In Progress
The full kit
Treads......how to assemble?
Answer: track fixture. Copied a commercial design but added a top-clamp so I can press the links together without them moving.
Tracks going on. Not super easy but not nearly as difficult as I thought. The glue keeps them together pretty well and there's a decent amount of time to tweak everything.
Tracks completed and top deck dry fit
Removed the wheels and tracks for the next steps. Will re-mount once painted. First of the PE is on, also built some stowage.
Tread guards and fuel barrels glued together. Also the tricky headlight cage. Filled in the ERD mounting spots on the turret. Got this kit on a discount and would rather have an older style without the ERD armor. Going to leave the side skirts off so can see the treads better. Wish I had a DsHK to mount on the turret but havn't had luck finding a standalone kit.
Turret mostly completed and test fit
First test fit. Going with a more generic tank look instead of the ERD armor.
Tamiya fine primer
Burnt umber, should have been more red but good enough for a chipping base layer.
Did a layer of hairspray then JA Green. Chipped the paint with brush and wooden dowl. Good to see the kit in green finally.
Turret detail
Wheels. I only cut 3 circle masks and swapped them around the paint the rims. Would have been much easier to paint before mounting the tires.
Black wash applied. Love how the details are starting to pop.
Burnt umber pin wash.
Brown, green and khaki dry brush layers applied.
Treads painted with a rust wash and then light tan pastel for dirt. Might have gotten a little carried away with the dust, will add a matte layer to lock it in and darken it up a bit. Then a final dry brush with metal to imitate wear.
Treads dry fit. Might be ok actally once the wheels and body are weathered
More pastel weathering, think I went a little heavy with the brown on the hull. Should be able to correct it. Treads got some metallic dry brushing. Layers layers layers.
Decals applied and chipped. Numbers are my birthday. What year? Every year.
Painted tracks a more metallic color overall. Might darken it up a bit yet but pretty happy with the look.
Comentários
23 10 December 2023, 05:12
Snake PlisskenThe trend in model making is to heavily rust and weather tank tracks for ultimate realism but one thing to take note of in regard to *fully operational tanks* is that these tanks will have just a minor amount rust on the tracks; even in the deepest recesses of the track plates, the metal will be relatively clean. Driving on the softest off-road dirt and soil (which naturally has stones and pebbles in it) will wear away nearly 95% of all rust and corrosion just from the abrasion and/or pushing dirt in and out of the tracks. The area where the road wheels make contact with the inside track surface will also be bright metal after a few miles of driving. The ends of the track pins where the sprocket engages the track and the track's center guide teeth (T-55/T-62/T-72) will be polished bright from the wear as well, giving an almost chrome-like appearance. Tanks with rusty tracks have been sitting a long, long time. 😎
8 October, 20:11
Tom BeighleyThanks everyone for the compliments! Also I really appreciate the info Snake. No trends being followed here just a heavy-handed first attempt at a tank kit. Definitely got a bit carried away with the pastels. I will clean off the treads and add metallic color in the areas you pointed out. Lots to learn yet.
9 October, 04:33
Snake PlisskenOh, don't pay any attention to my rant. I'm just speaking as a former armored track vehicle driver and crewman. 😉
9 October, 05:35
