » Sun Sep 12, 2021 1:21 am

Garion77 wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:38 pm This is really looking great... not being an armor modeler, this may seem like a stupid question... but how to you show the interior once it's finish ? you remove the turret ? Have to try my hand at armor but I found it intimidating ; and I have T34 I think from miniart in my stash with the interior too.
Great work ! Can wait to see your next post !

Age old question. Some do the interior and just button it up in the knowledge that they know it's there. As mentioned some have the top removable or have it mounted on a stand next to the hull. I personally like the red edged cut outs that give you a peep inside from different positions. Tricky though cause there is hardly a blank wall any where inside a turret and there is more work involved with this method. Having to cut though internal fittings and then make their internals look the part.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Sep 12, 2021 8:46 am

digger303 wrote: Sun Sep 12, 2021 1:21 am
Garion77 wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:38 pm This is really looking great... not being an armor modeler, this may seem like a stupid question... but how to you show the interior once it's finish ? you remove the turret ? Have to try my hand at armor but I found it intimidating ; and I have T34 I think from miniart in my stash with the interior too.
Great work ! Can wait to see your next post !

Age old question. Some do the interior and just button it up in the knowledge that they know it's there. As mentioned some have the top removable or have it mounted on a stand next to the hull. I personally like the red edged cut outs that give you a peep inside from different positions. Tricky though cause there is hardly a blank wall any where inside a turret and there is more work involved with this method. Having to cut though internal fittings and then make their internals look the part.

It also depends on how the kit is engineered. It may allow you to take the upper hull off and display the whole interior. For example, Panthers and Tiger IIs often have 1 piece upper hulls that can just sit on the lower hull quite snugly and be removed to see the interior.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Sep 12, 2021 8:46 am

Beautiful work Sir

Post by **BigWall** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:19 am

It's looking great and nice save with the shells!

Post by **robwuk** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:06 pm

so this is how she stands now... just need to complete the second run of tracks then find to paint the interior.....

Post by **digger303** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:11 am

looks like it is just all going to fall into place.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:32 am

Cracking work all round

Post by **BigWall** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 2:39 am

It's looking great!

Post by **ForeverPlasticKits** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:27 pm

Full interior kits are so marvelous to build, awesome!

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:16 pm

thanks all... Turret interior parts all added apart from the sight mechanism... Need to weather it of course. Not happy at all with the rear ammo rack but dont think you will see much once the upper half is on (leaving the roof removable

Post by **Garion77** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 12:44 am

great work again ! the shells look amazing !

Post by **digger303** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:11 am

Super work and some really nice detail painting.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:26 am

More very nice detail work

Post by **robwuk** » Sun Nov 14, 2021 3:35 pm

quite a bit of progress this weekend. Turret interior weathered, upper turret added to lower (leaving roof off to see "some" detail.... dont know if I will get any more done before the Christmas break (lose modelling area for all of December) but next is the second run of tracks... also included some better shots of the hull interior

Post by **Garion77** » Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:21 pm

Love it ! watching both of your build tickles me to finally start a tank !
Coming along great !

Post by **robwuk** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:18 pm

most likely the last build session of the year sees me end with this (plus both track runs)... new year should see the final details added then time for painting (aim next year is to (1) clean my airbrushes and (2) get more proficient at using my airbrushes)...

Post by **ForeverPlasticKits** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:36 pm

a good kit, nowadays some brands offer full interior kits and it's marvelous! But ... how to show the interior? That's a big question!

Post by **robwuk** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 6:13 pm

yep - for this one turret roof and hull roof will remain loose (I think hull roof will, not 100% on that). Have 2 more Tank Destroyers that I may look at different ways to do it and then 2 non-miniart that also have interiors

Post by **chops1sc** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:36 pm

I have the Takom King Tiger in process. These interior kits are beast to say the least! It gives you a good sense of the working conditions and just how little room they had in those tanks!

Looking awesome!

Post by **robwuk** » Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:11 pm

a breakthrough.... imagine if you thin paint it sprays better... who'd have thunk it.... ammo 4bo thinned 50:50 with ammo transparator.... can even see some of the highlight!!!!!!!!!

Post by **digger303** » Sun Jan 16, 2022 12:35 am

Good to see this back . Yep thinning is marvelous, might need another coat though.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Jan 17, 2022 10:17 am

Looking good mate

Post by **BigWall** » Mon Jan 17, 2022 6:55 pm

Nice looking paint job!

Post by **robwuk** » Thu Feb 03, 2022 9:33 pm

thanks all... decals on.... not going to over weather it because of the interior, just some panel lines and a touch of oil i think

Post by **robwuk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:16 pm

after a very long time staring at this one (ok did matt varnish it a while ago) started on the bits and bobs left... first off wooden log for rear and fuel tanks added....

Post by **robwuk** » Sun May 08, 2022 9:49 pm

next few bits and bobs... added wheels (next up tracks and hopefully a "FINISH"