Creepy Pete Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I've been reading Mark Bowden's book Hue 1968 recently, and one of the things the USMC brought into Hue to turn it into a big pile of rubble, was the M50 Ontos. This was a US Army hand-me-down small tracked vehicle with 6 recoilles rifles mounted on top of it. These proved quite usuable in blasting holes in walls, allowing infantry to go through buildings and walls, rather than use the streets where they an easy target for snipers. I'm using the Academy kit, which was first released about 10 years ago, so it's quite a decent modern kit. It comes with some PE for things like fender braces, light covers and perforated exhaust covers. The tracks are the rubber band type, which is actually much like the real thing. I haven't build any armor in years, so stuff like weathering will be a nice challenge. I've completed the lower hull: And added many parts to the upper hull: Next up will be the turret with the rifles. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Great to see your Ontos underway Pete. As you say an iconic machine of the Vietnam war to be seen on many newsreels of the time, and it really is a unique looking machine. The kit looks to be very nice and you have made a good start too, looking forward to seeing the rest of the build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 welcome along Pete with a great choice!!!! As Craig mentioned these things do show up in quite a few newsreels......ot to sure why. Will be interested to see how this one builds up, the detail on the hull looks nice. Well good luck with a interesting build than will intrigue many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 Thanks guys. So far, so good. The fit is pretty good, and the detail is not bad either. I have glued the upper hull to the bottom, and put the whole gun assembly together. I've also started to work on the PE around the exhaust. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 That is really nice progress Pete. The recoilless rifles look very good, and really make this look like something from a sci-fi movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 gee she's gone together quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Looking good. I'd never heard of the Ontos before - remarkable looking machine - this is going to look great when it's finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 Back to working on this one, now that the RT-33 is on hold for a bit. I've added the PE bits around the exhaust. First time I tried rolled up PE on a kit, and I guess it turned out decent. Then I sprayed the whole thing with Alclad primer. The black primer is some leftover from the RT-33, and the grey was done today. Next up, the olive drab. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 I think your rolled etch has worked out very well indeed. She has come together very well and the kit captures the truly unusual look of the real thing very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 nicely done, rolling PE (actually doing anything with PE) isn't the easiest to get right, you've done a great job, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted October 20, 2020 Author Share Posted October 20, 2020 A small update. I have sprayed the whole thing with MRP's olive drab, and then gave it a Tamiya clear coat. I used some of that Tamiya panelline accent stuff, but more weathering is needed. I'm not really an experienced armor modeler, so there is a learning curve, but it is a fun experience so far. Also, I have to figure out how to paint the tracks, fun fun fun. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Ooh, shiny!! Should make a great base for the decals. For painting tracks I start with black then move on to a gun metal colour and then dry brush with a lighter steel colour before adding some dirt and grime, mind you I am only an armour novice too so I am sure someone more knowledgeable will have a better way of doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Creepy Pete said: but more weathering is needed Don't forget Vietnam has a Red Brown clay soil so go with redder earth tones on the weathering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 very shiny and very nice! Craig's method for the tracks is the way to go. Dirt and grim is the best part of the build!!! I've only started playing with it a few models ago, it's lots of fun and very messy. Pigments mixed with enamel paints works very well, or just wet down the pigment with a little enamel thinners (use the opposite of the paint type the top coat is) to make a paste then splodge it on. you can build it up by adding more dry pigment while it's wet. Go too heavy, just let it dry and dust it off, or again use a wee bit of thinners on a cotton bud to remove unwanted. It's just takes some practice , but the results are amazing and it fun. Below is my first real attempt using pigments. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Now the fun bit starts, or scary. I got some pigments and some kind of dry mud from Mig to throw at it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Calling this one done. I've used some Mig dry light soil mud stuff and "airfield dirt" (who knew airfields get so dirty) pigments on it. I think it looks decent for an urban environment like Hue or something. I'm quite pleased with it, considering it's my first armor kit in ages, and the first one I attempted to weather. More pics in the gallery. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 That is a cracking result Pete. Looks like you had a lot of fun with the weathering, and it shows. I hope this inspires you to build some more armour. Very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 absolutely awesome!!!!! You nailed it with the "mud" finish, looks just right, the difference between the un-weathered and weathered is amazing, it really show up the difference. From a model to something that looks really realistic. For a first attempt top marks! I hope you enjoyed this build and it's opened the way for more AFV's and great to see you've learnt a new skill. Again well done on an awesome looking model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 Thanks! Yeah, it does inspire me to build some more armor in the future. A guy at work used to be a Leopard 1 driver in the army when he was young, and I'd like to build one for him for when he retires, so I need some practice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 10 hours ago, Creepy Pete said: Thanks! Yeah, it does inspire me to build some more armor in the future. A guy at work used to be a Leopard 1 driver in the army when he was young, and I'd like to build one for him for when he retires, so I need some practice. Funnily enough I have proposed a Leopard STGB.😁 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 shameless plug!!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 6 minutes ago, trickyrich said: shameless plug!!!! Absolutely!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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