Global Scale Modeller

Really impressed so far, keep up the good work.

Thanks Paul!

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

Thanks UKG!

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

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

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

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!

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.

Really cool effects Bill, I love those tracks buddy.

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

Looks great !

Thanks Markus!

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

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

Its super. I look forward to more

Thanks AP!

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.

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.

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

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

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

Looking forward to seeing more

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.

Good progress

Thanks AP!

Such a lovely job mate, nearly there.
John

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

My pleasure John!

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

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.

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

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!

Looks awesome Bill, great work!

Thanks Paul!

Beautiful, clean and neat work

Thanks Yevgeny!

Fantastic Model - great finish . All Dio Looks very well.

Thanks AP, much appreciated!

Superior work Bill!!!

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