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NIK122

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Posts posted by NIK122

    T-34/85 Factory No 183 (RFM 1/35)

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Tom W. said:

    Yhank you, mates. :)

    I think it has something to do with connecting additional fuel tanks and tanks with mixture to the smoke curtain. But just to be sure, I will ask my dad when I meet him because he was a T-34 driver in the army.

    I'm building a T34/85 at the moment and was wondering the same thing. Fuel lines for the auxiliary tanks or conduit for electrical cables!? I'm intrigued to know what your dad says! 

    • Like 1

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Ready for Inspection - Armour

    Posted

    6 hours ago, Bullbasket said:

    As Richard said, it's been a pleasure to follow your WIP. The vehicle itself has turned out really well. I like everything about it, and the beach, with the shredded seaweed is simple but very effective. And finally, the squadie is first class, (now that he's got his dentures in):giggle:.

    Great work.

     

    John.

    Thanks John 😆. Talking of missing teeth I've just realized that I need to add the aerials!!!!!! One step forward two back 🙄. I will post a couple more pictures shortly. 

    • Like 1

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Ready for Inspection - Armour

    Posted

    17 hours ago, Richard E said:

    Excellent work, it's been a pleasure to follow your WIP build.

     

    If you listen carefully I think you can hear the zing of the bullet which is making the squadie flinch...!

     

    Looking forward to your next project.

    Thanks Richard. I've got quite a selection to choose from, Russian, French, British, German, sci-fi....... Take your pick, or maybe an on line poll here!?!? 😁

    • Like 1

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Ready for Inspection - Armour

    Posted

    Good evening. So here is my latest finished build. Tamiya's Cromwell with the Accurate Armour conversion set to make a Cromwell ARV mk1. Stowage from Bronco Models, figure from Master Box, helmets and spare wheels from Ultra Cast. I highly recommend this conversion set to anyone with some experience and a little patience. Building models with superglue isn't for everyone so be aware! That being said the tow cable wrapped around the main hatches was an absolute pig and in hindsight I would of tried to find a way to make one from a more malleable and forgiving material than the one provided with the set!

    Painting figures 'really' isn't my thing and I got through three of the heads provided in the set until I was happy. Conclusion, eyes that just require a wash will be the way forward for me as painting whites and pupils resulted in..........well what can I say🤪. Thank you to everyone who followed my thread and I look forward to sharing what's next on the bench.

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    Thanks for looking and Merry Christmas

     

     

    • Like 27

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Maddoxx77 said:

    Man! You put in the work! All the details, the scratchbuilding, the figure..... everything is just superb modeling!!!! 

    Great stuff! 

    Thanks! I've thoughrolly enjoyed this project. Definitely going to have a go at another AA conversion. Just days away from finishing this one for now😎

    • Like 4

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted · Edited by NIK122

    6 hours ago, Bullbasket said:

    Excellent work Nik. I can't find anything to pick holes in, it's all superb. Just one thing to add. Is it possible to paint some teeth on the figure. He looks as though he forgot to put his dentures in this morning. Apart from that, first class.

     

    John.

    Thanks John. Yeah you're right about the teeth. I hadn't considered that, that was why his expression is a little, odd😆. Magnifying glass and paint brush will be out later and his teeth will be in! 

    • Haha 2

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    Good afternoon. Nearly across the finish line with this project. This will be the last post here before crossing over to finished models. 

    I've had a go at painting a figure. Added some details to the base and the stowage to the ARV. So here goes.

    The figure is from Masterbox, British Infantry, Western Europe 44', 45'. It's a mix of parts ie, one leg changed to create a slightly different pose, different head than specified. Not sure if he's laughing or crying? Tamiya acrylics and Vallejo flesh tone set used. The colours of the uniform, webbing and helmet are all custom mixes using colour photos as reference as the colours specified by Masterbox didn't look right to my eye. Whether it stands up to scrutiny blown up to this size I will let you be the judge but from a normal viewing distance I'm happy with it. There is a long way to go in mastering my figure painting skills.

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    Rifle strap made from Tamiya tape.

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    Moving on, all the stowage has been added with the exception of some tanker helmets that I want to hang off the stowage baskets using more Tamiya tape for their straps. The spare shovel is from Bronco's accessory set with, wait for it!, more Tamiya tape straps.

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    I need to make a decision on the weathering. Some light chipping and dry brushing has been added but I think it needs some more but with restraint. The front of the vehicle where the crew would mount and dismount definitely needs grubbing up.

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    Some more details and clutter added to the base to stop it looking so sterile. More seaweed on the tide line. You know what it's made from and a sprinkling of bits from my wood pile for the general beach detritus.

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    Beer bottle from the Cromwell kit. Painted with a very thin brown wash. 

     

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    Some tree moss added to the seaweed to add some more texture.

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    And finally a shot of what's to come.

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    Thanks for looking

     

     

    • Like 12

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    Good evening. A little more on the base details. The base was looking a little sterile so I've been trying to add some realism. Modelling a beach hasn't been as straight forward as I imagined. The colour of the sand both wet and dry for instance took some work. Using photos of Normandy beaches it's been a case of trial and error. Tamiya Desert yellow with a little flat yellow base. Tamiya Buff overspray for the lighter colour and a custom oil wash to try and simulate wet sand over the bottom half of the base.

    The posts have been airbrushed Tamiya Buff and then painted with an oil wash.

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    The addition of some seaweed has helped with the beach setting. Made from thin strips of Tamiya tape. 

    The tracks on the ARV have now been permanently fixed. They are the kit rubber band tracks which I ended up using instead of the Hobby Boss individual links. Fair play to anyone who has the patience to assemble 123 pieces per side when the links don't even clip together. They weren't for me.

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    Thanks for looking

    • Like 15

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Geo1966 said:

    The base and the stowage look excellent to me Nik. Well done with the barbed wire, you must have the patience of a Saint!

     

    George

    Thanks George! Not sure about Saintly, more a little unhinged. Still it's all about having a go with these things. I'm not sure I'll be doing a WW1 scene any time soon though. 

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted · Edited by NIK122

    Good evening! A small update. The builds slowly coming together. The stowage has all been painted and is ready to go. It's just a case of deciding how to place it all. All the pieces were airbrushed a base colour and then given a Tamiya dark brown wash and some dry brushing.

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    I've tried to keep the chipping effects to a minimum as the plan is to represent the vehicle after its just come ashore.

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    The base was missing some details so as I like punishing my eye sight I decided to have a go at making some barbed wire to add interest.

    My neighbour kindly donated some electrical wire of a suitable gauge. Straight forward enough but fiddly and time consuming. A single strand of wire doubled over and twisted in a pin vice makes the central wire. The barbs were made by looping two strands. The first has the loop at the top and the second the loop at the bottom of the main strand. Each is held in place with a drop of CA.

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    The strands are then cut to length. I must of spent six hours making 175mm of wire in shifts. 🤪 I think it was worth it.

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    And in place.

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    Finally some base colours going onto the base. I'm hoping less is more by not overdoing items on the base bearing in mind most of the base is taken up by the ARV. Thoughts welcome.

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    Thanks for looking

    • Like 18
    • Thanks 1

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    5 hours ago, ivan-o said:

    Lovely job👌 AA kits do make you think about how to fit this and that don’t they? And of course with SG once it’s on it’s on😄

    Thanks! It's had its challenges yes! It's my first resin conversion and as I'd now like to build the Centaur dozer probably not the last. A 1/35 Crusader dozer would be good too but it doesn't look like there is one. If I can get hold of some drawings maybe it's time to try full scratch build!? 

    • Like 2

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    Good morning. Some progress with this build. Decals added but not sealed in as yet. The Tamiya decals have been used to represent a vehicle of the 5th RTR, Cold stream guards, C company, I hope?!?! The licence plate is made up from two decals and is fictional. The air recognition symbol was masked and airbrushed on. Whether the position is right I really don't know. Putting decals on the engine deck didn't fill me with confidence with such an uneven surface. Placing a mask also was a pain in the bottom. The logic ended up being if I can't place a stencil in the center of the deck in 1:35, why would it be possible in 1:1. So it's on the flattest area of the deck. It needs toning down.

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    The tow cables have been the biggest challenge of this build to date. I bought a set of Eureka cables which are nice but there isn't enough cable for two sets.🙄 I've reached my limit on what I want to spend on this kit so I've settled for the Tamiya string. Was this the right thing to do? I don't know but on the plus side positioning them on the vehicle wasn't as difficult as imagined. The cable provided by AA on the other hand was a pig. The positioning was made easier by wrapping the cable around the lid of a Micro set bottle to reduce the radius. It was less of a struggle to tease out the cable than to push it inwards and have it spring outwards.

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    All of the stowage at this point is unfinished and dry fitted. I've got boxed Besa ammunition and loose tins to add and some kit bags. Its starting to fill up but I feel it needs more.

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    I've started some light weathering on the running gear. The tracks are not set in their final positions yet.

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    Any thoughts on the stowage or just generally welcome.

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    Thanks for looking

    • Like 13

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Courageous said:

    My thoughts exactly...and I would like to know how he made them look so...wooden?

     

    Stuart

    Hello Stuart. Wood method. Paint your plank, box, block etc a buff colour. Preferably with acrylics otherwise you will need to acrylic varnish before adding oils. Paint a thin coat of oil over the buff colour. I used Burnt umber for a darker looking wood, or you could use Burnt sienna for a reddish look. With a flat brush dipped in white spirit (dry brush on paper towel first) the oil paint can be thinned exposing the buff colour underneath. If you use a stiff flat brush grain can be added this way. Alternatively, or as well, a toothpick will expose the lighter colour underneath the oil paint creating a wood grain effect. I hope this is of some help😎

    • Thanks 4

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    Hello. Some more of this build. All of the additional elements have arrived in the post and are in the painting stage. Thanks for the suggestions on stowage brands. I particularly liked the 'Red Zebra' offerings but ended up with the MiniArt set as it happened to be in my local hobby store. Maybe next time.

    The Bronco models accessory set is really good for value and detail and includes decals. I'm not going to be short of anything for any future Allied builds.

    Below is a sample of the Bronco stowage. MiniArt tarps in the the background.

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    My plan is to load up the ARV with as much stowage as possible and depict the vehicle coming ashore on Gold beach D-day +1. I don't know if this would be the case with all the stowage so there is some artistic license going on to make, I hope, for an interesting model. There is one historical photo (Image below), that I've found with the Cromwell ARV packed to the gunnels with stowage in action but whether this would be the case immediately on landing I don't know. Maybe one of you with knowledge of this could comment. It would be most welcome.

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    I didn't realize what a can of worms allied OD paint colour was after doing some digging around online. After getting tied up in knots about it I decided to take the plunge and just go for it. Whether what I'm doing is correct or not I don't know and as every time I take a photo of the model the green looks different, as you will see, it really has been a case of going for it. 

    Below is a road wheel painted with Mig dark Russian base and one shot with Tamiya XF-62/XF-60, 50:50 ratio, afterwards. The logic in this is has been gloss varnished and oil washes have been added the OD will become a lot darker. I'll let you guys be the judge of this.

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    Below some wood effects. The parts were painted a buff colour then burnt umber oil paint added and using a tooth pick grain was added whilst the oil paint was still wet.

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    Hull with some modulation. The model in natural light isn't quite as dark as this but the colour is the same if that makes any sense?

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    Some details picked out with a brush. Same model and completely different green in the photo!🙄

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    Photographed under a new LED light I bought this weekend the model has changed colour once again. Its now looking really light and nothing like it actually does. Its since been gloss coated for decals and washes and of course its changed the green again.

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    Finally I've started on the base. The usual method of sculpted high density foam board covered with two part wood filler and sanded. Tread pattern made using milli-put.

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    Fine sand added and fixed with ballast freeze and ready for some paint.

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    Thanks for looking

    • Like 16

    Cromwell ARV Mk1

    in Work in Progress - Armour

    Posted

    Good afternoon. Just a quick question. Is there such a thing as a decent set of WW2 British 'generic' stowage available anywhere? I've got the Bronco field accessories set and Besa ammo box set from AA on order but what about tarps and kit bags etc. I've seen Miniart have a set but it's a little underwhelming. 

    Thanks 

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