TapChan Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 (edited) Well, this gonna be my first construction report. Actually I wanted to finish two other tank models but during last visit in local modeller store my girlfriend demanded from me to make this Leo. She have chosen this one because she's a hard WoT player and just want to have some tank miniature from the game. So here it is, wheels done and in primer, suspension done and in primer, turret in progress. Can anyone tell me what those stains could be? Is it possible that this is grease? I didn't degreased model before coating in the primer so... I'm damn cheap so don't expect any add-ons, my models -at least first (dozens) - will be straight out the box. I have absolutely no idea what to do with tracks, should i lay a coat of primer too, and then do the brush job with metalizer between rubber bricks? Camo I wanna make is this one: I know, wrong Leopard, but I'm gonna stick to this scheme. For color modulation should I mix camo paint with white one? I got two propositions for each color (shop around is supplied in Ammo paints so the choice of brand is obvious): What you guys think about that? Can eventually be some proposals from Vallejo. Edited November 4, 2017 by TapChan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted December 9, 2017 Author Share Posted December 9, 2017 (edited) Little update. All necessary details finished, model coated with primer. The model is presented together with previous one coated with same primer - T-80UD. You can see the difference, especially exposed on the barrel. And one of the things I am not really happy about - the pre-made spots for bottom basket mounting which were really huge. As this model is just a testing ground, I've tested so famous MrSurfacer. Unfortunately, I've bought only 1200. I think 500 would fit better for this task. What I am really happy about is the primer coat. I tend to put too thick layers before but lately I've watched MIG's guide for their paints. Thus I put about.... 10-12 thin layers instead of 3-4 thick ones. I think the effect is acceptable now. The only weakness is time, it took me around hour or more to paint the whole model. Because I had no dedicated thinner I've used Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner instead and it worked. Local modeller store owner recommended me X-20A thinner but I am pretty sure it would cause some difficulties. Next step will be to cut the mask for wheels. and... well, i have no idea how to treat the rubber tracks. Primer > metalizer > matt black for rubber pads? Anyway, I also have no idea how can I mask this damn tank to have a nice sharp and straight edges... Edited December 9, 2017 by TapChan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 A few great looking tanks you have there. The Leo looks better than the Revell version I have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted December 9, 2017 Author Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thank you. Leo looks better but in fact is a terrible tank to build. Better than Zvezda T-80UD but way worse than Heller AMX 30/105 in terms of part quality. For example, AMX had lots of seams but they are thin and easy to remove. Leopard got most of his parts... i don't know the exact term for that but the halves of mould are shifted. That means lot of carving, scratching, filling and sanding. I still remember Tamiya Leopard 1A4, which compared to this Italeri kit is almost self-building - just few seams to remove, few small slots to fill and that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted March 28, 2018 Author Share Posted March 28, 2018 Hello again! Long time wasn't here. I've finally did some paint job. Those MIG paints are giving me a hard time. Many layers, gard to control. It goes much better with dedicated thinner but still not what you'd expect from paints. I did some screw-ups, i.e. in front of commander's hatch and in front of driver's one. Well, I was masking for the first time and I already know it's not what i'm going to love I believe it would be easier to make it ith BluTack/Pattafix and soft verges but I still have to buy one. I'm the newbie so I count on your hints - should I wait few days till the paint dry well and then put on some clear gloss for next step? I have absolutely no idea when to start with suspension, shall it be last step? What I plan to do with it is just to put some pigment mixed with alcohol on and wix it with varnish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) Tiny update: Made painting for gun mantlet cover + the tools on the sides of hull. Next step will be to put a coat of Gloss Vallejo Polyurethane Varnish, yet i'm not sure if I need dedicated Vallejo Airbrush Thinner or can Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner do the same job. Edited April 17, 2018 by TapChan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 nice update and funny looking camo, completely different than any other Leopard I have not tried the cleaner for thinning. Maybe you could just use some water for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Well, it's actually S-F camo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sairou Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Looks good, I've never got on with Mig paints either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 And I have to admit I'm getting used to it lately. Proper dilution is a key here I guess. I've had lot of trouble while trying to mix it with water or other thinners (Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner / Tamiya X-20A / Wamod Thinner), things changed when I decided to go and get some dedicated MIG thinner and well, it works quite fine. Of course I've seen some Tamiya/Gunze painting videos, these paints dry well and may be laid in just 2 coats while MIG still needs 6-7 thin layers to look "ok" but it's not as bad as Vallejo paints are. In Belgium MIG paints cost almost exactly the same as in Poland while Tamiya is like €4.50 per 23ml jar, which is almost twice as much as in Poland (€2.50). In addition if I need MIG paint, i can go to any of 2 local modeller stores and just get some while Tamiya I can hardly get only 10ml jars (€2.50). If I want Tamiya 23ml I have to order it online. Regarding Gunze... haven't seen it in any store here, maybe expect of ebay. Anyway, did some shopping on my vacations at homeland: There are some Gunze paints as well as Tamiya ones. Will try and give it a shot. The spraybooth is awesome, no odor even after half hour painting - yeah, I've laid one layer of gloss Vallejo diluted with Airbrush Cleaner, went well even through my old pIwata, had to clean the needle tip just once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 That is a nice set of tools and supplemental stuff. I might have to look into such a spray booth as well in the near future. As for the paint, I am using Vallejo mostly as it is available in a nearby shop. Other paints I have to order online as well. But I recently tried mig paint in mr hobby thinners. Didn't do fancy stuff yet, so more experience needed. What do you plan weatheringwise with your Leopard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 I prefer MIG paints over Vallejo mostly due to the fact that MIG make them more or less evenly well, in Vallejo you need some luck, some colors are spraying better, some worse. Sometimes you might get 2 bottles of same color and they will spray differently from each other. That's for today, 2 layers of gloss + all (3) decals set. The quality is terrible, the frame is not 100% transparent but kinda milky. What's interesting, Mr Mark Softer is't willing to stay on them, it either runs out of the decal surface or keeps in big drops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 22, 2018 Author Share Posted April 22, 2018 First wash and first chipping done. It's kinda bad, but on the other hand it's going to be hard not to improve with next model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TapChan Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 I consider the model done, here's the link to RFI: Thank you all for attention, especially those who commented the build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sairou Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 The chipping looks good, very WoT. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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