PlaStix Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 Only managed a bit of time on this project today - but progress is progress. I managed to get the side skirt armour on and the parts for the barrel assembled. The side skirts were a little tricky to line up as there's no precise location pins, or anything similar, to help. There's a slight lip where they join the curved front sections but that's all. It was a case of getting the glue on and then lining them up by eye and then holding them in place. Some photos: Next I'll get some paint on the gun and then it will be time for some washes and the start of some weathering. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Looking good Stix,and as I,ve said before the quality of the WIP photograph,s are an extra bonus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 Looking good Stix,and as I,ve said before the quality of the WIP photograph,s are an extra bonus. Thank you Steve. It's amazing what some A3 white paper does to improve a photo - needs must!! Also - as I said before - I think I'm quite lucky with the lighting too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 Bit more done today. First off I attached the PE engine grills: And then got the main gun barrel painted. More photos than necessary but I couldn't resist!: Hopefully I will get the washes done next time. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Getting there Stix, these Dragon kits are something else. Will you be doing any bases for your builds? Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Getting there Stix, these Dragon kits are something else. Will you be doing any bases for your builds? Sean Thank you Sean - Dragon's detailing is amazing on such small kits.I am intending to make bases for each tank but I have more ideas for my 1/48 kits than this one. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 First job today, I decided, was to replicate the 6 small brackets (3 each side) that secured the side skirts to the front fenders. I used micro-strip styrene: These were painted with thinned Humbrol Desert Yellow. Then it was onto washes and dry-brushing. First I applied an all over wash of Revell's Gunship Grey. Once dry I did a targeted wash of Revell's Anthracite and then once that was dry I dry-brushed everything with a lightened version of Humbrol's Desert Yellow - the base colour. And this is how it ended up: Next I think it'll be time to do the camouflage and then I can start the detail painting. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoohoo Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 She is looking an absolute beauty Stix and lovely sag you have got on the tracks, following with interest Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 She is looking an absolute beauty Stix and lovely sag you have got on the tracks, following with interest Stu Thank you for your kind comments Stu. I was hoping to get some camo on today but I'm not sure I have the green I want - so I may have to work on some of the other parts that still need to be added. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 You've been a very busy boy there Stix, looking damned good as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Proper job that! Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) Hi Shermaniac and Steve. Thank you very much for your kind comments. As I mentioned earlier I didn't have the green I wanted to use for the camo so I opted to get the base coat on the parts I'm going to dry-brush next with Gunmetal: the tow cables, spare tracks, machine guns and winch. I used my usual - Revell's Anthracite: Didn't get much time so that's all I got done. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited February 19, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Hi Stix, I know I've mentioned in the past about you using the sprue during your builds but how do you complete the parts once removed? I presume you have to touch them with paint once cut and sanded? I ask as your builds are so clean!! Cheers Nigel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Hi Nigel. I know it seems an odd way of working but I like keeping the parts on the sprues as long as possible - it's mainly to help me avoid getting my fingers all over the parts while they're being painted. Before painting I try to work out which sprue gates, if any, I can remove. I try to only leave the ones where I think I'll be able to tidy them up more easily, or where they'll be hidden once fixed in place on the model. I tidy these areas, like you suggested, once they're cut - with a blade first and then fine grade wet'n'dry paper. On the tow ropes for example, in the last picture above, I was able to cut away four sprue gates from each - you can still see the remains of the stubs closer to the cross sprues. The gates were attached to the cable itself. I left the two at the end to support the cable while I paint it. I figured I can easily tidy up these remaining two on the ends once the rest of the cable is finished and weathered because the ends are mostly going to painted Desert Yellow - so I can hold the cable itself once it's dry. I hope that all makes sense because it sounds a bit long winded to me!!! On the other hand - if you look at the spare track links - I had to leave both sprue gates in place because they are quite thin and weak and one on it's own wouldn't be enough to support each link while I paint it. I know most people don't do it like this but it works for me as a brush painter. Kind regards, Stix Edited February 20, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Hi Stix, I've been curious for some time so thanks for the detailed reply. I like the thought of above when the gated areas will end up hidden - especially for smaller parts. Might have t give it a try Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 Hi Stix, I've been curious for some time so thanks for the detailed reply. I like the thought of above when the gated areas will end up hidden - especially for smaller parts. Might have t give it a try Cheers No problem. Hope it's useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 First job today was to get all the relevant parts dry-brushed with Humbrol's Gunmetal. Then I started adding paint to the details. The tow ropes: And spare track links: Then I started getting the camouflage on the hull. It looks much brighter in the photos than it does in real life but I'm sure it will be fine when it's been toned down with some dry-brushing and weathering. I ran out of time to get the turret and barrel done: I used Humbrol 252 Matt, Rlm 82 Olivgrun which I thinned with water and applied with a soft stippling brush. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Aye up Stix, You did that with a BRUSH??? Kudos my friend, kudos Regards, Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Hi Steve, You're way too kind and no airbrush means everything has to be done with a variety of hairy sticks! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 ... Then I started getting the camouflage on the hull. It looks much brighter in the photos than it does in real life but I'm sure it will be fine when it's been toned down with some dry-brushing and weathering. I ran out of time to get the turret and barrel done... Mmm-hmm that is sweet Nice work Stix Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 very nice...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Thank you Stew and Rob. First job today was getting the camouflage painted on the turret and gun barrel - Humbrol's Olivgrun, again applied with a stippling brush. As I'd already mentioned (above) the green looked a bit too harsh - so next I dry-brushed these areas with a lightened version of Humbrol's Desert Yellow. This seemed to do the job. I also began painting some of the details including the exhausts and tools. These photos show how it looked at the end of today's session: Next time I should be able to start adding some of the remaining detailing parts before starting work on the decals and final weathering. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited February 25, 2015 by PlaStix 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Good work Stix, it's got a good solid, weighty look to it Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Stippling brush? You have far more patience than I Stix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Spot on .... I still can't start mine. No wings cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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