Meng French FT-17 Light Tank (Riveted Turret)

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:28 am

Really impressed so far, keep up the good work.

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:10 pm

Thanks Paul!

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:57 pm

Great work mate....she's coming together nicely now!

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 5:53 pm

Thanks UKG!

Post by **FishBowlMan** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:00 pm

Very nice, Bill, as per usual. Will make a change to see one of your builds on a diorama.

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:12 pm

Thanks John! No kidding, very rare occurrence for me to include a base/dio for a build.

Post by **JayCub** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:23 pm

Super build, and photographs, at one stage tht trench looked good enough to eat, love the camo and looking forward to your next update Bill
Tom

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 10:11 pm

JayCub wrote:Super build, and photographs, at one stage tht trench looked good enough to eat, love the camo and looking forward to your next update Bill
Tom

Thanks Tom! I hear you about that good enough to eat bit...not good for the cravings this time of year!

Post by **wbill76** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:06 pm

Started in on the weathering for the actual tank itself. First order of business were the tracks, they received some dry-brushing using MM enamel Steel to add to the previous airbrushed base coat and give them a more metallic look.

The metal contact surfaces of the sprockets and idlers were detailed with some MM non-buffing metalizer Steel and then dry-brushed with MM enamel Burnt Umber. Using an old worn out brush, I also stippled some of the Burnt Umber onto the suspension and lower hull areas as the first round of weathering to create some scuffing/scratching and wear and tear. More to come in this area of course before it's all said and done!

Next up will be a coat of Future to seal it all up and allow for the markings to go down.

Post by **Coen** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:37 pm

Really cool effects Bill, I love those tracks buddy.

Post by **wbill76** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:27 am

Thanks Coen! Now the real fun begins with the weathering.

Post by **HWGuderian23** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:58 am

Looks great

!

Post by **wbill76** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:48 pm

Thanks Markus!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:28 pm

Bill

This is shaping up to be a lovely culmination of a great build.
It's a lovely subject from a really good manufacture.
Fantastic job mate.
John

Post by **wbill76** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:53 pm

Thanks John! Meng has done a great job with this little vehicle for sure. Glad to have you along for the ride!

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:53 pm

Its super. I look forward to more

Post by **wbill76** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:45 pm

Thanks AP!

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:10 am

Markings are on! The kit-supplied decals are by Cartograf and the only modification I made was to separate the little '5' numerals for the turret from the heart insignia and applying them individually. Some Solvaset was applied to ensure they snugged down tight and once dry, a 2nd coat of Future was airbrushed over them to seal and protect for the washes and weathering to come.

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:22 pm

Weathering work continues on this little guy, first step was an overall application of thinned MM enamel Raw Umber. This inevitably darkens the finish but is meant to serve as a foundation for the dot filtering step that comes next and not an independent layer per se.

The dot filter application came next. I used small dots of MM enamel Raw Sienna, Light Gray, and the 50/50 base coat mid for the filter. The vehicle is fairly small to begin with, so I used different sized square-tip blender brushes where appropriate to get into some of the tighter spaces.

Will let that sit and the apply a pin wash to help pop out some of the detail as the next step.

Post by **Coen** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:01 am

That looks totally fantastic Bill. Once you add the pin wash that will look awesome.
This is going to be a superior piece buddy.

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:24 am

Thanks Coen! All those rivets are just dying to 'stand out'!

Post by **Tiger131** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:34 am

Looks superb just gone through all your thread and you've done a cracking job bud

Looking forward to seeing more

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:06 pm

Tiger131 wrote:Looks superb just gone through all your thread and you've done a cracking job bud

Looking forward to seeing more

Thank you kind sir!

just a couple steps left before this one is completed.

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:55 pm

Good progress

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:00 pm

Thanks AP!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:15 pm

Such a lovely job mate, nearly there.
John

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:47 pm

Thanks John! This is always the fun/torture part...hours spent with the breather mask on due to the thinner fumes but worth it with the end results.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:01 pm

wbill76 wrote:Thanks John! This is always the fun/torture part...hours spent with the breather mask on due to the thinner fumes but worth it with the end results.

Watch the lungs chap, glad to hear your keeping the mask on

Your doing an ace job.
John

Post by **martin57** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:18 pm

love this little kit , and you have made an excellent of it well done

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:38 pm

John, no kidding! that and the old brain cell preservation!

I've got good ventilation in the work bench area but since this is work that's up close and personal and takes a lot of time working with pure thinner, the mask is a must for sure.

Martin, thanks as well for the kind words!

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 11:03 pm

More progress on the weathering, this time it was the pin wash turn to make all those rivet details stand out. I used a pointed 10/0 brush and some highly thinned MM enamel Burnt Umber.

After the first pass, I used some clean thinner and the same brush to remove excess wash or adjusted it where needed to get the desired effect.

And just for fun, a quick check with the base to make sure things are still headed in the same direction.

Post by **wbill76** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:50 pm

Latest round of efforts was all about the pigments. First order of business was applying a sealing dull coat using Testors Model Master Lusterless Flat in the spray can.

Lower hull and suspension areas were given a wet application of Mig Dark Mud. I used normal tap water with a touch of liquid dish washing soap to break the surface tension and a regular sable brush to apply the pigments.

Pigments are allowed to air dry, then the excess is removed with a series of stiff bristled brushes. More pigment is removed using wet and dry Q-tips to get the effect I'm after.

The end result builds nicely on the previous layers, creating a nice effect.

The tracks got a similar treatment but using Mig Dry Mud pigments.

Tracks were installed permanently onto the vehicle to complete the process.

Dry-fit onto the base shows that everything looks like it belongs.

The fit onto the base is a little tricky, will play with that a little bit more before I call this one fully done but it's 99% there.

Post by **Coen** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:19 am

That is fine work Bill. Excellent display of your methods too.
The result is superb.
Well done so far.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:36 pm

Gosh and golly what ace work Bill.
How do you find the Testors Rattle Can Varnish?
Really great subject and great thread, thank you.
John

Post by **Yevgeny** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 2:18 pm

Great build and a pleasure to watch it progressing.

Very tempted by this kit, but promised my wife not to buy any till I finished the kits I have

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:09 pm

Thanks Coen! Glad you've enjoyed following along.

John, thanks for the kind words as well! The rattle can Lusterless Flat has been my go-to source for several years now. I can get it easily at my LHS and I find it much easier/simpler to lay down vs. using the airbrush. This particular variety (they also have gloss and satin) goes on dead-flat and dries very quickly due to the lacquer base, making it very effective IMHO. HTH!

Yevgeny, thanks as well, good luck with resisting the temptation! If I made that bargain with my wife it would literally be years before I would be able to buy anything new.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:13 pm

Cheers Bill for info.
I really do not like spraying varnish trough AB.
I have tried them varieties, such as Vallejo, Xtracrylix and Alclad (favourite at moment), but would much rather use a Rattel Can for varnish.
Thank you again Bill, nice work mate.
John

Post by **JayCub** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:26 pm

Brilliant build and build log Bill really enjoyable, I like and appreciatevthe weathering and this will maje a fantastic showpiece, or competition entry
Tom

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:41 pm

My pleasure John!

Tom, thanks as well, glad you enjoyed it along with me!

Post by **robertw** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:46 pm

Man I think I need to give up lol My build is still sitting in a box awaiting paint. I hope it turns out a fraction as well as yours.

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:15 pm

Thanks Robert! Don't give up the ship without a fight at least, I'm sure yours will come out just fine!

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:45 pm

Made a few minor touch-ups here and there including a very light dusting of the Dry Mud pigment to the rest of the lower hull to tie it in a bit with the tracks. Then off to the photo booth for the final shots!

And at home on the base!

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 8:06 pm

Looks awesome Bill, great work!

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:47 pm

Thanks Paul!

Post by **Yevgeny** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:26 pm

Beautiful, clean and neat work

Post by **wbill76** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:30 pm

Thanks Yevgeny!

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:45 pm

Fantastic Model - great finish

. All Dio Looks very well.

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 12:26 am

Thanks AP, much appreciated!

Post by **Coen** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 2:06 am

Superior work Bill!!!

Post by **wbill76** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 4:13 pm

Thanks Coen! Had fun with it since it's a little different.