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First Sherman in 1:35 - RFM Firefly ***Finished***


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8 minutes ago, echen said:

I find washes cause me grief. First they don't seem to show up. I add to them. Then its swamped.😭

Trying to resist the temptation to add another to my T-80 BV because I know I'll probably over-do it. It's just that it looks like it needs something more......

Yours is progressing well IMO; looking good.

I have to agree with echen here. I think washes should be used very sparingly and in a targeted way... maybe on roadwheel hubs and like that. They always seem to me to leave unwanted tide marks and such, and look heavy-handed. You might try going to oils on this. Maybe an overall filter to liven the color, and then line your bolts, weld seams, deck details, etc. with a little oil paint- then just pull the paint out a little and blend. Might be a good candidate for a dot filter treatment as well..... just some thoughts. 

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Ah, I think you may be misunderstanding the specific application here. I have not got to the filter/wash stage generally yet. This is just specifically the tracks. I am just trying to give them a hint more “brown” with the wash, which is what I have done to the spare track links on the front of the tank as an experiment. I think it’s given the brownish tinge I am after, so was thinking of doing the rest of the tracks in the same way. Still have the decals to go before any significant weathering.

Edited by SimonL
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6 minutes ago, SimonL said:

Ah, I think you may be misunderstanding the specific application here. I have not got to the filter/wash stage generally get. This is just specifically the tracks. I am thinking of just trying to give them a hint more “brown”, which is what I have done to the spare track links on the front of the tank as an experiment. I think it’s given the brownish tinge I am after, so was thinking of doing the rest of the tracks in the same way. Still have the decals to go before any significant weathering.

Ah, ok. I gotcha. Well, I'll beg out then since I tend to build ships and armor with tires. I'll leave track advice to those who know how to do it 🙂 Edited to correct my poor spelling.....grrrr

Edited by xebec
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2 minutes ago, xebec said:

Oh, and very nice work by the way- you seem to be able to manage that microscopic photo-etch very well. Looks fantastic. 

Many thanks - not my favourite media to play with!

 

Just now, xebec said:

Ah, ok. I gotcha. Well, I'll beg out then since I tend to build ships and armor with tires. I leave track advise to those who know how to do it 🙂

 
Although I do agree with you about tidemarks - that being said, I rather like these Vallejo washes. Easy to use, and straight forward cleanup. I’ve experimented on the underside of the tank with using the brown in a dilute form as a filter, and it actually gives a nice effect. 

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This evening’s task - a gloss coat to prepare for the decals and weathering (attempt). A brushed on coat of floor polish. 
 

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This on past experience also protects the rather delicate Vallejo paint finish when handling. I did do the tracks with the Vallejo Brown Wash and am pretty happy with the result.

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3 hours ago, SimonL said:

pretty happy with the result.

Coming together really well.👍

The subtle tone on the tracks looks just as it should be.

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Thanks 😊. The few decals went on easily over the gloss coat, and I sealed them in with a couple of coats of floor polish. Once that had all dried I brushed on a diluted wash of Vallejo Brown Wash (approximately a 1:3 dilution) all over to act as filter and to start dulling the markings down a bit. It’s not very obvious from the photos, but close up there is some variation to the colour over the whole model without any obvious tide marks.

 

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I then added a fairly sloppily brushed on wash of Vallejo Oiled Earth Wash on the tracks and wheels, slightly creeping up the sides of the hull. I’m going to leave it there to fully dry overnight before doing anything else.

 

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Slow progress. More washes, this time a 50:50 mix of Vallejo European and Desert Dust washes. Heavy application on the tracks and wheel area, just a once over in the top. 
 

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again, going to leave it for a couple of days to really dry out before I do anything for else - think I need more of the dust on the tracks.

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So, after a day or so drying (these washes take awhile in the cold weather we are having at the moment here in Perth, WA), I’ve added some more washes of a mixture of the two Vallejo “dust” washes I had used before. Again heavier on the tracks and wheels, diluted somewhat for the rest of the tank.

 

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Think I may stop at this point with the washes before I make it too messy.

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Closing in on the finish. Today I brushed on a couple of coats of Vallejo Matt Varnish and added some aerials from steel guitar string.

 

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A little detail painting done, and here is where I am at. I have an idea for a base which needs a trip to the kitchen store tomorrow. Still not sure it’s quite dirty enough, and there is perhaps still too much gloss sheen going on (although the photos make it look worse than it is).

 

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I’ve been having a few issues with matt varnishes, with my favourite Italeri Acryl getting all gluggy as I reach the end of the bottle. so I thought I might give the AK Interactive varnish a go. Unfortunately something else left the hobby shop with me…

 

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(They had just had a restock yesterday and I grabbed the only one). Been keen to have this since reading Robert Crisp’s book “Brazen Chariots”and I missed out on the Airfix reboxing of this kit. The only issue - that Caunter Scheme…

Edited by SimonL
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Ok, I’m calling this one done. Since the weekend I added a few extra washes of very dilute Italeri Acryl Dark Earth, which gave me the dustier look I was after. I decided against another coat of matt varnish (a certain element of quit while I’m ahead). Simple base of a small bamboo chopping board with some cobblestone card (I think for railway diorama). Thanks for following along, and thanks to all those who provided much needed advice and support. I’ll will try and grab some decent photos outside in between showers tomorrow for an RFI. Time to get back to that Bronco A9!

 

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  • SimonL changed the title to First Sherman in 1:35 - RFM Firefly ***Finished***

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