RFM 5070

My first Rye Field Model kit. Very nice detail. 

New for me.. working torsion bars. 

Workable tracks. Three connection points per link.
At first I thought I had to use a thick cement like the tube stuff but that's just too cumbersome to work with. I tried CA and that did work but in the end I just used Tamiya Extra Thin _sparingly_ as it was just easier. 

Unexpected extra cleanup. 

This build has been slow going... 😮
Experimenting with AK Red Primer. 

Fitting the upper hull superstructure to the lower required a bit of finesse. The right side was so tight between the turret and engine. I needed to force the pieces down and use CA. I suspect it was because I glued the transmission cover first as per the instructions before I got to assembling the upper superstructures. 

Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black base & shadow coat shows well under the XF-88 Dark Yellow 2. 

Exhaust painting.. 

I enjoy painting exhausts.. even if most of it gets hidden. 🙂 

Did three modulations of XF-88 (out of the bottle being the darkest). Used XF-2 flat white as the lightener. 

The decals applied... so far so good.
Started the AK Dark Yellow pin wash on the bottom half of the hull. 

Pin wash done. Now working on completing the tracks. 

RFM workable tracks are decent. A bit delicate.. longer track pins would be better for strength and ease of assembly. NOTE: instructions say build 91 links per side but that's too long. I found 89 links suitable.

Track finishing.. XF-64 Red Brown base. AK Track wash. Base colour was an experiment, AK track wash always looks great even without additional weathering.
X-11 and 2B pencil weathering. Black pigment rubbed along road wheel path. 

Chipping started.. Light chips is elfenbein mix (3:1 XF-2, XF-78), dark chips is custom "Track" mix (XF-68, XF-69, XF-7 70/25/5%)
 

Very light weathering .. 

This is 89 track links per side. I think this number gives nice track sag. Instructions stated use 91!? 

Experimented with using Metallic Gray XF-56 for the spare tracks. Then weathered with AK Track Wash, Ammo MIG Streaking Grime & Rust Effects washes and MIG Subtle Dirt Filter.