SoftScience

Some really great details, and damage effects. There is something about the figure that looks out of place with the rest of the scene. If its still possible, maybe turn him, or his head just a few degrees so he looks like he's looking at, and interacting with the tank. Right now he looks like a tour guide at a museum, describing an exhibit behind him. This is a really good vignette, and could be great with just a slight turn.

Very cool! I liked seeing that engine go from green base color to full finish. Nice to see that transformation. I look forward to more.

Really nice work, Simon. Nice tight, hand painted camo. A dusty patina will really go a long way with this.

An exemplary display of patience. Most CA kits make me want to smash them with a hammer.

Even the idea of this kit gives me nightmares. You're a brave man.

Thanks. Just playing around with acrylic glazing medium mixed with different Vallejo paint colors. Then a heavy brown wash to dirty it up.

Here are a few (mostly lousy) pictures of my Tamiya 1/48 scale T-34/85. The model is excellent, and a very easy build. I added crates from a different kit, and made the rolled tarp from Apoxy Sculpt, but otherwise everything is as Tamiya intended. The decals are for a Polish 2nd Army tank fighting in Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1945. Painting was done with Mig Ammo's 4BO and shades lightened with their light stone color. I'm a bit torn, while the color was nice, and sprayed well in semi-opaque thin coats, the finish became gummy when I applied a Mig Ammo wash. A clear coat took care of that, but it was frustrating to see that kind of reaction between the manufacturer's own products. Weathering was kept light and simple. Most of the dust effects were done with acrylic inks followed by the afore mentioned MiG wash. I believe I used the Afrika Korps wash. Chipping was done mostly with a torn sponge, and various reddish washes were used for rust. The figure is my usual hack job, and is best not spoken about. an admittedly blurry T-34 group shot

My latest build is Tamiya's 1/48 F4U1/2 Birdcage Corsair. I built it as a Marine Corps F4U2 serving with VMF(N)-532 during fighting in the Marshall Islands in February/March 1944. The kit is from the mid 1990s, and while it was on the cutting edge when it was released, it is starting to show its age, relative to today's incredible models. Still, it is a fun and very easy to build model, and I recommend it to anybody looking for a quick project. My build is straight from the box, as I really just wanted a canvas to build a heavily distressed airframe. If you look at photos of USMC corsairs serving from different Pacific islands, you can see how absolutely banged-up these aircraft got. The paint faded, but also got blasted with tiny bits of coral from the airfield runways. Fuel stains and patched up paint are common in photos. The combo of pink, green and yellow zinc chromate primers visible on this aircraft are based largely on photos of the F4U1 fished out of Lake Michigan some years ago. Painting began with patches Gunze silver and Tamiya Yellow-Green mixed with red. This was covered with a coat of hairspray, and followed by various thin coats of Tamiya paints for the camo. There are at least four shades of blue and two of the light gray, on there. I thinned these with isopropyl to have a less robust finish. I then dipped various old stiff brushes in warm water and began distressing the top coat and hairspray coat underneath, to get realistic scratches, exposing primer and bare metal beneath. I focused this on areas which would get blasted with coral when the plane was taking off an landing, but also where coral ground into boots of pilots and mechanics walking on the plane, would abrade the paint even further. A few random patches of Vallejo intermediate blue were applied over areas to simulate field repairs, and mismatched paint. Decals were applied directly to the flat paint, and given a generous application of Mr. Mark Softer. No need for clear coats! This was followed by washes of Paynes Gray, and various dirty brown shades mixed from oils. All that was sealed with a thin clear coat of Tamiya flat, mixed with a drop or two of clear, for just a mild shine. This was applied unevenly, and fabric surfaces were left uncoated. A patchy filter of highly thinned (with distilled water) Tamiya intermediate blue was dabbed on to selected areas (mostly the tops of the wings) with a torn sponge for more color texturing. Little dabs and washes of various oils, some thinned, some not, were applied to create various fuel and grease stains. The dust on the wheels was done with Vallejo acrylic wash. I think the product has potential, but I need to practice with it some more. Anyhow, less talking, and more pictures. I had an absolute blast painting this model! Here is Jimmy Marine Corps. I'm not much of a figure painter, but I like how he turned out, and I didn't have spare harnesses. So in he went!

1/35?

I don't know if it's you lot, but every Eduard Hellcat in every US online shop is suddenly sold out! Curse you!

Wow, dude...

This is really great! I like the unique camouflage and the grayish-brown dirt complements it nicely. Understated and classy.

Wow, very cool!

Well done! And a very interesting subject

Ahhhh!!! I thought maybe it is the commander and loader Cool! I got to learn some Russian today!