1/35 Tamiya Char Bis

This truly is a brilliant kit, as would be expected of Tamiya. All parts fit perfectly together with no gaps that would need filler, as well as including a French Tank Crewman figure and set of fully workable tracks requiring absolutely zero cleanup save for tiny injection points on the links (Something which in my opinion doesnt need removed). I must admit that very little time or effort was put into the painting of this kit and was done as more of a side project. The mud is also, in my opinion, terrible and will hopefully receive some attention in the near future.

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Once built, I started off with a priming of Halford's Matt Black followed by a base of Vallejo Russian Green. This set a tone upon which successive lighter layers would be visible.
These took the form of multiple variations on Panzer Aces XXXXXX to attain a highly faded look. However, some panels and a sprocket were given a coat of light sand to introduce a degree of contrast, adding to the eventual interest. This concluded air brushing for now and made way for the subsequent decals and weathering.

Decals were from a 1/72 Dutch aircraft and old dry rub set.

As usual, modulation was first up and was applied to all rivets, hinges etc. This, I feel, aids in creating a visually complex model fairly easily.

Chipping was nect and took the form of a lightened base colour filled in by dark brown/black. I find that thinning the paint a wee bit makes for easier and more controlled application at such a precise stage. (Chipping on the sprocket was done in a slightly less careful manner than the hull due to its impending reception of mud washes)

I next made up a pallet of oils on a piece or cardboard and left it for a few hours, this helps absorb linseed oil from the paint making for a more matt finish. Once prepared, I dabbed a stiff brush in the paint and drybrushed it onto a bit of kitchen role until leaving almost no marks. I then worked , quite firmly, in a circular motion on horizontal panel corners to build up a patch of filthy paint work. To my eye, this looks very pleasing and is simple enough that even I can do it :D

To create an equally dirty look on vertical surfaces, I used AK Interactive's Track Wash to provide a streaking effect on areas like the turret. This was followed by pin washes using thinned Van Gogh oils all round.

Black oils were the implemented to suggest a sooty/grimy appearance for the large vent (left hand side). This was the same technique used for creating dirty panel corners.

Some rust and oil streaks were also placed to offer ad aura of age. Abteilung oils were used for this and their application was simply just dotting and streaking down with a dampened brush.

Finally the exhausts. I didnt want these to simply be kit standard and so proceeded to fabricate an unual support for the right hand side where a section of fender is missing. The supplied shield was also replaced by a bent piece of metal foil allowing for realistic bending and damage.
The exhausts themselves were stippled with Games WorkShop's Liquid Green Stuff in order to simulate a rough, decaying texture. A base coat of orange acrylic was then followed by a dark orange oil wash. This set a rusty tone and made way for application of paint flecks yet to come off. I sponged/ painted on tiny patches of green paint to suggest these areas were yet to peel off.
The actual shield received the same treatment as the actual tank except with a greater emphasis on rust.

I will not go through the rigmarole of explaining my mud. I feel everyone has a method that works for them and am not entirely pleased with my outcome this time.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this wee post. Have loads more coming soon :)

1/35 Zvezda/SP Designs 2S23 Nona SVK

I seem to apologising every post but again, sorry for the huge gaps. With exams now officially over and being back from France, hopefully regular posting will return.

This a model I actually completed a while ago now but hey ho.

Bought at Telford, the conversion only cost £6 whilst the doner chassis came from a BTR-80A kindly donated to me by a fellow club member. Construction was extremely straight forward and only took a matter of days with the resin upper hull mating to the chassis very well. Beside from a few wire handles, the instructions were followed making for a pleasant build.

Knowing of my project, another club member ( http://plasticpanzer.blogspot.co.uk/ ) generously gave me a turned Aluminium barrel. Unfortunately I was unable to use it due to either the SP Designs Nona turret or barrel being out of scale. The Aluminium barrel was far to thin but made for interesting comparison next to SPs resin version. (Luckily I have 4 more plastic Nonas to build so that barrel may well come in handy if I ever get around to building them :D :D )

Once construction was complete, a coat of Halford's black was applied followed by Vallejo Russian Green. From here I used cosecutive layers of gradually lighter greens until a gentle fade was achieved. In a moment of euphoria a cream camo was also applied using a mixture of Vallejo Light Sand and Dunklegelb. Bluetac sausages were used to create the patches. This was then followed by a thin, hand painted black outline was done around the cream. I understand that this imaginary camo may well infuriate those perfectionists amongst you but I model for myself, not for history. If you dont like artistic licence, youll hate my blog :D :D :D :D

Perisocpes and sights were done using Games Workshop Ice Blue followed by a wash of dark blue and coat of gloss. Other details such as wires and crew graffiti were then painted on using a range of bright acrylics. Various bolt heads etc received a lighter coat of green to introduce further contrast. As for decals, I chose Soviet Naval Infantry. Whilst Im alsmost certain they were never in service with this branch of the military, they are however thought to be employed by the Russian Navy. With this information coupled with my immense soft spot for the Soviet Naval Infantry, a decal from one of the Bison decal sets was applied to the turret side :)

Anyway, to commence weathering a preliminary wash of Van Gogh Burnt Umber and Abteilung Black. Once dry, streaks of AK Track Wash and Dust Effects was used to build up the heavily worn image which was then emphasised by chipping with light green and black/brown acrylics. In conjunction with hand painted chips, thinned colours were also flicked onto the hull using a brush to create minute texture defects. With these coats of enamels dry, a rag dampened in white spirit was used to wipe hatch tops clean of this 'dirt' in order to give contrast and insinuate use.
The horizontal surface just forward of the engine deck was covered with various pigments suggesting dust build up and made for a change in weathering technique. the engine deck itself was then dotted with small patched of spilled 'oil' as well as spills dribbling down the sides of the hull.Exhausts were done using a variety of rust tones and oils to help represent large mileage
Tyre weathering/mud take the form of polyfilla mixed with pigments. Once mixed into a past, it was spattered onto the hull and worked into the tyre tread. Dried, it was then wiped from the highlights of the tyres leaving it only in the recesses before being given copious enamel washes.
Sorry for this article not being very 'in depth' :(

1/35 Historic Models Sdkfz 232 - Russian Service

Hi guys, this isnt really a proper post, simply something Ive been pottering with for a while.
Bought this kit in France just for something to do. Overall, detail and build quality was quite poor with part fit causing several headaches :D . However, few parts meant it was constructed fairly fast.

 Once complete, a coat of Vallejo Black Grey was laid down, quickly followed by AK Worn Effects. Multiple mists of acrylic white were to provide the illusion of Winter camo before weathering could commence. Darker, more cream/brown shades of white were used on the lower hull and in crevices to suggest a dirtier paint finish. After applying German decals, only then did I decided Russian markings would be more appealing :D :D :D

Warm water, toothpicks and a synthetic bristled brush were my tools to turn this new looking vehicle into a beaten work horse of the Red Army. Rubbing gently and scrubbing on lower areas I slowly eroded the white camo to reveal it's past life in the Whermacht. Once finished chipping, a red star was placed on the bonnet and given a coat of the excellent Vallejo Matte Varnish.

Diluted white paint was spattered all over the vehicle to represent some form of  irregularities. This was followed by streaks of various Abteilung Oil Paints which were then dragged down using a brush moistened in thinners to create fading and rain marks. A pin wash of black and brown was used to accentuate the few details present such as hinges and bolts. I utilised the AK Dark Earth pigment to insinuate dirt on horizontal/shallow incline panels such as the upper bonnet.

A recognition tarpaulin was placed on the front as if to help identify that, although the vehicle is German, it is on Russian service. This was painted orange, given a brown wash and dry brushed. The base was made from insulation foam with a large hole scooped out before fixing the Sdkfz into said hole. Polyfilla mixed with sall stones, sand and paint was then used to represent mud, where the vehicle has become stuck. Eventually I will put a layer of artificial water on the base along with some Soviet figures. My idea is to have some soldiers posing on the hull whilst one takes a photo from the banking.
Got any questions? Email me - Sovietboy2291@hotmail.co.uk