Leopard 2 A4 1988 1/35 Meng

[FrancisGL]

Hi Dmitriy,

That track seems to be in the right key, now it's time to do the other one, which I hope you remember the mix you used for the first one...lol

Cheers

Francis 👍

[robw_uk]

Great work, that track looks just right to me

[Dmitriy1967]

4 hours ago, FrancisGL said:

Hi Dmitriy,

That track seems to be in the right key, now it's time to do the other one, which I hope you remember the mix you used for the first one...lol

Cheers

Francis 👍

Hi Francis,

I've already painted the second track. And, although it's amazing, it turned out to be similar to the first one. 🙂

[Dmitriy1967]

3 hours ago, robw_uk said:

Great work, that track looks just right to me

 

Thank you for the kind words.

But in my opinion, I overdid it with weathering. In photos of real Leopards, the tracks look neater. Mine look more like World War II tanks. Now I understand from my own experience why I see so many models spoiled by excessive weathering. It's hard to stop in time, because it's so interesting. 🙂

[echen]

 

IMHO  your work on the tracks looks just right. Tracks get covered in all sorts of muck. Tracks on diferent vehicles pick up diferent deposits and would look different. Even left and right tracks on the same vehicle might be driven through slightly different muck, one on the verge and the other in the middle of a narrow lane?

We are our own worst critics as someone said a while back. Keep up the good work! 

[Terry1954]

Just had a quick catch up on this one Dmitry and things are progressing nicely I see. I think your tracks look excellent. Getting these to look right is one of the things that make an AFV model look good, in my opinion.

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Terry

[flyboy2610]

Tracks on a tank before it goes through the car wash look very different than when it comes out! I think they look fine! 👍

[Forest Bob]

Very neat work, looking great thus far! 

[Dmitriy1967]

It turns out that when you want to learn how to paint, tanks are the best choice! Because tanks have a lot of places. which no one will ever see. You can practice drawing in these places.

That's what I did. At first everything went well and I even liked it. but in the end I decided to sprinkle some light mud... And I messed it up. It didn't look like dirt, but as if a tank had crushed a dairy farm. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, when I install the wheels and side screens, none of this will be visible.

And I have gained useful experience on how not to do it. 😄

[Bullbasket]

It's not as bad as you think Dimitry. In fact, it looks quite good.

 

John.

[Dmitriy1967]

50 minutes ago, Bullbasket said:

It's not as bad as you think Dimitry. In fact, it looks quite good.

 

John.

 

I'll explain what I don't like. I am making a 1988 tank from the 33rd tank battalion stationed in Germany in Luttmersen. And I want to make it pretty clean, not come out of the mud. It is not difficult to get the tank badly dirty. It is difficult to make a barely noticeable thin weathering. I can't do it yet. I can't feel the paint yet. But that's why I started this build, to learn. I'm interested. 🙂

[Dmitriy1967]

If I don't get fine weathering, I always have scenario B.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Terry1954]

I have to agree with Frank John @Bullbasket that the weathering you did looks pretty good, but I guess if you want it like a typical cleanish garrison tank that's not the look. As you say, It will all be mostly hidden under the side skirts and behind the wheels, but I must say Dmitriy, you have some good weathered Tank models in your future!!

 

Terry

[Greg B]

On 08/10/2024 at 09:14, Jochen Barett said:

 

 

 

 

Oberstleutnant (right) wearing Panzerkombi, giving yellow Spießschulterschnur to Hauptfeldwebel wearing regular Kampfanzug (left)

 

 

Panzerkombi worn by StUffz. G3-ammo pouches not to be worn by regular Leopard tankers. These guys are working on the Dreiwegegurtzuführer of our beloved MK (FK in this case) 20 Rh-202. Note collar and zippers:

 

 

Jochen, 

 

Is the Spießschulterschnur the badge of office for the Sergeant Major of a unit, much like the stick or cane in UK?

 

Interesting helmet covers in the other photo, not sure of the left hand, but the right hand is UK DPM.

[Jochen Barett]

50 minutes ago, Greg B said:

 

Jochen, 

 

Is the Spießschulterschnur the badge of office for the Sergeant Major of a unit, much like the stick or cane in UK?

 

Interesting helmet covers in the other photo, not sure of the left hand, but the right hand is UK DPM.

The "Spieß" is the Kompaniefeldwebel

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kompaniefeldwebel

and that get's "roughly translated" into

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_sergeant_major

 

The explanation (1) "Als fürsorglicher Berater und zentraler Ansprechpartner für alle Soldaten und zivilen Mitarbeiter seiner Einheit hat der Kompaniefeldwebel eine Schlüsselfunktion für die Gestaltung der militärischen Gemeinschaft. Er nimmt entscheidenden Einfluss auf das Miteinander in dieser, auf den Ton und das Klima in der Einheit." is a bit "parfumed" and (2) "Der Kompaniefeldwebel genehmigt und überwacht im Auftrag des Disziplinarvorgesetzten eine gerechte und ausgewogene Einteilung der Soldaten zu Sonderdiensten und regelt die Belegung der Stuben." is a euphimism for "the Spieß decides who has to clean the toilets!"

 

Google translate (pretty good!):

(1) "As a caring advisor and central contact for all soldiers and civilian employees in his unit, the company sergeant has a key function in shaping the military community. He has a decisive influence on the way we work together, on the tone and the climate in the unit."

(2) "On behalf of the disciplinary superior, the company sergeant approves and monitors the fair and balanced allocation of soldiers to special duties and regulates the occupancy of the rooms."

 

Apart from that he is supposedly the mother of the Kompanie (150 men unit), and he runs the routine business. Like in a wolf pack he is the one to kick you in the butt and sell the bad news, while the Kompaniechef (company commander) is the one to tell the good news (and "lead" exercises) and pass out parts of the booty.

[Cklasse]

14 hours ago, Dmitriy1967 said:

And I want to make it pretty clean, not come out of the mud. It is not difficult to get the tank badly dirty. It is difficult to make a barely noticeable thin weathering. I can't do it yet. 

I have started my build of the Leopard 2A6. I think what you want is a lightly dusted kind of weathering on the tank. This is also my first serious build of tank, a bit of weathering.

 

I am thinking maybe using weathering pigment will help with this lightly weathered effect. 
For my build, I am going to experiment with using weathering mud on the tank.

[veenee]

I've got that exact Meng model in my stash, so I'm going to watch this thread closely - good job!

Edited November 4 by veenee

[Dmitriy1967]

5 hours ago, veenee said:

I've got that exact Meng model in my stash, so I'm going to watch this thread closely - good job!

 

A turtle tied to a fence runs faster than I build models. That's why I think you'll build your Leopard faster than I'll finish mine. 🙂

[Dmitriy1967]

I stained the wheels with wash, then painted the dust. The wheels are clean on the right, dirty on the left. Now I tried to be careful and not make too strong an effect.

 

 

 

 

I'm pulling on the tracks.

 

 

 

It turned out like this.

 

 

[Dmitriy1967]

And then I suddenly saw that I had forgotten to do the weathering on the rear drive wheel!

This happened because this wheel was immediately installed on the tank and I forgot about it. But how did I, an old jackass, not see this when I was pulling on the tracks? 🙂

 

 

 

Now I need to apply varnish on it, then a dark wash, then varnish again, then apply dust, then varnish again... I don't want to take off the tracks, so I'll make a mask.

 

 

 

 

 

Tell me you've made such stupid mistakes too. Then I'll feel a little better. 🙂

 

 

 

[Dmitriy1967]

Tell me which acrylic varnish is the most matte? I tried TAMIYA XF-86 varnish, but it still gives a little shine. I want to make the finish completely matte.

[ERK]

3 hours ago, Dmitriy1967 said:

Tell me which acrylic varnish is the most matte? I tried TAMIYA XF-86 varnish, but it still gives a little shine. I want to make the finish completely matte.

Hi there  -  some  great  work going on here  -  with  your  Acrylic Flat  Matt varnish,   try  Mig Ammo Lucky  Ultra Matt   varnish  its very very good  - I use it on my figures.

 

Erk.

 

https://www.migjimenez.com/en/auxiliary-products-glues/1496-lucky-varnish-ultra-matt-17ml-amig-2054.html

[flyboy2610]

We've all had those "D'oh!" moments! Anyone who says they haven't is being less than truthful! 😉

[Dmitriy1967]

On 10/11/2024 at 03:35, ERK said:

Hi there  -  some  great  work going on here  -  with  your  Acrylic Flat  Matt varnish,   try  Mig Ammo Lucky  Ultra Matt   varnish  its very very good  - I use it on my figures.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, this varnish is not for sale here now. 😒

[Dmitriy1967]

On 10/11/2024 at 07:37, flyboy2610 said:

We've all had those "D'oh!" moments! Anyone who says they haven't is being less than truthful! 😉

 

Now I am calm and happy! 🙂