HobbyBoss T34-85 1/48. Rescued from the shelf of Doom

[bull-nut]

I have had this model sat on the shelf for well over a year(it may even be two).

I knew I'd got some way through construction, and as I seem to be on a roll of clearing the backlog of started kits, I figured I may as well make this my next one. That and I have finally come up with a way to display it.

On unpacking the box, I found the hull built up thus far:

Along with these other pieces:

Not shown is the engine cooling fan, radiators, and remaining external fuel tanks that are also built to the same stage.

So I broke out the acrylics and hairy sticks and put some colour on the main interior features until I got here:

Then they all got a wash of the relevant colour Citadel shade so we are here:

The shine is because the wash is still wet, the citadel shades dry nice and flat,

[bull-nut]

Sorry for the double post, I couldn't remember the image limit, so played it safe.

One the initial washes had dried, I broke out the Agrax earthshade and, thinning it 1:1 with water, applied it over all of the white areas, thus:

And stippled a little German Grey on with a sponge where I thought the paint might get chipped. I know I need to retouch the bow gunners seat and wash the corners, I'll get that tomorrow:

Attention then turned to the engine bay. The inside got an overall wash of Agrax Earthshade, then I painted and installed the engine, fan and final drives:

The engine bay rear bulkhead got the same wash, then I painted the exhausts with Tin Bitz and treated them to a light coat of Modelmates Rust, standard shade:

Rear wall installed and radiators fitted, it's a bit tight back there,

Pigments tomorrow, then I can start on the turret.

[FrancisGL]

,cheers mate

[Yeoman1942]

Always good to see one of these being built. It's really coming together, well done

[combat]

Hello

this kit is a real 'gem' - I think there were 3 like this all with amazing interior detail

mine is still in the post,

could be next on my to do list

where did you get reference pictures for the colour of the motor ?

[KAYELL]

One or two years on thge shelf is that all... some of my stash has started to decompose!

Good start o this one, both with construction and paintwork, it is the 1/16 kit miniaturised, the results will be worthwhile.

Cheers

K

[PlaStix]

Hi bull-nut. These are very interesting kits. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

[bull-nut]

Combat: Reference pics? Colour callouts in the instructions, and I think I watched a walk around video on youtube and guessed the rest!

KAYELL: I came back to the hobby after a long hiatus about 3years or so ago, so in my terms, 2 years is a long time on the shelf!

Stix: Thanks. I have an idea in mind to include this model in the Vignette GB. Watch this space!

Pigments have been applied to the inner hull, and turret construction has commenced. Pics later when I canget to the camera and laptop.

Edited May 7, 2016 by bull-nut

[SJLR_1]

[Carius]

Very nice progress.

Cheers

[bull-nut]

So I finally managed to get some pictures taken, sorry they're not great, taken in a hurry with the 'phone camera. Better than nothing though I guess.

First up, turret interior components were painted and installed over the primer;

Then the main gun got some detail painting and the whole got a targeted wash with agrax earthshade;

Followed by some light chipping the same way as on the Hull interior;

Then the gun went into it's trunnions;

Take a good look, because now it looks like this;

Loaders hatch and TC's Episcopes went in (yes, those episcopes are all individual pieces);

Followed by the TC's cupola and hatches;

The scopes etc need some paint, and I need to clean up the hatch interior, then I can mask off and think about the outside colour.

I have also started on the track runs, and having looked at the hull again I think I'll put a light coat of white over the walls with the airbrush to tone down the wash that seems to be looking very pink now, does anyone else pick up the pink hue?

[FrancisGL]

NIce progress for now, cheers mate

[bull-nut]

Work has slowed drastically while I put a did some rather large jobs about the house, but I'm now back at the bench and working on this again. The final model is destined for a small vignette, the build thread for which can be found Here.

To begin with I have closed the hull and attached the exterior fuel tanks, and the engine access panels in the open position, as well as the radiator cover with its moulded in PE insert. Then gave the exterior a coat of Tamiya Deep Green XF26

I also sprayed the running gear, and hand painted the tyres while I was at it

And sprayed the tracks Tamiya Dark Iron

Next job is to make up some replacement grab handles, since the kit parts are very fragile and I don't trust myself not to snap them at some point.

[PlaStix]

Hi bull-nut. Good to see there's been more progress and I'm looking forward to seeing this in your Vignette GB project. The interior turned out really well!

Kind regards,

Stix

[FrancisGL]

I'm glad you're back ... , cheers mate

[bull-nut]

Oh Ivan, why do you vex me so?

Having 10 minutes spare yesterday evening before work, I decided to drybrush the track waffle pattern with a little citadel Runefang Steel to bring out the high points, and both track runs promptly suffered multiple joint failures! While I could attempt to repair them and attach them at the end of the build, I'm not going to take any more chances and so will fix the tracks and running gear in place now. Since the model will represent a static museum piece, rather than a vehicle in active use, the lack of weathering behind the running gear will be less of an issue, and you can't see much with the wheels on anyway.

[bull-nut]

Well, I got the tracks on, and added some suitable markings from the kit sheet. The markings are entirely made up, and represent no ctual vehicle that I know of, but since when did that stop some museums?

I then went at the model with some ModelMates normal shade rust effects. The stuff is great, paint it on, let it dry, and it forms a patina of rust over any surface, lovely matt finish as well.

I tried to keep the rust to where moisture would gather on a vehicle exposed to the elements, so the bottom of the wheels, on top of hubs, runs from handles, vents, etc, and so on.

then used some Citadel shades as colour filters to try and show some streaking and weathering in the paint finish:

Not remotely happy with the result, I'll have to get some artists oils after all I think. Next step is some sponge chipping with a dark grey, and then I need to make a few rags/tarps to cover up those gaps in the track runs.