Ned Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 I do like the style of these Italian tanks. Your modifications are going well, I am enjoying your build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenad Ilijic Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 7 hours ago, nheather said: Hi, Question about the link and length tracks. Did you build them around the wheels or did you build them flat first and then when the glue was still a little soft, formed them round the wheels. I’m assuming the latter because I imagine that tracks would get stuck to the wheels using the first method. Hi, I build them flat first. Actually not flat, rather to the shape more or less similar to what they should look like once attached. Then, I waited for 5-10 minutes, and then attached them to the wheels. They were soft enough to accommodate to the wheels, but glue was dry enough not to stick to the wheels. I am using this method with the indy links as well, with only difference that I assemble them completely flat, on the double sided duct tape, glue them, wait for 5-10 minutes, remove them from the tape and accommodate them to the wheels. Cheers, Nenad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muchmirth Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 13 hours ago, Nenad Ilijic said: Hi, I build them flat first. Actually not flat, rather to the shape more or less similar to what they should look like once attached. Then, I waited for 5-10 minutes, and then attached them to the wheels. They were soft enough to accommodate to the wheels, but glue was dry enough not to stick to the wheels. I am using this method with the indy links as well, with only difference that I assemble them completely flat, on the double sided duct tape, glue them, wait for 5-10 minutes, remove them from the tape and accommodate them to the wheels. Cheers, Nenad Nice tip on the double sided!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenad Ilijic Posted August 21, 2022 Author Share Posted August 21, 2022 Hello everyone, hope you are all well. I'm back from vacation and ready to do some modelling. Primed everything with grey Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500. And noticed that I forgot antenna holder 😕 It's not included in the kit, so I scratched something with PE. I was not able to find any reference photos of the particular vehicle I have decals for, which is the one with the registration number RE 3088. So I decided to finish this one as the vehicle that participated in the Battle at Bir el Gubi, in November 1941. This was one of the opening battles of Operation Crusader and the first battle in the Western Desert campaign where Italians, and in particular Ariete division, under the command of General Mario Balotta, performed successfully and valiantly. Timewise, it makes sense to place Series 3 tank in this period. This is one of the photos that I will be using as an inspiration, but I will combined it with few other photos from the same period. These tanks (post March 1941) were factory finished in Khaki Saharaiana, and it seams that most tanks were left like that, without any disruptive paint. I'll go with that option. Finished painting with Hataka Khaki Saharaiana as base paint and combination of Gunze, Vallejo and Tamiya for detail painting. I was never happy with my technique regarding the tracks, so I am always experimenting with new approaches. This time, they are painted with the mix of Tamiya Dark Iron and Flat Brown. Then, Mr. Metal Color Stainless Steel was dry brushed, which is buffable. And at the end, I added just a little bit of truck rust pigments. And here are some tools, exhausts. stowage, etc, And finally, everything (mostly) put together. Some chipping applied as well. I'll still have to decide where to put jerrycans, to tie down stowage where necessary, and few other details. As I was planning to hang jerrycans on the right side handle, I noticed that it's missing. I completely forgot it Scratched something quickly with wire and PE. Hope paint will stick to it. That is it for now. One or two more sessions and I can call it done. Cheers, Nenad 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muchmirth Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Going really really well here. Like the chipping, looks very cool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenad Ilijic Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Evening everyone, Everything put together and ready for some dusting: Before spraying pigments, I like to mask the tracks and apply dry pigments with the brush later. That way, the shining areas are being preserved. First, I airbrushed North Africa Dust nature effects (AMIG1404). Thicker in the lower part of the model. Removed the excess from the areas exposed to wear with the brush dump in enamel spirits. After leaving the model to dry for a day or so, I added some dry pigments (combination of pale and yellow sand) to make some variety. I moistened them with enamel spirit and after letting them dry, rub off the excess with the sponge. Almost there I think. Not sure if attaching MG makes sense with close turret lids? Aerial is yet to be added. Not sure about the dimensions. Does anybody know what should be the thickness and length? Cheers, Nenad 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massimo Novi Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Hello Nenad MG Breda 38 was mounted only with lids open as AA. Antenna real length was 180cm. Regards Massimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenad Ilijic Posted August 24, 2022 Author Share Posted August 24, 2022 19 hours ago, Massimo Novi said: Hello Nenad MG Breda 38 was mounted only with lids open as AA. Antenna real length was 180cm. Regards Massimo Thank you Massimo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 (edited) Hello @Nenad Ilijic, just saw your completed build, looks great. About the marking question you had posted in your build log, the solid colour is likely a company HQ vehicle, while the number above it must mean it contained more than one vehicle. So it could be either red, blue, yellow, or green if there was a fourth company. Battalion HQ used black for their markings, but the commander himself used the multi-coloured symbol based on the number of companies under his command. https://www.zimmerit.com/zimmeritpedia/ITALIA_sez_2.html regards, Jack Edited August 25, 2022 by JackG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 It a really impressive! Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenad Ilijic Posted August 29, 2022 Author Share Posted August 29, 2022 Thank you everyone. You guys were so kind as always, and all the info you shared was extremely helpful to me! This one is finished, so I would like to conclude this thread. Here it is: You can find some more photos in RFI here. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Nenad 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 A stunning result, well done Stay safe Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 Looks great, especially all the dusty things made of textiles and another stowage. Vytautas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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