Stokesy's Meng 1/35 Jagdpanther winter kitty

[Stokesy44]

Thanks for all the comments and the banter.

Got some good time in today. Primed the tracks using Ultimate oxide then varnished them with AK Ultra Matt varnish. They'll get rust effects using my acrylic rust set then dry brushed with flat aluminium to highlight all that lovely detail.



Then it was time for the white wash. Ultimate's water based winter wash sprayed through the airbrush. It doesn't have to be neat, just enough to cover.







Then it was time to start reducing the wash. I used dry buds to remove the wash on any corners, weld seams or raised surfaces such as hatches. I used a moist bud to remove the wash over the insignia and unit markings. The wash itself is quite fragile and easily removed (especially as its on a glossed surface) so I was able to remove it from the spare tracks, exhausts and flat surfaces just using a paintbrush and more buds. I had to reapply the wash with a brush in a few areas where I went too far then remove it again.

At this point it is just the pure white wash with no effects added.





I still need to remove more from the engine deck, especially the main engine hatch.







That's where it is at the moment. I'll do some more removal work then it will be varnished to seal. When I varnish I will add a touch of buff to the clear coat, that will take the edge off the white and act as a base for all the detail weathering with oils and more chipping.

[KalebB]

Oh boy she is looking awesome!!

Absolutely love it bud. Winter wash looks so good on that kitty

[digger303]

White wash looks realistic, great job. Some white washes you can see how the brush left brush lines from the scrubbing, but not you great work. I don't think you need to remove too much more it looks pretty good.

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes, great looking weathered winter cammo

[Stokesy44]

Oh boy she is looking awesome!!

Absolutely love it bud. Winter wash looks so good on that kitty

Oh yes, great looking weathered winter cammo

Thanks Gents. If I get the time today I'll check the wash to see of I need to remove anything else then varnish it with AK Ultra Matt including a little buff colour to take the edge off the white. I fear she may be about to enter her Christmas hibernation though as the seasonal festivities take over.

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the whitewash mate - that looks stunning!

[Stokesy44]

White wash looks realistic, great job. Some white washes you can see how the brush left brush lines from the scrubbing, but not you great work. I don't think you need to remove too much more it looks pretty good.

Great work on the whitewash mate - that looks stunning!

Thanks Guys.

Digger, I completely agree about leaving brush strokes in the white wash. Spraying it on is a faff as its not really designed for airbrushing but it makes for a great base. I then took care not to use a wet brush of any sort to remove the wash, dry or damp buds are the way to go because they leave a soft edge rather than brush marks. All good fun

[digger303]

White wash looks realistic, great job. Some white washes you can see how the brush left brush lines from the scrubbing, but not you great work. I don't think you need to remove too much more it looks pretty good.

Great work on the whitewash mate - that looks stunning!

Thanks Guys.

Digger, I completely agree about leaving brush strokes in the white wash. Spraying it on is a faff as its not really designed for airbrushing but it makes for a great base. I then took care not to use a wet brush of any sort to remove the wash, dry or damp buds are the way to go because they leave a soft edge rather than brush marks. All good fun

It's a good tip if I can remember it when I have a go

[Stokesy44]

The tree is still up and the fairy lights are twinkling but Christmas is done. Now its just a matter of finishing off the leftovers and telling myself that, yes, absolutely, I do need to eat all that cheese and the stunning set of chutneys my niece bought me!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

Had a small blank in the diary so I thought I would varnish and tone the wash. AK Ultra Matt mixed with a little desert yellow to take the WHITE out of the white. I want a slightly yellowed base under the varnish for all the effects to sit on.

Its amazing how fragile the wash is. But then its clay based so its designed to come off I guess. I think using it as white wash is a stretch but the advantage is you need no bespoke products to distress it. Just water and friction.

The camera has bleached out the effect a little but it has definitely lost its shine and is looking just that bit 'off'.







Thankfully that's the last time I will need the airbrush until right at the end. I can just potter away with oils on the hull and oils and washes on the running gear and tracks to my hearts content.

Happy days

[Tat2bhoy]

Looking good, got this kit as a present from my son for Xmas, so your build is definitely gonna help me.
Looking forward to seeing the finished build

[Stokesy44]

Looking good, got this kit as a present from my son for Xmas, so your build is definitely gonna help me.
Looking forward to seeing the finished build

Thank you Sir.

Can only say good things about the kit. My only problem was I struggled when I sandwiched the hulls together - I never managed to get a tight join at the front between the upper and lower armour plates. I friend of mine built the kit recently and had no issues so I'm assuming it was my fault! The tracks looked scary so got after markets instead. You get a lot of plastic in the box and the tooling is cracking. Enjoy

[Stokesy44]

FINALLY!

After a week of lack of interest on my part I got a proper session in yesterday. First up was a wash on the wheels. They'll get a matt coat and dirt treatments but they're ready to go now.



Then the fun began. I applied Ultimate dark dirt wash on the hull, forgetting the wash needs to go on to a gloss coat not a matt one in order to clean it off properly. As soon as I applied it I knew I had royally screwed the pooch! I started with the frontal armour plate and the wash sucked down straight away. I tried cleaning it off but it immediately started to lift the white wash right off the paintwork. I applied more water to dilute the stuff as it sat on the hull and removed it with broad sweeps of damp tissue paper.

Judge for yourself but I think I managed to save it. The result (in my boggled mind) is a vehicle that has been out in the elements for a couple of months longer than I had initially envisaged.

One thing - I need to take more wash off the roof of the fighting compartment as it doesn't match the rest of the hull at present. Shouldn't be a problem





I learnt my lesson after the frontal plate so applied a more diluted wash and wiped it off straight away. It still reduced the white wash but I needed to do that in order to match the frontal plate. It least I felt I had some semblance of control after the horror show at the start.



I applied a light rust to the grills as I figured the entire vehicle needed to look tired. This effect will be added to with real heavy pinpoint rusting with oils.





The black dots are the shell hits which will get properly rusted and streaked with oils.



Happy with the rear end after using the same process.



Tracks and wheels on. The tracks are only primed at the moment. They will come off again for primer touch ups then rusting and finally a dry brushing to bring out all that lovely detail. Point of interest - I double checked I had used the right number of links but both sides were way too slack. One link was removed from both sides and they tightened up nicely. Maybe I had glued the idler too far forward. I cant honestly remember if it was moveable or not.









I like these next 2 pics. They say I have a JP, your argument is therefore irrelevant!





Dirty JP, bad JP



Up close and personal





Next up is oils for rust and stains. She's sat on the bench, daring me to do it!

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes, coming along very very nicely

[digger303]

Time to get grubby....

[Donkeywalloper]

What a Master-Class you are giving in Winter Wash Camo. Really superb job all round and fantastic.
You are really setting a very high standard.
Awesome work chap,
DW

[Tomcat64]

Nicely done mate - the distressed whitewash looks reminiscent of the end of winter look.

Now like Digger said go get that kitty all grubby

[Stokesy44]

Thanks Guys.

I took the tracks off to work on the effects. First up was touching up the primer. Its very easy to knock this stuff off, especially when you're trying to fit the damn things on to the running gear!

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Dark rust added, I deliberately didn't go for blanket coverage, it needs to have natural variation so it doesn't all look the same

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Light rust

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Dry brushed with light aluminium then toned down with burnt iron (both from Vallejo's metal coat range)

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Now back on the tank permanently. I also toned down the whitewash on the roof and painted the rims of the inner road wheels with aluminium to show where the guide horns would have rubbed the paint off.







I've got the oils and the snow paint out now so hopefully she'll be finished tomorrow!

[Kevthemodeller]

Looking good, those tracks are superb

[Hawkmoon]

All looking good and nice work on the hull and tracks

[digger303]

That white wash is spot on and the weathering is coming on a treat.

[CygnusX1]

Probably one of the best Jagdpanthers I've seen in a long long time. Great work.

[Stokesy44]

Been back at work full time for 7 weeks now but finally got some bench time the last few weekends.

The big cat is finished. Weathered with oils for rust streaks on the hull and rusting on the radiator grills, then Tamiya snow paint mixed with Vallejo Chocolate Brown for the mud/slush effects.

I figure the beast got her winter coat late 44 and by some miracle made it long enough through the winter months for most of the wash to have been reduced by the elements. History would suggest a demise sometime in early 45 either by enemy action, lack of fuel or breakdown. I figure my winter kitty is representative of a time just before it met its end.

The mud went on in 2 sessions. It loses a lot of body when it dries so after the first layer goes on I always have to top it up to get good muddy coverage.























Very nice kit to work on. Trickier than Tamiya but vert well priced for what you get in the box. Thanks for following along. Hope to see you on the next build

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes, great looking weathering on the paint, the mud looks amazing, tracks are hanging just right the whole build is stonking mate

[KalebB]

Absolutely amazing build bud

Your weathering and white wash are spot on!

She's one mean kitty

[Tat2bhoy]

Hit that one right out the park m8, beautiful build once again

[Quax]

Super work Stokesy, well done!

Paul

[digger303]

Created a new standard for the likes of me to aspire to....

[Hawkmoon]

Looks right to me and very nice work

[ElCapitan]

Way better than my JP - great work!!

[CygnusX1]

I say again: one of the best Jagdpanthers I've ever seen.
Superb work - looks amazing.