Global Scale Modeller

Paul wrote:Stunning work mate, paintwork looks amazing

Thanks Paul, that means a lot coming the master of all things paint!

Oh Dude!!! That's beautiful work Alex!!! Really well done buddy.
That is going to really look sweet when you're done with her dude! That paintwork looks fabulous.
Great Stuff buddy!!!

Fantastic paintwork mate, looks amazing!

Coen wrote:Oh Dude!!! That's beautiful work Alex!!! Really well done buddy.
That is going to really look sweet when you're done with her dude! That paintwork looks fabulous.
Great Stuff buddy!!!

Thanks Mike, that means a lot. It's always such a boost when you guys leave a comment as there are sooooo many of you fellas on this forum whose work I admire and hope to try and emulate if in only some kinda small way. And I have to admit that your portfolio is one that I often re-visit for inspiration and I always come away feeling that my gob has been well and truly smacked!

chief5437 wrote:Fantastic paintwork mate, looks amazing!

Thanks Chief, really appreciate that - as I replied to Coen, its you's chaps fine work that provides all the inspiration!

Reading through this was a lot more fun than watching the Blues last night shutting up shop in Madrid!

I think your tank is splendid. The build and finish are superb and the weathering is spot-on.

Rob wrote:Reading through this was a lot more fun than watching the Blues last night shutting up shop in Madrid!

I think your tank is splendid. The build and finish are superb and the weathering is spot-on.

Thanks Rob, appreciate your very kind words!!

And you're spot on about the Blues last night - great defensive performance, but it doesn't make for interesting viewing.

Apparently Mourinho has promised that Chelsea will be in a major European competition next year - even if he has to write the song himself!!!!

Update 6

What a dirty, dirty girl!!

Got the weathering done and I think I'm going to call it day now with this one. Originally I had intended the Chally to be quite a bit more messed up than this, but I think adding any more will just be too much (although I appreciate that this may be too much already for some people's tastes). The thing that struck me whilst building this tank and following other people's threads is that a lot of you guys seem to do a lot of research before starting a build and then decide exactly what your going to build and how you want to depict your subject. I'm completely the opposite and whilst I always have a rough idea of what I want to achieve, I tend to leave the research until during the build. One example of this is with the underside of the hatches. I hadn't really given them any thought, but whilst looking at some pictures of weathered Challengers, I noticed that a few of the picture showed them painted the original green colour and so I followed suit.

Anywho, here are some of the products that I used to add the weathering. The Ultimate sand and light dirt washes gave a nice contrast when lightly layered and the enamel and oil paint provided the washes, grime and streaks. There's no real chipping on this tank, but I did add some light chipping to the stowage boxes at the rear, but nothing too OTT. Personally I always find that Mr Hobby metallic black does and ok job for this. I also add the odd touch of something like a stainless steel colour here and there just to give an extra layer to the chipping, but again try and keep this to a minimum as there wouldn't be many areas that are back to bare metal on modern armour.


And here's what I'm left with. The Ultimate washes are still not completely dry so I may take them back in a few places, plus add a bit more here and there.










It's only after looking at the pics I realised that I haven't added the jerry cans - plus I need to paint up the figures and I might add a small base just to finish it all up. I've really enjoyed my foray into modern armour and am really enjoying everyone's builds

Thanks for taking a look!

looks really nice! very dirty girl you have there!

Amazing work Alex and you remembered to mask the lights im not sure what i enjoyed more the build log or the dialogue had me laughing quite a bit and Sharon thinking im nuts, well i blamed you.... very nice indeed

Tom

Hot damn
Alex you've really I nailed that thing buddy, she's excellent! I love the look of that sand wash.
The washes as a whole look like they really played ball with you.
Wonderful work bud.

rsrdevon wrote:looks really nice! very dirty girl you have there!

Thanks Devon!

I was going to paint some graffiti on the back of the Chally -

"Wish my wife was this dirty!"

And then underneath -

"She is while your out driving this tank!!!!"

JayCub wrote:Amazing work Alex and you remembered to mask the lights im not sure what i enjoyed more the build log or the dialogue had me laughing quite a bit and Sharon thinking im nuts, well i blamed you.... very nice indeed

Tom

Thanks Tom, glad you like it and I'm more than happy to take the blame, especially if it gave you a chuckle along the way!

Coen wrote:Hot damn
Alex you've really I nailed that thing buddy, she's excellent! I love the look of that sand wash.
The washes as a whole look like they really played ball with you.
Wonderful work bud.

Thanks Mike really appreciate your kind comments!

And I'm loving the Ultimate washes, especially like the way that you can either build up the effects slowly layer by layer, or can just slap it on and then knock it back for the required effect - and if it all goes wrong, just wash it off and start again!

I know exactly what you mean!!!

Update 6 (and a half!)

Not really a full update as I've only made a start on the figures - and this is where I need some help. I'm fairly new to the whole figure painting thing and I've only ever made and painted WW" German figures. Plus, I've never been brave enough to try painting camouflage uniforms - but, there has to be a first time for everything, so here goes.

After pawing over many reference pics (I only have some old DMP kit kicking around in the back of the wardrobe) I came up with the following and I think you'll agree I need some help!! The contrast in the colours is exaggerated in the photos and once I've chucked a wash on it will all tone in better. Plus, once he's in place, your not going to see too much - luckily!!




Any and all advice greatly appreciated!

Though I wouldn't know a DPM camo from a fruit salad, I can say that application wise you're off to a great start there Alex. That brown camo colour will need another coat though. Building your colours up gradually is always a good idea. You'll have tonnes more control that way too.

Your tank looks awesome, mate, and that figure looks pretty good to me, so far.

Cheers,

Martin

Coen wrote:Though I wouldn't know a DPM camo from a fruit salad, I can say that application wise you're off to a great start there Alex. That brown camo colour will need another coat though. Building your colours up gradually is always a good idea. You'll have tonnes more control that way too.

Thanks Mike, if there's one thing that I learnt from your Conan build, its that you can never have too many thinned coats of paint!

And I know a wise old saying that might help with the DPM camo, fruit salad dilemma -

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to add it to DPM camo!

Or something like that!!

UKguyInUSA wrote:Your tank looks awesome, mate, and that figure looks pretty good to me, so far.

Cheers,

Martin

Thanks Martin, appreciate you taking the time to have a look!

The figure looks great Alex, and i don't know anything about the camo and figures are something im wrestling with so to speak , the white on the turned up sleeves is something i have added many times and adds to the realism, and now that you have mentioned tomato's and fruit salad its time for lunch the overall build to-date is just superb and im looking forward to more.

Tom

JayCub wrote:The figure looks great Alex, and i don't know anything about the camo and figures are something im wrestling with so to speak , the white on the turned up sleeves is something i have added many times and adds to the realism, and now that you have mentioned tomato's and fruit salad its time for lunch the overall build to-date is just superb and im looking forward to more.

Tom

Thanks Tom, appreciate the kind words!

Enjoy your lunch!

This looks better every time I see it! What are your plans for the base?

chief5437 wrote:This looks better every time I see it! What are your plans for the base?

Thanks Chief, appreciate your kind words!

Gonna keep it simple with the base, just a small vignette, bit of sand to match the tanks - done (hopefully!)

Looks amazing!! really puts me in the mood to build a Challenger myself!

panzerjager wrote:Looks amazing!! really puts me in the mood to build a Challenger myself!

Thanks panzerjager!

My only advice about building a Challenger would be - do it!! I've really enjoyed building some modern armour rather than WW2, so much so, I've just ordered a Merk 3D early version by Meng Models - don't tell the wife!

alextheblue wrote:

panzerjager wrote:Looks amazing!! really puts me in the mood to build a Challenger myself!

Thanks panzerjager!

My only advice about building a Challenger would be - do it!! I've really enjoyed building some modern armour rather than WW2, so much so, I've just ordered a Merk 3D early version by Meng Models - don't tell the wife!

Hehe,i now about that witch Chally 2 do you recommend,the Tamiya or Trumpeter?I built the Challenger 1 Mk3 back in the nineties and that was a really nice kit.Anyhow,good job and i am looking forward to your Merkava build!

[/quote]
Hehe,i now about that witch Chally 2 do you recommend,the Tamiya or Trumpeter?I built the Challenger 1 Mk3 back in the nineties and that was a really nice kit.Anyhow,good job and i am looking forward to your Merkava build! [/quote]

Initially I wanted to get the Trumpeter version, but that would have meant getting it from overseas whereas I could get the Tamiya one from the UK in a couple of days. I would definitely recommend it though, thoroughly enjoyed building it. I guess the thing that would determine your choice would be whether you wanted to do the desertised version or not.